The easiest way to prepare turkey on Thanksgiving day! This delicious foolproof Honey Maple Turkey Breast recipe will be the star ofthe show on Thanksgiving.
Hosting a smaller crowd for Thanksgiving? Not a fan of dark meat? Make this Honey Maple Turkey Breast instead of a full turkey.
A five-pound turkey breast will serve at least 6-8 people, and it is so much easier to prepare and serve (and store in your fridge). And don’t worry, you can still make Thanksgiving gravy.
Preparing a whole turkey can be a complete headache. You have to make sure it defrosts in time – aprocess which can take 3-4 days.
It can be a challenge to keep the white meat moist while making sure the dark meat cooks all the way through. It takes hours to cook. It’s not the easiest to carve.
Turkey breast cooks more quickly and carving it just requires cutting even slices of the meat. It takes some of the stress out of the holiday.
Another benefit to making turkey breast is that it takes up much less space in the oven, making it possible to cook (or reheat) side dishes while the turkey cooks.
Is it just me or is oven space always a major issue on Thanksgiving?
We loved this recipe. The turkey came out perfectly moist and the maple syrup and honey gave the gravy a sweetness that contrasted with the mustard and spices.
If you are expecting a big crowd on Thanksgiving, you might want to consider cooking a turkey breast in addition to a full bird.
You can probably fit the turkey breast in the oven alongside the full turkeywhile fitting two whole turkeys in one oven is probably impossible.
And since you can’t have thanksgiving turkey without gravy, here is a link to a post showing you how to make Thanksgiving gravy from scratch. It’s so easy, and I even made a video to show you step by step!
If you are looking for more Thanksgiving recipes – here are a few of my favorites:
Blue Cheese Potatoes Au Gratin
Thanksgiving Corn
Dill Cottage Cheese Rolls
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Pecan Pie with a Shortbread Crust
Bourbon Butterscotch Pie
Or if you want to try another turkey breast recipe – make this spinach and mushroom stuffed turkey breast. Stuffing a turkey breast is an easy way to add an extra burst of flavor!
Honey Maple Turkey Breast
The easiest way to prepare turkey on Thanksgiving day! This delicious foolproof Honey Maple Turkey Breast recipe will be the star of the show on Thanksgiving.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Ingredients
- 1Turkey Breast
- 2tablespoonsButterat room temperature
- 1/2cupMaple Syrup
- 1tablespoonHoney
- 1tablespoonWhole Grain Mustard
- 1/2teaspoonSmoked Paprika
- 1/2teaspoonOnion Salt
- 1/2teaspoonGarlic Powder
- 1/2teaspoonThyme
- 1/2teaspoonSalt
- 1/2teaspoonGround Black Pepper
- 2-4cupsChicken Broth
- For the Gravy:
- 1tablespoonButter
- 1tablespoonFlour
- 1/2cupWhite Wine
Instructions
Heat your oven to 325 degrees. Remove the turkey breast from its packaging and leave the string netting on, this holds the turkey breast together as it cooks.
Place the turkey breast in the center of a roasting pan. Rub the butter all over the turkey breast. Then mix the maple syrup, honey, mustard, smoked paprika, onion salt, garlic powder, thyme, salt, and pepper together. Spread a thick layer of the maple syrup and spice mix on the turkey.
Pour enough chicken broth in the bottom of the pan to coat it, this prevents any pan drippings from burning. This is important since you need the pan drippings to make gravy.
Roast the turkey breast at 325 degrees. Baste the turkey with the maple syrup and spice mixture every 30 minutes, and add more chicken broth to the pan as necessary. Continue this process until the turkey breast reaches 165 degrees.
Remove the turkey breast from the oven, and place it on a serving dish to rest while you prepare the gravy.
Scrape all of the pan drippings into a glass container (like a mason jar).
Melt the butter in a skillet and whisk in the flour. Then using a baster, suck up the pan drippings below the line of fat that rises to the top of the jar. Whisk all of these juices into the flour and butter. Whisk in the white wine. Bring to a simmer, and let the gravy thicken. Once thick, taste test and add salt and pepper if necessary. Strain the gravy to remove any lumps.
Remove the string netting around the turkey breast. Slice the turkey breast and serve it with the gravy.
What to save this honey maple turkey breast recipe for later? Pin this image:
FAQs
Cover the turkey to prevent over-browning.
If the skin over the breast meat begins to brown too darkly toward the end of cooking, cover it with aluminum foil to prevent scorching.
