Air Fryer Turkey Breast

Air fryer turkey breast is an easy, meaty main dish that's equally suited for a fabulous family meal as it is a holiday gathering. Perfectly tender and superbly moist turkey is practically effortless whether you're using bone-in turkey breast or boneless turkey breast. This recipe is quick, delicious, and ridiculously simple!

Choose your favorite classic Thanksgiving side dishes to pair with it, like my brown sugar candied yams, bacon cream cheese mashed potatoes, or Campbell's green bean casserole.

Jump to:

• ❤️ Why I Love This Recipe
• 🥘 Ingredients
• 🔪 How To Make Turkey In An Air Fryer
• 💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Notes
• 🥡 Storing & Reheating
• ❓ Recipe FAQs
• 🦃 More Turkey Side Dishes
• 📖 Recipe Card
• 💬 Reviews

Thanksgiving is coming up soon, and that means turkey is on everyone’s minds. Turkey breast can be intimidating for even the most experienced cook, but especially for a beginner.

If it’s your turn to host the holiday meal this year, and you’re in charge of the main course, try this quick, easy, and delicious recipe.

Whether you're a pro at hosting Thanksgiving dinner and holiday parties or giving it a try for the first time this year, you're sure to find my ultimate guide to planning Thanksgiving a help! Don't forget to safely thaw your holiday turkey early, too!

Using an air fryer is great for meat. It speeds up the cooking process and keeps all the juices in, leaving it tender and moist on the inside with crispy skin on the outside. And as an added bonus, you can save oven space for the many other dishes you’ll be putting together for the big meal. 

My recipe uses a simple blend of salt, fresh ground pepper, garlic powder, and paprika to enhance the natural taste of the bird. With widely used flavors, this dish will pair well with almost anything! And it makes amazing sandwiches, soups, pasta dinners, and curries if you have any turkey leftovers.

❤️ Why I Love This Recipe

• Minimal Prep Work. Getting this turkey ready to be cooked only takes 5 minutes.
• Quick Cooking. Spending hours cooking a turkey doesn’t have to be part of the holiday tradition.
• It's Delicious. Using the air fryer helps keep the juices in and gives you a perfectly roasted piece of meat every time.

🥘 Ingredients

With only 6 ingredients, this is a simple dish packed with all kinds of flavors. A boneless turkey breast is ideal for fitting into your air fryer and for hosting a small gathering!

• Turkey Breast - 3 pounds of turkey breast. Boneless or bone-in will both work in this recipe as long as it’s thawed (and can fit into your air fryer).
• Olive Oil - 1 tablespoon of olive oil. As always, a good extra virgin olive oil is a pantry essential!
• Kosher Salt - 2 teaspoons of Kosher salt. Salt brings out the flavor of everything around it.
• Ground Black Pepper - ¼ teaspoon of pepper. Freshly ground black pepper adds some spice to this savory dish.
• Garlic Powder - ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder. Garlic makes everything better!
• Paprika - ¼ teaspoon of paprika (or use a paprika substitute). Paprika has a subtle flavor and adds beautiful color to a somewhat bland-looking dish.

🔪 How To Make Turkey In An Air Fryer

You’ll need your air fryer, paper towels, and a cutting board for this recipe. An electric knife can also be especially helpful for cutting slices when you’re ready to serve.

Depending on the exact weight of your turkey breast, you should have about 6 servings.

1. Season. Use paper towels to pat dry a 3-pound (1.36 kilogram) turkey breast. Pour 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) of olive oil over the bird and spread it over the entire surface. Season with 2 teaspoons (12 grams) of Kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon (0.5 grams) of ground black pepper, ¼ teaspoon (0.75 grams) of garlic powder, and ¼ teaspoon (0.5 grams) of paprika. Use your hands to spread the spices evenly.
2. Cook. Transfer the meat to the air fryer basket, keeping the skin side up. Cook at 375℉ (190℃) for 20 minutes. Flip it over (breast down) and cook for another 20 minutes or so until it’s done. Check for doneness by using a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat. It should reach 165℉ (74℃) when it is done.
3. Let it rest. Take the turkey out of the air fryer and move it to a cutting board or serving platter. Use aluminum foil to create a loose tent over the top. Let the meat rest for 10 minutes.
4. Serve. Carve and serve.

Serve on a platter garnished with parsley and orange or lemon slices. Here are even more of my favorite side dishes to serve with turkey. Enjoy!

💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Notes

• As always, avoid using aerosol sprays in your air fryer. Aerosol sprays damage the coating. Instead, try using a spritz bottle or a pastry brush to oil the basket.
• Don’t skip patting your turkey dry. You will want to remove as much water as you can from the skin. Drying your turkey will help it cook faster and will help crisp up the skin on the outside. Don’t skip this step, and be sure to dry it thoroughly for best results.
• The weight of your turkey will depend on the number of diners. As a general rule, count on ½ to ¾ pounds of boneless or 1 pound of bone-in turkey breast for each person who will be eating. If you want leftovers for sandwiches the next day, calculate that into your estimate. For reference, most bone-in turkey breasts are between 4 and 10 pounds. Boneless breasts tend to be 2¾ to 6 pounds.
• Swap out the extra virgin olive oil with butter for a richer flavor. You can cover the turkey with the same amount of butter as you would olive oil, but you should be aware that butter will run the risk of burning. To prevent this, loosely cover the breast with aluminum foil during cooking.
• Add fresh herbs for an extra delicious taste. Tear up fresh herbs like parsley, rosemary, and thyme. Put them on top with the rest of the seasonings, or stuff them in the turkey cavity if using bone-in meat. Herbs are a wonderful way to bring the flavors of your garden to a meal, even late in the season.

🥡 Storing & Reheating

If you have any leftovers, refrigerate them in shallow, tightly sealed containers that will allow them to cool quickly. They will be safe to eat for up to 3-4 days.

For long-term storage, place turkey slices in a single layer in freezer bags or in airtight containers. You can enjoy leftovers for up to 6 months; however, leftover turkey is best thawed and eaten within 1-2 months.

Be sure to check out all of my tasty leftover turkey recipes, too!

Reheating

The best way to reheat cooked turkey is in the oven. Thaw any frozen pieces in the fridge overnight. Once thawed, leave leftovers at room temperature for 10 to 30 minutes. This will help it reheat evenly.

Next, put similarly-sized pieces in a baking dish covered in tin foil with a bit of stock and melted butter poured over the top to add moisture. Cook at 300℉ (149℃) for 20 to 30 minutes or until warmed to your satisfaction.

❓ Recipe FAQs

🦃 More Turkey Side Dishes

• Mashed Potatoes (no milk needed)
• Candied Yams
• Pumpkin Pie
• Turkey Gravy
• Green Bean Casserole (no canned soup)
• Apple Cider Cranberry Sauce

📖 Recipe Card