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GET IT NOWThis Air Fryer Turkey Breast Is My Favorite Shortcut To A Small Thanksgiving Dinner
While I love a big turkey for Thanksgiving, some years (or in my case, days) it just doesn’t make sense. We do several celebrations each year, some larger and some small, and I almost always make a turkey breast for the smaller gathering. When I started making a lot of air fryer recipes several years ago, this air fryer turkey breast quickly made an appearance at one of those. Here’s why it should at your holiday table, too:
- Tender, juicy turkey breast with crispy skin and lots of flavor – Air fried turkey breast is the trifecta of everything I want in my turkey: Crisp and golden outside, super juicy inside, and a combo of garlic and herbs that makes my mouth water.
- Just 5 simple ingredients – Plus salt and pepper. I used my go-tos for poultry to make this recipe taste amazing without a long ingredient list.
- One of the fastest ways to make it – Cooking turkey breast in the air fryer only takes me about an hour, including the prep time! While I love Crock Pot turkey breast too, this one has the advantage for less advance planning.
- Saves precious oven space – Not only is this faster than a roasted turkey breast, I love that it frees up my oven for other dishes. Because let’s be real, it’s in high demand for holidays!
If you’re making a smaller Thanksgiving dinner this year, or even next time you’re just looking for a cozy meal anytime this fall or winter, make this air fryer turkey breast with me. No other method gets me such juicy, crispy, and fast results all in one!
Reader Review
“I actually tried this exact recipe last year and NOTHING I’ve ever cooked in my air fryer smells this heavenly! Thanks for making everyone’s Thanksgiving taste AH-MAZING!” –Trish
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Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my air fryer turkey breast recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
- Turkey Breast – I used and recommend bone-in whole turkey breast, because it has the most flavor and doesn’t dry out as easily, but boneless turkey breast will work as well. Make sure to thaw completely if it’s frozen.
- Fresh Herbs – I used fresh rosemary and thyme. Chopped sage leaves would also pair well with these. If all you have is dried herbs, use 1 teaspoon of dried to replace each tablespoon of fresh. I also once swapped in a total of 2-3 teaspoons of poultry seasoning, which turned out very flavorful.
- Garlic – I don’t recommend substituting garlic powder or jarred garlic here, because this air fryer turkey breast needs whole garlic cloves.
- Olive Oil, Sea Salt, and Black Pepper – Feel free to use avocado oil instead of olive.
How To Cook Turkey Breast In The Air Fryer
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
- Season. Pat the skin dry with paper towels. Rub all sides of the turkey breast with olive oil, then sprinkle with sea salt, black pepper, rosemary, and thyme. Place the garlic cloves under the skin and on top.
- Air fry turkey breast skin side down in the preheated air fryer. Flip and cook until the skin is golden and crispy.
- Let it rest. Remove the basket and let the air fried turkey breast sit for a bit to let the juices settle before slicing. The gravy recipe I serve with it is coming soon!
My Recipe Tips
- Check that your air fryer is large enough for your turkey breast. Also make sure it’s not so tall that it’ll touch the heating element on top! I usually test placing the sealed package inside upfront, so I don’t have to wash the air fryer for no reason if it won’t fit. I used an older model in my pictures, but now have this air fryer and love the roomy basket for air frying turkey breast!
- If you have time, let the turkey breast come to room temperature before cooking. This is not a must, but helps it cook more evenly.
- Depending on the shape of your turkey breast, you may want to place all the garlic cloves under the skin. I was able to have some on top and they stayed on before flipping, but if the top is very round, they might fall off right away. You can also choose to mince the garlic and mash with some butter before placing under the skin, much like I do for spatchcock turkey.
- How long to cook turkey breast in the air fryer? I’ve air fried turkey breast in different sizes to find a rule of thumb, and found that it takes 10-12 minutes per pound for boneless or 11-13 minutes per pound for bone-in. For the 5-pound turkey breast I made here it took about an hour. But see my next tip for perfect results…
- The best way to get juicy results is to insert a probe thermometer before you place the basket in the air fryer. Cooking time will vary depending on the weight and shape of the meat, so this is my favorite way to ensure perfect timing. The safe internal temperature is 165 degrees F, but I set it to 162 degrees F and let it come above 165 while it rests. It turns out more tender this way! This is my favorite regular meat thermometer if that’s your preferred method.
Air Fryer Turkey Breast (Juicy & Easy)
Make the BEST turkey breast in the air fryer! My air fryer turkey breast recipe with garlic and herbs is crispy on the outside, juicy inside.
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Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
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Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 350 degrees F (177 degrees C).
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Use paper towels to pat the turkey dry. Rub the olive oil all over the turkey breast. Sprinkle with sea salt, black pepper, rosemary, and thyme.
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Place the garlic pieces under the turkey skin and on top of the turkey.
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Place the turkey breast in the air fryer, skin side down. Air fry, flipping halfway through, for about 55-60 minutes for a 5-pound turkey breast. If yours is a different size, cook for 10-12 minutes per pound for boneless turkey breast or 11-13 minutes per pound for bone-in turkey breast. It's done when the skin is golden brown and crispy, and the internal temperature in the thickest part of the meat reaches 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). (I recommend using a probe thermometer for best results.)
LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: ~6-8 oz cooked turkey, or 1/4 of entire recipe
- Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get juicy, tender air fryer turkey breast, and make the recipe even easier.
- Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. You can warm them up (see below), or repurpose them for my turkey salad or turkey soup!
- Reheat: I usually reheat turkey in the air fryer again, with some broth at the bottom of the basket to keep it juicy.
- Freeze: You can freeze cooked turkey meat for up to 3 months.
📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Healthy Air Fryer Bundle!
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.
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Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Serving Ideas
I usually serve this air fryer turkey breast with the same Thanksgiving sides I’d choose with a bigger bird, especially ones that aren’t huge. Try it with:
- Vegetables – My healthy green bean casserole and creamed spinach are classic and comforting without behind heavy. For something simpler, my green beans almondine, roasted green beans, roasted asparagus, and sauteed broccoli are all so easy.
- Potatoes – Try my sweet potato casserole, garlic parmesan fries, or for a lighter option, mashed cauliflower.
- Salad – This kale salad is my favorite with air fried turkey breast, but my other fall salad and Thanksgiving salad pair well, too.
- Thanksgiving Desserts – This meal would be unforgettable with my crustless pumpkin pie to finish!
43 Comments
Trish
2Fantastic! I buy only bone in breast usually five or 6 lol because EVERYONE loves the breast and when we have leftovers, it’s only dark meat. I actually tried this exact recipe last year and NOTHING I’ve ever cooked in my air fryer smells this heavenly! Thanks for making everyone’s Thanksgiving taste AH-MAZING! We are grateful for you!
Katie
2This is the first time I made a turkey breast in the Air Fryer. It turned out perfect! Thanks for the tips and recipe.
JB
1I cannot wait to try this recipe!!!!!
Heidi
1Hi, I’m a newbie to air fryers and a couple things are unclear to me. Do you preheat the air fryer to 350 on the “air fryer” or “roast” setting? Next question, does the bird go directly on the bottom of the fryer or on the basket-y thing? I can’t wait to try this, it looks so yummy!
Wholesome Yum D
1Hi Heidi, I am not sure what kind of air fryer you have but most require you to set the temperature and preheat before you place the food inside. If you have a basket and the turkey fits in it, I suggest using that so the turkey does not stick to the bottom.
Chandice
1This is a great turkey option especially for Thanksgiving because it frees up the oven for everything else. So juicy and delicious, thank you!
silvia
1This recipe is so easy and stress-free. I like the flavor combination and it’s so much faster than baking the whole bird!
Leslie Sawmiller
1This is on my Thanksgiving menu for this year!
Katie
1I love how quick this is! And the turkey turns out great and juicy every time!
Heather
1Perfect for when you don’t want to deal with a whole turkey and still want to enjoy the amazing flavours that the air fryer creates.
Amy
1So crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. So much flavor too. The airfryer just locks in the flavor.
