Turkey Breast Recipe

How to Thaw Turkey Breast

Most turkeys are bought frozen and it will take one to three days for a turkey breast to thaw in the refrigerator. Please also take into account the brining time when thinking about how far in advance you need to purchase the turkey.

If you are pressed for time, you can fill a bucket with cold water, add the turkey breast (still in its packaging), and change the water every 30 minutes. During this process, the turkey can remain on the countertop. Using the water method, it will take about five hours to thaw an eight-pound turkey breast.

How to Cook Turkey Breast

The actual process of roasting a turkey breast is pretty simple, but what takes a turkey from fine to amazing is everything that happens before you put it in the oven. For the full recipe including all measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

1. Brine the turkey. This needs to happen the day before serving your turkey. Combine the ingredients for the brine in a large Dutch oven or reusable container, add the thawed turkey, and refrigerate. Read more on this below.
2. Make the turkey rub. In a small bowl, whisk together the ingredients for the turkey rub. Rub the mixture on the turkey, covering all of the surfaces. Place rosemary sprigs and the reserved limes (you will likely fit one or two halves) into the cavity of the turkey breast.
3. Put the turkey in the oven. Put the turkey on a roasting dish with a rack so the air can circulate and put it in the preheated oven.
4. Baste the turkey. After one hour of baking, baste the turkey with the basting sauce. If the skin is browning too quickly, tent it with some aluminum foil.
5. Continue baking. Continue baking, checking the turkey every 20 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit with an instant read thermometer.
6. Let the turkey rest. Allow the cooked turkey breast to stand for 20 minutes, while tented, before slicing.

Brining a Turkey

What is brining? It is the process of putting the turkey breast in water that has been infused with salt. Because the concentration of salt is higher in the water than it is in the meat, the power of osmosis works to help balance that and bring the water into the meat. The second important part about the salt is that it helps the meat hold onto the water.

This turkey breast brine recipe takes the process a step further. We add black tea, brown sugar, and lime juice, which deepens the flavor of our final turkey. As far as how long to brine a turkey, I recommend for at least 8 hours but no longer than 24 hours.

While you might be tempted to skip the brining, I urge you not to. In fact, one time I forgot about the turkey in the oven, cooking it about an hour longer than I was supposed to, and the turkey was still moist and delicious.

How to Brine a Turkey

I have used this turkey brine recipe so many times, and each and every time we end up with a perfect turkey. For the full brine recipe including all measurements, see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

• Combine the water, salt, and brown sugar in a large Dutch oven or reusable container that is big enough to hold your turkey breast. Whisk until the sugar and salt dissolve to create the base of your brine mixture.
• Juice the limes into the turkey breast brine mixture, then put the remainder of the limes into the brine mixture. Add the tea bags and stir to combine. Add in the thawed turkey, making sure that it is at least 90% covered by the liquid. 
• Place the Dutch oven or container in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours but no longer than 24 hours.
• When you are ready to roast the turkey, remove it from the refrigerator. Rinse it, pat it dry, and set it aside.

How Long to Cook Turkey by Weight

Such an important question when you are figuring out the timing of Thanksgiving dinner. You want the thickest part of the breast to have an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. This ensures that the meat is cooked enough for food safety purposes, but not overcooked and dry.

The best way to know exactly when your turkey is done cooking is to use an instant-read meat thermometer like the one linked below. According to the USDA, here is the timetable breakdown for turkey breasts based on size:

• 2 to 3 pound turkey breast half: 50 to 60 minutes
• 4 to 6 pound turkey breast whole: 1 1/2 to 2 1/4 hours
• 6 to 8 pound turkey breast whole: 2 1/4 to 3 1/4 hours

Crockpot Turkey Breast

If you want to make your turkey breast in the crock pot to keep your oven open for other recipes, I have the perfect recipe for you. It cooks away on its own in the slow cooker with no basting or tending to, and it still turns out incredibly moist.

Additionally, I show you how to take the turkey drippings and turn them into a savory delicious gravy in a matter of minutes.

What to Serve With Turkey

Since a turkey is only the beginning of a Thanksgiving feast, here are some other ideas for what to serve your guests.

• These Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes turn out perfect and creamy every single time. (You can easily cut the recipe in half!)
• Homemade Cranberry Sauce is so easy to make and way better than the canned kind.
• Is there anything better than Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon? I think not.
• This is the absolute perfect Pumpkin Pie recipe.