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Perfect Small Air Fryer Turkey Breast for 4: Easy Thanksgiving Dinner

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This air fryer turkey breast is juicy, golden, and comes together in about an hour. Perfect for a small Thanksgiving dinner for two to four people, with crispy skin and tender meat that tastes like you spent hours on it.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 bone-in, skin-on turkey breast (about 3 to 4 pounds / 1.4 to 1.8 kg)
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped (or ½ teaspoon dried)
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (or ½ teaspoon dried)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ lemon, halved (optional)
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary or thyme (optional)
  • 1 small onion, quartered (optional)

Instructions

  1. Take your turkey breast out of the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for about 20 to 30 minutes. Pat it completely dry with paper towels.
  2. In a small bowl, mix the softened butter with the minced garlic, chopped rosemary, thyme, salt, pepper, paprika, and onion powder until well combined.
  3. Gently loosen the skin of the turkey breast with your fingers. Spread about two-thirds of the compound butter directly onto the meat under the skin. Spread the remaining butter all over the outside of the skin.
  4. If using, stuff the lemon halves, fresh herb sprigs, and onion quarters into the cavity of the breast.
  5. Preheat your air fryer to 360°F (182°C).
  6. Place the turkey breast skin-side down in the air fryer basket. Cook for 25 minutes. Then, carefully flip the breast over so it’s skin-side up. Continue cooking for another 20 to 30 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C) in the thickest part of the breast.
  7. Insert your instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the breast, avoiding the bone. It should read 160°F (71°C). If not, cook for another 5 minutes and check again.
  8. Remove the turkey breast from the air fryer and transfer it to a cutting board. Tent it loosely with aluminum foil and let it rest for at least 10 minutes, up to 15.
  9. After resting, remove the aromatics and carve the turkey breast against the grain into thick slices. Serve immediately.

Notes

Pat the turkey dry thoroughly for crispy skin. Let the turkey rest after cooking to redistribute juices. If skin browns too quickly, reduce temperature to 325°F for the last 10-15 minutes. For extra crispy skin, increase to 400°F for the last 2-3 minutes.

Nutrition

Keywords: air fryer turkey breast, small turkey breast, Thanksgiving for two, easy turkey recipe, crispy turkey skin, small batch Thanksgiving

Find it online: https://dinadishes.com/perfect-small-air-fryer-turkey-breast-for-4-easy-thanksgiving-dinner/