I’ll never forget my first few Thanksgivings as a newlywed, standing in the kitchen, just staring at that giant, 20-pound raw turkey. Oh, my goodness, I was so intimidated! It felt like such a huge, stressful job, and I had this terrible fear that I would spend all day cooking, only to serve my new family a dry, sad meal.

For years, I fussed and worried over that big bird.

Then, one year, it was just going to be a smaller, quieter holiday for us. I decided to try something new, and I bought a bone-in turkey breast instead. It was a revelation!

This Oven Roasted Turkey Breast recipe is the secret to a truly relaxed and happy holiday. You get all that wonderful, comforting, roasted-turkey flavor and that beautiful, crispy golden skin! with none of the fuss. It’s an Easy Turkey Breast Recipe that guarantees a Moist Turkey Breast every time, letting you enjoy the day with your family. 💛

Why You’ll Love This Recipe 💛

Guaranteed Juicy & Moist! We are skipping the fussy, messy brine! My one and only secret to a Moist Turkey Breast is a simple herb butter that we rub under the skin. It melts right into the meat as it roasts, basting it from the inside out. It’s my foolproof trick for a Juicy Turkey Breast in Oven every time.
So Much Wonderful Flavor We’ll make our own Simple Turkey Seasoning blend with cozy, classic herbs like sage, rosemary, and thyme. It’s that perfect, nostalgic Thanksgiving Turkey Breast flavor that everyone loves.
Crispy, Golden Skin (The Best Part!) By rubbing that herb butter under the skin (and just a little olive oil on top), the meat stays incredibly moist, and the skin gets perfectly golden, brown, and crispy!
Perfect for Smaller Gatherings This Bone-In Turkey Breast Recipe is the ideal size for a smaller, cozier Oven Roasted Turkey Dinner. It’s all the comfort and tradition, with none of the stress (or a week’s worth of leftovers!).

Ingredients You’ll Need for a Moist Turkey Breast

Ingredients for a Simple Turkey Seasoning butter rub for an Oven Baked Turkey Breast.

Bone-In, Skin-On Turkey Breast: You’ll want one that’s about 6 to 8 pounds. A bone-in, skin-on breast is my must-have for this recipe! The bone adds so much flavor, and the skin is what gets that beautiful, crispy golden-brown finish and protects all the juices inside.

For the Herb Butter (Our Simple Turkey Seasoning):

Unsalted Butter: 1/2 cup (which is 1 stick). It’s very important that your butter is softened to room temperature, so it’s easy to mix and spread.
Fresh Herbs: 1 tablespoon each of fresh sage, rosemary, and thyme, all finely chopped. That fresh-herb smell is just heavenly! (I’ll add a tip in the FAQ if you only have dried.)
Garlic: 2 cloves, minced.
Salt: 1 1/2 teaspoons of Kosher salt.
Black Pepper: 1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper.
Olive Oil: 1 tablespoon. We’ll use this for the outside of the skin to make it extra crisp!

For the Roasting Pan (Our Flavor Base!):

Onion: 1 large yellow onion, cut into large chunks.
Carrots: 2 large carrots, cut into 2-inch pieces.
Celery: 2 large ribs of celery, cut into 2-inch pieces.
Chicken or Turkey Broth: About 1 to 2 cups. This creates a wonderful steam in the oven to keep the turkey moist, and it’s the start of the best pan drippings for your gravy!

How to Make Your Oven Baked Turkey Breast

Part 1: The Herb Butter

1. First, let’s get everything ready. Take your turkey breast out of the refrigerator and let it sit on the counter for about 30 minutes. Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C).

2. Pat your turkey breast bone dry with paper towels.

Ellie’s Tip: A dry skin is the #1 secret to a crispy skin!

3. In a small bowl, add your 1/2 cup of softened butter, all your finely chopped fresh herbs (sage, rosemary, and thyme), the minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Use a fork to mash and mix it all together until it’s a lovely, fragrant green paste.

Part 2: Season the Turkey

1. Now for the fun part, and my most important secret! Gently slide your fingers between the skin and the breast meat, starting from the thicker end. Loosen the skin to create a little “pocket,” being careful not to tear it.

2. Take about two-thirds of that beautiful herb butter and scoop it right under the skin. Use your fingers on the outside of the skin to press and spread that butter all over the meat.

Ellie’s Tip: This is our #1 trick for a Moist Turkey Breast! The butter melts right into the meat as it cooks, basting it from the inside out. It’s just magic!

Rubbing a simple herb Simple Turkey Seasoning butter under the skin of a Bone-In Turkey Breast Recipe.

3. Rub the 1 tablespoon of olive oil all over the top of the skin. This helps it get extra golden! Then, take the rest of your herb butter (the last 1/3) and rub it all over the outside of the skin, too.

Part 3: Roast to Perfection

1. Chop your onion, carrots, and celery into big chunks and scatter them in the bottom of your roasting pan. Place a small roasting rack right on top of the vegetables.

