Cranberry Glazed Turkey Breast

When Thanksgiving is just two of you, a turkey breast is a perfect answer to a huge meal. This recipe uses an air fryer oven in the bake and air fryer mode for a perfectly juicy and delicious turkey breast.

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Looking down on sliced turkey breast on a cutting board.

Cooking a Turkey Breast in an Air Fryer Oven

It’s been a few years now that I’ve been making turkey breast in the air fryer oven and I don’t think I’ll cook a turkey breast any other way again. The results are just too hard to beat. The turkey comes out moist and tender and the skin browns and crisps up beautifully. This recipe for Cranberry Glazed Turkey Breast is no exception. It uses the air fryer oven to do its magic and then a super simple cranberry glaze is basted on at the last minute for a delicious sweet-tart flavor on that beautiful brown skin.

Looking down on a roast turkey breast in an air fryer basket with a saucepan of cranberry sauce on the side.

Time and Temperature for Turkey Breast

This turkey breast recipe uses two different functions on the air fryer oven. The first part of cooking is done with the Bake function that uses a low fan speed, creating a convection heat source. If you’re using the Blue Jean Chef® air fryer oven, bake at 350˚F for 17 minutes per pound. If you’re going to do this in your traditional oven, bake at 350˚F for 20 minutes per pound. Once the turkey has reached an internal temperature of 160˚F on an instant read thermometer, brush the glaze on and use the Air-Fry function at 350˚F to seal that glaze onto the turkey for 10 to 15 minutes. In a traditional oven, brush the glaze on and continue to roast for another 20 minutes.

A hand brushing cranberry glaze on a roast turkey breast in an air fryer basket.

Cranberry Glaze for Turkey Breast

The glaze is as simple as it can be and you have plenty of time to make it while the turkey breast roasts. Simply combine all the glaze ingredients in a pan and simmer until the cranberries break down. Crush them with a wooden spoon as the glaze thickens and then give the glaze a vigorous whisk to turn it into a more even consistency, adding water to thin it into a spreadable glaze.

Roast turkey breast on a cutting board - one half on the bone and the other half carved.

How to Carve Turkey Breast

There is more than one way to carve a turkey breast. I like to cut the whole half breast off the bone and then slice it into even slices. It looks pretty and everyone gets a little of the skin that way. Alternately, you could carve the turkey right off the breast bone into thin slices.

A white plate with a turkey dinner with a glass of wine, bottle of wine, salt and pepper shakers.

What to Serve with Turkey Breast

What you sere with your cranberry glazed turkey breast is a matter of personal preference. If you’re making this for Thanksgiving, you probably have some traditional side dishes that you like to have on the plate. Mashed potatoes  or mashed sweet potatoes are always popular. Side vegetables like Brussels sprouts, green beans with pearl onions and bacon, or balsamic glazed carrots are all good ideas. Just don’t forget to put a little of the cranberry glaze on the plate too, and save those leftovers for fantastic lunches all week!

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Cranberry Glazed Turkey Breast

  • Prep Time: 10 m
  • Cook Time: 1 h 25 m
  • Total Time: 1 h 35 m
  • Servings:
    8

Ingredients

  • 1 5- to 8-pound bone-in turkey breast
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter softened
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon dried sage
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Cranberry Glaze
  • 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup orange juice
  • 1 cup water divided
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon dried sage
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme

Instructions

  1. Trim the rib bones of the turkey breast with a pair of sharp poultry scissors so the turkey breast sits flat in the air fryer basket.
  2. Rub the softened butter over the turkey breast and push a little under the skin. Combine the dried thyme, sage, salt and freshly ground black pepper and sprinkle this all over the turkey breast.
  3. Pre-heat your air fryer oven to 350˚F on the BAKE function.
  4. When the oven has pre-heated, transfer the turkey breast in the air fryer basket with the drip pan underneath to the lowest position in the oven. Cook for 17 minutes per pound, based the weight of your turkey (1 hour 25 minutes for a 5-pound turkey breast or 2¼ hours for an 8-pound turkey breast). If the skin starts to get too brown during the cooking process, tent some foil over the top of the turkey breast.
  5. While the turkey is air-frying, make the cranberry glaze by combining all the glaze ingredients in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil and then lower heat and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes, crushing the cranberries as they soften with a spoon. When the cranberries are soft use a wire whisk to beat the mixture and smooth it into a paste like consistency. Whisk in the remaining ½ cup of water and cook for another minute or two.
  6. When the turkey breast reaches an internal temperature of 160°F on an instant read thermometer, generously brush the glaze on the turkey skin. Set the oven to the AIR-FRY function at 350˚F and air-fry uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes.
  7. Transfer the turkey breast to a cutting board and let it rest for 15 minutes. Carve the turkey breast into slices and serve with any remaining cranberry glaze and your favorite side dishes.
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Comments (5)Post a Reply

  1. 5 stars
    You’re right, Meredith, the information WAS riveting! LOL. Honestly, it sounds delicious. Why wait until Thanksgiving? I don’t have an air fryer but sounds easy enough in the oven! Thank you!

  2. 5 stars
    We just finished our Thanksgiving, guests insisted I review this right away. I have always made really good turkey but today it was said” the best turkey we’ve ever eaten”. One guest even toasted in BJC’s honor. A MUST try …..perfection would be an understatement.

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