This Easy Air Fryer Turkey Breast recipe is ready in less than an hour! A simple herb seasoning and SO much flavor, you’ll think it was deep fried!

What do you do when you don’t want to make a whole turkey for Thanksgiving? Well, in my case, I usually make a turkey breast recipe like this air fryer turkey breast. And even if you aren’t cooking for Thanksgiving, this air fried turkey breast can be used as a super easy lean protein for meal prep or even homemade deli meat!

a photo of an air fried turkey breast resting on a cooling rack

Cooking Methods for Turkey Breast

Here on Blackberry Babe, I have THREE easy ways to make juicy turkey breast.

Bone-in: If you bought a bone-in turkey breast, try out this Italian Grilled Turkey Breast recipe.

Boneless: If you bought a boneless turkey breast, I recommend the air fryer recipe below, or you could try smoking it using my or this Smoked Boneless Turkey Breast recipe.

Cooking a turkey breast in the air fryer makes for the perfect turkey dinner for a smaller Thanksgiving in just a fraction of the time!

“I will make this again and again. Thanks for a go to recipe for turkey.”- Tammy

Cajun Air Fryer Turkey Breast

Tips for Juicy Turkey Breast

The first time I tried to air fry a turkey breast, it was absolutely just a curiosity on my part. I did NOT expect it to turn out this good!

My curiosity was driven by the fact that I’m always air frying chicken wings and chicken thighs, so I thought with some added fat (oil or butter) and good seasonings, air frying a turkey breast could work and give me delicious crispy skin!

“Followed instructions to a tee. Seasoning is to die for.” – Lynda

And luckily, my curiosity paid off! This air fried turkey breast recipe was totally a happy accident. I ended up with a pretty crispy skin on the outside with the zesty spice rub, and juicy meat! It almost tasted like deep fried turkey; it was THAT tasty and flavorful.

Cajun Air Fryer Turkey Breast

The only thing I would consider doing differently in the future is injecting the meat for even more flavor. You can buy turkey injection liquid at the grocery store by the butcher’s counter or make my homemade turkey injection recipe if you want to try injecting!

If you do inject your turkey breast, do so right before you air fry. You could also inject the breast up to 8 hours prior to give the liquid more time to season the meat. Just make sure to keep it chilled in the refrigerator while it’s marinating!

Check out the other air fryer recipes on Blackberry Babe. 

Serving Suggestions

I think this is the best turkey for a small get together! Serve it sliced with fresh herbs for garnish. I also love to serve it with cranberry sauce or gravy and a few of my favorite side dishes like green bean casserole or mashed potatoes!

If you need more suggestions, check out all of my side dish recipes on Blackberry Babe.

Storing Leftover Turkey Breast

Store any leftover turkey meat in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Leftovers also freeze well! Freeze in freezer bags with all air removed for up to 6 months. 

If you have leftover breast meat, consider using it in my awesome Thanksgiving Turkey Sliders or substitute it in my Chicken Stuffing Casserole!

“I made this for the first time and will definitely be doing it again. It was perfectly browned, moist and tender.” – Yvonne

I hope that you enjoy this air fryer turkey breast recipe! If you give it a try, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below.

a photo of an air fried turkey breast on a baking sheet

Easy Air Fryer Turkey Breast (Boneless)

This Easy Air Fryer Turkey Breast recipe is ready in less than an hour! A simple herb seasoning and SO much flavor, you’ll think it was deep fried!
4.76 from 166 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Cajun
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 5
Calories: 304kcal
Author: Michelle Goth

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds boneless turkey breast
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon thyme dried
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  • Before cooking, pull the turkey breast from the refrigerator and allow it to sit at room temperature for 20 minutes to remove the chill. 
  • Pre-heat your air fryer to 360 degrees Fahrenheit. 
  • In a small bowl, mix dry seasonings together.
  • Place thawed turkey on a plate. Pat dry with paper towels. 
  • Next, rub or brush turkey breast with the oil. 
  • Season turkey breast on all sides with dry seasoning blend.
  • Place turkey breast in air fryer basket.
  • Air fry for 45 minutes to 1 hour, turning turkey breast every 5-10 minutes to avoid burning. If the outside of the turkey looks dry at any point, spray with cooking spray to help it stay moist.
  • Your cooking time will depend on the power of your air fryer, so be sure to measure doneness with an instant read thermometer. When the turkey reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F using a meat thermometer, it is done. Measure the temperature in the thickest part of the breast. I like to pull my turkey at 162 degrees F, knowing that it will continue to cook while it rests. 
  • Transfer the turkey to a cutting board and allow it to rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing. You can tent the turkey with aluminum foil to help it stay warm.
  • Slice the turkey, serve warm.

Notes

You will need a larger air fryer (6 or 8 quart) to fit the turkey breast and leave room for the air to circulate.
The size of the turkey breast will impact cook time. I’ve had readers report that their 5-pound turkey breasts took about an hour, while a smaller 3–4-pound breast will take 45-50 minutes. 
One of the questions I get the most is whether you should leave the netting on! Yes, please leave the netting on during the cook time. After the turkey breast rests, you’ll want to use kitchen shears to remove the net before slicing the turkey breast. When the bone is removed from the turkey breast, what’s left is oddly shaped and loose. The net helps hold it together and gives it a nice shape. Think of it like kitchen twine! 

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 304kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 59g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 147mg | Sodium: 1027mg | Potassium: 678mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 164IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Please consider Leaving a Review!
Cajun Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Cajun Air Fryer Turkey Breast