How many turkey breasts per person for Thanksgiving? ›
While opinions differ, in general, most will tell you that you should plan to serve between 1 and 1.5 pounds of bone-in turkey per person, whether that's a whole turkey or just the bone-in breast. If you're planning to buy boneless breasts, reduce the amount to a half a pound of turkey per person.
What are the ingredients in boar head honey maple turkey? ›
Coated With: Water, Honey, Cacao Seed Powder, Sugar, Turkey Broth With Natural Flavor, Gelatin, Maple Syrup. Ingredients: Turkey Breast, Water, Salt, Sugar, Dextrose, Pure Maple Syrup, Honey Sodium Phosphate, Natural Flavorings, Sea Salt.
How do you keep a turkey moist if you cook it the day before Thanksgiving? ›
To keep the turkey moist, add a little broth or water and cover. Cover your food and rotate it for even heating.
Do you put water in the bottom of the roasting pan for turkey breast? ›
Place your turkey on a wire rack and then place the rack in a roasting pan. Pour 1 cup of water in the bottom of the roasting pan. This will prevent the drippings from burning on the bottom of the pan. If using a flat rack (use a V-rack if you have one), you will notice the turkey will tilt to one side or the other.
Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350? ›
Oven-Roasted Turkey
We recommend starting the turkey in a 425 degree oven for 30-45 minutes before tenting the pan with foil and lowering the temperature to 350 degrees until a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees when inserted into the thickest part of the bird.
What size turkey breast for 8 adults in lbs? ›
4 people = 2 pound turkey breast. 8 people = 4 pound turkey breast. 10 people = 5 pound turkey breast. 16 people = 8 pound turkey breast.
How long should you cook a 9 lb turkey breast? ›
How to cook bone-in turkey breast
| Estimated Roasting Time†† |
|---|
| Weight in Lbs. | Roasting Time at 350° | Slow Cooker Time on Low |
| 3-5 lbs. | 1-2¼ hours | 5-6 hours |
| 5-7 lbs. | 2¼-3 hours | 6-7 hours |
| 7-9 lbs. | 3-3½ hours | 7-8 hours |
1 more rowFor boneless turkey breast, count on ½ pound per person. Now that you know how much you need to buy, see our top turkey cooking tips for the best Thanksgiving bird and browse through the galleries below to plan the rest of your menu.
Is boar's head honey maple turkey healthy? ›
Product details This tender, extra-lean turkey breast gets its sweet flavor from 100% pure maple syrup and golden honey. Certified heart-healthy, low-fat and rich in protein.
Delivering an irresistible sweet and savory flavor, Boar's Head Maple Glazed Honey Coat Turkey Breast is glazed with 100% pure maple syrup, coated with golden honey and slow roasted for a delightfully sweet taste of home.
Does boar's head honey maple turkey have Nitrates? ›
No Nitrates or Nitrites added except for those naturally occurring in cultured celery powder and sea salt.
Can I prep a Thanksgiving turkey the night before? ›
It's easy: Simply cook it a day or two in advance, let it cool completely, then carve the bird into large pieces—breasts, wings, thighs and drumsticks. Store in a container in the refrigerator until the big day. This method actually result in juicier meat—and an infinitely more relaxed host.
What to do if the turkey is done 2 hours early? ›
If your turkey is done several hours before your meal, let it rest. Then carve off the breast meat, the legs and the thighs and arrange them on a serving platter and cover with foil. Just before you're ready to serve, reheat the platter in the oven (about 20 minutes at 350°F).
Should I cover my turkey breast with foil when baking? ›
To achieve a perfectly golden, juicy turkey, let the bird spend time both covered and uncovered in the oven. We recommend covering your bird for most of the cooking time to prevent it from drying out; then, during the last 30 minutes or so of cooking, remove the cover so the skin crisps in the hot oven.
What temperature do you cook a turkey covered or uncovered? ›
Roast uncovered according to Cooking Schedule or until meat thermometer in center of breast roast reaches 170° F and in center of turkey roast reaches 175° F. For easier net removal after roasting, wrap roast in foil and let stand 10 minutes.
Should you bake a turkey breast up or down? ›
It's personal preference whether you choose to cook a turkey breast-side up or breast-side down. The United States Department of Agriculture advises to cook a whole turkey breast side up during the entire cooking time.
Should a turkey be covered or uncovered while resting? ›
The simplest way to keep a turkey warm is to cover it. To do so, remove the turkey from the oven when it's done cooking and let it cool down for about 20 minutes. If you cover it right away, the trapped heat will continue to cook your bird and will result in overcooked (aka dry) meat.
