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If you’re throwing a small Thanksgiving or holiday dinner, and only have a few people coming, my Air Fryer Turkey Breast recipe is a simple, delicious, and foolproof way to get perfect juicy tender turkey breast, with a crispy, crunchy crust in less than an hour!
This recipe is similar to our Cajun Air Fried Turkey Breast and perfect with any stuffing you love for a smaller Thanksgiving for Two!
Don’t want all the extras in a recipe post? We provide a skip to recipe button in the top left corner, as well as a clickable table of contents, just below, to help make this page easier to navigate.
At Sweet C’s, I add lots of tips in all of my recipes – because I am a home cook without any formal training, and I find I am more confident making dishes when I understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe. My goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.
Table of Contents
How to Air Fry Turkey Breast
Just like roasting a turkey breast, air frying a turkey breast is incredibly simple – you’ll wonder why you’ve bothered with other methods on the big day!
Air Fryer Turkey Breast Ingredients
To make this recipe, we will need the following ingredients:
- 1 turkey breast (boneless or bone-in, if in netting, leave netting on to cook) – serves as the centerpiece of the recipe, providing lean, flavorful meat that cooks quickly and evenly in the air fryer. Boneless turkey breast cooks a bit faster and is easy to slice, while bone-in stays slightly juicier and develops a deeper roasted flavor. Leaving the netting on helps the breast hold its shape during cooking so it cooks evenly and stays tender.
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or softened butter – adds fat and moisture, helping the turkey develop a golden, crispy exterior while keeping the inside juicy. Olive oil gives a slightly nutty, savory flavor and helps the seasonings stick, while butter adds richness and a touch of sweetness as it browns. Either option helps conduct heat evenly and encourages browning in the air fryer.
- 1 tablespoon Italian herbs, Greek seasoning, or seasoning blend of your choice – brings aromatic flavor and depth to the mild turkey meat. Italian seasoning adds herbal warmth from oregano, thyme, and basil; Greek seasoning contributes bright, savory notes with garlic, lemon, and herbs; or you can use your favorite blend to suit the meal’s flavor profile. The herbs infuse into the oil or butter, creating a fragrant crust that enhances the turkey’s natural flavor without overpowering it.
Steps to Air Fry a Turkey Breast
Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, we will use the following method:
Pat Dry
Do not skip this step- for the turkey breast to really crisp up, it needs to have no extra water or package liquid. Pat dry with paper towels.
Marinate
Cover in olive oil or softened butter and herbs. Let marinate in spices at least 30 minutes, up to overnight.
Air Fry
Preheat air fryer while turkey breast is marinating. Set air fryer as hot as possible (400-450F) and cook for 10 minutes on high.
Flip turkey breast and cook at 325F for 30-35 minutes, until turkey has reached 165F internal temp in the fattest part of the breast.
Rest, Carve, Enjoy!
Let rest at least 10 minutes before carving. You can cut the netting off when cooking is complete or just carve and pull off netting of each slice.
Serve with turkey gravy (you can use the drippings from this turkey breast!) and enjoy!
Tips for Perfect Air-Fried Turkey Breast
Pat Dry. Pat the turkey breast completely dry before seasoning. Removing surface moisture helps the skin crisp up in the air fryer instead of steaming. Use paper towels and let it sit uncovered in the fridge for 30–60 minutes if you have time — this dries the skin even more.
Cover With Oil or Butter. Rub the turkey generously with oil or melted butter. A light coating of fat helps the skin brown beautifully and adds flavor. Olive oil gives a golden, slightly nutty finish, while butter adds richness and helps the seasoning stick.
Season Well on All Sides. Turkey breast can be bland if underseasoned. Use a mix of salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and herbs for a balanced flavor. Don’t forget to lift the skin gently and season underneath for extra taste.
Preheat the Air Fryer. Starting with a hot basket jump-starts browning and helps the skin crisp faster while keeping the inside juicy.
My Pro Tip
Recipe Tip
Go by temp, not by time – don’t be shy about checking your turkey’s temperature. Turkey breast cook times vary WILDLY – please check your turkey, not the clock, to determine when done. Plan for 35-55 minutes, then dial in doneness with your food thermometer.
Cook Skin Down First. Place the turkey breast skin side down first. This allows the underside to get some color without the skin burning too early. Flip it halfway through cooking so the top crisps up at the end.
