Roast a boneless turkey breast with this boneless turkey breast recipe, flavored with a deliciously savory marinade. Perfect for Thanksgiving!
Foolproof Boneless Turkey Breast Recipe
Once the calendar page flips over to November, I start thinking about Thanksgiving. There’s so much to plan! Whether you’re hosting at home or bringing a covered dish to someone else’s house, Thanksgiving requires thought.
I have a roster of side dishes and desserts that regularly make an appearance at Thanksgiving, but over the years I’d never really settled on one particular main dish recipe.
Until now.
This foolproof boneless turkey breast recipe is the turkey recipe for the books.
It’s much easier than having to manhandle a giant whole turkey into a pan, and since it has a simple marinade to use for basting, you’ll be surprised by how much flavor a boneless turkey breast can have.
Side dishes can be easy, too. My squash casserole and broccoli casserole are always big Thanksgiving hits.
There are just four ingredients in the marinade: malt vinegar, brown sugar, lemon juice, and olive oil. You probably have some of them in your pantry already! Let’s get down to cooking.
Tips for Making Boneless Turkey Breast Roast
- Line your pan with parchment paper or foil for easy cleanup.
- No roasting rack? Here’s a solution. Crunch up a long length of foil like a snake, then bend it into a loose coil. Voila! Instant disposable roasting rack.
- Don’t worry about the timing of the basting during cooking. Just baste it when you remember to and it will come out fine.
- This boneless turkey breast is absolutely wonderful for sandwiches, and very economical. It costs far less per pound than deli meat!
- Homemade cranberry sauce is really easy to make. Only three ingredients! Try this tangerine cranberry sauce (swap in orange juice if you prefer).
- Got leftovers? Make this casserole with your leftover turkey.
Foolproof Boneless Turkey Breast Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 pounds boneless turkey breast, thawed
- 1/4 cup malt vinegar gluten free: substitute rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 325 F and prepare a roasting pan with a rack. Line the pan with foil or parchment for easy cleanup if desired.
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Remove the wrapper (and gravy packet, if any) from the thawed boneless turkey breast. You can leave the butcher's string on, but loosen it a little so it doesn't cut into the turkey. Place the turkey breast upside down on the roasting rack in the pan.
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Combine the malt vinegar, lemon juice, and brown sugar in a bowl. Whisk. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil, whisking continuously, until an emulsion is formed. Split the marinade into two separate bowls (to prevent cross-contamination).
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Use one bowl of marinade to thoroughly coat the turkey breast, starting with the underside of the breast. Then, turn the breast right side up and coat the top and sides. Place the pan in the oven.
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Roast for about 2 hours, or until a thermometer reads 165 F when inserted in the thickest part. During the cooking process, occasionally baste with the second bowl of marinade.
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Let rest 10 minutes before slicing.
Alli Smith
Your boneless turkey breast looks so yummy! I often roast a turkey breast when it’s just me and the hubs. There’s always leftovers for turkey sandwiches.
Shirley Wood
I had no idea that Walmart had this service. I can think of so many people who could benefit from it for so many reasons, especially health reasons and the elderly. I’m going to look for those signs at our Walmart the next time I go.
Nancy T
Your turkey breast recipe sounds (and looks!) delicious – what a great option for Thanksgiving, or dinner in general. Wow, that is a wonderful service that’s now available at Wal-Mart, especially with the winter months coming up – no need to trudge in to the store (alone or with children in tow) in the cold or snow. I knew our local grocery store implemented a similar service (for a fee) but I didn’t know Wal-Mart was rolling out a similar, *free* option – I’m going to see if the Wal-Mart near me offers it as well.
Annemarie LeBlanc
I will take advantage of this service when I am pressed for time! So happy that Walmart provided us with this option. Oh, and BTW, that turkey breast recipe is awesome!
Jenn @ EngineerMommy
Cooking a turkey properly can sometimes be a bit intimidating. Thanks for sharing these tips on preparing a delicious, moist turkey breast. I will be using your tips next week!
Doria
Oh my goodness, that looks so delicious! I’m taking notes because I’m doing the turkey this year. 😉
lisa
I love making turkey. I have used that same recipe passed down from my mother for years. And Walmart always has what I need to make dinner complete.
Jenn
This is one of my favorite things to cook. I’m not much of a cook, but this I can do. And it’s the perfect dinner.
Pam Wattenbarger
We usually make a turkey breast instead of a whole turkey because our family can’t feasibly eat an entire turkey. Unfortunately, sometimes it is dry or bland or both. This looks great!
Christina Aliperti
We always make a turkey breast because nobody likes the dark meat in my house. This one looks perfect, not dry like mine sometimes comes out.
