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Home Recipe Index Chicken & Turkey

Easy Roast Turkey Breast with Pan Gravy

★★★★★ 5 /5
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Rachel Tiemeyer
By: Rachel TiemeyerPosted: 10/29/22Updated: 3/15/23

This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. Please read our disclosure policy.

We’ll teach you how to cook a turkey breast using our delicious Easy Roast Turkey Breast recipe, which works well for a family meal or smaller holiday gathering. Serves 6-8. Whether you’re a beginner or veteran cook, this how-to article and recipe are for you!

carved turkey breast on a serving platter with gravy on the side
Contents hide
What to Love About This Turkey Breast Recipe
Ingredients Needed
Nothing Goes to Waste!
Video: How to Cook a Turkey Breast
Step-by-Step Tutorial
What to Serve with Roast Turkey Breast
What to Do With Leftover Turkey & Gravy
How Much Turkey Breast Per Person
How Long to Thaw a Turkey Breast
How Do You Keep a Turkey Breast From Drying Out?
How to Carve a Turkey Breast
Easy Roasted Turkey Breast
Did you make this?

What to Love About This Turkey Breast Recipe

  1. Flavor Throughout: Let’s face it, turkey can be bland…but not using our method! Slathering on a compound butter and stuffing the bird with aromatics infuse flavor in the meat while adding complexity to a pan gravy you’ll whip up at the end.
  2. Juicy Meat & Crispy Skin: The way we bake the breast at two different temps results in perfect texture!
  3. Easy-to-Follow Instructions: We’ve broken down each step so even a beginner can cook this turkey breast recipe like a pro.
  4. More Manageable Than a Whole Turkey: Finding time and space to thaw, prep, and roast a whole turkey is messier, more expensive, and takes more time than a whole turkey breast. If you just need to feed 6-8 people, this is the perfect-sized recipe!
  5. Includes Pan Gravy: Turkey and gravy are an inseparable pair, in our opinion. We’ll show you how to take the pan drippings and turn them into a delicious turkey gravy.
turkey breast slices and mashed potatoes with gravy on a plate with utensils

Ingredients Needed

Along with a roasting pan or 9×13 inch casserole dish, oven-safe rack, and wooden cutting board, you’ll need the following ingredients for the turkey breast and gravy.

overhead shot of ingredients to cook a turkey breast

Ingredients for the Turkey

  • 1 (6-8 lb) whole bone-in turkey breast (we used a pre-brined turkey–Honeysuckle or Butterball brand) 
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened (sub: olive oil)
  • 2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
  • 1  teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1  teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken or turkey broth
  • 1 small onion, quartered and peeled
  • 1-2 carrots, roughly chopped
  • 1-2 celery stalks, roughly chopped
  • 1 small bunch or handful of fresh parsley
  • Optional: a few sprigs of fresh thyme, rosemary, or sage

Ingredients for the Gravy

  • 1 ½ cups reduced-sodium chicken or turkey broth (and more as needed)
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • Salt and pepper

Nothing Goes to Waste!

While this sounds like a long list of ingredients, rest assured that nothing will go to waste and will be used more than once if you use these two recipes for leftovers…

Turkey Broth – Use up the leftover turkey carcass and vegetables.

Turkey Stuffing Casserole – Use up leftover turkey and gravy.

Video: How to Cook a Turkey Breast

Cooking a bone-in turkey breast in the oven is easier than you might think. Watch how to infuse flavor in the bird and create a pan gravy at the end in this short video…

Step-by-Step Tutorial

Peruse our quick visual overview of how to cook a turkey breast and make pan gravy with the drippings. See the recipe below for all the details.

Prep the Turkey

Set a rack inside a large roasting pan, and pat very dry on all sides with paper towels. Leave the bird out on the counter for about an hour.

bone-in turkey breast on a rack in a pan

Make the Compound Butter

In a small bowl, stir together the softened butter, poultry seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and pepper.

compound butter for turkey breast recipe

Prep the Oven

Arrange the top oven rack to the middle position. Preheat the oven to 425°F.