Cathleen
1I had no idea that you could make turkey breast in the air fryer!! I know that this will be a staple over the holidays, thank you so much for the recipe 🙂
Colleen
1This is my new favorite way to cook a turkey breast. So juicy and we loved the crispy skin!
Patti
1This recipe is genius. I love the brown and crispy skin. Do you think this would also work for turkey thighs?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Patti, Yes, turkey thighs would work great!
Colleen
1The only way I will make turkey breast from now on! So moist and delicious!
Julia
1It never occured to me to cook turkey breast in my air fryer but the result is absolutely amazing! Another use for my beloved air fryer! Thank you!
Natalie
1The air fryer makes the best turkey!! I won’t make it any other way! The seasonings are perfect!
Kristyn
1Yum!! I am excited to make our turkey in the air fryer this year. It’s the easiest & turns out so good!
Toni
1I love how crispy it is!! So good and really flavorful!
Erin
1This turkey was so juicy and perfect, thank you! We all loved it.
Diane
1Cooked to perfection. I will only make it this way from now on!
Patty
0Wow, great idea to put in the air fryer. Love this recipe.
Wholesome Yum D
0I’m so glad you loved it, Patty! The air fryer really does make it even easier and crispier. Thanks for giving it a try!
JimmyB
0I have a 7 pound bone-in turkey breast thawing in the refrigerator for Easter. It looks as if it will be a tight fit in my Breville Air Fryer. What would you think of cutting it in half similar to butterfly or spatchcock? Thank you.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Jimmy, I think that’s a great idea! You could use the same timing per pound that I have listed, but I’ve only tested with a whole turkey breast, and I think a butterflied or spatchcock one would cook faster. I would insert a probe thermometer to get it perfect. Please let me know how it turns out!
JimmyB
0Well I did it for my Easter dinner today.! My bone-in turkey breast was 7.25lb. I wrote to you about maybe doing a butterfly cut so it would fit better in the air fryer. I ended up cutting out the back bone which made it a bit smaller and thus fit easily in the air fryer. I used the back bone to make some broth. Between the gravy pack and the bone removal the final size was 4.25lb. So I figured 52 minutes. I cooked it upside down for 26 minutes and then turned it over for 26 more minutes. After that I had to cook it for 2 more 13 minute cycles to get to 165°. But it was worth the wait! The skin was crispy and the meat was juicy, tender and flavorful. I received rave reviews from everyone at the table. Thank you for posting such a great recipe! I highly recommend this to anyone reading and considering trying this method.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you for coming back to tell me how it went! I’m so glad everyone liked it. Hope you had a great holiday.
Tom
0Is there enough drippings in the air fryer to make turkey gravy?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Tom, Not as much as a whole turkey, but yes, you can use the drippings at the bottom to make gravy.
Claire
0This air fryer turkey is so good! Juicy, tasty, and easy to make. I’m definitely keeping the recipe, thanks!
Krista
0Tried this air fryer turkey breast and seriously, it’s like Thanksgiving came early! Already planning to impress the family with this at the holiday table.
Denise
0The meat turned out juicy and tender, and the skin was really crispy. Love this!
Emily
0I made this for my work Thankgving potluck and it was a hit! It was nice not cooking a whole turkey or having a lot of cleanup like a do with the oven. I’ll be making this for my family soon, too!
Bea
0I just got an air fryer myself, and this was the first recipe I tried. So happy it came out perfectly! My family were impressed so I’m gonna make another one in our family gathering! Thinking of serving it with some mashed potatoes and salad.
Abby Johnson
0If using a boneless breast, will that alter the cooking time?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Abby, Yes, you would cook for less time if it is boneless.
Karl
1For bone in breast do you use air fry or roast setting? Emeril Legasse fryer
Wholesome Yum D
1Hi Karl, I use the air fryer setting.
Liz
0Love that you can make this in the air fryer!
Jessica
0So easy and delicious – really loved all the garlic and that it calls for fresh herbs.
Marta
0I love all the ways I can use my air fryer. This will make cooking less turkey this Thanksgiving a breeze. Thanks for sharing!
Maria
0It looks delicious. I’ll try it next Sunday. Thanks for sharing.