12 Thanksgiving Turkey Breast Recipes

closeup of slices of roast turkey breast with crispy-looking skin on a dinner plate with mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, and cranberry sauce in the background
Photo:

Kim's Cooking Now

There are lots of good reasons why you might opt for making a turkey breast for Thanksgiving instead of taking on a whole turkey. But there's no reason to scale back on turkey satisfaction, especially since there are so many ways to make juicy, flavorful turkey breast. Here are a dozen different turkey breast recipes for everything from oven-roasted to slow-cooked to air-fried turkey breast. Take a look and find one that's just right for your Thanksgiving feast.

01 of 13

Slow Cooker Turkey Breast

a white serving plate of turkey breast slices topped with gravy

Lori

This top-rated recipe takes only two ingredients and 10 minutes to prep. It calls for a 6-pound bone-in turkey breast, but you could easily cut the recipe in half if you need to.

"I like to put [in] just enough water to cover the bottom of the crockpot. Place the turkey in, surround it with quartered onions and carrots, brush the bird with melted butter, and then season it well," says home cook Butterfly Flutterby. "This makes a delicious turkey breast, and I use the leftover turkey breast for casseroles, etc., in the future as it freezes well."

02 of 13

Maple Glazed Turkey Roast

a golden brown roasted turkey breast on a white serving dish

Molly

Recipe creator Michelle Berger says, "A great way to make a flavorful turkey roast for any night of the week. It's also great when you're having just a handful of people for Thanksgiving."

03 of 13

Cranberry Stuffed Turkey Breasts

close up view of a sliced Cranberry Stuffed Turkey Breast roll garnished with fresh cranberries on a white platter
lutzflcat

"I made these once for a holiday dinner party, and they were such a hit that I started making them for Thanksgiving instead of a whole turkey," says recipe creator Esther Nelson.

04 of 13

Marinated Turkey Breast

a golden-brown turkey breast on a grill grate

CNM CATERING

"This recipe came from my mother," shares recipe creator Danielle. "These always turn out juicy and tender no matter how long my husband leaves them on the grill! Easy to prepare, but it's always best when marinated for at least four hours."

05 of 13

Oven-Roasted Turkey Breast

closeup of a spice-rubbed roast turkey breast on a cutting board getting sliced

Cynthia Quinlan

"This is a great way to utilize a turkey breast," says reviewer DBAZAN1. "We cooked it this evening, and it was plenty for our family of three. The spices were perfect, and the gravy was an excellent complement. Throw in some chopped root vegetables to roast at the same time, add a green salad, and you've got a fantastic fall meal!"

06 of 13

Slow Cooker Mediterranean Roast Turkey Breast

a platter of slow-cooked turkey breast with artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, chickpeas, and sun-dried tomatoes

Robb

Turkey breast is slow-cooked for hours with chicken broth, lemon juice, onion, Kalamata olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and Greek seasonings. Be sure to serve it over something like couscous to soak up all the delectable sauce.

07 of 13

Air Fryer Turkey Breast

an herb-seasoned air fried turkey breast on a cutting board

Bibi

"This recipe gives the flavor of an oven-roasted turkey but in much less time and with much less fuss!" says recipe creator Bibi. "Use any combination of fresh herbs that you and your family will enjoy!"

08 of 13

Roasted Turkey Breast With Herbs

closeup of sliced roast turkey breast with herbs on a white plate

Bren

Reviewers enjoyed the ease of this recipe, but recommend you cook the turkey breast just until it's done; otherwise, it could dry out as it continues cooking. (White meat has a tendency to do that.) So, keep an eye on it and adjust your cooking time to suit the size of your turkey breast. An instant-read meat thermometer will help determine when the meat is done. Pull it out of the slow cooker when it's 165 degrees F (75 degrees C).

09 of 13

Perfect Turkey Breast Roast in the Air Fryer

closeup of slices of juicy-looking turkey breast with deeply browned skin on a cutting board

Michael Pitts

Brining the turkey breast overnight makes this air-fried turkey breast extra juicy, while the air-frying crisps up the skin beautifully.

Home cook Kenny says, "I rubbed mine down with olive oil, then patted it down with Memphis dry rub. Turned out really tasty."

10 of 13

Slow Cooker Boneless Turkey Breast

slices of turkey breast on a platter garnished with orange halves and herbs

Allrecipes

No need to make gravy on the side — this recipe makes its own right in the pot. "I prepared this for the first time on Thanksgiving this year and got raves all around," says home cook ALeslie.

11 of 13

Instant Pot Frozen Turkey Breast

top-down view of a turkey breast in slices on a cutting board with a bowl of gravy in the background

 tcasa

No need to thaw the turkey breast for this recipe. "It was just what I needed for a busy night! Quick and easy and no defrosting beforehand. The turkey was so flavorful with the rub," says home cook Mary Hartigan Jones.

12 of 13

Olive-Brined Air Fryer Turkey Breast

closeup of juicy-looking slices of air-fried turkey breast on a cutting board

Buckwheat Queen

"An easy recipe for making a savory, juicy turkey breast in an air fryer. Using olive brine gives the breast flavor and also keeps it tender. I use a spicy Tabasco olive brine for extra kick," says home cook Buckwheat Queen.

13 of 13

More Inspiration

top-down view of cream cheese topped with a cranberry compote on a harvest-themed plate with crackers on the side

Mackenzie Schieck

Try one of Grandma's Best Thanksgiving Recipes. Plus, explore our entire collections of Thanksgiving Recipes and Turkey Breast Recipes.

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