Cooking a 5 pound bone-in turkey breast is a great option for feeding a smaller gathering of 6-8 people without all the work of roasting a whole turkey. A boneless breast in the 2-3 pound range can also easily serve 4-6 With the right techniques and cooking times, you’ll have moist, flavorful sliced turkey in just 90 minutes or less.
Compared to wrestling a 15 pound whole bird into the oven, prepping a turkey breast is a cinch There’s no complicated trussing, tedious giblet removal or awkward roasting pans required Just season it, pop it in the oven and you’ll have elegant white meat ready for your holiday table or any Sunday supper.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to roasting the perfect juicy 5 pound turkey breast along with timing, temperature and carving tips to master this easy, impressive meal.
Choosing the Right Size Turkey Breast
Turkey breasts are sold both bone-in and boneless. For the best flavor and texture, choose a:
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Bone-in turkey breast: More moist and flavorful than boneless. Ideal sizes are 4-6 pounds to feed 6-8 people.
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Boneless turkey breast: Quicker cooking but can dry out. Get a 2-3 pound breast for 4-6 servings.
Make sure the breast shape is even and uniformly thick so it cooks evenly. Avoid any oddly shaped or thin tapered breasts. Let the breast sit at room temperature 30 minutes before roasting so it cooks more evenly throughout.
Seasoning and Preparing the Turkey Breast
To ensure a juicy breast with super crispy skin, prep it properly before it goes into the oven:
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Pat the breast skin dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture so the skin gets crispy in the oven.
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Gently loosen the skin from the meat using your fingers, without fully detaching the skin.
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Rub or brush olive or avocado oil over the meat under the skin to prevent it from drying out while cooking.
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Generously season the oil-coated meat under the skin and the exterior skin with salt, pepper and any other desired seasoning like thyme, sage or rosemary.
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For extra flavor, place fresh herbs, garlic cloves, citrus slices or quartered onions inside the breast cavity before roasting.
Calculating Cook Time for a 5 Pound Turkey Breast
The general roasting time guideline for turkey breast is:
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Bone-in breast: Bake at 350°F for 18-20 minutes per pound
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Boneless breast: Bake at 350°F for about 15 minutes per pound
For a 5 pound bone-in breast, that equals around 90-100 minutes total cook time at 350°F. Always rely on an instant read meat thermometer rather than cook times to check for doneness (165°F for turkey). Cook a bit longer if needed until the minimum safe temperature is reached.
How to Roast a Turkey Breast to Perfection
Follow these simple steps for roasting flawless juicy turkey breast every time:
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After seasoning and stuffing, preheat the oven to 350°F.
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Place the turkey breast on a roasting rack in a roasting pan or rimmed baking sheet to allow air circulation. The rack prevents the bottom from steaming.
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Roast the turkey breast uncovered at 350°F, calculating about 90 minutes total for a 5 pound bone-in breast.
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Rotate the roasting pan halfway through cooking for even browning and moisture distribution.
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Use an instant read thermometer to check the internal temp in the thickest part of the breast without touching bone. Turkey is safely cooked at 165°F.
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Once the breast reaches temp, tent loosely with foil and let rest 15-30 minutes before slicing to allow juices to reabsorb for a moister carved turkey. The internal temp will rise about 10 degrees during resting.
Monitoring Doneness and Internal Temperature
Since turkey breasts vary in shape and density, relying on an instant read meat thermometer is more reliable than cook times. Check the temp in a few places to ensure the innermost meat reaches 165°F safely.
If the breast starts browning too quickly, loosely tent foil over it and continue roasting until done. For food safety, turkey should reach a minimum 165°F before eating.
Letting the breast rest after baking allows the juices to redistribute for a juicier carved turkey. The temperature rises about 5-10 degrees during the resting time as heat equalizes.
Flavoring and Seasoning a Turkey Breast
There are lots of easy ways to infuse more flavor into your roasted turkey breast:
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Loosen the skin and rub the meat underneath with herbed butter before seasoning the skin.
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Make a spice rub with brown sugar, spices, garlic and olive oil to give the skin a flavorful crust.
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Stuff halved lemons, oranges or fresh herbs inside the cavity for moisture and flavor.
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Add aromatic vegetables like quartered onions, garlic cloves or carrots to the cavity.
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Brine the breast overnight in a salt-sugar-herb brine for extra moist turkey.
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Coat the breast with oil-based marinades or dry spice rubs before roasting.
Any preparation method and added seasonings will infuse the mild turkey breast meat with more flavor. Feel free to get creative!
Carving and Serving the Roast Turkey Breast
Once the turkey breast is roasted and rested, here are some tips for carving and serving it:
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Use a sharp carving knife to carefully slice the breast across the grain into thin slices for tender meat.
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Arrange the sliced turkey on a serving platter and spoon any pan juices over the meat to keep it nice and moist.
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Serve the carved turkey with gravy or sauce made from the flavorful pan drippings.
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Garnish the sliced turkey breast with chopped fresh parsley, thyme or other herbs for extra flavor and color.
Your perfectly cooked roast turkey breast is now ready to serve and enjoy! Complement the roast turkey with classic Thanksgiving sides or your favorite mealtime accompaniments.
Turkey Roasting Pan and Rack Options
You don’t need any fancy equipment to roast turkey breast. Any of these pans will work great:
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Traditional roasting pan with a rack
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Rimmed sheet pan with a wire cooling rack set inside
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Disposable aluminum roasting pan with a rack
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Smaller baking dish, roasting breast side up
The key is the raised roasting rack for air circulation all around (except for the baking dish option). If oven space is limited, you can also use a smaller pan and roast the breast vertically.
With this simple roasting method, your oven will be freed up to cook multiple dishes while delivering moist, delicious turkey breast worthy of any special occasion meal.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cooking Turkey Breast
How long per pound should I cook a 5 lb turkey breast?
For bone-in breast, cook for around 18-20 minutes per pound at 350°F, so about 1 1/2 hours total for a 5 pound breast. Boneless cooks slightly faster.
What is the minimum internal temperature for turkey to be safely cooked?
Cook turkey until it registers a minimum of 165°F on an instant read meat thermometer for food safety.
Should I tent foil over the breast while it cooks?
Tent loosely only if the skin starts browning too much before the interior is fully cooked. Cook until 165°F.
Can I stuff vegetables and herbs inside the cavity?
Yes, placing lemons, onions, garlic, fresh herbs or other aromatics inside the cavity adds great flavor.
Is bone-in or boneless turkey breast better?
Bone-in breast has the best texture and moisture. Boneless cooks faster but is less foolproof and prone to drying out.
With the right size breast, proper seasoning and ideal roasting time, you’ll have perfect turkey breast on your table in under 2 hours. Impress your dinner guests with juicy, tasty white meat that rivals any whole roasted bird.
