How Long Should I Cook a Turkey Breast For?

Cooking a juicy, flavorful turkey breast can seem intimidating but it doesn’t have to be with the right techniques and timing. With some simple preparation and monitoring you can have tender, succulent turkey breast on your table in just a couple of hours.

Selecting and Preparing the Turkey Breast

When selecting a turkey breast at the store, allow about 1 pound per person. For ease, choose a boneless, skinless breast between 3-6 lbs. Before cooking, remove the breast from packaging and rinse under cold water. Pat dry completely with paper towels.

For extra flavor, rub the breast with olive oil or melted butter and season generously with salt, pepper, and any other dry spices or herbs of your choosing Garlic powder, onion powder, rosemary, thyme, and sage are all excellent options

If desired, the skin can be left on for crispiness. Rub the skin with oil or butter and use your fingers to gently loosen the skin from the meat. Slide flavorful ingredients like lemon slices, whole garlic cloves, or fresh herbs underneath.

Determining Cook Time

The approximate cook times for turkey breast are:

• 3 lbs breast: 1 – 1 1/2 hours
• 4-6 lbs breast: 1 1/2 – 2 1/2 hours
• 6-8 lbs breast: 2 1/4 – 3 1/2 hours
• 8-12 lbs breast: 2 3/4 – 5 hours

These times are for an unstuffed, boneless breast cooked at 325°F. A bone-in breast may take slightly longer.

Always rely on an instant-read thermometer for doneness rather than cook time. Turkey breasts are fully cooked at 165°F.

Cooking Methods

There are several excellent methods for cooking a turkey breast to maintain moisture and flavor.

Oven Roasting: Place breast skin-side up on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Baste occasionally with pan juices. Monitor temperature.

Slow Cooker: Add breast with seasoned broth to a slow cooker and cook on low for 7-8 hours. Shred or slice when done.

Grilling: Prepare a medium indirect heat. Place breast on greased grill grates over indirect heat, close lid, and grill for 2-3 hours until 165°F.

Smoking: Set up water smoker for 225-250°F. Rub breast with spices and smoke for approximately 1 hour per pound until fully cooked.

Sous Vide: Seal seasoned breast in a vacuum bag and cook in circulated water bath at 145°F for 2-4 hours depending on thickness. Finish by searing.

Air Fryer: Set air fryer to 380°F. Cook smaller turkey breast pieces for 15-25 minutes, flipping halfway. Larger breasts can be cooked indirectly using a small rack.

Helpful Tips

• Brining the turkey breast for a few hours before cooking enhances moisture and flavor. Use a saltwater solution with aromatics.

• Avoid opening the oven as much as possible during roasting, which causes heat loss and longer cook time. Monitor temperature with an oven-safe thermometer.

• Let the cooked breast rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing to allow juices to redistribute. The temperature should rise about 5 degrees during this time.

• Carve across the grain of the meat for tender, sliceable pieces.

• Use juices from the roasted breast to make a flavorful gravy or sauce.

• Leftover turkey breast makes excellent sandwiches, salads, soups, and casseroles. Store sliced breast for 3-4 days refrigerated.

With proper preparation, seasonings, and temperature control, you can achieve the perfect cooked turkey breast with experience. For even greater convenience, boneless turkey breasts can be quickly cooked any night of the week using methods like grilling or the air fryer. In 1-3 hours, you can enjoy delicious, irresistible turkey breast dishes.