Ina Garten Herb-roasted Turkey Breast Recipe

Ina Garten’s Juicy Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast Recipe

Ina Garten’s herb-roasted turkey breast transforms ordinary poultry into a culinary masterpiece that sings with rustic elegance.

Fragrant herbs mingle with succulent meat, creating a symphony of taste that delights the senses.

Family and friends will marvel at the golden, crispy exterior that promises incredible flavor within.

Tender and moist, this dish elevates home cooking with professional-level technique and minimal effort.

Simple ingredients become extraordinary when prepared with care and passion.

Aromatic seasonings penetrate deep into the meat, ensuring each bite bursts with rich, complex flavors.

The result is a show-stopping centerpiece that makes weeknight meals feel special: get ready to impress.

A Herbal Goodbye to Ina’s Turkey Breast Delight

Culinary magic emerges from Ina Garten’s herb-roasted turkey breast, offering an elegant centerpiece for special gatherings.

Rich herbal notes dance across succulent meat, creating a memorable dining experience that elevates home cooking.

Rosemary, sage, and thyme weave complex flavors into each tender slice, promising restaurant-quality results from your kitchen.

Mediterranean-inspired seasonings transform simple ingredients into a sophisticated meal that impresses without complexity.

Wine-infused roasting ensures maximum moisture and depth, making this recipe a foolproof technique for home chefs.

Passionate cooks will discover pure delight in this foolproof method – so grab your ingredients, share this recipe with friends, drop a comment below, and let culinary inspiration guide your next meal.

Why Herb-roasted Turkey Breast Is a Holiday Essential

  • Elevate Home Cooking: Transform an ordinary turkey breast into a restaurant-worthy dish with Ina Garten's simple yet sophisticated herb-infused roasting technique that makes home cooks feel like professional chefs.
  • Flavor-Packed Herb Explosion: The combination of fresh rosemary, sage, and thyme creates a vibrant, aromatic coating that penetrates deep into the meat, delivering an incredible taste profile that awakens every taste bud with Mediterranean-inspired goodness.
  • Foolproof Moisture Magic: By adding white wine to the roasting pan and carefully monitoring cooking time, this method guarantees a supremely juicy turkey breast that never turns dry or tough, solving the most common home cooking challenge with professional precision.
  • Minimal Effort, Maximum Wow: With just 15 minutes of prep and simple ingredients, anyone can create a stunning main course that looks and tastes like it took hours to prepare, making it perfect for weekend family dinners or impressive holiday gatherings.

What You’ll Need for Herb-roasted Turkey Breast Success

Main Protein:
  • Turkey Breast: Juicy, lean protein that serves as the star of the dish, best when bone-in and skin-on for maximum flavor and moisture.
Herb and Seasoning Blend:
  • Rosemary, Sage, Thyme: Classic herb combination that provides earthy and aromatic flavors, complementing the turkey perfectly.
  • Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance the overall taste and bring out the natural turkey flavor.
  • Dry Mustard: Adds subtle tanginess and depth to the herb mixture.
Liquid and Moisture Ingredients:
  • Olive Oil: Helps distribute herbs evenly and creates a crispy, golden skin.
  • Garlic: Provides robust, savory undertones to the herb rub.
  • Lemon Juice: Brightens the flavor profile and helps tenderize the meat.
  • White Wine: Adds moisture to the roasting pan, preventing the turkey from drying out during cooking.

How to Roast a Turkey Breast With Herby Goodness

How to Roast a Turkey Breast With Herby Goodness

Step 1: Prepare the Oven

Heat your oven to 165°C / 325°F, ensuring the perfect roasting environment for your turkey breast.

Step 2: Position the Turkey

Place the turkey breast skin-side up on a rack inside a roasting pan, creating an ideal setup for even cooking.

Step 3: Create Aromatic Herb Blend

In a mixing bowl, combine the following ingredients to create a flavor-packed herb rub:
  • Olive oil
  • Minced garlic
  • Fresh lemon juice
  • Dry mustard
  • Chopped rosemary
  • Chopped sage
  • Chopped thyme
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Whisk these ingredients until they form a smooth, fragrant mixture.

