How to Cook a Delicious Boneless Turkey Breast – A Step-by-Step Guide

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Boneless turkey breast is a great alternative to cooking a whole turkey. It’s quick easy and you don’t have to worry about carving around bones and cartilage. With a few simple steps, you can make a juicy, flavorful boneless turkey breast perfect for any occasion.

Benefits of Cooking Boneless Turkey Breast

There are several advantages to choosing boneless turkey breast over a whole bird

  • Less cooking time – A 3-5 lb boneless breast roasts in about 1-2 hours versus 3-4 hours for a whole turkey.

  • More white meat – You get lean, tender breast meat without the wings and legs.

  • Easier prep – No giblets to remove and no messy carving required.

  • Serves fewer people – Perfect for smaller gatherings of 4-6 without leftovers.

  • Better portion control – Easy to prepare the exact amount needed.

Picking the Right Boneless Turkey Breast

Boneless turkey breasts are sold fresh or frozen:

  • Fresh – Found in the refrigerated meat case. Has more natural flavor but short shelf life.

  • Frozen – Convenient and stores longer. Defrost in the fridge 1-2 days before cooking.

When choosing a breast:

  • Select a size based on the number of servings needed. Estimate 1⁄2 pound per person.

  • Look for a breast that is at least 2 pounds to feed 4+ people.

  • Opt for enhanced turkey injected with a salt solution for juicier meat. Popular brands like Butterball are good choices.

Prep Steps Before Cooking

Follow these simple prep steps for the best results:

  • Thaw completely if using frozen turkey breast. Thaw in the refrigerator, allowing 24 hours for every 5 pounds.

  • Rinse and pat dry with paper towels. Make sure the breast is dry before seasoning – this helps the skin get crispy.

  • Remove netting or string used for holding the breast’s shape. Reserve to tie again before cooking if desired.

  • Preheat oven to 325°F which gives the best balance of moist meat and crispy skin.

  • Prep a roasting pan with a rack inside. The rack elevates the breast allowing air circulation for even cooking.

Seasoning a Turkey Breast

For flavorful turkey, try these easy seasoning ideas:

  • Brine overnight. Soak turkey breasts in a saltwater brine to infuse moisture and taste.

  • Dry rub. Coat the breast with Cajun spice, garlic powder, rosemary, sage and brown sugar.

  • Compound butter. Soften butter and blend in lemon zest, parsley, thyme and pepper. Spread under breast skin.

  • Flavored oil. Lightly coat breast with olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic and onion powder.

  • Store-bought marinade. For fast flavor, marinate breast for 2 hours in Italian dressing, mojo criollo or teriyaki.

How to Cook a Boneless Turkey Breast

Follow these simple steps for roasted boneless turkey breast:

  • Tie up breast with kitchen string or replace netting to maintain shape. Tuck wings underneath.

  • Place breast in pan on the rack. Brush with oil or melted butter to prevent drying out.

  • Roast uncovered in preheated 325°F oven for about 15-20 minutes per pound. Example: A 3 lb breast bakes for 45-60 minutes.

  • Flip breast halfway through cooking for even browning. Tent with foil if skin gets too dark.

  • Check internal temp with a meat thermometer starting at hour mark. Cook to minimum 165°F for food safety.

  • Let rest 10 minutes before slicing to allow juices to redistribute for a juicier turkey breast.

Roasting Pan and Time Guide

For the best results, follow these oven roasting guidelines:

| Turkey Breast Weight | Roasting Pan Size | Approximate Cook Time |
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how do you cook a boneless turkey breast

Community Q&ASearch

  • Question Does cook time vary for rolled and tied skinless breasts? Community Answer It depends on the size of the breasts. A flatter breast cooks faster than a thicker one, so rolled chicken may take longer.
  • Question Can I cook a turkey breast the day before? Community Answer Absolutely. Reheat it covered in the oven at 325 degrees.
  • Question Should I use any liquid with a turkey breast in the oven? Community Answer If you marinate the turkey breast first, you shouldnt need to roast it in liquid, as adding liquid to the oven will discourage the skin from crisping and turning brown. If you need to have liquid in the pan to keep the bottom from burning (if you want pan drippings for gravy), add chicken broth. Water would work as well, but it wouldnt add flavor, just keep the drippings from burning.
  • If a meat thermometer is not available, cook the turkey breast until inside juices run clear. To test this, make a small cut into the center of the turkey breast. Juices escaping through this cut should be completely clear to indicate a thoroughly cooked breast. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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StepsMethod

