Learn how to make the juiciest air fryer turkey breast in under one hour! It’s coated in fresh herbs, lots of butter, and maple syrup for sweetness. Make the holidays simple with an easy turkey recipe the whole family will love!
Want to make a Thanksgiving meal without the whole fuss of roasting a whole turkey? Try this delicious turkey breast made in an air fryer. The turkey is basted in lots of butter and a maple herb glaze with fresh sage and rosemary! The inside of the turkey is cooked to perfection and is juicy and so tender. No oven or baking vessels are needed! Just an air fryer to make things extra simple.
One of the cool things about this recipe is I was able to develop it and shoot it alongside my mom. She is so talented in the kitchen – especially when it comes to holiday meals! So It was a no-brainer to have her help me bring this recipe to you all.
I always learned from my mom that you don’t have to overcomplicate things. Especially when it comes to Thanksgiving turkey! We rarely had a whole turkey for holidays growing up. My mom would make other main dishes like stuffed cornish hens, turkey breasts, and so much more and it was always delicious!
So, if you are looking for a way to simplify things this year for your turkey day feast, try this mouthwatering recipe that is done in 1 hour and is so full of flavor!
Ingredients – What You Need
Here’s the full list of ingredients you’ll need to make this recipe: turkey breast, fresh sage, fresh rosemary, butter, maple syrup, onion powder, and salt & pepper.
How to Make Turkey Breast in an Air Fryer – Step by Step
First, use paper towels to pat the turkey breast dry.
Then use a brush to baste it thoroughly with the melted butter.
Pat the turkey dry Baste with melted butter
In a small bowl mix the chopped herbs, onion powder, and maple syrup together.
Then brush the maple glaze over the whole turkey breast. Sprinkle thoroughly with salt and pepper.
Mix the glaze ingredients Baste with maple glaze
Then add turkey breast into the preheated air fryer, cook for 40 or more minutes (this will depend on the size of your turkey breast). At the 20 minute mark flip the breast and baste with the turkey bits and juices on the bottom of the air fryer. Then continue cooking until internal temperature reaches between 160-165F.
Cook the turkey breast
When the turkey breast is finished, let it rest for 8-10 minutes (internal temperature should be 165F) then slice and serve!
Tips for Success
Use butter for basting – the get the perfect browning on the turkey and to lock in flavor, I recommend using butter versus oil for this recipe.
Netted turkey vs unnetted – I purchased a turkey breast with netting already on it. If this isn’t available you can use butcher string to wrap up the turkey breast and tie it together several times. You can also cook the turkey breast without the netting as well, just be sure to check the internal temperature as the cooking time may vary.
Use a meat thermometer – as stated below, it’s important to use a meat thermometer to thoroughly determine whether the turkey is cooked or not.
Cook time will depend on weight – as is with most turkey recipes, the cooking time will depend on the weight. So if you have a heavier or lighter breast, the cooking time will change. Use the meat thermometer to keep an eye on the internal temperature to determine how long it should cook. Most turkey breasts will take about 30-40 minutes to cook in the air fryer.
Elevate Your Turkey by Brining It
Want a simple way to elevate this recipe even more? I recommend soaking the turkey breast in a turkey brine for even more mouthwatering results. By soaking the breast in brine it infuses more flavor and moisture into the poultry. You can do the brining overnight for best results or for about 8 hours, then pat it dry with paper towels before adding the butter and maple glaze.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I keep my turkey breast from drying out? A few steps can be taken to avoid a dry turkey. First, use a meat thermometer to accurately determine whether the turkey breast is fully cooked. Using a turkey brine to soak the turkey breast the night prior to cooking is an easy step to lock in moisture! Also rotating the turkey while it cooks and basting it throughout the cooking time will keep it moist and help prevent it from drying out.
What temperature should my turkey breast be cooked at? A fully cooked turkey breast should have an internal temperature of 165F. I suggest removing the turkey breast from the air fryer when the internal temperature is between 160-165F. So when it rests and continues to cook, it doesn’t dry out, and it reaches the internal temperature of 165F by the time it’s sliced and served.
Does this recipe apply for bone-in and boneless? Yes! Cooking time may vary if you use a bone-in turkey breast. Cook it until the internal temperature is according to the recipe.
Serving Suggestions
Complete your meal by serving your turkey with this delicious gravy, our healthy vegetable stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, these delicious roasted Brussels sprouts, and a salad like our butternut squash salad or this apple & pomegranate harvest salad.
Maple Herb Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 – 3 lb turkey breast
- 1 1/2 Tablespoon fresh sage, chopped or 1 1/2 teaspoon dried sage
- 1 1/2 Tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped or 1 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- salt & black pepper
- 2 heaping Tablespoons butter, melted regular or vegan butter works
Instructions
- Prepare maple herb glaze: In a small bowl, add the maple syrup, onion powder, and chopped rosemary and sage.
- Preheat air fryer: then preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 400F.
- Dry the turkey: Remove the turkey breast from the package and use paper towels to pat it dry.
- Glaze the turkey breast: First, brush the breast with melted butter, then maple and herb glaze – make sure to flip the breast and brush the bottom too. Sprinkle evenly with salt & black pepper.
- Cook: transfer the turkey breast into the air fryer (skin side down) and cook at 350F for 15-20 minutes, and then flip the turkey breast and baste it with the drippings on the bottom of the air fryer. Cook until the internal temperature reaches between 160-165F about 35-40 minutes or more depending on the size of your turkey breast. Tip: Flip and baste the turkey at least 2-3 times throughout the cooking time, this will help it cook evenly and keep it moist.
- Let it rest: when the turkey is finished, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest at room temperature for about 10 minutes with a tent of foil over it (internal temperature should be at 165F before serving). Use scissors to cut the netting, then slice, and serve with the juices!
LOVED making this