Butter the Bird

Distribute half the compound butter under the skin (see how to in the recipe) and rub the rest all over the bird on the top and bottom. Just do your best–it’s messy, fun, and imperfect!

bone-in turkey breast covered in compound butter and stuffed with vegetables

Stuff the Bird

Make sure the turkey is breast-side up on the rack. Add the broth to the bottom of the pan. Stuff the inside of the turkey cavity with the onion, carrots, celery, parsley, and optional herbs or garlic cloves. Place any extra veggies you can’t fit into the bird in the bottom of the pan. (This will create flavor for the gravy!)

bone-in turkey breast covered in compound butter and stuffed with vegetables

Roast the Bird

Roast the turkey at 425°F for 30 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 325°F and continue roasting until the bird reaches 160°F internally, about 1 to 1 ½ hours. (In our tests, a 5-lb bird took 1 hour and an 8-lb bird took 1 1/2 hours at 325°F.)

Use a digital meat thermometer to check the temp in the thickest part of the breast in several places. Transfer the turkey to a wooden cutting board and let rest for 20 minutes. 

overhead shot of a roasted turkey breast on a rack in a pan

Make the Gravy

Strain the drippings from the bottom of the roasting pan into a saucepan.

strainer for pan juices

Whisk in the broth, bring to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer. Add in a cornstarch slurry to thicken (see recipe).

pot of turkey gravy and a spoonful of it showing the consistency of the gravy

Carve and Serve

Cut along one side of the breastbone with a sharp knife, then the other, cutting each breast off the bone, and keeping the skin intact. Thickly slice each breast crosswise and serve on a large platter.

slicing a turkey breast off the bone

Garnish with fresh parsley, sage, rosemary, or thyme (are you singing the Simon and Garfunkel song too?). Serve the warm gravy in a gravy boat on the side. 

carved turkey breast on a serving platter with gravy on the side

Serve sliced turkey breast along with some mashed potatoes and gravy on top. More serving dish ideas are below.

turkey breast slices and mashed potatoes with gravy on a plate with utensils

What to Serve with Roast Turkey Breast

Whether you’re whipping up a holiday meal or just Sunday dinner, try serving this easy turkey breast recipe with some of these side dishes.

Creamy Mashed Potatoes (Made in the Instant Pot!)

Bacon Wrapped Green Beans

cranberry sauce

Make Ahead 10-Minute Cranberry Sauce

Autumn Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette

Pumpkin Dump Cake

Crock Pot Pumpkin Spice Latte

Crockpot Baked Apples

Apple Cranberry Sauce

overhead shot of baked chicken stuffing casesrole

What to Do With Leftover Turkey & Gravy

Use leftover turkey and gravy to make a simple 4-layer casserole that your family will love. You can even prep it and freeze for later.

4-Layer Turkey Stuffing Casserole

Now it’s time to answer all your burning questions about how to cook a turkey breast!

How Much Turkey Breast Per Person

You may be wondering how many pounds of turkey breast to buy per person when making a roast turkey breast recipe. Plan on purchasing about 1 pound (16 ounces) of bone-in turkey breast per person. After it cooks and is carved, this is a perfect, generous serving amount.


How Long to Thaw a Turkey Breast

A turkey breast must be completely thawed at a consistent, safe temperature before cooking to yield evenly cooked (and safe!) results. The USDA says, “While frozen, a turkey is safe indefinitely. As soon as it begins to thaw, bacteria that may have been present before freezing will begin to grow again.”

a thawed bone-in turkey breast on a rack in a pan

So, here are the best two methods (and how long) to thaw a turkey breast, according to USDA safety standards and our opinion:

  1. Refrigerator (Best Way!): Thawing in the refrigerator takes 1 day per 4 lbs according to America’s Test Kitchen, so you’ll need 2-3 days for a bird the size in this recipe. Be sure to set the packaged turkey in a dish to catch any drips. 
  2. Cold Water Method: For a faster thawing process, submerge the sealed, packaged turkey in a large pot, bowl, or sink in cold water. Change out the cold water (NOT warm water) every 30 minutes. This method will take 30 minutes per pound, so plan on 3 hours for a 6-lb bird or 4 hours for an 8-lb bird.

