The easiest way to prepare turkey on Thanksgiving day! This delicious foolproof Honey Maple Turkey Breast recipe will be the star ofthe show on Thanksgiving.
Hosting a smaller crowd for Thanksgiving? Not a fan of dark meat? Make this Honey Maple Turkey Breast instead of a full turkey.
A five-pound turkey breast will serve at least 6-8 people, and it is so much easier to prepare and serve (and store in your fridge). And don’t worry, you can still make Thanksgiving gravy.
Preparing a whole turkey can be a complete headache. You have to make sure it defrosts in time – aprocess which can take 3-4 days.
It can be a challenge to keep the white meat moist while making sure the dark meat cooks all the way through. It takes hours to cook. It’s not the easiest to carve.
Turkey breast cooks more quickly and carving it just requires cutting even slices of the meat. It takes some of the stress out of the holiday.
Another benefit to making turkey breast is that it takes up much less space in the oven, making it possible to cook (or reheat) side dishes while the turkey cooks.
Is it just me or is oven space always a major issue on Thanksgiving?
We loved this recipe. The turkey came out perfectly moist and the maple syrup and honey gave the gravy a sweetness that contrasted with the mustard and spices.
If you are expecting a big crowd on Thanksgiving, you might want to consider cooking a turkey breast in addition to a full bird.
You can probably fit the turkey breast in the oven alongside the full turkeywhile fitting two whole turkeys in one oven is probably impossible.
And since you can’t have thanksgiving turkey without gravy, here is a link to a post showing you how to make Thanksgiving gravy from scratch. It’s so easy, and I even made a video to show you step by step!
If you are looking for more Thanksgiving recipes – here are a few of my favorites:
Blue Cheese Potatoes Au Gratin
Thanksgiving Corn
Dill Cottage Cheese Rolls
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Pecan Pie with a Shortbread Crust
Bourbon Butterscotch Pie
Or if you want to try another turkey breast recipe – make this spinach and mushroom stuffed turkey breast. Stuffing a turkey breast is an easy way to add an extra burst of flavor!
Honey Maple Turkey Breast
The easiest way to prepare turkey on Thanksgiving day! This delicious foolproof Honey Maple Turkey Breast recipe will be the star of the show on Thanksgiving.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Ingredients
- 1Turkey Breast
- 2tablespoonsButterat room temperature
- 1/2cupMaple Syrup
- 1tablespoonHoney
- 1tablespoonWhole Grain Mustard
- 1/2teaspoonSmoked Paprika
- 1/2teaspoonOnion Salt
- 1/2teaspoonGarlic Powder
- 1/2teaspoonThyme
- 1/2teaspoonSalt
- 1/2teaspoonGround Black Pepper
- 2-4cupsChicken Broth
- For the Gravy:
- 1tablespoonButter
- 1tablespoonFlour
- 1/2cupWhite Wine
Instructions
Heat your oven to 325 degrees. Remove the turkey breast from its packaging and leave the string netting on, this holds the turkey breast together as it cooks.
Place the turkey breast in the center of a roasting pan. Rub the butter all over the turkey breast. Then mix the maple syrup, honey, mustard, smoked paprika, onion salt, garlic powder, thyme, salt, and pepper together. Spread a thick layer of the maple syrup and spice mix on the turkey.
Pour enough chicken broth in the bottom of the pan to coat it, this prevents any pan drippings from burning. This is important since you need the pan drippings to make gravy.
Roast the turkey breast at 325 degrees. Baste the turkey with the maple syrup and spice mixture every 30 minutes, and add more chicken broth to the pan as necessary. Continue this process until the turkey breast reaches 165 degrees.
Remove the turkey breast from the oven, and place it on a serving dish to rest while you prepare the gravy.
Scrape all of the pan drippings into a glass container (like a mason jar).
Melt the butter in a skillet and whisk in the flour. Then using a baster, suck up the pan drippings below the line of fat that rises to the top of the jar. Whisk all of these juices into the flour and butter. Whisk in the white wine. Bring to a simmer, and let the gravy thicken. Once thick, taste test and add salt and pepper if necessary. Strain the gravy to remove any lumps.
Remove the string netting around the turkey breast. Slice the turkey breast and serve it with the gravy.
What to save this honey maple turkey breast recipe for later? Pin this image:
FAQs
To achieve a perfectly golden, juicy turkey, let the bird spend time both covered and uncovered in the oven. We recommend covering your bird for most of the cooking time to prevent it from drying out; then, during the last 30 minutes or so of cooking, remove the cover so the skin crisps in the hot oven.
Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350? ›
Oven-Roasted Turkey
We recommend starting the turkey in a 425 degree oven for 30-45 minutes before tenting the pan with foil and lowering the temperature to 350 degrees until a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees when inserted into the thickest part of the bird.
Is it better to cook bone-in turkey breast at 325 or 350? ›
2- to 2½-pound bone-in turkey breast half: Roast at 325°F for 60 to 70 minutes. 2½- to 3-pound boneless turkey breast: Roast at 325°F for 40 to 60 minutes. 4- to 6-pound whole turkey breast: Roast at 325°F for 1½ to 2¼ hours. 6- to 8-pound whole turkey breast: Roast at 325°F for 2¼ to 3¼ hours.
Is it OK to cook a turkey breast the day before Thanksgiving? ›
It's easy: Simply cook it a day or two in advance, let it cool completely, then carve the bird into large pieces—breasts, wings, thighs and drumsticks. Store in a container in the refrigerator until the big day. This method actually result in juicier meat—and an infinitely more relaxed host.
Do you rinse a turkey breast before roasting? ›
It doesn't matter if you're roasting, frying, or smoking your turkey, there's no need to give it a rinse unless you've brined it (more on that below). Cooking the turkey kills any bacteria, but washing a turkey before you cook it opens the door to dangerous cross contamination.
Do you put water in the bottom of the roasting pan for turkey? ›
Place roast, skin side up, on a flat roasting rack in 2-inch deep roasting pan. Do not add water to pan. Roast uncovered according to Cooking Schedule or until meat thermometer in center of breast roast reaches 170° F and in center of turkey roast reaches 175° F.
How many hours do you cook a turkey at 325? ›
In general, you should plan to cook a turkey for around 15-20 minutes per pound of turkey at 325ºF to get to that temp.
- 10-12 pounds: cook 2 3/4 to 3 hours.
- 15-16 pounds: cook 3 1/2 to 4 hours.
- 18-20 pounds: cook 4 to 4 1/2 hours.
Roasting the bird slowly, at a lower temperature is the best way to achieve tender meat. You should still prep the bird with butter, salt, and pepper, as described above (or dry-brine it). To cook, set your oven to 325°F and roast for 3½ to 4 hours for a 12- to 14-pound bird.
How long does it take to cook a 15 lb turkey at 325? ›
Unstuffed Turkey: For an unstuffed turkey, you can use the 13-15 minutes per pound guideline. This means that a 15-pound turkey, for example, would take about 3 hours and 15 minutes to 3 hours and 45 minutes to cook at 325°F. Stuffed Turkey: A stuffed turkey will require more time to cook becaus.
How many people will a 6 pound turkey breast feed? ›
A whole (six- to seven-pound) turkey breast (two breasts, still joined at the breast bone) will feed six to eight people. This method will work for either amount of meat.
4 people = 2 pound turkey breast. 8 people = 4 pound turkey breast. 10 people = 5 pound turkey breast. 16 people = 8 pound turkey breast.
Can I prep my turkey breast the night before? ›
Did you know that you can roast a turkey for Thanksgiving a full day ahead of time, carve it, refrigerate it overnight, and then reheat it to juicy perfection on Thanksgiving Day? This wonderful method ensures a moist and flavorful bird and is much easier on the cook.
Can you cook a turkey breast the day before and reheat? ›
When serving your turkey the next day, the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline advises that cooked turkey may be eaten cold or reheated. To reheat your turkey, USDA gives the following recommendations: In the Oven: Set the oven temperature no lower than 325°F.
Can I cook my turkey 3 days before Thanksgiving? ›
If you're pressed for time (or oven space), Make Ahead Roasted Turkey is just what you need. With this technique, cooking turkey the day before, the week before, or even the month before, still tastes delicious and freshly carved.
What temperature do you cook a turkey covered or uncovered? ›
Plan on between 2 and 2 ½ hours total for a 14- to 16-pound bird. Start at a high temperature (450°F for 45 minutes), then reduce to 325 degrees F. Let the turkey rest (30 minutes). Cover the turkey with aluminum foil to help it retain heat.
Do you use a rack when roasting turkey breast? ›
Place your turkey on a wire rack and then place the rack in a roasting pan. Pour 1 cup of water in the bottom of the roasting pan. This will prevent the drippings from burning on the bottom of the pan. If using a flat rack (use a V-rack if you have one), you will notice the turkey will tilt to one side or the other.
How can I get my turkey breast to stand up in my roasting pan? ›
If the turkey breast won't stay upright in the roasting pan, take two or three feet of aluminum foil, wad it up and partially stuff into the turkey's chest cavity to create a “stand” to keep the breast steady.
