This air fryer turkey recipe is perfect for an intimate Thanksgiving dinner for two. Roasting a whole turkey is an all-day ordeal, but roasting a turkey breast in the air fryer takes less than an hour!
Have a mini-Thanksgiving meal any time of year! With this air fryer turkey recipe, you can enjoy that delicious Thanksgiving flavor whenever you like.
Making the Thanksgiving turkey doesn’t have to be complicated and cumbersome. With your air fryer, it’s easy and quick. This air fryer turkey recipe might just save the day!
Why You’ll Love Air Fryer Turkey
- Unbelievably easy! You can make air fryer turkey in just four simple steps—no brining, no basting, just season it and pop it in the air fryer. It’s super easy and delicious.
- Super fast! Cooking a turkey in an oven can take anywhere from 2-5 hours (or more). And that’s not even including the time it takes to thaw, prepare, and season it. In the air fryer, it takes just 40 minutes. Talk about fast.
- The best part of the turkey! Turkey breasts are lean, juicy, and flavorful. This prized part of the bird is often considered healthier than dark meat as well.
If you love this air fryer turkey recipe, make sure to check out the ultra-popular Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs recipe, or this delicious Turkey Burger recipe. If you like bacon, you’ll love this Air Fryer Turkey Bacon recipe.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Use a meat thermometer. Depending on the size of your turkey breast, you may need to adjust the cooking time. Check to make sure the turkey temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) before you slice it.
- Flip your turkey breasts halfway through cooking. At the 20-minute mark, flip the meat over so both sides can cook evenly and turn golden brown.
- Add your favorite spices. This recipe calls for garlic salt and paprika, but you can add whatever spices you like. Spices like dried rosemary, sage, and thyme give the meat a rich, savory flavor.
How to Store Air Fryer Turkey
Leftover turkey will stay good for 3-4 days in an airtight container in the fridge. If you get tired of eating plain turkey leftovers, try making these delicious turkey patties with your leftover cooked turkey breast.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Turkey
Without a doubt, the best way to serve turkey is Thanksgiving style: with a pile of mashed potatoes and dripping in gravy. Because really, what’s turkey without gravy? If you want to avoid the hassle of using pan drippings to make homemade gravy, try this easy and delicious gravy recipe.
For a complete Thanksgiving dinner, make sure to accompany your air fryer turkey with stuffing, green bean casserole, and some delicious cinnamon-pecan apple crisp for dessert!
More Thanksgiving Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Casserole: With a fluffy, sweet, cinnamon-spiced filling and a delicious brown-sugar-pecan topping, this casserole is a winner at any holiday gathering.
- Air Fryer Homemade Bread: Thanksgiving isn’t complete without homemade bread! Use this recipe as the base for your next beautifully baked creation, or try these easy frozen rolls if you’re short on time.
- Air Fryer Creamed Corn Casserole: This holiday dish brings back fond memories of Grandma’s cooking. It’s a super simple holiday essential.
Did you enjoy this recipe? Let us know in the comments below! We love hearing from fellow home chefs and air fryer fans. Comment below, follow Air Fryer Eats on Instagram, pin this recipe to Pinterest, and join our Air Fryer Recipes Facebook group too.
Air Fryer Turkey
Equipment
- Cutting board
- Knife
Ingredients
- 3 lb. turkey breast
- 1 tbsp oil
- 2 tsp poultry seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic salt
- ½ tsp paprika
Instructions
- Rub oil onto turkey breast. Combine seasonings and sprinkle on both sides of the meat.
- Place turkey breast in the air fryer basket.
- Cook for about 40 minutes at 360°F (185°C), flipping turkey breasts halfway through cooking. Make sure your turkey is at least 165°F (74°C).
- Rest 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Video
Notes
- This recipe can be made in an air fryer unit with a basket or an air fryer oven. If you are using an air fryer oven, use the middle rack and choose the “Air Fry” function.
- Check your food as it cooks. Each air fryer runs a bit differently. Make sure to check your food as it’s cooking to learn your air fryer better and avoid over- or undercooking.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Unfortunately, a frozen turkey breast doesn’t do well in the air fryer. Since the air fryer cooks so fast, frozen turkey comes out overcooked and dry.
Here’s what you can do instead: if you have a frozen turkey breast, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before air frying. Allow 24 hours of thaw time for every 5 pounds of turkey (in a 40°F fridge).
To cook a 3-pound turkey breast (like in this recipe) you need at least a 3-quart air fryer. When you place your turkey in the basket, space everything out as much as possible so that nothing is touching. This helps it cook evenly and get brown and crispy on the outside!
We’ve updated this recipe!
We want our recipes to be as easy to follow as possible. That’s why we periodically update our recipes to share new tips and tricks, valuable information, and new photos. But don’t worry, it’s still the same great air fryer turkey recipe you know and love.
I had a turkey breast in the fridge and we made this for lunch. It turned out moist and delicious!
Hi Carolyn, thanks for stopping by and checking out the recipe AND making it! So glad the timing worked out that you had a turkey breast in your fridge. So glad you loved our air fryer turkey!
I didn’t know that using as air fryer was so easy. I have been seeing some really great recipes using them. This recipe looks like a must try!
Thanks Angela!
I have been cooking turkey this way for years in my convection oven but love this air-fryer recipes for nights when it is only my husband and I.
So glad you found it! Enjoy!
Such a creative and delicious use of the air fryer! Such an easy recipe, and so flavorful. Plus, it never hurts to have such a budget friendly dish. Thank you for the great recipe!
You are so welcome, glad you gave it a try!! 🙂
I’ve been loving my air fryer but hadn’t thought to cook turkey in it like this until your recipe. This recipe is a hit!
Yay, so glad our air fryer turkey was a hit!
I am so happy I’ve found an air fruer turkey recipe. I’ve always made turkey in a different way but sooo ready to use air fryer for it now!
Have fun! So glad you found it, please come back and let us know if you like it!
The looks delicious. Do you recommend brining before you cook it?
Hi Elizabeth! I think it comes down to a personal preference, but I do not brine it when I cook it in the air fryer because it cooks a bit quicker. I do brine when I oven roast 🙂
Could this be done with a bone-in turkey breast? How should I adjust the cooking temp/time?
Yes, It can. I haven’t personally tried it but members in our air fryer group have talked about it. I would start at 350F 20 minutes, turn over and cook for about 30 to 40 minutes or until the internal temperature is 160F It may vary based upon the size of the turkey breast but it gives you a starting point 🙂 Let is rest 10 minutes before carving.
I tried this and loved it. We will be having a small Thanksgiving this year, so I plan to make this!
So glad you liked it, thank you for coming back and leaving a review and comment!