Forget babysitting a 20-pound bird for hours; this Air Fryer Turkey Breast gets you golden, herb-buttered skin and tender, juicy white meat in about an hour, no oven space required. It’s built around a simple butter-and-herb rub (no brining needed!) and works with either a boneless or bone-in breast; you’ll never have to worry about dry turkey again!
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Jeannine raved: “Fantastic. Best turkey breast have ever eaten. Moist and tender, and it made me wish I’d done two of them so I would have had leftovers. Tried the butter mix on a whole chicken and air fried it and it was to die for delicious too. Only recipe I’ll ever use in the future. Making myself hungry just writing this. Thanks so very much!!!”
No More Wrestling a 20-Pound Bird
If you’ve ever stressed about cooking a whole turkey for the holidays, I feel you. That’s exactly why turkey breast in the air fryer has become my go-to move. There’s no brining, no basting, and no wrestling a 20-pound bird into (or out of) the oven. Just a simple herb butter, about an hour of mostly hands-off cooking, and golden, crispy skin with tender, juicy meat every single time.
I’ve made this air fry turkey breast recipe for Thanksgiving, for Sunday dinners, and for random Tuesdays when I just wanted turkey, and it’s never once let me down!
Here’s the secret: you don’t have to be a pro to make this work, and you don’t need a fancy dedicated turkey air fryer appliance either. Your regular basket or oven-style air fryer is all it takes. I’ve tested and retested this recipe until it was completely foolproof, and I’ll walk you through exactly how to keep the meat moist with the right seasoning blend, whether you’re using a boneless cut or a bone-in bird.
Team bone-in turkey? I’ve built in easy tweaks so everyone wins. If you’re feeding a smaller crowd, an air fryer boneless turkey breast is the easiest way I know to get white meat without cooking a whole turkey. And if you happen to want dark meat on the side, my Air Fryer Turkey Thighs or Air Fryer Turkey Legs cook up just as easily.
If you’re thinking “But I don’t have an air fryer!”, don’t worry, I’ve got you covered with full oven instructions further down, so you can make this turkey no matter what equipment you own. And however you cook it, don’t forget to thaw it properly first; my Turkey Thawing Guide walks you through the timing. And if you somehow end up with leftovers, my Leftover Turkey Tacos are the first place I’d you!
You Will Love Turkey Breast in Air Fryer
- Boneless or Bone-In, your choice: This air fryer turkey breast recipe works beautifully with either cut, so you can grab whichever turkey breast your grocery store has in stock. No more standing in the meat aisle wondering which one “counts” as a proper turkey dinner.
- Ready in about an hour: Between mixing the herb butter and letting the turkey rest, you’re looking at roughly an hour start to finish, a fraction of the time (and stress) of roasting a whole bird. That’s more time for the sides, or for pie.
- Frees up your oven: Since this turkey cooks entirely in the air fryer, your oven stays open for stuffing, casseroles, and every other holiday dish fighting for rack space. On a busy holiday, that alone is worth it.
- Juicy, Never Dry: The herb butter gets worked under the skin, basting the meat as it melts and keeping every slice moist. This method was built specifically to solve the “why is my turkey breast always dry” problem.
- Naturally Lean and Protein-Packed: Turkey breast is high in protein and low in carbs and calories, which makes it a smart pick any night of the week, not just around the holidays.
Air Fry Turkey Breast Ingredients
- Bone-in Breast or Boneless Turkey Breast | Choose about a 3-pound boneless turkey breast or up to a 4-pound bone-in turkey breast. Just make sure whichever one you choose is completely thawed.
- Butter | When cooking a turkey breast or even a chicken breast, white meat can get dry. That is why I use softened butter to keep the bird moist and add amazing flavor!
- Kosher Salt & Black Pepper | Classic and essential seasonings
- Garlic Powder | Use garlic powder to blend with dried spices, or minced garlic if you want to use fresh garlic cloves.
- Herbs | This recipe calls for rosemary, thyme, and sage.
- Smoked Paprika | Not only does paprika add a rich flavor, but it helps the color of the turkey skin too!
- Nutmeg | I love freshly grated nutmeg. But you can use ground nutmeg.
Get the full recipe in the recipe card below.
