Brined Roast Turkey Breast
User Reviews
4.5
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Prep Time
15 mins
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Cook Time
3 hrs
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Rest time
15 mins
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Total Time
3 hrs 15 mins
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Servings
6
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Calories
586 kcal
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Course
Main Course, Dinner
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Cuisine
American
Brined Roast Turkey Breast
Description
This recipe starts with a flavorful brine made of water, kosher salt, brown sugar, smashed garlic, fresh sage, rosemary, cinnamon stick, lemon, and orange juice and peels. Boiling these ingredients and then cooling the brine ensures the salt and sugar dissolve thoroughly. The turkey breast is fully submerged in the cooled brine for several hours, allowing the meat to absorb moisture and seasoning for enhanced juiciness and taste.
After brining, the turkey breast is placed on a bed of quartered onions and smashed garlic in a roasting pan. It is seasoned with salt and pepper, then basted with melted butter and chicken broth during roasting. This method yields a tender roast with a moist interior and savory herb and citrus aromatics infused through the meat.
The collected pan drippings, combined with additional chicken broth, are thickened with cornstarch and water slurry to make a simple, buttery gravy served alongside the sliced turkey. Using a shallow roasting pan allows even heat circulation, and placing the turkey on onions slightly elevates it for better roasting.
Cooking times vary from 2.5 to 3.5 hours depending on turkey size, with doneness best checked by an internal temperature of 165°F in the thickest part. Pop-up timers can act as an additional check. Proper brining and roasting create a flavorful, juicy turkey breast suitable for holiday meals or special occasions.
Ingredients
Brine
- 8 cups water
- ½ cup kosher salt
- ½ cup brown sugar packed
- 8 cloves garlic smashed
- 1 cinnamon stick
- ¼ cup sage fresh
- 2 prigs rosemary
- 2 lemon plural
- 1 orange
- 4 cups ice
Turkey Breast
- 2 medium onion quartered
- 4 cloves garlic smashed
- 5 pound turkey breast bone in, thawed
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1 teaspoon black pepper or to taste
- 8 tablespoon butter melted
- 1 cup chicken broth low sodium or no sodium added
Gravy
- pan drippings
- ¾ cup chicken broth low sodium or no sodium added, or water
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch or more for a thicker gravy
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
Brining the Turkey Breast
- Add the water to a large pot and bring it to a boil. For the orange, peel it using a potato peeler or a knife, then cut it in half. Cut the lemon in half and juice it. Add the remaining brine ingredients to the pot (excluding the ice) and bring to a boil to dissolve all the salt and sugar. Add the lemon halves and orange halves after they've been juiced to the brine as well as the orange peel, lemon juice and orange juice, they will provide more flavor. Remove from heat and cool completely. To speed this up add about 4 cups of ice to the brine. I used my instant pot for this but any big pot that will fit the brine and the breast will work.
- Once the brine is cooled, place the turkey breast in the brine making sure it's fully submerged in it. You may have to weigh it down with another pot of water. What I did is wrapped the pot with plastic wrap, then placed a plate over it, and then a pot of water over the plate. This worked for me because the brine and turkey came up to the top of the pot. Another option is to use a brick or rock wrapped in plastic wrap. Store it in the fridge overnight or at least for 12 hours, so make sure you have enough room in your fridge.
Roasting the Turkey Breast
- Preheat your oven to 350℉. Remove the turkey breast from the brine solution and pat it dry with paper towels. If you want to remove any excess salt from the surface and prevent the turkey from being too salty, make sure to rinse it thoroughly first and then pat it dry.
- Place the quartered onions and smashed garlic in a large metal roasting pan then place the turkey breast on top of the onions. Season it generously with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Brush the turkey with melted butter, keep remaining butter for basting later. Add the chicken broth to the pan.
- Cover the pan with aluminum foil and place the roasting pan in the oven. Cook covered for 1½ hours, basting with the melted butter (remelt again if necessary) every half hour. After 1½ hours, remove the aluminum foil and roast for another 1 hour or until golden brown. The breast is done when a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the breast registers at 165℉.
- Transfer the turkey breast to a platter or cutting board and let it rest for a full 15 minutes before slicing into it.
Gravy
- Skim some of the fat from the pan drippings if necessary.
- Place the pan on the stove over medium-high heat. In a little bowl whisk together the cornstarch with the water, then add it to the pan. Whisk everything together. If the gravy is too thin and you prefer a thicker consistency, feel free to add more cornstarch until you reach the desired consistency. Cook for a few minutes, until the gravy thickens a bit. Taste for seasoning and adjust with salt and pepper as necessary.
- Strain all the liquid into a bowl, then press all the liquid out of the onion and garlic using a spatula, for additional flavor.
Notes
- Roast turkey breast sizes from 4 to 6 pounds require about 2 1/2 to 3 hours of cooking; larger breasts (6 to 8 pounds) need up to 3 1/2 hours.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 165°F for safe doneness.
- Place the turkey on quartered onions in a shallow roasting pan to elevate it, allowing better heat flow and adding flavor.
- If available, a pop-up timer may help gauge cooking progress.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 6Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 586 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1serving | |
| Calories | 586kcal | 29% |
| Carbohydrates | 15g | 5% |
| Protein | 84g | 168% |
| Fat | 22g | 34% |
| Saturated Fat | 11g | 55% |
| Cholesterol | 244mg | 81% |
| Sodium | 1597mg | 67% |
| Potassium | 1155mg | 25% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 5g | 10% |
| Vitamin A | 675IU | 14% |
| Vitamin C | 35.7mg | 40% |
| Calcium | 133mg | 13% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.5
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