Maureen @Scoops of Joy
That turkey looks so delicious, moist and tender! I wish we have the turkey breast here but alas they only cary the whole bird and there’s no way I could cook that here lol. Maybe I will go take a look in other store here to see if they have this then I can try your recipe 😀
michele d
Love making turkey breast. It’s so much easier and my whole family loves it. Your recipe looks amazing!
ricci
Your recipe for a turkey breast sounds much less intimidating than making a whole turkey! I also love the WalMart grocery pickup! It’s a life saver!!
Rebecca Swenor
This looks like a great recipe for a boneless turkey breast. Yummy!!! I have never heard of the online grocery pickup service from Walmart but really love the idea. This I am going to have to try if they have it here in our area. Thanks for sharing the information and the recipe.
Kita Bryant
That turkey looks perfect. The meat looks delectable!
Bonnie @wemake7
Oh my gosh, I wonder if our Walmart does that. That is pretty awesome.
Emma Spellman
That Turkey looks so good! I am so jealous that your Walmart has that service! They sent me a card the other day in the mail about it and I thought it had finally come to our area, but I checked and not yet! Hopefully soon!
Debra P
Your turkey looks mouthwatering. I love the brownness on the skin – that’s my favorite part!
Matthew Lundgren
Am I the only one that doesn’t see a temp to preheat oven too?
Katie
Whoops! I just edited the recipe to show that the temperature should be set to 325 F. In the future, I’m not allowed near a keyboard until I have my first cup of coffee.
Thanks for pointing it out!
Katie
Pat Moyer
How many people would this serve? If i can’t find malt vinegar anywhere will it make a huge difference? Thank you.
Katie
Hi Pat! You start out with about 3 lbs of turkey breast meat, then that reduces a little while cooking. You should be able to serve approximately 4 to 5 people. The malt vinegar is good (and inexpensive; usually about $2 a bottle), but if for some reason you are unable to find it, a lemon juice & brown sugar & olive oil marinade works very well too. Let me know if you have any other questions and I’ll be glad to help.
Kay
Do you cook it Covered?
Katie Moseman
Nope, not at all. Cook it uncovered on a roasting rack. If for some reason it gets extremely brown before it’s done, you could lightly cover it in foil, but I haven’t had that happen to me yet. Thanks for stopping by, and let me know if you have any other questions. 🙂
-Katie
Tonia Deakin
Hi, I can’t wait to make this turkey recipe but I’ve never made an emulsion before. Could you give me a little help with what it is suppose to look like and how thick it would be. I found these 3 lbs turkey on sale a couple of weeks ago and I’m eager to give it a try. Thanks so very much
Katie Moseman
Hi Tonia,
Sure! It’s just a fancy word for a thorough mixture of an oil-based liquid and a water-based liquid. In this case, you simply whisk the ingredients together for about a minute until everything is smooth. It will be about as thick as a shaken vinaigrette.
Let me know if you have any other questions at all, and thank you for stopping by!
Best,
Katie
Jenn
Fantastic! Will definitely make this again.
Melissa Chapman
Thanksgiving isthe best holiday for cooking and of course eating. That turkey looks perfectly cooked and will be a favorite of everybodies.
Pam Wattenbarger
My family complains every year about the turkey that is served at our extended family Thanksgiving dinner. They always say it is dry and tasteless. This one looks so moist. I’m going to volunteer to make this recipe and bring it to dinner this year.
Amber Myers
I am drooling. I just love turkey and this looks amazing. I will have to make it for dinner one evening.
1stopmom
That turkey breast looks delicious and juicy.The recipe is pretty easy too. Thanks! I just might try your cranberry sauce recipe too. I always used canned.
Tasheena
I’ve never tried making a whole turkey breast at home. Looking forward to trying this recipe.
Stacie
Now that is a beautiful bird! I can imagine that will look great on a Thanksgiving table. Can’t believe we’re satying that!
Chef Dennis
This boneless turkey breast recipe is delectable! Really perfect for Thanksgiving. Serve this and you will definitely receive a big WOW from your family!
Terri Steffes
It looks so delicious! I would like to make this anytime of the year. Walmart is on top of this turkey game.
Ali Rost
This is a great way to use a turkey breast. Whenever I cook one, I throw in some chopped root vegetables to roast at the same time, add a green salad, and you’ve got a fantastic Fall meal!!
Theresa
It’s just going to be a small dinner menu this year since my daughter won’t be home from college to celebrate Thanksgiving for us, so I won’t be buying a whole turkey. This boneless turkey breast will do nicely for filling our needs though. Saving your recipe to try out next month. I can’t wait!
Karen Morse
Looks good! Would be nice to prepare this recipe for Thanksgiving instead of the usual big Turkey. I love that there are only four ingredients to the marinade. Definitely easy to prepare!
Lisa Favre
Okay, totally taking notes for our upcoming Thanksgiving celebrations. This turkey breast recipe looks absolutely divine and I think my whole family would love it!