How to Cook Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Step 1 – Prepare the Fresh Turkey Breast
Start by preheating the air fryer to 360° F (182° C) and preparing the seasonings and the bird.
You will want your turkey to be at room temperature. So go ahead and take it out of the refrigerator and allow it to sit for approximately 30 to 60 minutes while you prepare the remainder of the recipe.
Once the meat is room temp, remove it from the packaging, rinse and pat it down with paper towels inside and out to remove the excess moisture.
Step 2 – Spice Mixture
While the bird sits on the counter, you’ll have time to get the spice rub ingredients measured and into a small mixing bowl.
Then add the softened butter to the spices in the small bowl and mix it well.
Rub the herb butter mixture as much under the skin as you are able and leave a little bit to rub over the top of the skin as well. This works for both bone-in and boneless.
Step 3 – Cooking Turkey in the Air Fryer
Bone-in Turkey Breast Instructions:
Place the herb butter-seasoned bone-in meat, skin side up, in a 360°F (182 °C) preheated air fryer basket. Air fry for 25-30 minutes, then turn and flip the breast. Continue air frying for about 20-30 minutes, until a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the breast reads 162-165°F.
How to Make Boneless Turkey Breast in Air Fryer
Place the boneless, butter-coated turkey breast in the air fryer for an hour at 360°F (182 °C). Rotate and turn the meat about every 15 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 162-165°F.
Tip about Air Fryers: All air fryers heat a little differently; some will take a little less time, others a little longer, so always go by your instant-read thermometer reading. Taking it out a few degrees early helps prevent overcooking, and the carryover heat while resting will cook it the rest of the way.
Step 4 – Rest the turkey
Once the turkey is all done in the air fryer, carefully remove it and set it on a cutting board. Tent the turkey breast with aluminum foil and let it rest for 10-15 minutes before carving.
Cooking time will vary depending on the size of the turkey breast and whether it is boneless or bone-in, as well as your air fryer. Use an accurate instant-read thermometer and make sure it reaches 165°F. This one is my favorite economical version.
Air Fryer Turkey Breast Recipe Tips
- Don’t skip the preheat: Starting the turkey in a fully preheated air fryer helps the skin begin crisping right away instead of steaming. It only adds a few minutes and makes a real difference in texture.
- Dry the turkey really well: Pat it dry inside and out before adding the butter. If the surface is still damp, the butter slides right off instead of sticking where you need it.
- Leave the netting on: If your boneless turkey breast came wrapped in netting, don’t remove it before cooking. It’s what holds the breast together while it cooks. Just work the butter underneath and around it as best you can.
- Trust a meat thermometer over the clock: Every air fryer runs a little differently, so cooking times are only ever a guideline. Pull the turkey at 160°F and let carryover cooking finish the last few degrees while it rests.
- Tent with foil if it’s browning too fast: Because air fryers circulate hot air so efficiently, the skin can brown before the inside is fully cooked through, especially on larger breasts. A loose foil tent slows that down without stopping the cooking.
- Give it the full resting time: It’s tempting to slice right in, but 10 to 15 minutes under foil lets the juices settle back into the meat rather than pooling on the cutting board.
- Countertop oven air fryers: If you’re using a countertop model like a Cuisinart or Breville, place the tray on a lower rack and watch for browning, covering with foil near the end if needed.
- Thaw thoroughly: Thaw a frozen turkey breast in the refrigerator for 2 days. If you need it faster, place the unopened turkey in a bath of cold water.
Air Fry Turkey Breast Variations
- Switch up the seasoning. Swap the herb blend for your favorite Cajun, Creole, or chipotle seasoning for a completely different flavor profile in this boneless turkey breast recipe.
- Try mayonnaise instead of butter. Mayo bastes similarly to butter as it melts and can leave you with extra-crispy skin. Worth a try if you’re out of butter!
- Use fresh herbs. If you have fresh rosemary, fresh thyme, fresh parsley, or fresh sage on hand, use about three times the amount called for in dried form for a brighter, more fragrant butter.
- Add aromatics to the basket. For extra flavor (and drippings for gravy), some cooks like to tuck a few slices of onion, carrot, and celery into the bottom of the basket along with a splash of chicken broth before air frying.
- Consider a quick brine. If you have a few extra hours, a simple saltwater brine before seasoning can add even more juiciness, especially with a leaner boneless breast. It’s an extra step, but a worthwhile one if you’re not in a hurry.
- Use your favorite: bone-in turkey breast or boneless turkey breast. Turkey breasts come in different sizes and shapes, so make sure to cook it to the correct temperature (165° F). I recommend using a meat thermometer! Some larger breasts will take longer and some air fryers cook slightly differently.
How to Roast Boneless Turkey Breast in the Oven
Even if you haven’t bought an air fryer yet, you can still make this tender, juicy, and flavorful turkey breast.
Preheat the oven to 450° F (230° C) and place a roasting rack in a roasting pan or a 9×13 inch pan. You might want to spray the rack with a little spray oil, I love Avocado oil — it’s great at high heat.
Place your herb butter rubbed turkey breast skin side up on the roasting rack and roast for 20 minutes. Then cover loosely with foil to prevent over-browning and roast another 30-40 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F. Remove from the oven, let rest, and tent with foil for 15-20 minutes before carving.
How to Serve Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Once that turkey’s rested, don’t just slice and dump it on a plate; a little care here goes a long way. Carve against the grain, in slices about a half-inch thick; that’s what keeps each bite tender instead of stringy. If you went bone-in, slide your knife along the breastbone first to free the whole lobe, then slice across.
For a holiday table, I like fanning the slices out on a platter and spooning a little of the resting juices back over the top right before serving; it keeps everything glistening and adds back flavor that dripped out while it rested. A ladle of my Turkey Giblet Gravy over the top doesn’t hurt either.
For a weeknight version, I just slice it straight onto dinner plates alongside whatever side landed in the oven or Instant Pot that night. My boys have been known to eat it straight off the cutting board before it even makes it to the table, so don’t be surprised if that happens at your house too.
Leftovers reheat beautifully for sandwiches the next day, or shred into a batch of my Leftover Turkey Tacos if you want to switch things up.
How to Store Air Fryer Turkey Breast
For leftover turkey, store cooled, cooked turkey in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days.
Freeze | Place cooled turkey breast in an airtight container, freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in fridge.
How to Reheat Air Fry Turkey Breast Without Drying it Out
Air Fryer Method – Set the air fryer to 325° F (165° C), and wrap desired turkey breast slices inside a foil pocket with a pat of butter or a little broth. Reheat for about 6-10 minutes, and turn the turkey meat halfway through.
Oven Method – Place the desired number of slices of turkey in an oven-safe baking dish, add a pat or two of butter or a little turkey or chicken broth, cover with foil. Reheat in a 325° F (165° C) oven for 20-35 minutes, depending on amount of turkey.
Turkey Breast in Air Fryer FAQs
Cook the boneless turkey breast (about 3 pounds) for about an hour in the air fryer, at 360° F, turning every 15 minutes.
Most people will eat about ½-¾ of a pound. So, this recipe is perfect for 2- 4 people depending on their appetites. It’s perfect for a Thanksgiving for two!
Yes! Follow the instructions in this easy recipe and you will have tender, juicy and not dried out turkey breast!
What to Serve with Air Fryer Boneless Turkey Breast
- Classic Green Bean Casserole with Bacon
- Fall Harvest Salad or try this Harvest Wild Rice Salad
- Autumn Squash Soup
- Cheesy Broccoli Au Gratin
- Potatoes au Gratin (Potatoes Dauphinoise)
- Cheesy Funeral Potatoes
- Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes
- Southern-Style Green Beans
- Air Fried Asparagus
- Don’t forget the classic Pumpkin Custard Pie or this juicy Apple Pie Recipe for dessert!
Recommended Equipment to Air Fry Turkey Breast
- Cosori Air Fryer is my personal favorite; a dedicated air fryer with a larger square basket.
- Ninja Foodi Air Fryer & Indoor Grill is a nice, wide, and easy-to-operate air fryer. Or try this Ninja Crispi version.
- My favorite Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro (it does it all!), love, love this air fryer, countertop oven.
- Meat Thermometer | Invest in one, they come in so handy for turkey’s or grilling. Use an instant read thermometer or leave in probe style.