The USDA also gives instructions for how to thaw your bird in the microwave, but we think this will be difficult, messy, and lead to a tough, unevenly cooked bird!


How Do You Keep a Turkey Breast From Drying Out?

A few tips will keep your bird from drying out while roasting.

  1. Either buy a pre-brined turkey or brine the turkey yourself with a salty solution.
  2. Slather the turkey with butter or olive oil. Our recipe uses a compound butter under the skin and on top of the skin, adding flavor and moisture.
  3. Don’t overcook your turkey. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature in several places and remove from the oven when it reaches 160-165°F.
  4. Let the bird rest for about 20 minutes after cooking. This will allow for the juices to redistribute throughout the meat before carving.

How to Carve a Turkey Breast

To carve a turkey breast, cut along one side of the breastbone with a sharp knife, then the other, cutting each breast off the bone, and keeping the skin intact.

how to carve a turkey breast off the bone

Thickly slice each breast crosswise and serve on a large platter.

carved turkey breast on a serving platter with gravy on the side

Let us know if you have any questions or feedback about our recipe in the comments. We love to help you and learn from you!

Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!

roasted turkey breast in a pan with gravy equipment and ingredients in the background
★★★★★ 5 from 1 reviews

Easy Roasted Turkey Breast

We’ll teach you how to cook a turkey breast in this delicious Easy Roast Turkey Breast recipe, which works great for a family meal or holiday. Slathering on a compound butter and stuffing the bird with aromatics infuse flavor in the meat while adding complexity to a pan gravy you’ll whip up at the end.

Yield: 6–8 servings (about 1 lb per person) 1x
Prep: 1 hourCook: 1 hourTotal: 2 hours 30 minutes
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Ingredients

For the Turkey:

  • 1 (6-8 lb) whole turkey breast, bone-in and skin-on, trimmed of excess fat*
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened (sub: olive oil)
  • 2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken or turkey broth
  • 1 small onion, quartered and peeled
  • 1–2 carrots, roughly chopped
  • 1–2 celery stalks, roughly chopped
  • 1 small bunch or handful of fresh parsley
  • Optional: a few sprigs of fresh thyme, rosemary, or sage

For Gravy: 

  • 1 1/2 cups reduced-sodium chicken or turkey broth (and more as needed)
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • Salt and pepper

*Note: We tested this recipe with Honeysuckle and Butterball brands, which are already pre-brined (i.e. filled with a salty solution). Check your turkey label to see if it already has an added salty solution. Most do, but if not, be sure to liberally salt the outside and inside of the turkey cavity with Kosher salt. Alternately, brine your turkey breast ahead of time using these instructions.

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions

1. Prep the Turkey:

  • Set a rack inside a large roasting pan or 9×12 inch casserole dish. (Tip: A rack from an Instant Pot works.)
  • Remove and dispose of the packaging and gravy packet inside the turkey breast, if there is one.
  • Set the turkey on top of the rack and pat very dry on all sides with paper towels.
  • Leave the bird out on the counter for about an hour so it can come up to room temp.

2. Make the Compound Butter: In a small bowl, stir together the softened butter, poultry seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and pepper.

3. Prep the Oven: Arrange the top oven rack to the middle position. Preheat the oven to 425°F.

4. Butter the Bird: Using your fingers, carefully pull the skin away from the turkey breast on both sides, slowing working your fingers down between the skin and meat until separated (take your time so the skin doesn’t tear). Then place a spoonful–about 1 to 1 ½ tablespoons–of the compound butter under the skin on both sides. Pull the skin up and over the breast. Use your fingers on top of the skin to move the butter around to evenly distribute. Use the rest of the compound butter–about 1-2 tablespoons–to rub all over the bird on the top and bottom. Just do your best–it’s messy, fun, and imperfect!