Kathy
Wow, that turkey looks amazing. Makes me wish it were Thanksgiving already. I’ll have to give this one a try real soon.
Rachel
I want to make this just for our family. It will be so fun to have a nice thanksgiving dinner type thing at home. I never get to make it because we travel.
Ana
That boneless turkey breast recipe looks incredibly delicious! It sounds perfect for the holidays!
Farrah Less
Your recipe for roasted turkey breast looks perfectly done. I can not wait to try it for this up coming Thanksgiving party .
Agnes Dela Cruz
Turkey season once again! I like the recipe coz it is simple and it looks easy to prepare. This looks so delicious!
Nancy at Whispered Inspirations
OMG, this looks amazing. This is what I am going to be making this year. We are having a small dinner! This looks amazing.
Amy H
I love Fool Proof Meals! I’ve never tried to make boneless turkey breasts.
Nancy Cole
Already in love with the Boneless Turkey Breast recipe, it is so simple to cook when you have a recipe like this, Thanks for sharing the recipe
Debbie
Can this be done in a crock pot
Katie Moseman
I haven’t tried that yet, so I’m not sure. I don’t think it would brown very well in a crock pot, though.
EDITED TO ADD: Hooray, the commenter tested it out! “Mine did fine in the crock pot. Delicious! Probably doesn’t brown like it would if roasted in the oven, but it was good and so easy. I did baste it during cooking.”
Pam
How long would you cook in a crock pot and on high or low? Thanks
Katie Moseman
Although one of my readers successfully cooked this in a crock pot, they didn’t mention the length of time. However, it’s typically cooked on low for around 6 hours (or until 165 F internal temp is reached), and you can optionally brown the top after slow-cooking by putting it under the broiler if desired.
Krista
Hi,
Can a gravy be made from the drippings.
Thanks
Katie Moseman
Yes. There won’t be as much drippings, because the breast is smaller and less fatty than a whole turkey, but you can use any drippings just the same as you would for a whole turkey.
Julie
Can you use boneless skinless turkey breast?
Katie Moseman
Yes.
Roberta Soon
My family doesn’t like turkey but we decided to give it another chance. Turned out wonderful & we are having it again for New Years Eve dinner with a roast ribeye. I had to use a halogen oven as my roast beef & potatoes took up the oven space. Basted it every 15 mins & I rotated it so that all 4 sides had the wonderful basting sauce. Thanks. For the wonderful recipe.
Jennifer
Hi! I am wondering if I can substitute orange juice for the lemon juice?
Katie Moseman
Yes, you can. The flavor will be different, but it will still work!
Rita Graham
Hi Katie. I am just cooking your recipe for the first time. It looks wonderful. One question regarding nutritional values, please. What is the portion size – 6 or 7 oz. And I did not see ‘Protein listed’. Can you please tell grams of protein per portion. Many thanks.
Katie Moseman
All nutritional values are estimates, because turkey breasts as sold in stores will vary in size quite a bit. A single portion is 3 1/2 ounces. 3 1/2 ounces, or 100 grams, of turkey breast contains about 30 grams of protein. Source: https://web.extension.illinois.edu/turkey/nutrition.cfm
Debra
Hi! I was just wondering if this turkey breast is rolled or just as cut from the bird and netted. I ordered a butterflied and rolled breast but there was a mix up and it was just netted instead. Hoping not to have to butterfly and roll myself. This recipe looks delicious and can’t wait to try.
Katie Moseman
As cut from the bird and netted.
Bobbie Dennis
I am getting ready to make the marinade, and I started to wonder if you need any salt? I will make it as you have in the recipe, but I am just curious about that. Some recipes I have seen that have rubs have salt, pepper, paprika and some herbs.
Your turkey photos sure look good!!
Katie Moseman
It typically doesn’t need salt, because turkey breasts are usually already injected with a salt solution. You can add any herbs you like, though. Thank you for stopping by! 🙂
Kginspice
I purchase this 3 lb breast raw from Walmart several times a year. It runs about $13.00 I bake it for 2-21/2 hours and then slice with my electric knife. It’s ALOT CHEAPER for lunches than any Deli meats !!
It remains nice & moist and has a Great flavor too !!
I LOVE THESE LITTLE BREAST !!!
Great for Dinner meals too, not just a holiday! Roast or make mashed potatoes, carrots, broccoli.. excellent meal !!! CHEAP TOO !!
Janet
Hi! Your recipe sounds wonderful. I am wondering if I can use brown sugar substitute and it would still turn out as good as yours? I didn’t know if anyone has tested this. There are a few diabetics in the family.
Katie Moseman
I haven’t tried it, so I can’t guarantee how it would work. I might just omit it, if I were you, so you have the savory flavors without having to worry about the sugar substitute’s performance.
Maria B Rugolo
Tender, juicy, and delicious. Three words I usually don’t put together to describe turkey breast. A definite keeper!