Air Fryer Turkey Breast

Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 6 servings

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This Air Fryer Turkey Breast is a simple recipe that takes just 5 minutes to prep! Fresh turkey breast is slathered in a simple yet flavorful blend of seasonings, then air fried until fall-apart tender in the middle and golden-brown on the outside!

close up pf whole air fryer turkey breast on white cutting board

This post is generously sponsored by Canadian Turkey and I was compensated for my time in creating this recipe. Thank you for supporting the brands that make The Recipe Rebel possible!

Can we just take a moment to appreciate how very versatile turkey is?

It’s the perfect healthy and lean protein for meal planning but it also makes a fabulous main course for a holiday feast.

It can be baked, roasted, fried, grilled, slow-cooked, pressure-cooked, or smoked. It can also be incorporated into so many different comfort food meals: turkey chili mac and cheese, turkey pot pie, air fryer turkey nuggets, turkey noodle soup, and so much more!

Whether you’re enjoying turkey as a healthy, everyday meal or serving it up for the holidays, it’s a guaranteed hit for the whole family!

This air fryer turkey breast recipe is another delicious way to enjoy turkey. It’s seasoned to perfection with a simple blend of spices, then air fried until juicy in the middle and crispy on the outside!

For more quick and easy fall turkey recipes, visit ThinkTurkey.ca.

Ingredients for Air Fryer Turkey Breast:

  • Seasoned Salt, Garlic Powder, Dried Parsley, Dried Thyme, Paprika, and Black Pepper: a simple and versatile seasoning blend that gives the turkey just the right amount of flavor.
  • Turkey Breast: I use boneless, skin-on turkey breast.
  • Oil: you just need a little bit of oil to grease the air fryer basket so the turkey doesn’t stick.
spices need to make air fryer turkey breast
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How to cook turkey breast in the air fryer

  1. Season the turkey: Combine the seasonings and rub over the turkey breast on all sides.
  2. Air fry: I like to air fry my turkey breast at 350°F for 15-20 minutes per side — this way it doesn’t get too browned on either side.
  3. Rest and serve: allowing the turkey breast to rest before slicing ensures it stays juicy!

Turkey breast cooking time

You’ll air fry the turkey breast for an initial 20 minutes, flip it, and then air fry for another 15-25 minutes. The total time will depend on your air fryer and the size of the turkey breast you’re using.

The key is to make sure it doesn’t over-cook. Since turkey is lean meat, it tends to dry out more quickly than fattier types of meat. I recommend using a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the thickest part of the turkey. Once it reads 165ºF, it’s done cooking!

Should you brine the turkey?

It isn’t necessary, but you can if you want! Soaking the turkey in a brine helps it absorb more moisture and flavor and reduces the risk of it drying out if it overcooks slightly.

This air fryer turkey breast is plenty flavorful on its own, but if you want to brine it, check out my turkey brine recipe!

You will only need a small portion of this brine (about ¼ or 1/3), and I don’t recommend brining longer than 10 hours.

air fryer turkey breast on white cutting board with three slices cut

Can you use frozen turkey?

Technically, yes, but I recommend fresh or thawed turkey for the best results. Frozen turkey breast won’t hold the seasonings as well and will take much longer to cook all the way through.

If all you have is frozen turkey, you can thaw it overnight in the fridge or follow these simple steps to thaw it quickly:

  • Place the turkey into a large sealable storage bag, then set the bag into a bowl filled with cold water.
  • Let the turkey sit in the water until it has fully thawed. Change the water out every 20 minutes so it doesn’t get too warm.

What if I don’t have an air fryer?

Check out my Crockpot Turkey, Sous Vide Turkey Breast & Apple Cider Gravy or Roast Turkey Breast with Cranberry Marinade.

air fryer turkey breast with several slices cut

What to serve with turkey breast

Whether you’re cooking for the holidays or simply putting together a healthy and well-balanced meal for the family, this air fryer turkey breast is the perfect entree to serve next to a couple of simple side dishes. Here are a few of our favorites:

How to store

Leftover cooked turkey will last in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

When you’re ready to reheat, first thaw in the fridge if frozen, then warm one of the following ways:

  • Oven: Wrap in foil or place into a covered oven-safe baking dish with a couple splashes of poultry broth and bake at 300ºF for 30 minutes.
  • Stovetop: Add a little bit of poultry broth to a skillet, top with turkey, and simmer until the turkey is cooked through.
  • Microwave: Cut the turkey into smaller pieces and place into a microwave-safe dish with some poultry broth to moisten. Microwave until warmed all the way through.

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Air Fryer Turkey Breast

5 from 7 votes
This Air Fryer Turkey Breast is a simple recipe that takes just 5 minutes to prep! Fresh turkey breast is slathered in a simple yet flavorful blend of seasonings, then air fried until fall-apart tender in the middle and golden-brown on the outside!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Resting time 10 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Cuisine American, canadian
Course Main Course
Servings 6 servings
Calories 212cal

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 boneless, skin on turkey breast (split or one breast, roughly 800 grams)
  • oil for bottom of air fryer

Instructions

  • Preheat air fryer to 350°F according to manufacturer directions.
  • Combine seasoning salt, garlic powder, parsley, thyme, paprika and pepper. Rub over turkey breast on all sides.
  • Open air fryer and brush a small amount of oil on the inside rack of the basket to prevent sticking. Place the turkey breast, skin side down in the air fryer basket.
  • Cook at 350°F for 20 minutes, then carefully flip and continue cooking for 15-25 minutes, until the internal temperature in the thickest part reaches minimum 165 degrees F. (If you notice the skin is getting too dark for your liking during the cook time, you can cover with foil to prevent further browning. )
  • Remove from the air fryer, cover and let rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

*Turkey breasts vary in size, depending on how the butcher has cut it. This recipe is for a single or split breast, with no bone. If yours is larger or is on the bone, it may take longer to cook (you will want to keep an eye on it so it doesn’t burn). If it is smaller, it may be done sooner.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 212cal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 87mg | Sodium: 467mg | Potassium: 379mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 94IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 2mg
Keywords air fryer turkey breast

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Meet Ashley

My name is Ashley Fehr and I love creating easy meals my family loves. I also like to do things my way, which means improvising and breaking the rules when necessary. Here you will find creative twists on old favorites and some of my favorite family recipes, passed down from generations!

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Comments

  1. Ian says

    I have never had the courage to use my air fryer as I tend to dessicate what I am cooking on one hand or drown it in too much oil on the other. So I abandoned my air fryer. Your recipe is going to give me courage to try again over Christmas and the New Year. Thank you! Can you make a video of one of your air fryer recipes, please?

  2. Mozelle Blakely says

    I’m determined to cook a delicious turkey this year for Thanksgiving. The last few years have been a real disappointment. No one likes a dry and tough turkey on turkey day! I’ve got a good feeling about this one.

  3. Lillian says

    Can you use butter to rub on a chicken Breast or butter to brush in the air fryer?Also when do you use the rack to bake with? Thank you for your response?

    • Ashley Fehr says

      I would use oil because the air fryer does brown things very quickly and butter can burn. My air fryer is a basket-style, so there is no rack. You would probably want to put the chicken on a rack so it cooks evenly.

5 from 7 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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