Homemade Roasted Turkey Breast covered in our homemade rub is the best for Thanksgiving or any day dinner. The rub used in this recipe is a perfect combination of spices.
To elevate the flavor, we choose to roast our boneless turkey breast in cast iron, use our rub, and rest the breast on a bed of vegetables while cooking. This is always a huge hit even if it’s not being cooked for the holidays. It’s the ideal meal to serve to a smaller group without the major effort of cooking and carving an entire whole turkey!
When we were kids, we were excited when mom caught a boneless turkey breast on sale at Piggly Wiggly. It was pleasant to have no bones to cut or eat around. It ended the arguments over who got the bigger or better slices… each slice is uniform. The flavor created by the way we roast our boneless turkey breast is spectacular, the meat is moist and tender, requiring no gravy unless it’s desired.
Roasted Turkey Breast with mashed potatoes, gravy, and Cornbread Stuffing is always a huge hit. Our boneless roast turkey looks sensational, and its flavor is delightful. Your family will ask for this to be added to the dinner cycle.
Your diners will be astonished that turkey can be this tender and filled with so much flavor!
Cooking a whole turkey can be time consuming and result in a lot of leftovers. For a smaller gathering, roasting a bone-in turkey breast in a dutch oven is a great alternative. The dutch oven keeps the turkey breast moist and infuses it with delicious flavor.
Why Cook Turkey Breast in a Dutch Oven?
There are several benefits to using a dutch oven for cooking turkey breast:
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Retains Moisture – The tight fitting lid traps steam and moisture as the turkey cooks. This keeps the meat very juicy and tender.
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Adds Flavor – Browning the turkey creates fond on the bottom of the pot that adds rich flavor. Cooking aromatics like onions, carrots and celery along with herbs infuses even more taste.
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Cooks Faster – A 4-6 lb. turkey breast cooks in about 1 1/2 hours since it is a smaller cut than a whole turkey.
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Easy Clean Up – You can cook roast and make the gravy all in one pot.
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Great for Small Gatherings – A turkey breast feeds about 6-8 people, perfect for a smaller Friendsgiving or holiday meal.
Ingredients Needed
- Bone-in, skin-on turkey breast (4-6 lbs)
- Olive oil or butter
- Seasonings like rosemary, thyme, sage
- Vegetables like onion, carrots, celery
- Chicken or turkey broth
- Dry white wine (optional)
- Flour for gravy (optional)
Step-By-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps for juicy, flavorful dutch oven turkey breast:
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Pat Dry and Season Turkey – Pat the turkey breast dry with paper towels. Rub all over with olive oil or butter. Season generously with dry herbs like rosemary, thyme and sage along with salt and pepper.
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Sear Turkey – Heat the dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add turkey breast skin side down and cook for 5-10 minutes until browned. Turn and brown all sides. This gives great color and crispy skin.
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Cook Aromatics – Remove turkey and add diced carrots, celery and onion. Cook for 5 minutes. Add garlic and herbs. Deglaze with white wine or broth.
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Braise Turkey – Return turkey to pot over vegetables, skin side up. Add enough broth to come halfway up the turkey. Bring to a simmer. Cover and bake at 350°F for about 1 1/4 hours until 165°F.
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Make Gravy – Remove turkey and tent with foil. Make a simple gravy by whisking flour into the pan juices or use an immersion blender to puree.
Allow the turkey to rest 15 minutes before slicing. Serve with the easy homemade gravy.
Turkey Breast Pairings and Serving Suggestions
Turkey breast is very versatile and pairs well with traditional holiday sides:
- Stuffing or dressing
- Mashed potatoes
- Roasted vegetables like Brussels sprouts, carrots, parsnips
- Cranberry sauce
- Gravy – the dutch oven method makes it easy
- Biscuits or rolls
Leftover turkey is great in sandwiches, salads, soups and wraps. Slice and freeze portions for meals later.
Common Questions
How long does it take to cook a turkey breast in a dutch oven?
A 4-6 pound bone-in, skin-on turkey breast will take about 1 1/2 hours to cook through at 350°F.
What temperature should turkey breast reach before removing from the oven?
Cook until the thickest part of breast reaches 165°F on a meat thermometer for safe doneness.
Can I use boneless turkey breast?
Yes, you can cook boneless turkey breast in a dutch oven but reduce time to about 1 hour and watch it closely. Bone-in stays juicier.
Should I brine or inject turkey breast?
Brining or injecting is not necessary. Rubbing the seasoned butter or oil under the skin provides plenty of moisture and flavor.
Can I roast turkey breast in advance?
It’s best to cook turkey breast right before serving as the reheated meat may dry out. Cook just what you need for your gathering.
Helpful Tips for Success
- Bring turkey to room temperature before cooking
- Use a large dutch oven so turkey lays flat
- Cook on a rack set inside the pot if possible
- Resist opening the lid frequently to allow even cooking
- Use an instant read thermometer for best accuracy
Cooking a boneless turkey breast in a dutch oven delivers a tender, juicy meat with incredible flavor. Try this easy method for your next holiday meal or Sunday dinner and enjoy!
INGREDIENTS FOR HOMEMADE ROASTED TURKEY BREAST
- Frozen Boneless Turkey Breast
- Carrots
- Onion
- Potatoes
- Celery
- Kosher Salt
- Black Pepper
- Rosemary
- Thyme
- Sage
- Garlic Powder
- Olive Oil
HOW TO MAKE TURKEY BREAST
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Mix salt, pepper, rosemary, thyme, sage, and garlic powder for the rub. Set aside.
In a dutch oven or deep skillet, place in bottom several stalks of celery, several carrots, one onion quartered, and several potatoes quartered.
Take off the plastic overwrap from turkey breast. Leave netting in place.
If there is a packet of gravy, remove it.
Drizzle turkey with olive oil.
Rub turkey with the prepared rub.
Cook for 3 hours until internal temperature reaches 170 degrees.
Remove turkey breast from dutch oven.
Slice the turkey breast to the width desired.
After making our Boneless Turkey Breast, please glance through our other dishes. Look through our dinners, sides, or dessert offerings.
Thank you for choosing to spend some time with us!
Have a wonderful day!
