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Home » What We're Eating » Easy Maple-Glazed Roasted Turkey Breast

Easy Maple-Glazed Roasted Turkey Breast

Lasted edited October 8, 2018. Originally published October 31, 2016 by Blair

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Keep the holidays simple with an Easy Maple-Glazed Roasted Turkey Breast! You get the best tender, juicy white meat and a flavorful crispy skin -- all with about 15 minutes of prep!

Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
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Keep the holidays simple with an Easy Maple-Glazed Roasted Turkey Breast! You get the best tender, juicy white meat and a flavorful crispy skin — all with about 15 minutes of prep!

Easy Maple Glazed Roasted Turkey Breast on platter surrounded by flowers and herbs

If you’re like me and you want to keep Thanksgiving stress-free and delicious this year, then a Maple-Glazed Roasted Turkey Breast is the way to go. I learned from my mom that the white turkey meat is always our favorite, so cooking a breast (and not messing around with the rest of the bird) is a quicker and easier option. And with just a few minutes of prep, you can pop a turkey in the oven that roasts for a couple of hours and comes out perfectly every time. The maple-butter basting sauce is To.Die.For.!

This turkey gives you the crispy, golden skin that epitomizes a holiday meal, while keeping the meat inside tender and juicy. My kids seriously devoured this dish (and fought over the remaining scraps when the dinner was over). It’s so simple and so good, that it has become one of our favorite Sunday suppers during the cool weather months — no special holiday required! The leftovers work well in sandwiches all week or freeze nicely for casseroles or other recipes later on. It’s a winner, winner Turkey Dinner that will make you feel like the ultimate hostess…in just 15 minutes!

Sliced roasted turkey breast on platter

How do I roast a turkey breast in the oven?

Stuff the cavity of the turkey breast with apple, lemon, celery, onion and herbs (this infuses the meat with so much flavor)! Set the turkey breast meat-side up in a roasting pan.

Prepare the maple glaze by melting butter and maple syrup in a saucepan. I told you this was easy! 

Then simply pour or brush the maple glaze over the turkey in the pan. Add water to the bottom of the pan and your job is done!

Crispy oven roasted turkey breast on a platter for Thanksgiving

How long do you cook a roasted turkey breast?

Roast this 7 lb. turkey breast in a 350-degree F oven for about 2 – 2 1/2 hours. A good rule of thumb is to roast a bone-in turkey breast in a 350-degree F oven for 20 minutes per pound. For example, a 5 pound turkey breast will take just one hour and 40 minutes to cook.

What temp should turkey breast be cooked to?

You know that your turkey is done when an instant-read thermometer registers 165 degrees F when inserted into the thickest and meatiest areas of the breast. If the skin is getting too dark, cover the breast loosely with aluminum foil. When the turkey is done, cover with foil and allow it to rest at room temperature for 15 minutes. Slice and serve with the pan juices spooned over the turkey.

Overhead image of sliced roasted turkey breast on plate

COOK’S TIPS:

  • If you’re using a frozen turkey breast, make sure to give the meat plenty of time to thaw in the refrigerator. One (or even two) days will not be enough!
  • Line your roasting pan with aluminum foil for quick and easy cleanup! It’s not fun to scrub caramelized maple glaze off of the bottom of a dish…
  • If the skin is getting too dark while the turkey finishes cooking, cover the breast loosely with aluminum foil.
  • Give the meat time to “rest” after you pull it out of the oven (before slicing). This will keep the meat nice and juicy!
  • Don’t wait until the holidays to enjoy this recipe. An oven roasted turkey breast makes a great Sunday supper — and you can enjoy the leftovers in sandwiches all week long!

Plate of easy roasted turkey breast with maple glaze

You might also like these turkey breast recipes:

  • Garlic and Herb Roast Turkey Breast
  • Dump-and-Bake Turkey Tetrazzini
  • Wild Rice and Leftover Turkey Soup
  • Aunt Bee’s Leftover Turkey Casserole
  • Quick and Easy Homemade Turkey Noodle Soup
Did you try this recipe? Don’t forget to rate it and leave me a comment below! You can follow me on Facebook, on Instagram, on Pinterest, and on Twitter!
5 from 4 votes
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Easy Maple-Glazed Roasted Turkey Breast

Keep the holidays simple with an Easy Maple-Glazed Roasted Turkey Breast! You get the best tender, juicy white meat and a flavorful crispy skin -- all with about 15 minutes of prep!

Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Keyword Roast Turkey Breast, Roasted Turkey Breast, Thanksgiving turkey recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Resting Time 15 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings 8 people
Calories 269.4 kcal
Author Blair

Ingredients

  • 1 7 lb. whole turkey breast, fresh or frozen and thawed
  • 1/2 apple, chopped into two pieces
  • ½ lemon
  • ½ onion
  • 1 stalk celery, halved
  • 1 sprig fresh rosemary
  • 1 sprig fresh thyme
  • Salt, to taste
  • ½ cup (1 stick) butter
  • ½ cup maple syrup
  • 1 cup water

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Rinse the turkey breast with cold water. Pat dry.
  3. Stuff turkey cavity with apple, lemon, onion, celery, rosemary, and thyme. Sprinkle salt inside the cavity.
  4. Place the turkey in a large shallow roasting pan lined with aluminum foil. Don’t skip the aluminum foil (it makes clean up quick and easy)!
  5. TO PREPARE THE GLAZE: In a small saucepan, melt butter with maple syrup over low heat. Pour maple butter glaze over turkey to coat.
  6. Add 1 cup water to bottom of pan.
  7. Roast the turkey breast for 2 – 2 ½ hours, or until an instant-read thermometer registers 165 degrees F. Baste with pan juices every 30 minutes.

  8. If any part of the turkey browns too quickly while cooking, just tent lightly with aluminum foil.
  9. Remove the turkey from the oven and place on a large cutting board. Tent the turkey with foil and allow it to rest for about 20 minutes before carving.

Recipe Notes

How long do you cook a roasted turkey breast?

Roast this 7 lb. turkey breast in a 350-degree F oven for about 2 - 2 1/2 hours. A good rule of thumb is to roast a bone-in turkey breast in a 350-degree F oven for 20 minutes per pound. For example, a 5 pound turkey breast will take just one hour and 40 minutes to cook.

What temp should turkey breast be cooked to?

You know that your turkey is done when an instant-read thermometer registers 165 degrees F when inserted into the thickest and meatiest areas of the breast. If the skin is getting too dark, cover the breast loosely with aluminum foil. When the turkey is done, cover with foil and allow it to rest at room temperature for 15 minutes. Slice and serve with the pan juices spooned over the turkey.

COOK'S TIPS:

  • If you're using a frozen turkey breast, make sure to give the meat plenty of time to thaw in the refrigerator. One (or even two) days will not be enough!
  • Line your roasting pan with aluminum foil for quick and easy cleanup! It's not fun to scrub caramelized maple glaze off of the bottom of a dish...
  • If the skin is getting too dark while the turkey finishes cooking, cover the breast loosely with aluminum foil.
  • Give the meat time to "rest" after you pull it out of the oven (before slicing). This will keep the meat nice and juicy!
  • Don't wait until the holidays to enjoy this recipe. An oven roasted turkey breast makes a great Sunday supper -- and you can enjoy the leftovers in sandwiches all week long!
Nutrition Facts
Easy Maple-Glazed Roasted Turkey Breast
Amount Per Serving (1 /8 of the recipe)
Calories 269.4 Calories from Fat 109
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 12.1g 19%
Saturated Fat 7.5g 38%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.6g
Monounsaturated Fat 3.1g
Cholesterol 103.2mg 34%
Sodium 128.2mg 5%
Potassium 257.4mg 7%
Total Carbohydrates 13.3g 4%
Sugars 13.3g
Protein 26.3g 53%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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Filed Under: Dinner, What We're Eating
Tagged With: Christmas, Dinner, Thanksgiving, Turkey, turkey breast

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says

    October 31, 2016 at 7:44 am

    So glad you survived your first Thanksgiving years ago! And I always think of that scene in Christmas Vacation, too! This turkey breast definitely looks like the way to go. Love the maple glaze and how easy it is, Blair!

    Reply
    • Blair says

      October 31, 2016 at 8:18 pm

      Hah! Thanks, Gayle! That movie is such a classic!

      Reply
  2. Robyn Gleason says

    October 31, 2016 at 5:37 pm

    Wow, Blair, I saw this on FB and had to come see more. Absolutely beautiful! People can get intimidated by turkey and I can see why as it seems to have a mind of it’s own when you’re cooking the whole bird. I’m never quite sure what’s going to happen during the cooking process and it doesn’t help that everyone is opening the oven door every 15 minutes to ‘check’ on it, lol.

    A delicious glaze and the best looking turkey breast I’ve seen!

    Reply
    • Blair says

      October 31, 2016 at 8:19 pm

      Thank you, Robyn! You’re so kind!

      Reply
    • Colleen says

      April 14, 2018 at 7:59 pm

      O my God. This has to be the best receipe I’ve tried. I used chicken breast instead of turkey. I can’t wait to try turkey. I’m sure it will be just as delicious. I LOVE maple syrup.

      Reply
      • Blair says

        April 15, 2018 at 5:28 am

        Thanks, Colleen! I’ve always used it with turkey, but I love the idea of trying it with a chicken. Thanks for letting me know!

        Reply
  3. Kristy from Southern In Law says

    November 1, 2016 at 1:43 am

    This looks INCREDIBLE! We are planning on celebrating Thanksgiving with some friends this year and I think I’ll have to make this recipe to really wow them 😉

    Reply
    • Blair says

      November 1, 2016 at 5:10 am

      Definitely, Kristy! It would be perfect!

      Reply
  4. Linda says

    November 15, 2016 at 12:23 pm

    Can this be cooked in a crock pot instead of the oven?

    Reply
    • Blair says

      November 15, 2016 at 3:25 pm

      Hi, Linda! I haven’t tried that method, so I’m not really sure. I found this other recipe for a slow cooker turkey breast that you might want to check out: http://www.recipetineats.com/juicy-slow-cooker-turkey-breast/

      She uses a smaller turkey breast because the size that I used would probably not fit in the Crock Pot. She also gets the skin crispy by sticking it under the broiler at the end. You could use a glaze like mine but try her method? Just an idea!

      Reply
  5. Norma Aguilar says

    November 21, 2016 at 1:21 pm

    Can you use this recipe on a whole turkey?

    Reply
    • Blair says

      November 21, 2016 at 1:58 pm

      Hi, Norma! Definitely! You’ll have to adjust the cooking time for a whole turkey, and you’ll probably want to make more of the glaze (double the recipe to be safe). Hope that helps! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Andy says

    November 24, 2016 at 4:39 pm

    Hi Blair,

    I was not able to find a frozen turkey breast can I still do it on a pre cooked turkey breast?

    Reply
    • Blair says

      November 24, 2016 at 7:47 pm

      Hi Andy! Yes, that should work fine! Have a great holiday!

      Reply
  7. Sharon says

    December 12, 2016 at 9:52 am

    The recipe is simple but the pictures are so gorgeous. I might try this glaze for Christmas ham.

    Reply
    • Blair says

      December 12, 2016 at 4:06 pm

      Thanks, Sharon. That sounds like a great idea!

      Reply
  8. Katie says

    January 29, 2017 at 2:08 pm

    HI I was wondering,do you have this recipe for a while turkey??

    Reply
    • Blair says

      January 29, 2017 at 7:49 pm

      Hey, Katie! A wild turkey? No, I haven’t used it for a wild turkey. Sorry!

      Reply
  9. casey says

    August 9, 2017 at 8:06 pm

    Is it possible to use a boneless turkey breast? How would I adjust the recipe if so?

    Reply
    • Blair says

      August 9, 2017 at 8:21 pm

      Hi, Casey! Yes, you can definitely use a boneless turkey breast. I would keep the glaze the same, but just adjust the cooking time and temp. When I checked a poultry guide, the instructions said to roast the boneless breast at 325° F for 16 – 19 minutes per pound. So just adjust the timing based on the size of your turkey breast. Baste with the glaze just as I explain in my recipe, and follow all other instructions the same (tent with foil, allow to rest, etc.). Hope that helps! 🙂

      Reply
  10. Bri says

    October 13, 2017 at 7:23 am

    This looks so delicious. I am thinking about hosting “Friendsgiving” this year and a smaller, more manageable bird would alleviate so much stress. I think I would want to use two boneless turkey breasts. Do you know how (if?) to change up the time when you double a recipe?