5. Stuff the Bird: Make sure the turkey is breast-side up on the rack. Add the broth to the bottom of the pan. Stuff the inside of the turkey cavity with the onion, carrots, celery, parsley, and optional herbs or garlic cloves. Place any extra veggies you can’t fit into the bird in the bottom of the pan. (This will create flavor for the gravy!)

6. Roast the Bird: Roast the turkey at 425°F for 30 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 325°F and continue roasting until the bird reaches 160°F internally, about 1 to 1 ½ hours. Use a digital meat thermometer to check the temp in the thickest part of the breast in several places. Transfer the turkey to a wooden cutting board and let rest for 20 minutes. 

7. Make the Gravy: 

  • Meanwhile, place a strainer over a medium saucepan (or your Instant Pot) and carefully strain the drippings from the bottom of the pan into it, leaving the solids behind (see Cooking Notes). 
  • Whisk in the broth, bring to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer. 
  • In a small bowl, stir together the cornstarch and 3 tablespoons of water until smooth. Whisk this cornstarch slurry into the sauce and simmer, continually whisking until thickened, about 2-3 minutes. 
  • Remove from the heat, taste, and season with more salt and pepper, as needed. If it’s too salty, whisk in a little water and bring to a boil again. (Depending on the kind of turkey you bought, the gravy can be pretty salty! So adjust accordingly.)

8. Carve and Serve: Cut along one side of the breastbone with a sharp knife, then the other, cutting each breast off the bone, and keeping the skin intact. Thickly slice each breast crosswise and serve on a large platter. Garnish with fresh parsley, sage, rosemary, or thyme (are you singing the Simon and Garfunkel song too?). Serve the warm gravy in a gravy boat on the side. 

Equipment

Chefs Knife

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Meat thermometer

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Notes/Tips

  • How to Thaw a Turkey Breast: The turkey breast must be completely thawed to safely and evenly cook in this recipe. Here are two ways to thaw your turkey:
    • Refrigerator: Thawing in the refrigerator takes 1 day per 4 lbs according to America’s Test Kitchen, so you’ll need 2-3 days for a bird the size in this recipe. Be sure to set the packaged turkey in a dish to catch any drips. 
    • Cold Water Method: For a faster thawing process, submerge the sealed, packaged turkey in a large pot, bowl, or sink in cold water. Change out the cold water every 30 minutes (which keeps the bird from growing dangerous bacteria). This method will take 30 minutes per pound, so plan on 3 hours for a 6-lb bird or 4 hours for an 8-lb bird.
  • Safety Note: Be sure to wash your hands well after touching the turkey every time, so you avoid cross contamination on other surfaces. Also, disinfect any surfaces that the turkey touched.
  • Brining a Turkey – If your turkey breast is all natural (not brined or filled with a solution), then try brining the turkey yourself using this method. Or just liberally salt and pepper the outside and inside of the turkey.
  • What to Do with Leftover Turkey and Gravy: Make our Turkey Stuffing Casserole with any leftovers. You can even prep and freeze it before baking using our freezer meal instructions. 
  • Make Turkey Stock: Make bone stock with your leftover carcass and veggies using our Turkey Broth recipe. Make it on the stove or in the crockpot or Instant Pot.
© Author: Rachel Tiemeyer
Cuisine: American Method: Oven

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Rachel Tiemeyer

Rachel Tiemeyer

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Rachel dreams about creating recipes (literally) and uses her husband, her 3 kids, and even the neighbors as guinea pigs several nights a week. She believes that good food has the power to bring families and friends closer together and continues to wake up excited about her job each day, even after 10+ years!

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  1. AvatarAmberly says

    Posted on 2/28/23 at 11:42 am

    I love this as an alternative to cooking a whole turkey! Thanks for all the great info. Tasted delicious.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

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