More Great Air Fryer Recipes You Will Love!
We love our air fryer! Try this air fryer barbecue chicken, or these pigs in blankets, or this popular air fryer halibut.
More Turkey Recipes + Leftover Turkey Recipes
More from The Fresh Cooky
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Don’t forget to give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating and leave a comment below the recipe!
Ingredients
- 3 – 4 pound boneless turkey breast thawed or 3-4 pound Bone-in Turkey Breast, thawed
- 5 tablespoons salted butter softened, real butter
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt if using unsalted butter, add ¼ teaspoon additional salt.
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary or 2 teaspoons fresh, chopped
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme or 2 teaspoons fresh, chopped
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika regular or smoked
- ¼ teaspoon ground sage
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg optional, but so good!
Instructions
- Bring turkey breast out and let it sit on the counter for 30-45 minutes before starting the process.3 – 4 pound boneless turkey breast
- Remove turkey breast from the packaging and pat dry with paper towels.
- Mix spices in a small bowl, then add softened butter, mixing well. Rub the mixture as much under the skin as you are able. Leave a little bit to rub over the top of the skin as well. On boneless turkey breasts, don't remove the netting, instead try and tuck the butter rub under skin where you can and lift and stretch netting to get as much under as possible.5 tablespoons salted butter, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon dried rosemary, ½ teaspoon dried thyme, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ¼ teaspoon ground sage, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
- Preheat the air fryer to 360°F.
Boneless Turkey Breast
- Place coated boneless turkey breast in the air fryer for an hour, rotating and turning about every 15 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 165 F. Tent with foil if browning too much before it reaches the correct internal temperature. If needed, keep cooking in air fryer at 10 minute intervals, taking the temperature until it reaches 160-165° F. Larger turkey breasts will take longer.
Bone-In Turkey Breast
- For bone-in turkey breast, prepare with herb butter the same way; place skin side up in air fryer basket and air fry for 20-25 minutes, then turn and flip and air fry an additional 20 minutes or so until a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part reads 165°F.
- *Cooking times will vary based on the size of your turkey breast; make sure to use an instant-read thermometer reads 165° F. If turkey is not at 160° – 165°F, continue cooking in air fryer at 10-minute intervals and take temperature, cover with aluminum if the skin browns too much. Larger turkey breasts will take longer.
Resting and Carving Instructions for Both Bone-In or Boneless Turkey Breast
- Once your turkey breast reaches 160-165° F, remove either boneless or bone-in turkey breast and set on a cutting board, tenting with foil and allowing to rest 10-15 minutes before carving.
- *Cooking times will vary based on the size of your turkey breast, just make sure to use a good instant read thermometer making sure it reaches 165° F. Removing the turkey a little early and resting will continue cooking using carryover heat while resting.
Notes
- For leftover turkey, store cooled, cooked turkey in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Freeze | Place cooled turkey breast in an airtight container, freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in fridge.
- Air Fryer Reheat | Set the air fryer to 325° F, place desired turkey slices in foil packet, and reheat for 6-10 minutes, turning half way through.
- Oven Reheat | Preheat oven to 325° F (165° C), place slices in oven-safe dish, add a pat of butter or a tablespoon or two of broth, cover with foil, heat 20-35 minutes until warm.
- To make it dairy-free, swap the butter for mayonnaise or a dairy-free butter alternative.
Nutrition
Catherine
This is our go-to turkey recipe. We’ve used it multiple times, across several years. The only issue is the netting coming off and taking some of that tasty skin/flavor with it. The turkey is moist and everyone in the house loves the taste. Best part – 1 hour and the house isn’t so hot from the oven.
YAY!!! So happy to hear that Catherine, yea that netting is an issue at times. You could try removing it and just tying it in 3-4 spots with some kitchen twine, I don’t think it would pull as much skin off that way! Thanks for your sweet comment! Happy New Year!
Janet
So moist. I struggled to get the butter to stick so finally just spread it across the top. Everyone enjoyed it.
That works! If the turkey is too wet the butter won’t stick. But sounds like you figured it out! So glad you enjoyed it.