Step 4: Massage Turkey with Herbs

Generously coat the entire turkey breast with the herb blend. Gently lift the skin and massage half the mixture directly onto the meat, ensuring deep flavor penetration.

Step 5: Add Moisture to the Pan

Pour white wine into the bottom of the roasting pan, which will help keep the turkey moist and create delicious pan juices.

Step 6: Roast to Perfection

Slide the turkey into the preheated oven and roast for 1½ to 1¾ hours. Use an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature. Once it reaches 74°C / 165°F in the thickest part, the turkey is ready. If the skin starts browning too quickly, loosely tent with aluminum foil after about an hour.

Step 7: Let the Turkey Rest

Remove the turkey from the oven and cover with aluminum foil. Allow it to rest at room temperature for 15 minutes, letting the juices redistribute and ensuring maximum tenderness.

Step 8: Serve and Enjoy

Slice the turkey breast and plate it up. Drizzle with the rich pan juices for an extra burst of flavor that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Tips for Flavorful Herb-roasted Turkey Breast

  • Thermometer Triumph: Invest in a reliable meat thermometer to guarantee perfectly cooked turkey every single time, eliminating guesswork and ensuring food safety.
  • Wine Magic Boost: Splash white wine into the roasting pan to create incredibly moist meat and develop a complex, rich flavor profile that elevates the entire dish.
  • Gentle Herb Massage: Carefully slide your fingers under the turkey skin to create a delicate pocket for spreading herb mixture, maximizing flavor absorption without damaging the delicate skin.
  • Foil Protection Trick: Keep aluminum foil nearby to shield the turkey from excessive browning, preventing burnt edges while maintaining a beautiful golden color.
  • Juicy Resting Secret: Allowing the turkey breast to rest after roasting lets the internal juices redistribute, resulting in supremely tender and succulent meat that cuts like butter.

Store Turkey Breast and Keep It Moist and Tasty

  • Freeze: Safeguard your leftover turkey breast by wrapping it securely in multiple layers. Double-wrap with plastic wrap, then aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn and maintain maximum flavor. Label the package with the date and contents. Store in the freezer for up to 2 months, ensuring a delicious backup meal for busy nights.
  • Refrigerate: Transfer cooled turkey to an airtight container or tight-sealing glass container. Keep refrigerated for 3-4 days maximum, positioning it in the coldest part of the fridge. Place a paper towel underneath to absorb excess moisture and prevent soggy texture.
  • Reheat: Revive turkey slices with gentle warming techniques. Add a splash of chicken broth to a skillet, creating moisture that prevents drying. Cover and warm over medium-low heat for 5-7 minutes, turning pieces halfway through.

New Ways to Season Herb-roasted Turkey Breast

  • Mediterranean Herb Turkey: Swap rosemary and sage with oregano and add crumbled feta cheese. Incorporate chopped kalamata olives into the herb rub for a Greek-inspired flavor profile.
  • Spicy Cajun Turkey Breast: Replace traditional herbs with Cajun seasoning blend. Add cayenne pepper and paprika to create a bold, zesty kick. Serve with a quick remoulade sauce for extra heat.
  • Apple Cider Herb Turkey: Substitute white wine with apple cider in the roasting pan. Mix in fresh chopped apples and additional ground cinnamon to the herb mixture. Create a subtle sweet-savory combination that enhances the turkey's natural richness.
  • Smoky Paprika Turkey Breast: Introduce smoked paprika to the herb rub. Include a touch of cumin and ground chipotle for depth. Finish with a drizzle of honey to balance the smoky undertones and create a beautiful caramelized exterior.
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Ina Garten Herb-roasted Turkey Breast Recipe

Ina Garten Herb-roasted Turkey Breast Recipe


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4.7 from 36 reviews

  • Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x

Description

Ina Garten’s herb-roasted turkey breast brings classic American comfort to dinner tables with Mediterranean-inspired simplicity. Fragrant rosemary, thyme, and garlic elevate this lean protein, promising a succulent centerpiece you’ll savor with family and friends.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Protein:

