Herb Butter Roast Turkey Breast

Herb Butter Roast Turkey Breast

Prep

20 min

Stand & rest

1 hr 20 min

Cook

1 hr 30 min

Total

3 hr 10 min

Servings

8

Difficulty

Medium

Ingredients

• 1 bone-in, skin-on turkey breast (6 to 7 lb), thawed
• 6 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh sage
• 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves
• 2 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 1 onion, cut into wedges
• 1 cup chicken broth

Instructions

1. Take the turkey out of the fridge 1 hour before roasting. Heat the oven to 425°F.
2. Mix the butter, garlic, rosemary, sage, thyme, salt, pepper and lemon zest.
3. Pat the turkey very dry. Gently loosen the skin with your fingers and spread two-thirds of the butter underneath. Rub the rest over the skin.
4. Place the onion in a roasting pan, set the turkey on top skin-side up and pour the broth into the pan.
5. Roast 20 minutes, then lower the heat to 350°F and roast 60 to 80 minutes more, until the thickest part reads 160°F on an instant-read thermometer.
6. Tent with foil and rest 20 minutes (it will rise to about 165°F). Slice across the grain and spoon the pan juices over.

Why this recipe works

Butter under the skin bastes the meat from the inside while the skin crisps. Starting hot at 425°F browns the outside, then 350°F cooks it gently, and pulling at 160°F lets carryover heat finish without drying it out.

Tips, substitutions & storage

• Swap: Use 1 tbsp dried herbs total (rosemary, sage, thyme) instead of fresh.
• Swap: A boneless turkey breast works too: roast about 1 hour and check for 160°F.
• A thermometer is the most reliable way to avoid dry turkey — start checking 30 minutes early.
• Thaw a frozen turkey breast in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.
• Strain the pan juices and whisk with 2 tbsp flour cooked in 2 tbsp butter for a quick gravy.
• Leftovers keep 4 days in the fridge or 3 months frozen.

Nutrition (estimated, per serving)

Calories

420

Protein

58g

Carbs

2g

Fat

19g

Fiber

0g

Sugar

1g

Sodium

720mg

Nutrition information is an automatic estimate based on typical ingredients and will vary with the brands and amounts you use. It is not medical or dietary advice.