Cooking a delicious and moist half turkey breast may seem intimidating, but it’s actually quite simple with the right techniques Whether you’re cooking for a smaller holiday gathering or want leftover turkey without the headache of roasting a whole bird, learning how to properly bake a half turkey breast is a great skill to have.
In this detailed guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to bake a perfect half turkey breast with crispy skin and succulent meat infused with herbs, spices, and citrus.
Benefits of Cooking a Half Turkey Breast
There are a few key advantages to baking just a half turkey breast rather than a whole turkey:
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Perfectly sized for smaller gatherings: A half breast provides ample meat for 4-6 people without the hassle and waste of a large whole turkey.
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Shorter cook time: Half breasts take far less time to roast than a full turkey, usually around 1-1.5 hours.
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Easier to prepare: Seasoning and basting a half breast is much simpler than wrestling with a whole bird.
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More flavor control It’s easier to evenly coat a half breast with herbs, spices, butter, and citrus.
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Lower risk of overcooking: With less meat to cook through, it’s harder to dry out a half breast.
Picking the Right Half Turkey Breast
When selecting your half turkey breast, here are a few things to look for:
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Weight Target a breast between 3-4 pounds, an ideal size for 4-6 servings Much larger and it becomes trickier to cook evenly.
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Bone-in: Opt for a bone-in half breast rather than boneless for better flavor and moisture. The bones help shield the delicate white meat during roasting.
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Skin-on: Keeping the skin on will help keep the breast meat succulent and allow the skin to crisp up.
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Fresh, not frozen: Choose a fresh never-frozen breast for optimum flavor and texture. Check the packaging.
Once you’ve got the right size fresh bone-in, skin-on half turkey breast, it’s time to prep it for the oven.
Prepping the Turkey Breast for Baking
Proper prep is key to achieving a uniformly cooked and seasoned half turkey breast. Here’s how to get your breast roast-ready:
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Pat dry: Gently pat the breast dry with paper towels, inside and out. Excess moisture can hinder crisping.
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Loosen skin: Carefully loosen the skin from the meat with your fingers, being careful not to tear it. This helps the seasoning penetrate.
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Season under skin: Rub an herb butter or spice mix directly onto the meat under the skin. This adds big flavor.
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Season outside: Coat the outside of the skin liberally with olive oil and rub in seasoning like garlic, herbs, citrus zest, salt, and pepper.
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Truss (optional): For a compact shape, tie the breast with kitchen string. This helps it cook evenly.
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Bring to room temp: Let the seasoned breast sit at room temperature while the oven preheats. Cold meat cooks unevenly.
Now it’s time to get your masterfully prepped turkey breast into the hot oven.
How to Roast a Juicy Half Turkey Breast
Roasting is hands-down the easiest and most flavorful cooking method for getting a tender and juicy half turkey breast with crispy browned skin. Here are some tips:
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Heat oven to 375°F: This moderate temperature helps the breast cook through gently without over-browning.
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Use a rack: Placing the breast on a rack over a roasting pan allows air circulation for even cooking.
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Roast skin-side up: Starting with the skin up helps it crisp up beautifully. Flip over later to brown the underside.
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Baste frequently: Brush with melted butter, olive oil, or poultry stock every 30 minutes to keep it moist.
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Check temp periodically: Start checking the internal temp about halfway through cooking. Use an instant-read thermometer to monitor doneness.
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Cook to 165°F: The safe minimum internal temperature for turkey is 165°F. The breast should register 160-165°F after resting.
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Rest before slicing: Letting the roast rest for 10-15 minutes allows the juices to settle for moister meat.
With frequent basting, proper temperature, and rest time, your half turkey breast will turn out tender and full of flavor.
Seasoning and Flavoring Your Turkey Breast
One of the best parts about cooking just a half turkey breast is that you can get really creative with flavors. Here are some delicious seasoning ideas:
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Herb butter: Blend softened butter with rosemary, thyme, sage, garlic, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Slather under and on skin.
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Spice rubs: Coat the breast in bold Cajun, jerk, or chili spice rubs for more punch.
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Citrus and herbs: Orange, lemon, lime zest and fresh herbs like parsley, basil, and chives make a bright combo.
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Aromatics: Stuff the cavity with quartered onions, garlic, celery, carrots, and fresh herbs for built-in flavor.
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Brine before roasting: Soaking the breast overnight in a saltwater brine boosts moisture and seasoning.
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Flavored butter baste: Whip up compound butters with citrus zest, rosemary, chipotles, or brown sugar to baste with.
With the right combination of prep, roasting time, and creative flavors, you can enjoy a perfectly cooked and delicious half turkey breast that rivals any whole turkey. Impress your family or guests with your own specialty roasted half turkey breast recipe.
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Simple Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
FAQ
Is it better to cook a turkey breast at 325 or 350?
Should a turkey breast be cooked, covered or uncovered?
How long to cook a 2,7lb turkey breast in the oven?
Do you put water in the bottom of the roasting pan for turkey breast?
How do you cook a half turkey breast?
Our half turkey breast recipe is coated in a delicious fresh herb and butter mixture that makes a golden brown, juicy turkey that’s so easy! Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Approximately 30 minutes before it goes in the oven, place the turkey skin-side up in an appropriately-sized roasting pan or cooking dish.
How do you cook a turkey breast in the oven?
Season the breast all over with salt and pepper (with some under the skin, if desired). Rub the seasonings into the skin. If you’re cooking a half-breast, pull the skin to cover the meat as much as possible. Lower the oven to 350°F and roast the turkey for 1 hour. Place the turkey in the oven and immediately reduce the heat to 350°F.
How do you cook a 3 pound turkey breast?
With its crispy skin and tender, juicy meat, your whole family is going to love this one! Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place a 3 to 8 pound turkey breast skin side up on the rack of a roasting pan, or into a lightly greased 9×13 pan.
How do you cook a turkey breast with butter?
Using your fingers, carefully loosen the skin from the breast meat, spreading half of the butter mixture under the skin. Secure skin over the butter with wooden picks. Place turkey, breast side up, on top of the lemon slices. Spread remaining half of the butter mixture over the turkey; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
How do you cook a juiciest turkey breast?
To get that nice crispy skin at the end, we will increase the oven temperature to quickly caramelize the skin. The trick to achieve the juiciest turkey breast is to cook the meat to an internal temperature of 160 F inside the oven (the internal temperature will continue to rise with residual heat).
What temperature should a half turkey breast be cooked at?
The oven temperature plays a critical role in achieving a perfectly cooked half turkey breast. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) for a balance of cooking time and browning the exterior. Lower temperatures can result in excessively long cooking times, while higher temperatures may lead to uneven cooking and drying out the meat.