For the best flavor, use high-quality fresh herbs. Don't skip the brining step! It's crucial for a moist and flavorful turkey. If the turkey skin starts to brown too quickly, tent it with foil during the last hour of roasting. Use the pan drippings and roasted vegetables to make a rich and flavorful gravy.
Perfect Thanksgiving Turkey Breast
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PREP TIME45 mins
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COOK TIME2 hrs 30 mins
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TOTAL TIME28 hrs 30 mins
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SERVING12 People
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VIEWS9
Achieve turkey perfection with this incredibly moist and tender turkey breast recipe. A Thanksgiving centerpiece that promises to be the star of your holiday feast. The bonus? Luxurious, smoky pan gravy from the drippings.
Ingridients
Adjust Servings
Nutrition
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Carbohydrate19 g
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Cholesterol294 mg
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Fiber4 g
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Protein101 g
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Saturated Fat6 g
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Sodium4067 mg
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Sugar12 g
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Fat13 g
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Unsaturated Fat0 g
Follow The Directions
01
StepPrepare the Brine: In a 6-quart pot over medium heat, warm the water until steam begins to rise. Stir in the kosher salt and sugar until completely dissolved. Introduce the liquid smoke, cracked peppercorns, crushed garlic, rosemary, thyme, and sage, followed by the smoked paprika. Immediately remove from heat, cover, and allow to cool to room temperature. (Approximately 30 minutes). Do not refrigerate.
02
StepBrining the Turkey: Place each turkey breast half into a zip-top freezer bag. Evenly distribute the brine, herbs, and garlic between the bags. Remove any excess air, seal tightly, and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours.
03
StepPrepping for Roasting: Remove the turkey breasts from the brine, pat them thoroughly dry with paper towels, and let them rest for 30 minutes. Strain the brine, reserving the garlic and herbs for later use.
04
StepPreheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
05
StepCraft the Herb Butter: In a bowl, combine the softened butter with finely chopped rosemary, thyme, and sage, along with the pressed garlic, black pepper, and smoked paprika. Mix well to create the herb butter. Set aside.
06
StepAssemble the Roasting Pan: Arrange the carrots, celery, bell peppers, onions, and reserved garlic and herbs from the brine in the bottom of a roasting pan to create a flavorful veggie rack. Gently loosen the skin on each turkey breast and rub about 1/4 of the herb butter under the skin. Spread the remaining butter evenly over the top of the skin. Place the turkey breasts on top of the vegetable rack in the roasting pan. Add the chicken stock to the bottom of the pan.
07
StepRoast the Turkey: Roast in the center of the preheated oven until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of each breast registers 160 degrees F (71 degrees C). This should take approximately 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Remove from the oven, cover loosely with a foil tent, and let rest for 15 minutes. The internal temperature will continue to rise to above 165 degrees F (74 degrees C) during this resting period.
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RECIPE REVIEWS
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Please Rate
Cathy Kreiger
Jun 28, 2025My family raved about the herb butter! It added so much flavor.
Danial Dubuque
Jun 22, 2025My turkey turned out very moist and flavorful. I will be using this recipe again.
Delmer Brekke
Jun 19, 2025I've made this recipe several times, and it's always a hit.
Oswald Kemmer
Jun 19, 2025I was a little nervous about brining, but it was so easy with this recipe.
Ricky Walter
Jun 19, 2025The resting period is important! Don't skip it!
Hailee Mclaughlin
Jun 19, 2025This recipe saved my Thanksgiving! The turkey was so juicy and flavorful.
Patsy Ritchie
Jun 16, 2025The brine is the key! It makes all the difference in the world.
Yazmin Emard
Jun 13, 2025The directions were clear and easy to follow, even for a beginner cook.