Don’t Crowd Basket. Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. The turkey breast needs space for air to circulate freely. If your air fryer is small, cook one portion at a time for even browning and thorough cooking.
Check Temp. Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. Air fryer cooking times vary depending on size and model. The turkey is done when the thickest part reaches 165°F. Remove it at 160°F and let it rest — it will rise a few degrees as it sits.
Let Rest. Let it rest before slicing. Resting for 10–15 minutes allows the juices to redistribute so the meat stays tender and moist instead of drying out when cut.
Brush With Butter at End. Brush with melted butter or glaze near the end. Adding a quick baste in the last 5 minutes of cooking enhances flavor and creates a glossy, golden finish.
Cook Time Varies Wildly. Adjust cook time based on size. A small (2–3 lb) boneless turkey breast usually takes 40–50 minutes at 350°F, while a bone-in one may take closer to 55–65 minutes. Always rely on internal temperature rather than time alone.
Add Garlic or Lemon. Add aromatics if desired. Place halved garlic cloves, lemon slices, or rosemary sprigs under the turkey breast or in the basket to infuse subtle fragrance as it cooks.
Don’t Use Cooking Spray. Avoid cooking spray on the heating element. If you want to lightly grease the basket, spray it before preheating to prevent sticking without coating the air fryer’s fan or coils.
Crisp Skin. For extra-crispy skin, turn the temperature up to 375°F for the last 5 minutes of cooking. Keep a close eye on it so it browns perfectly without burning.
Air Fried Turkey Breast Recipe FAQs
Either works well in the air fryer. Boneless cooks faster and is easier to slice, while bone-in tends to stay juicier and has more flavor. If your breast comes in a netting, leave it on during cooking to help it hold its shape and cook evenly.
The initial high heat helps brown the exterior quickly, giving the turkey a crisp, golden crust. Lowering the temperature to 325°F afterward ensures the inside cooks through gently without drying out. This two-step method gives you both flavor and moisture.
Cooking time varies by size and whether it’s bone-in or boneless. A 2–3 pound boneless breast usually takes about 40–50 minutes total, while a bone-in breast may take closer to 55–65 minutes. Always use a meat thermometer and cook until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Don’t skip the resting period after cooking. Letting the turkey rest for 10–15 minutes allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat. Also, coat it well with oil or butter before seasoning to help seal in moisture as it cooks.
Yes. You can rub it with oil or butter and your seasoning blend up to 24 hours ahead of time. Store it covered in the refrigerator until ready to cook. This gives the flavors time to penetrate and makes the turkey even more flavorful.
Yes. Starting skin-side down helps the underside brown, and flipping halfway through allows the top to crisp evenly. This ensures the turkey cooks consistently and browns on all sides.
Definitely. Combining the two gives you the flavor and richness of butter with the higher smoke point of olive oil, making it less likely to burn during the initial high-heat phase.
The top may look very browned with this method – but this is important to develop a crispy crunch. If you notice the turkey getting too dark before it’s fully cooked, cover the top loosely with foil and continue cooking at 325°F until it reaches 165°F internally.
Store sliced turkey in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, place slices in the air fryer at 300°F for 4–6 minutes, or cover and warm gently in the oven to avoid drying it out.
What to Serve With Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 turkey breast, boneless or bone-in; if in netting, leave netting on to cook
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or softened butter
- 1 tablespoon Italian herbs, Greek seasoning, or seasoning blend of your choice
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheat setting, run it empty for 3–5 minutes to heat up.
- Pat the turkey breast dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. This helps the outside brown and crisp properly.
- Rub the turkey evenly with olive oil or softened butter, coating all sides.
- Sprinkle the seasoning blend generously over the turkey, pressing it in so it adheres well.
- Place the turkey breast in the air fryer basket, skin side down if applicable. Air fry at 400°F for 10 minutes to brown and crisp the outside.
- After 10 minutes, reduce the temperature to 325°F. Flip the turkey breast over (skin side up, if bone-in) and continue cooking until the internal temperature in the thickest part reaches 165°F. This typically takes 35–50 minutes, depending on the size and whether it’s bone-in or boneless.
- Once it reaches 165°F, remove the turkey from the air fryer and let it rest for 10–15 minutes before slicing. Resting allows the juices to redistribute and keeps the meat moist.
- Slice and serve warm
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