  • 1 whole bone-in turkey breast ( to 7 lb / 2.95 to 3.18 kg)

Herbs and Spices:

  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage leaves
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic (3 cloves)
  • 2 teaspoons dry mustard
  • 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Liquid and Oil:

  • 2 tablespoons good olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • ¾ cup dry white wine

Instructions

  1. Create a flavorful herb infusion by combining olive oil, minced garlic, fresh lemon juice, dry mustard, finely chopped rosemary, sage, thyme, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper in a small mixing bowl.
  2. Prepare the roasting environment by heating the oven to 165°C / 325°F, ensuring an ideal cooking temperature for the turkey breast.
  3. Position the turkey breast skin-side up on a sturdy roasting rack placed inside a deep roasting pan, allowing optimal air circulation.
  4. Carefully massage the herb mixture across the entire surface of the turkey breast, gently lifting the skin to distribute half the aromatic blend directly onto the meat for maximum flavor penetration.
  5. Enhance moisture and depth of flavor by pouring white wine into the bottom of the roasting pan, creating a flavorful cooking environment.
  6. Carefully transfer the prepared turkey to the preheated oven, allowing it to roast for approximately 1½ to 1¾ hours, monitoring the cooking process closely.
  7. Verify doneness by inserting an instant-read thermometer into the thickest portion of the breast; the internal temperature should reach 74°C / 165°F for safe consumption.
  8. If the skin begins to brown too quickly, loosely tent the turkey with aluminum foil to prevent excessive charring.
  9. Once fully cooked, remove the turkey from the oven and allow it to rest, covered with aluminum foil, for 15 minutes to redistribute internal juices and ensure optimal tenderness.
  10. Slice the turkey breast against the grain into elegant, uniform pieces and present with a delicate drizzle of pan juices for an extra burst of flavor.

Notes

  • Savor the Resting Moment: After roasting, give your turkey a peaceful 15-minute break to let those delicious juices redistribute, ensuring every slice is incredibly tender and bursting with flavor.
  • Watch the Gorgeous Skin: Keep a watchful eye on your turkey’s golden-brown exterior during cooking. If the skin starts to darken too quickly, gently drape some aluminum foil to prevent burning.
  • Massage Herbs with Care: Delicately slip your herb mixture under the turkey’s skin, treating it like a gentle massage. Move slowly to prevent tearing and allow those amazing seasonings to deeply penetrate the meat.
  • Splash of Wine Magic: A generous splash of wine in the roasting pan isn’t just decoration – it’s your secret weapon for keeping the turkey super moist and creating incredibly rich, complex pan juices.
  • Temperature Is King: Your meat thermometer is the most trusted kitchen companion. Always aim for 74°C / 165°F in the thickest breast part to guarantee a perfectly cooked, juicy turkey that’ll make everyone at the table cheer.
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
  • Category: Dinner, Lunch
  • Method: Roasting
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 8
  • Calories: 125
  • Sugar: 0g
  • Sodium: 84mg
  • Fat: 1.8g
  • Saturated Fat: 0.5g
  • Carbohydrates: 0g
  • Fiber: 0g
  • Protein: 26g
  • Cholesterol: 68mg
Isabella Rodriguez

Isabella Rodriguez

Co-Founder & Content Creator

Expertise

Pastry Arts and Dessert Innovation, French and European Baking Techniques, Food Writing and Blogging, Culinary Event Planning

Education

Le Cordon Bleu Paris

  • Diploma: Grand Diplôme®
  • Focus: Intensive training in classic French cuisine and pastry techniques, combining the Diplôme de Cuisine and Diplôme de Pâtisserie.

Isabella Rodriguez is the co-founder and pastry chef at wd-50.com. She studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, where she earned the Grand Diplôme®, a top award in both cooking and baking. After working in fancy bakeries and as a personal pastry chef, Isabella now shares her love for desserts in an easy way for home bakers to enjoy.

At wd-50.com, Isabella creates recipes for cookies, cakes, tarts, and more, always with clear steps and helpful tips. She believes baking should be fun, not stressful, and she hopes her recipes bring joy to your kitchen and smiles to your table.

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