Oven Roasted Turkey Breast with Garlic Butter
Cooking a turkey breast in the oven is the perfect way to enjoy all the flavor of a holiday dinner without roasting an entire bird. This roasted herb turkey breast with garlic butter is juicy, flavorful, and totally stress-free. It is perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or even a family-style Sunday supper.
If you are looking for a turkey breast recipe that feels special but is easy enough for a weeknight, you are in the right place. This oven-roasted turkey breast is packed with garlicky herb goodness and stays juicy thanks to a rich compound butter.
Roasting just the breast means faster cook time and no wrestling with a giant bird. It is perfect for smaller gatherings or as an extra turkey breast for big holiday meals.
Why You’ll Love My Recipe
- Fantastic alternative to roasting a whole turkey.
- Perfect for small holiday gatherings or Sunday Supper.
- The compound butter ensures the turkey is juicy and tasty!
Ingredients
This is meant to be a brief overview of this yummy garlic butter roasted turkey breast recipe. For step-by-step instructions and a full printable recipe card with ingredients, please scroll down to the teal box below.
- Turkey Breast: Using a bone-in turkey breast helps keep the meat moist and, in my opinion, tastes better than a boneless turkey breast, which can sometimes be too bland.
- Cowboy Butter: Compound butter is an ideal way to add lots of deliciousness to your roasted turkey breast. For this recipe, I am using my famous cowboy butter, but you could also use other flavored butters like garlic chive butter.
- Dried Herbs: Rosemary and thyme are classic herbs for a roasted herb turkey breast, adding warm, earthy seasoning. You could also use sage, marjoram, or parsley.
- Paprika: Adds subtle warmth and beautiful color.
- Salt and Black Pepper – Essential for seasoning.
- Broth: You can use either chicken broth or turkey broth to help keep the pan moist and add rich flavoring to drippings.
Out of something you need? Check out our free ingredient substitutions printable!
Storage & Reheating
Refrigerate any leftover turkey in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days. To reheat, add a splash of broth and cover loosely with foil. Warm in a 300°F oven until heated through to keep it moist. While you can microwave leftovers, it dries out the turkey.
How to Use Leftovers
Got leftover turkey? Turn it into something totally crave-worthy! These easy sandwiches are perfect for when you’re ready to move on from the big holiday feast but still want something satisfying. Pile your turkey high with creamy avocado for a fresh turkey avocado sandwich, wrap it up with crispy bacon and cool ranch in a turkey bacon ranch wrap, or press it into a melty turkey pesto panini that tastes straight out of a café. And if you’re feeling nostalgic, the classic Thanksgiving turkey sandwich—stacked with all your favorite holiday fixings—is the ultimate way to relive the feast without the fuss!
For heartier meals, my family loves leftover turkey chili and turkey pot pie (both of which are super freezer-friendly). Chicken tortilla soup and pork casserole can both be made with leftover turkey, too!
Related: Easy Leftover Turkey Recipes
Serving Suggestions
My cowboy butter dipping sauce, instead of gravy, is an irresistible companion to this savory turkey breast. Make your meal next-level and totally craveworthy with make-ahead mashed sweet potatoes, cranberry walnut stuffing, and pan-sauteed asparagus.
Not ready to make this roasted turkey recipe yet?
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Oven Roasted Turkey Breast with Garlic Butter
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Ingredients
- 1 4–5 lb bone-in turkey breast thawed
- 4 tablespoons Cowboy Butter room temperature
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup chicken broth or turkey broth
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F and set a roasting rack inside a roasting pan or Dutch oven.
- Pat the turkey breast dry with paper towels — this helps the butter stick and gives you that golden, crispy skin we all love.
- In a small bowl, mix together the softened cowboy butter, rosemary, thyme, paprika, salt, and pepper until everything is well combined.4 tablespoons Cowboy Butter, 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Gently loosen the skin of the turkey breast and spread about half of the butter mixture underneath. Rub the rest all over the top so it’s coated in that garlicky, herby goodness.1 4–5 lb bone-in turkey breast
- Pour the chicken broth into the bottom of your pan to keep things moist and flavorful.1 cup chicken broth
- Place the turkey breast on the rack, skin side up, and roast uncovered for about 1½ to 2 hours — or until a meat thermometer reads 165°F in the thickest part.
- Once it’s done, take the turkey out and loosely tent it with foil. Let it rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing so all those juices stay right where they belong.
Equipment
Notes
- Dry meat: Roast at 350°F and use a meat thermometer. Pull it out at 160°F and let it rest 15 minutes to finish cooking.
- Uneven cooking: Bring turkey to room temp for 30 minutes before roasting. Place it on a roasting rack for even heat circulation.
- Butter leaking out: Gently loosen skin and tuck the compound butter underneath. Pat the skin dry before roasting for crispy skin.
- Not enough drippings: Add extra broth to the pan before roasting. You can supplement with store-bought broth for gravy.
Nutrition
Similar Recipes
If you love this roasted turkey breast, you’ll definitely want to check out a few more of my favorite poultry recipes. My turkey brine helps keep your bird juicy and flavorful every time. The juicy roasted turkey is a showstopper for big holiday gatherings, while roasted chicken and vegetables makes an easy all-in-one Sunday dinner. For quick cleanup, try my sheet pan spatchcock chicken or sheet pan turkey dinner; both are packed with flavor and perfect for busy nights.
