This Roasted Air Fryer Turkey Breast is juicy and moist and so easy to make. Use bone-in or boneless turkey breast to make this beautiful golden roasted turkey in less than an hour.
This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here.
The full recipe with ingredients/instructions is available on the recipe card at the bottom of the post. Important tips/tricks are also included in the blog post.
Turkey is not just for Thanksgiving. It’s available year-round and is perfect for times when you get tired of simple roasted chicken. The turkey breast in the air fryer is perfect for the times you:
- Don’t want to turn on the oven to roast a small turkey breast.
- Don’t feel like taking the extra step of brining the turkey.
- Want to have a turkey on the table in less than an hour.
- Love your Air Fryer so much that you make any and everything in it (this is me, this is me!)
This recipe works for bone-in or boneless turkey breast and requires no brining.
How to cook a bone-in turkey breast in an air fryer
First, you want to make sure you have a fully defrosted turkey breast that will fit in your Air Fryer basket. Some of those bone-in breasts are huge and literally won’t fit in your everyday basket air fryer. I go for a breast that is 4 pounds or less. I suggest using an air fryer that is at least 5.3 quarts.
Rub mayonnaise and seasonings all over the turkey breast. I also season under the skin.
How long to cook bone-in turkey breast in air fryer
Preheat your Air fryer to 360 degrees Fahrenheit. I lay my bone-in turkey breast on the side and cook for 25 minutes. After 25 minutes, I open the air fryer basket and flip it and cook it for an additional 25 minutes. Your turkey breast is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit on a quick read thermometer.
Allow your turkey breast to cool on a cutting board for a few 5-10 minutes before slicing.
How to cook a 3 Pound Boneless Turkey Breast
My boneless turkey breast generally has a net around the meat. I like to keep the net on the meat so that the meat cooks together and slices better after cooking.
How long to cook a boneless turkey breast in the air fryer
Preheat your Air fryer to 360 degrees Fahrenheit. Season your turkey breast. Air fry on 360 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 hour, turning every 15 minutes. I find that my boneless breast takes a little longer than bone-in because it is wrapped in netting. Use a quick-read thermometer to ensure the internal temperature has reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Allow your turkey breast to cool on a cutting board for a few 5-10 minutes and remove the net before slicing.
Tanya's Top Tips
These tips will help you make the most delicious turkey breast in the air fryer.
- I use defrosted turkey breast so I can properly season it and have the seasonings stick to the meat. You can also choose to dry brine it and let it sit in the refrigerator for a few hours. I usually just season and get to cooking.
- I choose mayonnaise to coat the breast because I like the taste and the golden color it gives my breast. You could opt for a reduced amount of oil instead.
- I like to use this turkey breast for meal prep for sandwiches and wraps for the week.
- If making the boneless breast, be careful when removing the netting. Some meat may stick to the netting when removing.
- Once the turkey breast is cooked, set it aside for 10 minutes to rest before slicing and serving. This allows the juices to be absorbed back into the turkey, leaving you with deliciously tender pieces of turkey.
Additional recipes
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do, or are looking for more ways to cook a turkey breast, try these out:
How to serve turkey breast
If you need ideas of what to serve this with, try these:
Watch this full video tutorial and see how I make this turkey breast from start to finish.
How to store leftover turkey breast
To refrigerate: Keep any leftover turkey breast in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Leftovers make a great addition to salads, soups, pasta dishes and sandwiches the next day.
To freeze: Once cooked and cooled, place the turkey into an airtight container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator when you are ready to enjoy.
FAQs:
Yes, turkey breast is a really lean cut of meat, which makes a healthy option when choosing a roast.
Cook turkey until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
No, I've never brined my turkey, as it's cooked in a delicious blend of spices that pack lots of flavor into the finished turkey breast. However, if you wish you can dry brine the turkey in the spices and leave it to rest in the fridge for a few hours before cooking.
I do not recommend it. I recommend fully thawing the turkey breast and adding seasoning to it before air frying. Cooking from frozen may result in the outside browning/cooking too fast while the inside comes to the correct temperature.
If you have tried this turkey breast recipe, or any other recipe on my blog, then please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below!
Air Fryer Turkey Breast (Bone-In or Boneless)
Ingredients
Bone-In Turkey Breast
- 4 lb bone-in turkey breast*
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Boneless Turkey Breast
- 3 lb boneless breast*
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Bone-In Turkey Breast
- Preheat air fryer to 360 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Season turkey breast with mayonnaise, poultry seasoning, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper.
- Place turkey breast in the air fryer basket on its side. Cook on one side for 25 minutes, flip, cook on the other side for 25 minutes or until internal temperature has reached a temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Boneless Turkey Breast
- Preheat your Air fryer to 360 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Season your boneless turkey breast with mayonnaise, poultry seasoning, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper.
- Air fry on 360 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 hour, turning every 15 minutes or until internal temperature has reached a temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Suggested Tools
Video
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally published October 22, 2019. It has been updated with helpful information and storage tips.
Kathryn says
How long do you think it would take using the rotisserie? I have the instant vortex air fryer oven with the rotisserie open, so no basket just shelves or the rotisserie option.
Tanya says
Hi Kathryn, I would guess it would take about the same amount of time with the rotisserie. I've only used my rotisserie for whole chickens and the cooking time has always been the same as with the air fryer times.
Dick Bathurst says
Hi Tanya:
Great site I just located you doing some searching for Air Fryer recipes.