    Reply
    • Blair says

      October 13, 2017 at 8:20 am

      Hi, Bri! That’s great — I’m so glad that you might give this recipe a try for Thanksgiving!

      If you double the recipe, the cooking time should remain about the same. The size of the turkey is what affects the cooking time, so if you use a bigger (or smaller) turkey breast you’ll need to adjust the cooking time a bit. But if you use two turkey breasts that are about the same size as mine, the cooking instructions should be the same. Hope that helps, and enjoy!

      Reply
  11. Liz says

    November 10, 2018 at 12:13 pm

    Hi! This sounds delicious and I’m looking forward to trying it. My family traditionally makes an apple & onion stuffing, so I’m going to put that in the cavity instead. Except for the lemon, it has all the other ingredients and I’m sure will work well as a substitute!

    Reply
    • Blair says

      November 10, 2018 at 3:25 pm

      The apple and onion sound like a PERFECT addition, Liz! We’ll be making this for Thanksgiving this year, too!

      Reply
    • Mary Neally says

      November 20, 2018 at 8:45 pm

      I also have an apple/onion stuffing recipe that I wanted to use. Will it get to soggy from the water on the bottom of the pan?

      Reply
      • Blair says

        November 20, 2018 at 8:51 pm

        Hi, Mary! I haven’t tried stuffing the turkey breast, so I honestly don’t know.

        Reply
  12. Michelle Bacon says

    November 11, 2018 at 6:31 pm

    Did you make gravy with the pan drippings? Just wondered if the maple syrup would make the gravy too sweet. Thanks

    Reply
    • Blair says

      November 12, 2018 at 6:08 am

      Hi, Michelle! I actually have NOT made gravy with the pan drippings — only because my family doesn’t care for gravy, so I’ve never bothered. I think it would be delicious, but I love slightly sweet and savory dishes, so that’s just a personal preference.

      Reply
  13. Chris says

    November 24, 2018 at 10:03 am

    I used this recipe for Thanksgiving this year and the family loved it! To be honest I was a little nervous as this was the first turkey I have ever prepared (I always cook tbe ham for the holiday meals). The meat was so moist and tender but I had one issue, I couldn’t get the turkey to brown evenly. I tried to evenly place the turkey between the heating elements in the oven and loosely placed foil when the top darkened. Any suggestions for what I should do next time?

    Reply
    • Blair says

      November 24, 2018 at 2:04 pm

      Hmmm…I’m not sure, Chris. I would think that it has something to do with your oven, rather than with the turkey. The turkey should brown evenly if placed in the middle of the oven evenly under the heating elements. It sounds like you did everything right, so I’m wondering if your oven has one its bake elements burned out. This article might be helpful to figure that out, but it’s hard for me to know since I can’t look at your oven: https://www.repairclinic.com/RepairHelp/How-To-Fix-A-Range-Stove-Oven/12—/Oven-doesn-t-bake-evenly

      Congrats on conquering your first turkey! I know it’s very intimidating until you’ve done it at least once! 🙂

      Reply
  14. Hanifia says

    December 11, 2018 at 4:03 am

    This was a delicious turkey. A nice change from the traditional flavor. I stuffed this with the “Awesome Sausage Apple and Cranberry Stuffing” from this site and this made the best Turkey and stuffing I’ve ever eaten. I’ll be making it again. Hanifia

    Reply
  15. Jess says

    February 16, 2019 at 3:55 pm

    5 pd turkey breast @ 20 mins per pound is not fourty mins. It’s 100 mins. But am trying the recipe, looks great.

    Reply
    • Jess says

      February 16, 2019 at 3:57 pm

      My bad, I read it wrong. My apologies!

      Reply

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I'm Blair! I believe in the power of a simple homemade meal to bring a family together. That's why I share easy, quick-prep recipes that eliminate mealtime stress!

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