Air Fryer Turkey

By
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
A recipe developer and food photographer, Leah Maroney is an ardent home cook and food blogger who has written over 300 recipes for The Spruce Eats.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 12/3/21
air-fryer-turkey-4775752-12

The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 90 mins
Brining: 18 hrs
Total: 19 hrs 40 mins
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
602 Calories
13g Fat
14g Carbs
104g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories 602
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13g 17%
Saturated Fat 6g 29%
Cholesterol 287mg 96%
Sodium 7616mg 331%
Total Carbohydrate 14g 5%
Dietary Fiber 4g 14%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 104g
Vitamin C 54mg 271%
Calcium 83mg 6%
Iron 4mg 19%
Potassium 1077mg 23%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

For a crispy, juicy fast-cooking turkey, look no further than your air fryer. If you have a small number of people to feed on Thanksgiving or you’re just looking to cook up all your Thanksgiving favorites in the middle of July, this is the perfect recipe for you.

We cooked a five-pound bone-in turkey breast and it took less than an hour and a half. Because it’s cooked breast side down for most of the time, the resulting bird is incredibly juice. When you flip it over, the skin then crisps to crackly perfection. The turkey breast is brined in a mixture that's easy to throw together. It helps lock in all the juices while the breast cooks. This step is optional, but it makes a huge difference on the final product.

You need to have an air fryer for this recipe, but the rest of the instructions are simple and don’t require any fancy techniques. Serve it with mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and gravy! You can easily transfer the drippings from the bottom of the air fryer to a pan to make a homemade gravy. 

Ingredients

  • 1 (5- to 6-pound) turkey breast, bone-in, skin-on

For the Brine:

  • 1/2 cup salt

  • 1 lemon

  • 1/2 yellow onion

  • 3 cloves garlic, smashed

  • 3 bay leaves

  • 1/4 cup peppercorns

For the Turkey Breast:

  • 4 tablespoons butter, softened

  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning, such as Bell's

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground sage

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    air-fryer-turkey-4775752-01
     The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

  2. Mix the brine ingredients together in a container that's large enough to fully submerge the turkey breast. A large stock pot works well. 

    Fill it three quarters of the way with cold water.

    air-fryer-turkey-4775752-02
     The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

  3. Add the turkey breast to the water and weigh it down with a heavy plate, if necessary, then cover with a lid. Place it in the refrigerator and allow it to brine for at least 18 hours or up to 24 hours. 

    air-fryer-turkey-4775752-03
    The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney 

  4. Remove the turkey breast from the refrigerator and pat it completely dry with paper towels. 

    air-fryer-turkey-4775752-05
     The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

  5. Mix together the softened butter, garlic powder, poultry seasoning, ground sage, and salt and pepper in a bowl. Combine until it’s evenly mixed. 

    Lift the skin of the turkey and rub the butter mixture in between the skin and the meat. Smear a little more onto the top of the bird. 

    air-fryer-turkey-4775752-06
     The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

  6. Place the turkey breast into the bin of the air fryer, breast side down. 

    air-fryer-turkey-4775752-06
     The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

  7. Cook for 45 minutes at 375 F. 

    air-fryer-turkey-4775752-07
     The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

  8. Flip the turkey breast and cook for an additional 30 minutes at 375 F, or until the top of the breast is golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165 F. 

    air-fryer-turkey-4775752-08
    The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney 

  9. Remove from the air fryer and allow it to rest for ten minutes. 

    air-fryer-turkey-4775752-10
     The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

  10. Remove the breasts from the bone and then slice and serve! 

    air-fryer-turkey-4775752-11
     The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney