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Easy Cranberry Orange Glazed Turkey Breast for Two

cranberry orange glazed turkey breast - featured image
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This simple yet elegant turkey breast recipe features a sweet-tart cranberry orange glaze that caramelizes into a gorgeous, sticky coating. Perfect for a cozy dinner for two, it’s incredibly easy to make with pantry staples and delivers foolproof, moist results every time.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 boneless, skin-on turkey breast (about 2–2.5 pounds)
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ cup orange marmalade
  • ¼ cup whole berry cranberry sauce
  • 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
  • ½ cup chicken broth (optional, for pan)
  • 1 small onion, quartered (optional)
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Position the rack in the center of the oven. Let the turkey breast sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes.
  2. Pat the turkey breast completely dry with paper towels.
  3. In a small bowl, combine the softened butter, salt, pepper, thyme, and garlic powder to make herb butter.
  4. Gently loosen the skin from the meat and spread half of the herb butter under the skin. Spread the remaining butter all over the outside of the skin.
  5. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, combine orange marmalade, cranberry sauce, orange juice, orange zest, apple cider vinegar, and cayenne (if using). Stir until smooth, about 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat.
  6. If using aromatics, spread quartered onion and rosemary sprigs in the bottom of a roasting pan. Pour in chicken broth. Place the turkey breast on top.
  7. Brush a generous layer of the glaze all over the turkey breast. Reserve remaining glaze.
  8. Roast for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and apply another layer of glaze. Return to oven.
  9. Repeat glazing every 15-20 minutes for a total of 3-4 applications. Total cooking time is about 50-60 minutes.
  10. Check for doneness: internal temperature should reach 160°F (71°C) in the thickest part.
  11. Remove from oven, tent loosely with foil, and let rest for 10-15 minutes.
  12. Optional: Strain pan juices into a saucepan, simmer for 2-3 minutes, and whisk in 1 tablespoon butter if desired. Season with salt and pepper.
  13. Slice against the grain into ½-inch thick slices. Arrange on a platter, drizzle with remaining glaze or pan sauce, and serve.

Notes

Dry the skin thoroughly for crispy results. Watch the glaze to prevent burning; tent with foil if browning too quickly. Use a thermometer for accuracy. Let the turkey rest before carving. Double the glaze if you want extra for serving.

Nutrition

Keywords: turkey breast, cranberry orange glaze, easy turkey recipe, dinner for two, holiday turkey, roasted turkey

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