Jeannine
Fantastic. Best turkey breast have ever eaten. Moist and tender and made me wish I’d done two of them so would have had left overs. Tried the butter mix on a whole chicken and air fried it and it was to die for delicious too. Only recipe I’ll ever use in the future. Making myself hungry just writing this. Thanks so very much!!!
Jeannine—you just made my month! Thank you so much for your sweet words!!! Have a beautiful day! Kathleen
Marcy
Easy, easy clean up, everybody loved it. My breast came with a gravy packet to which I added the pan drippings and a bit of cream. Yum!
Yum is right, Marcy! Thank you so much!!
Jennifer
Thank you for this, I literally have been looking through tons of recipes for Christmas dinner that can be made without an oven.
I live in florida & unfortunately due to our last storm it did something to my oven bake part so the only parts working is the broil n stove top, I was devastated thinking how will we have Christmas dinner now but then I found a few of your recipes, tried them in advance & I could have cried ….I finally found something to save Christmas dinner thanks to you so I thought I’d share. I’m very grateful ???? , thank you dearly & Merry Christmas ???? ????
Oh Jennifer, I have heard from friends about the devastation that hurricane wrought – I’m so sorry it knocked out your oven! So so glad that it worked well!! Trust you also saw the turkey thighs and legs, you could cook them all at different times and simply rewarm them! A very blessed and Merry Christmas to you too!! ❤️????❤️????
nancy
i love your timing on this air fry turkey breast! It comes out really juicy and zero fail!
Thank you!
It really does!! Thanks!
Tara
This turkey breast is so juicy and tender! The air fryer made it easier than ever.
Thank you Tara, so glad you liked it!
Doesn’t it tho!! Thanks Tara!
Tayler
We used this recipe for thanksgiving and it was the best turkey we’ve ever had! Thanks so much for sharing!
YAY! And you are welcome!
Soo glad to hear that!!
Diane
I plan to.make this but have a question. Do you actually use the “air fry” selection or the “oven” selection on the air fryer when cooking the turkey breast?
The air fry function, if you have a countertop model make sure the rack is on the lower side and if needed cover with foil if it’s getting brown too quickly.
Seema Doraiswamy Sriram
The airfryer turkey breast recipe shows the perfection of cooking. Super happy with the step-by-step guide to achieving the same result.
So glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you!
Amy
Came out fantastic and almost just as beautiful as that first picture! Was the perfect amount for our small group this year!
So glad to hear! Thank you so much!
So glad it turned out well for you Amy!
Jules
This recipe was amazing! My grocery store had buy one get one sales for turkey breast and this recipe was so moist and delicious.
Perfect, extra light meat!! YAY!
Amy Nash
This was so juicy, delicious, and easy! I made this for a pre-Thanksgiving meal since our family is traveling for the actual holiday and it was perfect!
Perfect Amy!! Thank you!
Jennifer
I am deep frying two turkeys this year but I did have a request for a “regular” turkey LOL. And since I only have one oven I am air frying it. Thanks for all the great tips and can’t wait to try it!
I love it Jennifer! This will be a great way to cook extra “regular” Turkey! What a feast!
Tristin
You have so many great tips here, I just know my turkey is going to turn out perfectly for Thanksgiving!
Fabulous Tristin!! Happy Thanksgiving!
Erin
I made this for dinner earlier this week, and my kids went WILD for it. Such a good recipe and so easy to do perfectly!
Yay!! Always makes me so happy!
Nikki
Loved how easy this is to make! So much flavor and juicy too!!
Thank you Nikki!!
Lynn
We just got an air fryer this year, so this was perfect for us!! Thank you!
Yay! So glad you loved it!
Eliza
Another fantastic Fresh Cooky recipe! The combination of butter and spices gives this turkey breast such amazing flavor, and it’s the perfect size for our smaller gathering this year.
Thank you so much Eliza, I appreciate you!
Minnie
So very delicious! Juicy and incredible flavors. I used a boneless turkey breast and followed the recipe exactly.
That’s fabulous Minnie, so glad you enjoyed it!
Debi
I actually found turkey breasts at my grocery store, so I gave this a try. The meat was tender and juicy. Easy to make too.
Fantastic Debi, so glad you enjoyed it!