Description
Succulent herb-butter turkey breast emerges from an air fryer with crispy skin and juicy meat. Home cooks can easily prepare this flavorful dish that brings festive comfort to weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 bone-in turkey breast (4–5 lbs / 1.8–2.3 kg), with skin on
- 57 g / 2 oz / 0.25 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 0.5 tsp dried sage
- 0.5 tsp dried rosemary
- 0.5 tsp garlic powder
- 0.5 tsp kosher salt
- 0.25 tsp black pepper
- 1 small shallot, minced
Instructions
- Herbal Butter Fusion: Blend softened butter with shallot, dried thyme, sage, rosemary, garlic powder, kosher salt, and freshly ground pepper until a fragrant, uniform mixture forms.
- Skin Preparation: Delicately separate turkey breast skin from meat, creating a gentle pocket without puncturing, which will serve as a conduit for herb-infused butter to permeate the meat.
- Butter Application: Massage prepared herb butter underneath the skin, ensuring comprehensive coverage, then distribute the remaining mixture across the turkey breast’s exterior for maximum flavor penetration.
- Air Fryer Setup: Preheat air fryer to 360°F, strategically position the seasoned turkey breast in the basket to optimize air circulation and promote even cooking.
- Cooking Rotation: Periodically turn the turkey breast every 15 minutes, monitoring browning and ensuring consistent heat distribution throughout the cooking process.
- Doneness Verification: Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature at the thickest point, confirming it reaches 165°F, which guarantees safe and succulent meat preparation.
- Resting Phase: Remove turkey breast from air fryer and allow it to rest for 10 minutes, enabling juice redistribution and ensuring a tender, flavorful final presentation.
Notes
- Butter Blending Technique: Mix softened butter with herbs and spices until ingredients form a uniform, fragrant spread with no visible chunks.
- Skin Separation Strategy: Use fingertips to gently loosen skin from meat, creating a delicate pocket without puncturing or tearing the surface.
- Precise Butter Application: Work herb butter underneath skin thoroughly, ensuring complete coverage from tip to base for maximum flavor penetration.
- Resting Period Importance: Allow cooked turkey to rest undisturbed for exactly 10 minutes, which helps redistribute internal juices and prevents moisture loss during slicing.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg