Boneless Turkey Breast Recipe - Spiced Turkey Breast (2024)

Boneless Turkey Breast Recipe - Spiced Turkey Breast (1)

Turkey for two! Turkey for me, and turkey for you! The best way to celebrate Thanksgiving for two is to make a boneless turkey breast.

That's right; while you guys are planning your gigantic Thanksgiving dinner menus, I'll be over here in my little 'for two' world making you a small Thanksgiving dinner. I mean, not too small because we want leftovers. We definitely want leftovers. But we're not going to be wrestling a 20-pound turkey into a half-nelson with buttery hands, cleaningcollard greens in the washing machine, or shucking corn until our fingers bleed. No, no, no. We're going to make a moderately-sized spread, and because we're not using every pot and pan in the house, we're going to make each dish special.

I moved states away from my family about 9 years ago, and so for 9years, Thanksgiving time has been 'travel time.' As much as I love seeing my family and eating my parents famous Thanksgiving dinners that people drive for hours from all over Texas to eat, flying is just no fun to me. Plus, flying from California to Texas was never less than $600, no matter when I booked. But this year is fantastic because since I pushed a tiny human out of my body, everyone deemed me unfit to fly. People are coming to ME this year. Hallelujah! And despite the fact that I want to dip everyone in bleach as they walkoff the plane before they touch Camille(kidding...kind of), I'm so dang happy to have everyone here!

My husband had the brilliant idea to rent a gigantic house in wine country, and host everyone there. It's close enough to our home that we can come back if we need something, but big enough to hold everyone. Plus, we get to see so much more of each other when we're all under the same roof.

So, let's talk turkey! I love that boneless, skinless turkey breast has started popping up in the grocery stores. If you like cooking pork tenderloin in the oven, you'll love working with turkey breasts. I made us a little spiced yogurt mixture to give the turkey some real flavor. And color! The reason the marinade is bright yellow is because Iusedfresh turmeric. I'm having a bit of a moment with its complex flavor, but you can easily substitute dried, ground turmeric.

Step-by-step:

Boneless Turkey Breast Recipe - Spiced Turkey Breast (2)

You need plain yogurt (or kefir), garam masala, fresh ginger, fresh turmeric, lime juice, cilantro, and salt.

Boneless Turkey Breast Recipe - Spiced Turkey Breast (3)

Whisk everything together, using a microplane grater for the fresh turmeric and ginger.

Boneless Turkey Breast Recipe - Spiced Turkey Breast (4)

Pour over the turkey breasts, adding fresh cilantro to the mix. You can make one or two turkey breasts. They usually come two per package, so I made both so we would have leftovers. If you only make one, halve the recipe for the marinade.

Boneless Turkey Breast Recipe - Spiced Turkey Breast (5)

Let the turkey breasts marinate for a minimum of 4 hours. But, try to do it overnight just to save yourself some prep time on the big day.

Boneless Turkey Breast Recipe - Spiced Turkey Breast (6)

Next, I sear the breasts in a cast iron skillet with a splash of oil. We're just looking to get a nice caramelized crust on the breasts. The day I was photographing this recipe, I didn't let the pan heat up for long enough. They should be darkerthan what you see in the photo. Turn the heat to high, and heat it until you can only hold your hand a few inches above the surface of the oil for a few seconds. Sear on each side while you preheat the oven.

After baking the turkey, be sure to let it rest before slicing.

Boneless Turkey Breast Recipe - Spiced Turkey Breast (7)

Boneless Turkey Breast Recipe - Spiced Turkey Breast (8)

How to make a juicy turkey breast with Indian spices. Such a fun twist on Thanksgiving turkey breast.

Prep Time4 hours 15 minutes

Cook Time25 minutes

Total Time4 hours 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 1-lb. boneless, skinless turkey breasts
  • 1 cup plain yogurt (or plain kefir)
  • 1" grated fresh turmeric (or 2 teaspoons dried)
  • 1" grated fresh ginger
  • 1 tablespoon garam masala spice blend
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • handful of fresh cilantro, chopped
  • juice of 1 lime
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil

Instructions

  1. Place the turkey breasts in a shallow baking dish.
  2. Whisk together the yogurt and all remaining ingredients except oil. Pour marinade on top of turkey breasts, flipping to coat very well.
  3. Cover the turkey and let marinate for at least 4 hours, preferably over night.
  4. Preheat oven to 400.
  5. Add the oil to a large oven-safe pan (it should be big enough to fit both turkey breasts in the pan without touching). Turn the heat to high.
  6. Remove the turkey from the marinade and let any excess drip off.
  7. Sear the turkey breasts on each side, not worrying about cooking it all the way though. Just brown the outside.
  8. Move the pan to the oven, and bake for 15-20 minutes (cooking time depends on thickness of turkey, so start checking at 15 minutes). When turkey reaches 165-degrees in the thickest part, it's done.
  9. Remove the turkey from the skillet and let rest on a cutting board for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

Turkey breasts typically come two in a pack. This recipe uses 2 breasts.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 207Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 92mgSodium: 930mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 36g

Did you make this recipe?