I am new to Air Frying just purchased the Instant Pot Duo Crisp 8 quart unit. Only Cooking for my wife and I. We purchased frozen 6 pound turkey breast. Does it matter with your recipe where you say to place breast in airfryer basket can it be placed in the instant pot pot directly or do you need a basket to allow air to circulate around the breast. We purchased the instant pot duo so we can get the best of two worlds being able to pressure cook and Air fry with the same unit. Looking forward to receiving your Air Fry Recipes
Tanya says
Yes, if you are going to just air fry it, you'll want to place it on the rack to get the circulation. If you were to choose to pressure cook it instead, you won't need the rack, you will need to add liquid, pressure cook it, and then crisp it after pressure cooking it. I don't have an 8qt but I couldn't fit a large turkey breast in my IP on a rack. I have a pressure cooker turkey breast that shows photos of how I pressure cooked a large breast. I just ended up adding it to the oven after pressure cooking. https://www.myforkinglife.com/instant-pot-turkey-breast/
June says
Thanks! I was looking for an air fryer recipe for a 4 lb turkey breast.
Tiffany Eckroth says
What would you suggest for an oven-door Airfryer without a basket?
Tanya says
Hi Tiffany, I'd use the same method but it may just take a little longer to cook in an oven-door air fryer.
David W Booth says
I watched your video on air frying a turkey. It was great. Oh, by the way your hair looks good and you look 10 yrs. younger. Not flirting too old for that 78yr.
Tanya says
Thank you 🙂
Anita says
Every time I leave the netting on I always end up pulling off so much of the skin cracklings “toasted” part of the turkey breast. I don’t want the boneless turkey breast to dry out and I do want to try it in the air fryer but I am really new to an air fryer and I was wondering if you had tips on getting the net off without losing so much of the toasted outside of the turkey breast or is there something in particular I should do if I’m going to start with the net off from the beginning of cooking in the air fryer? When I have previously tried to cook the turkey breast boneless without the net on in the oven it always falls open and seems to dry out the turkey. Thanks for the recipe and for answering my question if you can I don’t have much experience cooking so any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
Tanya says
Hi Anita, I actually have a video I'll be posting tomorrow that shows how I remove the netting. The trick is to cut the netting vertically and then carefully remove it from the breast. For the parts that are sticking, apply a little pressure to the area while picking up the netting. I use a pair of tongs to apply pressure to the areas that are sticking and carefully lift the netting. It helps a ton. I agree, removing the netting first will just lead to dry turkey breast. I'll be sharing the video to my email list tomorrow 🙂
Anita says
@Tanya,
Thanks so much I’ll look for it tomorrow I am signed up for your email list
Dolores says
@Anita, do I remove netting
Colleen says
@Anita, I remove the netting and tie it myself with butcher twine. This way it holds it together and allows for easier removal.
Don Butler says
Thanks for everything. I learned to keep the netting on. I learned that 360 degrees is the correct temperature. It was confirmed by my air fyrer instructions for turkey breast and whole chicken. Instead of mayonaisse, I used peanut oil--added smoked paprika and sage, and some powdered garlic. Will add the ground pepper during the last 15-mins. Plus plus alternative: Finsih the breast off in a smoker at 190 F. Used mesquite or hickory to give a nice smoked flavor. Appreciate the great menus and directions.
Tanya says
No problem Don. Thanks for the feedback 🙂
John L Hart says
When you say cook on it's side, do you mean breast side down and flip or breasts facing one way and spi ne facing the other then flip?
Tanya says
Hi John, I mean breast facing one way on it's side, and then flip on the other side. The breast with bone I use isn't split.
Linda Markham says
Is the nutritional value for the whole turkey breast or one serving size. And what is one serving size?
Tanya says
it's per serving. We tend to get 4-6 slices each of turkey breast but you can modify that amount for each serving.
jim says
Don,t leave the string netting on . I had to rip the nice burnt outside off to get it off .We like the charred outside thats why we make it in the airfryer in the first place very disappointing . I will make again with NO netting .
Colleen says
@jim, Tie it with butcher's twine, it is easier to remove and will keep it together for a moister roast.
Keith says
I did this tonight and nailed it!! 3lb boneless turkey breast. I modified my seasons slightly but that was a choice. 360 and mine was done in probably 55 mins. Let rest for 15 mins lightly tented when done. I have a Instant Pot 6qt but all air fryers are different so keep an eye on it that last 15 mins. I admit I had my doubts but I hit the temp perfect and it was great. Be sure you have that instant read thermometer. Thanks for the recipe.
Tanya says
Awesome! So glad you liked it Keith. I agree, an instant read thermometer helps get the temp just right.
Vickie says
We really enjoyed the turkey breast prepared according to your recipe. It was delicious. (My Breville air fryer required ninety minutes of cooking for a boneless three-pound breast to reach 165 degrees internally.) Thank you for the recipe.
Beverly Y Carney says
This was superb. We had a 3 lb chicken breast and it was enormously flavorful using your mayo coating and the air fryer. Very impressed. Thank you.
Sharon says
Tried this for our Christmas dinner and it turned out amazing! It was so moist and lots of flavor! Definitely making this again.
Tanya says
Awesome! Thank you for the feedback. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas.
Dennis Ripley says
My Wife had to work Thanksgiving so we had ours two days later. I had a 4lb. turkey breast, an air fryer plus your recipe. Tanya I followed the recipe exactly and it couldn't have turned out better. I like my air fryer and your recipes make it easy for me to find more to make in it. Thank you,
Tanya says
Thank you so much Dennis! That makes me so happy 🙂
Bj says
@Tanya, how long for a larger one say 7 pounds?
Tanya says
Hi Bj, I'm not totally share. I'd guess about an hour and a half. I would cook it for an hour and check and 15 minutes and check every 10-15 minutes with a thermometer until the internal temp reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.