2. Place your beautifully seasoned turkey breast on the rack. Pour 1-2 cups of chicken or turkey broth into the bottom of the pan (don’t pour it over the turkey!). This creates a wonderful steam and makes the best drippings for gravy.

A Thanksgiving Turkey Breast in a white roasting pan, ready for the oven.

3. Place the pan in your 325°F oven. Roast for about 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours. (A good rule of thumb is about 15-20 minutes per pound).

4. Use a Thermometer! The roasting time is just an estimate. The only way to know it’s perfectly cooked is with a meat thermometer. Your turkey is done when the thermometer, inserted into the very thickest part (but not touching the bone!), reads 165°F (74°C).

5. REST THE TURKEY! This is the most important step of all for a Juicy Turkey Breast in Oven! Transfer your beautiful, golden-brown turkey from the pan to a clean cutting board. Tent it loosely with a piece of foil and let it rest for 15-20 minutes.

Ellie’s Tip: I know it’s so hard to wait, but this is when the magic happens! Resting lets all those wonderful juices settle back into the meat. If you slice it too soon, all that juice will run out onto the cutting board, and your turkey will be dry. Please be patient it’s worth it!

Ellie’s Top Tips for Success

Here are my four most important secrets for a perfect Oven Roasted Turkey Breast.

1. Your Thermometer is Your Best Friend! The only way to guarantee a Moist Turkey Breast is to not overcook it. Forget the clock and use a meat thermometer! Pull the turkey from the oven the second it reads 165°F in the thickest part.
2. Butter Under the Skin is Magic! Rubbing that herb butter under the skin (not just on top!) is the real secret. It melts right into the meat and bastes it as it cooks, keeping it incredibly juicy!
3. Don’t Skip the 15-Minute Rest! I know it’s hard to wait, but please let your turkey rest on the cutting board for 15-20 minutes before you slice it. This lets all those wonderful juices settle back into the meat, so it stays tender and moist.
4. Using a Boneless Breast? This method is perfect for a Boneless Turkey Breast, too! Just remember it will cook much faster. A 3-4 lb boneless breast might only take 1 to 1.5 hours. Just trust your thermometer—165°F is always the magic number!

Common Questions (FAQ)

**Do I really need to brine this turkey breast?**

I know brining is so popular, but my honest answer is no, not with this recipe! That’s the beauty of it. The herb butter we put under the skin does the same wonderful job of adding moisture and so much flavor, all without the fuss and mess of a big bucket of salt water!

How much turkey breast should I plan for per person?

This is my go-to holiday math! For a Bone-In Turkey Breast, I always plan on 1.5 pounds per person. I know that sounds like a lot, but it accounts for the weight of the bone, and it always guarantees you’ll have enough for everyone to have seconds… and (most importantly!) a little leftover for the next day!

Can I use dried herbs for the seasoning?

Yes, you certainly can in a pinch! Fresh herbs just have that wonderful, bright Thanksgiving Turkey Breast aroma, but dried herbs will also be delicious. The simple rule is to use 1/3 the amount.

My Easy Conversion: 1 tablespoon of fresh herbs = 1 teaspoon of dried herbs.

What to Serve With Your Roasted Turkey

This beautiful Oven Roasted Turkey Breast is the star of your Oven Roasted Turkey Dinner! It’s just waiting to be served alongside all those classic, cozy side dishes we wait for all year.

It’s the perfect partner for:

My Easy Crockpot Turkey Gravy (especially when you use those flavorful pan drippings!)
A big, fluffy bowl of Best Garlic Butter Mashed Potatoes
A bubbling, cheesy Homemade Green Bean Casserole

Storing & Leftover Ideas

To Store: Let your turkey breast cool down completely. I find it’s best to slice the meat off the bone before you store it. Just place the slices in an airtight container (I like to add a tiny splash of broth or gravy to keep it extra moist!) and it will stay wonderful in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
My Favorite Leftover Idea: My absolute favorite thing to do with leftover turkey is to make a warm, comforting pot of soup the next day. It’s the coziest meal for a relaxing day after the holiday!

The best Juicy Oven Roasted Turkey Breast on a white platter, carved for Thanksgiving.

Your New Stress-Free Holiday Main Dish!

I just know this simple, no-fuss recipe for oven roasted turkey breast will bring so much comfort (and so little stress!) to your holiday table.

It’s all that wonderful, traditional flavor and a guaranteed moist turkey breast, but it gives you so much more time to just relax and enjoy your family. That’s what the holiday is all about, isn’t it?

If you’re looking for even more holiday dishes, be sure to take a peek at all of my Thanksgiving Recipes!

If you try this Easy Turkey Breast Recipe, please come back and leave me a comment and a rating below! I would just love to hear how it turned out for you.

And, of course, if you want to save this foolproof recipe for every holiday to come, please pin it to your favorite board on Pinterest!

Happy cooking! 💛