Air Fryer Turkey Breast

Tender, moist, and perfectly crispy skin, makes it Thanksgiving every day.

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Anyone who knows me can tell you that I absolutely love the holidays, and I don’t just mean Christmas, I love all holidays, Halloween to Fourth of July, Memorial Day to Thanksgiving, there is no holiday I do not love. Unfortunately for me, there are certain traditions associated with every holiday that people never expect you to do outside of the holiday. One of those holiday traditions is cooking turkey which seems to be exclusive to Thanksgiving, but why? Is it because cooking turkey is a laborious undertaking that takes hours to complete? That is probably part of it, and I understand.

When I prepare a full turkey for Thanksgiving it takes hours to not only prepare but also to cook. I wish it wasn’t so, I would love to have turkey other times of year but never have the necessary time. I searched high and low to find an alternative and that’s when I stumbled upon this air fryer turkey breast recipe, it shortens the cook time substantially and helps hold in moisture for a perfectly tender and delicious turkey breast. With this recipe, it is apparent that turkey is no longer just for Thanksgiving.

Is Air Fryer Turkey Breast Healthy?

As I often say, healthiness is all relative, everything in moderation. Air frying is generally considered a healthy alternative to other cooking options as it uses little oil or butter, which lowers both calorie count and fat content. Additionally, the use of convection cooking methods helps preserve nutrients and vitamins from the foods you cook using the air fryer.

Turkey breast is also high in protein and contains many vitamins including B6, B12, folic acid, and niacin, making turkey breast beneficial for brain function, red blood cell production, metabolism, and boosting your immune system. It is also well known that turkey breast contains tryptophan which helps your body make serotonin and melatonin. While the seasoning and salt add a sodium level that should not be consumed too much. Like I said at the start, everything in moderation and your air fryer turkey breast is healthy.

INGREDIENTS

1 (4-pound) turkey breast, bone-in with skin, ribs removed
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 tablespoon dry poultry seasoning

INSTRUCTIONS

Season

Rub oil and season the turkey breast.

Air Fry

Cook skin side down, then flip and cook until done.

Rest

Let the turkey rest before carving.

Devour!

FAQs & Tips

How to Make Ahead and Store

Your turkey breast can be cooked and cut and then stored for later meals. It works great cold on sandwiches or reheated for the entree of a meal. To store your turkey breast, cool it and then store it in a sealed airtight container for up to 5 days. You can also wrap your turkey breast in aluminum and plastic wrap, place it in a Ziploc freezer bag, remove any excess oxygen, and freeze it for up to 6 months. To reheat your turkey breast thaw in the refrigerator and reheat in a foil pouch to maintain moisture.

What if I don’t have poultry seasoning?

If you do not have poultry seasoning you can easily make it yourself. Traditionally poultry seasoning is made by blending sage, thyme, rosemary, marjoram, white pepper, paprika, and celery seed. Blend these spices equally and when you are ready use your homemade seasoning to rub on your turkey breast.

Can I cook a full turkey using this recipe?

While the general steps are similar, I would recommend finding a full turkey recipe rather than trying to convert this recipe into a full turkey.

Serving Suggestions

The options are endless, Homemade Cranberry Sauce will always help bring out the bright flavors of the turkey breast. You can also use your air fried turkey to make sandwiches, or pair it with Cauliflower Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes, or Green Bean Casserole and make a nice Thanksgiving dinner that’s good for any day of the year.