Description
This easy oven roasted turkey breast recipe features a juicy, flavorful turkey seasoned with fresh herbs, garlic, and lemon. Perfect for holidays or any special meal, the turkey is roasted to a succulent finish with a crispy skin.
Ingredients
Scale
Turkey and Seasoning
- 1 (4 to 6-pound) bone-in, skin-on turkey breast
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary (chopped)
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme (chopped)
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 lemon (sliced)
Roasting Liquid
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). This ensures the oven is at the correct temperature for roasting the turkey evenly.
- Prepare Turkey: Pat the turkey breast dry with paper towels to remove moisture and place it on a rack inside a roasting pan to allow even heat circulation during cooking.
- Make Herb Butter Mixture: In a small bowl, mix the softened butter, olive oil, minced garlic, fresh rosemary, fresh thyme, paprika, salt, and black pepper until well combined to create a flavorful rub.
- Apply Butter Mixture: Carefully loosen the skin of the turkey breast and rub half of the butter mixture under the skin to infuse flavor directly into the meat. Then rub the remaining mixture evenly over the top of the skin for maximum taste and browning.
- Add Lemon and Broth: Place lemon slices under the skin and around the turkey in the pan for fresh citrus aroma. Pour the low-sodium chicken broth into the bottom of the roasting pan to keep the meat moist during cooking.
- Roast Turkey: Roast the turkey breast uncovered for about 20 minutes per pound. Baste occasionally with pan juices to keep the meat juicy. Continue roasting until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part reads 165°F (74°C).
- Rest: Remove the turkey from the oven and let it rest for 15 minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute evenly throughout the meat for a moist final product.
- Optional Crisp Skin: For crispier skin, broil the turkey breast during the last 5 minutes of cooking, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Slice and Serve: After resting, slice the turkey breast and serve with your favorite sides.
Notes
- Use a meat thermometer to avoid overcooking and ensure safety.
- Fresh herbs provide the best flavor, but dried herbs can be substituted at half the amount.
- Boneless turkey breast can be used; reduce cooking time slightly and monitor internal temperature closely.
- For crispier skin, broil the turkey breast for the last 5 minutes of cooking.
