This air fryer turkey breast recipe just might be the easiest turkey you’ll ever make! It’s incredibly juicy and full of flavor, with golden-brown skin and the perfect blend of seasonings.
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Pin RecipeYou know you can use your air fryer to make crispy air fryer Brussels sprouts, perfect air fryer chicken breasts, and even air fryer pizza, but did you know you can also make roasted turkey in it? Yes!
This air fryer turkey breast is ideal for a small Thanksgiving celebration or even a weeknight meal. It’s much easier than roasting a whole turkey, and the results are just as delicious—maybe even more delicious!
Cooking turkey in an air fryer is a great way to get juicy, tender meat with crispy skin. And since the air fryer cooks food quickly and evenly, it’s practically impossible to overcook the turkey. This is especially helpful if you’re a new cook and aren’t sure how long to cook turkey.
Air Fryer Turkey Breast Recipe
Another benefit of air fryer turkey is that it frees up your oven for side dishes. This is good news if you’re making this recipe for Thanksgiving when oven space is at a premium. If you’re hosting a small Thanksgiving get-together, cooking your turkey in the air fryer is a no-brainer!
Simply rub the turkey breast with a blend of seasonings. Then, cook it in the air fryer until it’s golden brown and cooked through. When it’s finished, the skin will be crispy, and the meat will be juicy and moist. So good!
If you’re looking for an easy, stress-free way to make turkey, this air fryer turkey breast recipe is perfect.
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Ingredients for Air Fryer Turkey Breast
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- Fresh turkey breast – Use a skin-on, bone-in turkey breast, not a boneless turkey breast.
- Mayonnaise – My secret ingredient for perfect air fryer turkey breast! You can use store-bought or homemade mayonnaise. I don’t recommend using Miracle Whip, as this is likely going to be too sweet.
- Unsalted butter – If you only have salted butter on hand, that’s fine too—just add less salt when seasoning the turkey.
- Herbes de Provence – This is a dried mixture of French herbs that includes lavender. Rosemary, thyme, or a combination of fresh herbs can be substituted if you prefer. You can also use poultry seasoning.
- Parsley
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Lemon zest – Fine zest is best.
- Kosher salt & black pepper
Variations
- If you aren’t preparing specifically for Thanksgiving or don’t enjoy turkey, you can use chicken breast instead.
- Change the mixture of herbs to those you enjoy the most.
- If you don’t enjoy butter, use oil to combine the herbs and seasoning. The texture of the air-fried turkey may be slightly different from what this recipe achieves, but it will still be tasty!
Quick Tip
Before you get started, make sure you buy a turkey breast that fits into your air fryer basket! Bring measuring tape to the grocery store if you need to.
How to Make Air Fryer Turkey Breast
- Prepare: Preheat your air fryer to 350ºF. Mix the mayo, butter, seasonings, and lemon zest in a small bowl. Then, season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Season the Turkey: Pat the butter mixture over the whole turkey breast; make sure all sides of the turkey breast are evenly coated.
- Air Fry the Turkey Breast: Place the turkey skin side down in the air fryer basket. Cook for 25 minutes. Then, flip and cook for another 20 to 25 minutes, or until the turkey reaches an internal temperature of 160ºF on a meat thermometer.
- Rest: Let the turkey rest for 10 to 12 minutes before slicing and serving. Tip: Letting the turkey rest is key to keeping it juicy!
Quick Tip
There’s no need to wash your turkey before you begin. The heat of the air fryer will kill any bacteria. However, I do recommend patting the turkey dry with clean paper towels. This helps the seasonings stick!
How to Store Leftover Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Placed in an airtight container or wrapped in foil, leftover air fryer turkey breast will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days. You can also freeze it for up to 2 months. Turkey freezes best when it’s sliced!
To reheat frozen turkey breast, thaw it in the fridge overnight, and warm it in the oven at 350ºF until heated through. You can also reheat frozen turkey breast in the air fryer. Simply cook it at 400ºF for 10 minutes or until your desired temperature is reached.
Serving Suggestions
Pair this air fryer turkey breast with all the classic Thanksgiving sides like cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and sweet potato casserole. If you’re serving this for a weeknight, I love pairing it with scalloped potatoes, roasted vegetables, or steamed broccoli.
FAQs
Yes, you can cook a Butterball turkey breast in an air fryer. Simply follow the recipe above, and cook until the turkey reaches an internal temperature of 160ºF using an instant-read thermometer.
To reheat a fully cooked turkey breast, place it in a 350ºF oven or an air fryer heated to 400ºF for about 10 minutes or until heated through.
If your turkey breast is frozen, you’ll need to either thaw it first or cook it for a longer amount of time in the air fryer. The cooking time will vary based on the size of your turkey and your specific air fryer.
You can cook turkey in foil in an air fryer, but it’s not necessary. The turkey will cook just fine without the foil.
More Turkey Recipes
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Crockpot Turkey Breast
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Main Dishes
Turkey Pot Pie
Thanksgiving
Classic Turkey Gravy
Soups and Salads
Leftover Turkey Soup
Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons mayonnaise
- 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter softened
- 2 Tablespoons herbes de Provence
- 2 Tablespoons parsley finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- Kosher salt & black pepper to taste
- 3-4 pound fresh turkey breast bone-in & skin-on
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 350F.
- In a small mixing bowl, add the mayonnaise, butter, all the seasonings, and the lemon zest. Stir to fully combine. Season with salt and pepper.3 Tablespoons mayonnaise, 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 Tablespoons herbes de Provence, 2 Tablespoons parsley, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, Kosher salt & black pepper to taste
- Cover the turkey breast all over (including the cavity) in the herb butter. Place in the air fryer, skin-side down, and cook for 25 minutes. Flip the turkey and cook for an additional 20-25 minutes or until the turkey reaches an internal temperature of 160F using an instant read thermometer. (The turkey will continue to cook as it rests)3-4 pound fresh turkey breast
- Let the turkey rest for 10-12 minutes before slicing and serving.
