All turkeys are built differently, so depending on the turkey breast and how your butcher has prepared it, you may need to trim the bottom of the turkey’s ribs in order to get the turkey to sit upright in the air fryer basket without touching the heating element. The key to this recipe is getting the right sized turkey breast. Once you’ve managed that, the rest is easy, so make sure your turkey breast fits into the air fryer basket before you pre-heat the air fryer.
Air Fried Turkey Breast with Cherry Glaze
Switch up your traditional turkey by making an air-fried turkey breast with cherry glaze. Glazing the turkey at the end prevents over-browning, but delivers a nice fruity finish.
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Air Fried Turkey Breast with Cherry Glaze
- Prep Time: 10 m
- Cook Time: 55 m
- Total Time: 1 h 5 m
- Servings: 8
Ingredients
- 5 pound Bone-in turkey breast
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried sage
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ cup cherry preserves
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Pre-heat the air fryer to 350ºF.
- Brush the turkey breast all over with the olive oil. Combine the thyme, sage, salt and pepper and rub the outside of the turkey breast with the spice mixture.
- Transfer the seasoned turkey breast to the air fryer basket, breast side up, and air-fry at 350ºF for 25 minutes. Turn the turkey breast on its side and air-fry for another 12 minutes. Turn the turkey breast on the opposite side and air-fry for another 12 minutes. The internal temperature of the turkey breast should reach 165ºF when fully cooked.
- While the turkey is air-frying, combine the cherry preserves, fresh thyme, soy sauce and pepper in a small bowl. When the cooking time is up, return the turkey breast to an upright position and brush the glaze all over the turkey. Air-fry for a final 5 minutes, until the skin is nicely browned and crispy. Let the turkey rest,
Nutrition Facts
Air Fried Turkey Breast with Cherry Glaze
Amount Per Serving
Calories 328
Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Fat 5g8%
Saturated Fat 1g5%
Cholesterol 138mg46%
Sodium 865mg36%
Potassium 639mg18%
Carbohydrates 15g5%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 10g11%
Protein 55g110%
Vitamin A 95IU2%
Vitamin C 3.3mg4%
Calcium 46mg5%
Iron 1.8mg10%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Am making it but need to know: I’m going to do a 3lb turkey roast and try it in the Air-Fryer. The roast is not bone-in. I’m using a Ninja Foodi and wonder do I adjust the time to cook because there is no bone? Also, not sure if I will do air-fry or crisp to cook. Any recommendations?
Nina, a 3-pound boneless turkey breast has more meat on it than a 3-pound bone-in turkey breast, but this recipe calls for a 5-pound bone-in breast. So, the timing should be very similar. The challenge comes in how thick the breast is. Turkey can handle sitting and resting covered in foil for a good 20 minutes, so I would give yourself a 20 minute cushion so that if you need more time in the air fryer you will have it. ML
This looks yummy! We have a 3 qt Cook’s Essentials air fryer. Would this size accommodate a 5 lb bone in breast or should I purchase a 3 lb? Thanks and miss you on the Q!
You should be able to fit up to a 5lb turkey breast or air fry two split breasts if larger than 5lbs. You can also cut down some of the rib bones to make the turkey breast sit flatter in the air fryer basket.
Hi Nina,
I have an first generation 8 quart Ninja Foodi and have air crisped the boneless Butterball All White Meat Turkey Roast on a number of occasions using the air crisp feature. I air crisped mine at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes, skin side up, flipped over my roast, added some more seasoning to make sure the bottom side was oiled up and flavored up for another 20 minutes, then take the temperature after 40 minutes of air crisping. I usually have mine at 165 in about 45 minutes. I cook mine on the green silcone OXO sling. The turkey roast is fully thawed when prepared. I have pressure cooked it from frozen, which works, but the flavor does not get into the meat and make it as flavorful as thawed and air crisping it.
If you have the Ninja Grill (I have the first generation), I actually like it cooked better on it with the grill plate out of all the methods I’ve made a turkey breast roast over the past 30 plus years, even better than rotisserie, which was the way I was making my turkey before getting the Ninja Foodi and Ninja Grill.
Can these air fry recipes be used in oven instead?
Yes, you can bake any of the air fryer recipes in the oven. The general rule is to increase the temperature by 25 to 50 degrees and increase the timing by 20%. For the turkey breast, you can roast in a 350°F oven for 16 to 20 minutes per pound until the internal temperature of the turkey reaches 165°F with an instant read thermometer.
Easy and good. Used 1/2 breast and adjusted cook time and halved ingredients per the book instructions. I’ve done both air f and reg oven. Used meat thermometer.
We have a Blue Jean Chief Air Fryer Toaster Oven. Would there be any changes to the recipe if baked in it?
You can cook the turkey breast on the Bake function for 17 minutes per pound. Then brush the glaze on top and set to the Air-Fry function for 10 to 15 minutes. You can follow the directions to Meredith’s, Cranberry Glazed Turkey Breast, which was made in her Air Fryer Toasted Oven. Here is the link: https://bluejeanchef.com/recipes/cranberry-glazed-turkey-breast/
What is a good replacement for the thyme in your cherry glaze used with your air fryer turkey breast? My husband is allergic to thyme.
Rosemary or even parsley would be nice.