  • 1 Buy it by the pound. Boneless turkey breast can be bought fresh or frozen by the pound. Turkey breasts are much larger than chicken breasts, so youll want to factor that in when you decide how much to buy. A serving size of turkey breast comes out to 1/4 to 1/2 pound per person. Since cooked turkey keeps well in the refrigerator, you may want to buy extra so youll have leftovers for sandwiches.
    • If youre buying fresh turkey, look for tender pink breasts with no spots of discoloration. If youre buying fresh turkey that comes prepackaged, make sure to use or freeze it before the expiration date.
    • Choose frozen turkey breast with no signs of freezer burn. Uncooked turkey breast can be kept in the freezer for up to nine months.[1]
  • 2 Thaw it if its frozen. If you try to cook your turkey from a frozen state, it will take an incredibly long time. Using a refrigerator to thaw slowly is the recommended method. [2] The night or so before you plan to cook the turkey breast, place it in the refrigerator so it can slowly thaw. Youll need to allot 24 hours of thawing for every 4 to 5 pounds of weight.
    • Leave frozen breast, still in its packaging, in the refrigerator for as long as necessary to thaw it out. Put the breast on a plate or tray to catch any juices that might drip out of the packaging as the meat thaws.
    • If youre pressed for time, thaw the turkey in cold water bath. Submerge the still-wrapped turkey in a large bowl or sink of cold tap water. Replace the water every half hour with fresh cold tap water.Allot half an hour of thawing time per pound of weight using this method.
    • Use a microwave for the fastest thawing alternative. Remove all packaging from the turkey breast. Place it on a microwave-safe dish to catch any juices. Use the power setting and cooking time recommended for thawing or defrosting meat in the user’s manual.

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  • 3 Remove the packaging. Once the breast has thawed, remove any packaging it came in. Fresh or frozen turkey breast often comes wrapped in plastic netting, and you want to be sure to remove this before cooking the turkey. If your breast came rolled up like a roast, unroll it before cooking.
  • 4 Consider marinating the turkey breast. While using a marinade isnt required, it results in tender, flavorful meat. Make your marinade at least an hour before you plan to cook the turkey. Choose any store-bought marinade to flavor your turkey, or make your own. Place the turkey in a large food storage container and pour the marinade over it. Use one-fourth cup of marinade into the container for every pound of turkey meat. Let it marinate for one to three hours before cooking.
    • You can whip up a quick marinade by mixing 1/2 cup vinegar, 1/4 cup olive oil, 4 teaspoons minced garlic, 1 teaspoon pepper and 1/2 teaspoon salt for every four pounds of turkey.
    • Be sure to place the meat back into the refrigerator for the duration of the marination.
    • Because thawing at high temperatures (cold water bath and microwave) can encourage bacteria growth, it’s recommended that you cook fast-thawed meat immediately. Therefore, you must slow-thaw your turkey breast in the refrigerator if you plan to marinate it for a few hours before cooking.

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Simple Oven Roasted Turkey Breast

FAQ

Do you cook a boneless turkey breast at 325 or 350?

The best oven temperature to cook a turkey breast is 350°. An oven temp of 325° can be used, but it will take longer, and the skin will not be as crisp. 375° is too high–you will cook the skin rapidly and need to tent it with aluminum foil near the end of cooking to prevent over-browning.

How long does it take to cook a 3lb butterball boneless turkey breast?

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  1. Thaw the turkey in its original packaging in the refrigerator for 48 hours
  2. Preheat the oven to 325°F or 350°F
  3. Place the turkey in a shallow pan
  4. Cook until the turkey reaches an internal temperature of 165°F
  5. Remove the turkey from the oven and let it stand for 30 minutes before carving

Do you bake turkey breasts covered or uncovered?

Should You Cover a Turkey When Cooking? To achieve a perfectly golden, juicy turkey, let the bird spend time both covered and uncovered in the oven.Nov 13, 2024

What temperature should a boneless turkey breast be cooked at?

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  • Roasting: A classic cooking method for turkey breast. You can roast turkey breast at 450°F for 30 minutes, then at 300°F until it reaches 160°F. 

  • Deep-frying: Another way to cook turkey breast. 

  • Grilling: You can grill turkey breast. 

  • Smoking: You can smoke turkey breast until it reaches an internal temperature of 160°F. 

How do you cook a boneless turkey breast?

To cook a boneless turkey breast in a crock pot, it should weigh around 4 pounds (1.8 kg) and have the skin removed. Pat the turkey breast with paper towels until it is dry. Cover the turkey breast with the seasoning rub. Use your hands or a pastry brush to spread it along the sides and top of the turkey. Place the seasoned turkey breast in the crock pot.

What is a roasted boneless turkey breast?

This roasted boneless turkey breast is a delicious no-fuss recipe. The turkey is smeared with honey garlic butter and roasted to golden perfection on a bed of zesty lemons and fresh herbs. I love this recipe because it is has all the best parts of a whole turkey with a fraction of the time and effort.

What do you need to cook a turkey breast?

Here is everything you will need: Boneless turkey breast. Often called a boneless turkey breast roast, look for fresh, light pink meat. Note that they are slightly larger than chicken breasts. It may come in netting depending on where you get the turkey from.

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