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Air Fryer Butter Roasted Turkey Breast

Butter
03/10/2026
Butter
Total time: 55 min
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Servings: 8
Slices of roasted turkey breast on a wooden cutting board with rosemary, thyme, and cranberries.
Butter

Turkey is Thanksgiving’s centerpiece, and an air fryer makes preparation seamless. Whether you’re hosting Friendsgiving or preparing sandwiches for the week ahead, this simple recipe is a fool-proof introduction to preparing a buttery and flavorful bird. Read on, get cooking and become a holiday hero.

7 people made this

Ingredients:

  • 5 to 6 Pounds Bone-in Turkey Breast , rib bones removed*
  • 1/2 Cup Butter , softened to room temperature
  • 1 Tablespoon Parsley , minced
  • 1 Tablespoon Sage
  • 1 Tablespoon Thyme , minced
  • 1 Teaspoon Rosemary , minced
  • 1 Teaspoon Lemon Zest
  • 1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
  • 1 Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
See preparation

Directions:

  1. Preheat air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Combine the butter, chopped fresh herbs, lemon zest, salt and freshly ground black pepper in a small bowl.
  3. Gently slide your fingers underneath the skin to loosen the skin away from both sides of the turkey breast.
  4. Place a third of the herb butter under the skin, massaging it over the turkey breast meat. Repeat on the other side. Spread the remainder of the butter on the outside of the turkey. It’s fine if it doesn’t spread evenly since it will melt in the air fryer anyway. 
  5. Place the turkey breast skin-side up in the air fryer basket. Air-fry for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.
  6. Use a turkey baster to suck up the drippings from the bottom of the air fryer. Turn the turkey breast over so it is now skin-side down. Air-fry for another 20 minutes.
  7. At the end of the second 20 minutes, carefully turn the turkey breast over again so it is back to skin-side up. Check the temperature of the turkey breast with a quick-read thermometer interred into the thickest part of the breast.
  8. The temperatures should be approaching 155 to 160 degrees. Baste the turkey with additional drippings from the bottom of the air fryer, then air fry the turkey breast for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, stopping periodically to baste the turkey and check the temperature.
  9. Air fry until the skin is crispy and the turkey reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees on an instant read thermometer.
  10. Place the turkey breast on a cutting board and tent it loosely with foil. Let it rest for at least 15 minutes before carving. While the turkey rests, pour the juices from the bottom of the air fryer into a measuring cup or fat separator.
  11. Let the juices sit for 10 minutes and ladle or pour off the grease that rises to the surface. Strain the drippings and either use them to make gravy or simply pour the juices over the sliced turkey breast.

Sides for the Thanksgiving Feast

  1. Turkey alone does not make Thanksgiving! Try serving these two classic sides that have irresistible twists:

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