Name: Herb Roasted Turkey Breast
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 120 min
Total time: 125 min
Ingredients: 1 bone-in turkey breast; 1 yellow onion (thinly sliced); ½ cup unsalted butter (softened); 1 teaspoon fresh parsley (finely chopped); 1 teaspoon fresh thyme (finely chopped); ½ teaspoon kosher salt; ½ teaspoon black pepper

This Herb Roasted Turkey Breast recipe is your shortcut to a flavorful Thanksgiving turkey! The meat is coated with an herb-infused butter that takes only 5 minutes to prep.

Close up photo of an oven roasted turkey breast.

An Easier Thanksgiving

The secret to a perfect Thanksgiving turkey isn’t hours of prep work, and this roast turkey recipe proves it! It yields a moist, golden-brown bird that you can serve with all your favorite side dishes.

In fact, why not keep things easy? There are plenty of other quick-prep sides you might want to try this holiday season! For instance, my Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes only take about 30 minutes to make — including cook time!

You can also add simple dishes like Candied Yams, Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes, and Roasted Delicata Squash, which only need 15 minutes to prep. (Just note, they’ll need some time to roast in the oven.)

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Rebecca’s Recipe Review

Taste: Turkey highlighted with a parsley and thyme-infused butter.

Texture: Juicy, moist meat.

Ease: 4/10

Pros: This turkey recipe is cooked on a bed of sliced onions, so you can easily whip up a batch of Onion Gravy, too!

Cons: This recipe is meant for a smaller crowd, so if you’re in charge of a larger feast, you’ll want to make this juicy Thanksgiving Day Turkey instead!

Would I Make This Again? Yes!

Close up of a sliced turkey breast on a wooden plate with cranberries, orange slices, and herbs for garnish.

Herb Turkey Breast Ingredients

First, thin sliced onions are used to line your roasting pan or baking dish (the beginnings of your Onion Gravy!).

To season the turkey, a blend of softened unsalted butter, fresh thyme, fresh parsley, and salt and pepper is used under and over the skin.

Substitutions & Variations:

Add lemon: For a zing of citrus, mix some lemon juice into the butter rub.
Apply olive oil: If you’re still worried about your turkey drying as it cooks, lightly brush it with a bit of olive oil.
Use your favorite herbs & spices: Feel free to use or swap out herbs and spices. Garlic and rosemary also taste delicious with poultry!
Slow Cooker: If you’re serving an even smaller group, you can use a half turkey breast and make my Crockpot Turkey Breast recipe.

Overhead photo of sliced turkey bread on a wooden plate with cranberries, orange slices, pomegranate, and herbs for garnish.

How To Roast A Turkey Breast

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F and prepare the herb butter with softened butter and fresh herbs.

Herb butter being mixed with a fork in a white bowl on a marble surface.

2. Place the turkey breast on a bed of sliced onions in a cast-iron skillet, and loosen the skin of the turkey breast. Then use your hands to rub half of the butter mixture under the skin.

Overhead photo of a woman's hand separating turkey skin from the breast to apply herb butter underneath.

3. Then rub the remaining herb butter all over the outside of the turkey and roast the turkey until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F in the thickest part of the bird.

A turkey breast in a castiron skillet covered in herb butter.

4. After roasting, allow the turkey to rest for 30 minutes before slicing. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the bird. Use the pan drippings to make gravy, if desired.

A roasted turkey breast in a castiron skillet.

Rebecca’s Tips

Patting the turkey down with paper towels is highly recommended. This not only helps the butter mixture to stick to the outside of the skin, but it will start to roast properly instead of steaming the skin.
You can also use a spoon under the skin to help carefully separate it instead of using your hands.
If you do not wish to make the onion gravy, you can omit the onions and either place the turkey breast directly into a baking dish, or lay it onto a roasting rack. Proceed with the recipe as listed.

How To Keep Turkey Moist

Cooking it at 325°F, as opposed to a higher temperature, helps prevent it from drying out. Also, coating it in butter, both under the skin and on the outside, adds fat and juicy flavor.

You can also try brining the bird ahead of time with my Turkey Brine Recipe. It’s basically like marinating it in a spice-infused water bath for 12 to 24 hours before cooking.

If you don’t have a lot of time to brine, you could also use the injection marinade recipe I use in my Perfectly Roasted Turkey recipe.

How To Store Leftover Turkey

Store leftover turkey in an airtight container in the fridge to enjoy for 3 to 4 days. Then use it up by making Thanksgiving Leftovers Turkey Sliders Recipe or this Turkey Florentine Pasta Bake!

Why do we eat turkey on Thanksgiving?

History says the first colonists ate wild turkeys, which are also indigenous to North America. Think of it as a really long-standing tradition!

Sliced turkey breast on a white plate with mashed potatoes and gravy.

More Easy Thanksgiving Recipes!

Orange Cranberry Sauce – This delicious recipe is almost as easy as opening a can (and so much tastier)!
Slow Cooker Turkey Breast – Perfect for intimate gatherings, the meat is cooked right in the Crock Pot.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars – All the yummy decadence of pumpkin cheesecake, yet easier to make.
Buttermilk Cornbread – Delicious with any comfort food meal!
Orange Braised Carrots – A simple way to dress up carrots with bright, citrusy flavors!

Did You Make This Recipe?

If you’ve tried this recipe, please let leave a review in the comments below. I love hearing from you! Don’t forget to tag me – @sugarandsoulco – on Instagram and Pinterest with your photos, or join our Sugar & Soul Show-offs Community and share them there.

Herb Roasted Turkey Breast

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5 from 4 votes