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Boneless Turkey Breast Recipe - Spiced Turkey Breast (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to cook a turkey breast at 325 or 350? ›

2- to 2½-pound bone-in turkey breast half: Roast at 325°F for 60 to 70 minutes. 2½- to 3-pound boneless turkey breast: Roast at 325°F for 40 to 60 minutes. 4- to 6-pound whole turkey breast: Roast at 325°F for 1½ to 2¼ hours. 6- to 8-pound whole turkey breast: Roast at 325°F for 2¼ to 3¼ hours.

Should a turkey breast be cooked covered or uncovered? ›

To achieve a perfectly golden, juicy turkey, let the bird spend time both covered and uncovered in the oven. We recommend covering your bird for most of the cooking time to prevent it from drying out; then, during the last 30 minutes or so of cooking, remove the cover so the skin crisps in the hot oven.

What is the best way to cook a turkey breast up or breast down? ›

The United States Department of Agriculture advises to cook a whole turkey breast side up during the entire cooking time. Turning over a large, hot bird can be dangerous and it's very easy to tear the skin, making the finished product less attractive.

Do you cook a Butterball turkey breast covered or uncovered? ›

Roast turkey breast uncovered according to package directions or until a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the breast reaches 170°F. If your turkey breast has stuffing inside, the center of the stuffing should be 165°F.

Do you cover Butterball boneless turkey breast? ›

Place breast on rack in shallow roasting pan. Brush with oil to prevent drying. Do not cover. Cook for 4 hours or until meat thermometer reads 165°F (74°C).

How long to cook 3 lb turkey breast at 350? ›

How Long to Roast a Turkey Breast. In general, you'll want to cook a bone-in turkey breast for about 20 minutes per pound at 350 degrees F (177 degrees C), or until it reaches a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

Do you rinse a turkey breast before roasting? ›

The Centers for Disease Control suggests never washing your poultry before cooking. The reason why: "Washing raw turkey can spread germs to other food.

Do you put water in the bottom of the roasting pan for turkey? ›

Place roast, skin side up, on a flat roasting rack in 2-inch deep roasting pan. Do not add water to pan. Roast uncovered according to Cooking Schedule or until meat thermometer in center of breast roast reaches 170° F and in center of turkey roast reaches 175° F.

Should I cover my turkey with aluminum foil while cooking? ›

But if you are roasting the turkey, be it whole turkey, breast, or leg on a regular roasting pan, foil is a good option. Basically the foil works in the same way a lid works—by trapping steam so the turkey stays moist throughout the roasting process. Simply tent the foil so that it loosely covers the whole turkey.

Why cook turkey breast side down? ›

Breast Side Down. The main difference between how my mother makes her turkey and everyone else is to cook it breast side down. By cooking the turkey this way, the juices from the cooking turkey fall into the breast while the turkey cooks, resulting in the most succulent breast imaginable.

Why cook turkey breast side up? ›

The idea is that by roasting your bird breast side down, it's further away from the heat source and the juices from the dark meat can trickle down to the white meat, resulting in juicier white meat that won't dry out. Then you flip the turkey right side up so the skin on the breast can crisp up in the oven.

What to season turkey with? ›

Stick with salt and pepper, put herbs like rosemary, thyme, and sage to work, or take spicy Cajun seasoning for a spin for some kick. Whatever blend you choose, spread it all over the turkey—on top, underneath, between the body and wings and legs, under the skin, and even in the cavity of the bird.

How long does it take to cook a 3lb boneless Butterball turkey? ›

Convection Oven 325°
WeightCook Time (Unstuffed)Cook Time (Stuffed)
3-5½ lbs.1½ -2 hrs.1¾-2½ hrs.
5½-9 lbs.2-2½ hrs.2½-3¼ hrs.
18-22 lbs.2½-3 hrs.3¼-3¾ hrs.
22-24 lbs.3-3½ hrs.3¾-4¼ hrs.

How long does it take to cook a 3 pound Butterball turkey breast in the oven? ›

and put it into the oven for 2 hours *at 325°*. I started checking on it about an hour and a half but at 2 hours. it came out looking roasted and beautiful. Cut away that netting and discard, and then your turkey is ready to go.

Is a Butterball turkey breast seasoned? ›

Perfect for a small gathering or as a complement to a whole turkey, tender and juicy Butterball Boneless Turkey Breast Roasts are a great choice for any occasion. For extra flavor, this turkey breast roast is pre-seasoned with savory herbs.

How to cook a Butterball turkey breast in a box? ›

You just take this product out of the box, remove the plastic covering, rub it with oil (I used olive oil) and put it in the oven for four hours. Now, I did check the internal temperature and the turkey was actually cooked in just over 3 1/2 hours. I think they give extra time just to be safe.

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