Herb-Infused Mediterranean Turkey Breast

This Herb-Infused Mediterranean Turkey Breast recipe features a juicy, herb-roasted turkey breast with golden, crispy skin and plenty of amazing Mediterranean spices.

Thanksgiving is a time to indulge in all the flavors of autumn. But this juicy turkey breast recipe gives you a turkey breast with a Mediterranean twist that is great for the holidays or any regular weeknight. This herb-infused turkey has a delicious blend of Mediterranean flavors and aromas.

Why Not Make A Whole Turkey?

Not everyone needs to feed a large family. Making a whole turkey is great if you have the people to eat it. But if you don’t, this recipe is great for one or two people with room for leftovers.

Can I Make A Whole Turkey Instead?

Absolutely! Depending on the size of your turkey, you will have to double up on the seasoning and oil. But other than that, it works the same. Get it under and over the skin, then pop it in the oven.

What About Turkey Gravy?

You can deglaze the baking sheet after making this and use the drippings to make a quick and simple gravy. But aside from that, you can also get a neck and giblets from a butcher to make giblet gravy.

What Kind Of Turkey Breast Should I Buy For This Herb-Infused Mediterranean Turkey Breast Recipe?

You want a boneless turkey breast with the skin still on. You can certainly use a bone-in turkey breast as well, boneless is just what I had available to me at the store. Cooking times will be a bit different with the bone in, and I cannot advise you on that because I’ve never tried it. However, a meat thermometer is a must for this recipe. So just keep an eye on the breast with your thermometer, and it will be fine.

Can I Use Fresh Herbs?

You Can! I used dry spices because that’s what I had on hand. The parsley was the only thing I could get fresh. Feel free to use fresh rosemary and fresh thyme. You can use fresh garlic cloves as well.

Why Is Turkey Breast So Dry?

1. Never remove the skin until after you are done cooking. The fat locks in a lot of moisture.
2. Cover your turkey with a loose piece of aluminum foil so the top doesn’t burn and start drying out too much.

How To Spice Up Your Turkey?

When it comes to herbs and spices, it’s important to use enough. It also helps to marinate your turkey before you cook it. You need to get the flavors down into the meat, and that can take some patience and preparation. But it’s worth the little bit of extra time to get great flavor into your turkey.

Mediterranean Diet Thanksgiving

If you need a Mediterranean diet Thanksgiving menu, I have one publishing tomorrow. So be sure to check back for that! Better yet, subscribe so you get email updates with all my Mediterranean recipes!

How To Cook Pre-Packaged Turkey Breast?

To cook pre-packaged turkey breast, you have two options:

1. Cook it wrapped in the netting it comes in. Basically, you’ll treat it like a roast. A roasting pan works best, and it’s important to leave the skin on. Just make sure the netting isn’t plastic. If it is, you absolutely have to remove it unless the butcher tells you it will hold up in the oven. Even then, I’d remove it and use twine to tie it up. I don’t trust heating up plastic on my food. But that cook just be a me problem. It’s up to you.
2. Remove the wrapping and flatten out the breast. The turkey won’t have to cook as long, so it’s less likely that you’ll dry out your turkey as well.

What To Serve With This Herb-Infused Mediterranean Turkey Breast

I have a great recipe coming up this Tuesday for a Mediterranean Sweet Potato Casserole that is to-die-for, delicious. It goes great with this! But if you prefer something else, I suggest the following side dishes to go with this roasted turkey breast recipe:

• Regular mashed potatoes
• Green beans
• Corn
• Green salad
• Whole grain dinner rolls

Herb-Infused Mediterranean Turkey Breast Ingredients

Turkey breast – With skin on.

Fresh garlic – Medium or large cloves. The choice is yours. Mine were medium.

Fresh Italian parsley – This is also called flat-leaf parsley.

Lemon zest – Make sure you wash the outside of your lemon before zesting the rind.

Lemon juice – This is approximately 1 to 2 tablespoons.

Extra virgin olive oil – Use the good stuff if you have it. This recipe is worth it.

Paprika – Make sure this is regular paprika, not smoked.

Ground cumin

Ground coriander

Dried oregano

Dried thyme

Salt

Black pepper

Red pepper flakes – This adds a small amount of spiciness but nothing overwhelming. It’s very tasty.

How To Make Herb-Infused Mediterranean Turkey Breast

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Gather and measure all your ingredients.

Herb and Spice Marinade

In a glass measuring cup, measure the oil. Then add all the spices, garlic, lemon juice, and zest. Stir it all together until well mixed. If you prefer, you can mix all of this in a small bowl. But doing it directly in the measuring cup saves a dish to wash.

Prepare the Turkey

Place the prepared turkey breast in a roasting pan or on a baking sheet. Any baking dish will do. If the turkey breast is wet, pat dry with a clean paper towel.

Carefully loosen the skin of the turkey breast, making sure not to detach it completely. You want to create a pocket between the skin and the meat.

Rub about half the spice mix evenly under the skin.

The other half can be evenly spread over the top of the entire breast surface. Set in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Roasting

Roast the turkey in the preheated oven for approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) when tested with a meat thermometer.

IMPORTANT: Once the spices have browned and the top of the breast is a nice golden color, make sure to cover the turkey breast loosely with a piece of aluminum foil. This will keep it from burning.

Once cooked, remove the turkey from the oven and let it rest for about 10-15 minutes before slicing.

Serve

Slice the turkey breast and serve it with your favorite Mediterranean-inspired sides, such as a Greek salad, roasted vegetables, or couscous.

Slow Cooker Instructions

You can cook this in a slow cooker, but it won’t achieve those beautiful brown colors you get from roasting in the oven. The flavor will be different.

1. Preparation
   • Follow the preparation steps in the initial recipe to season the turkey breast.
2. Slow Cooker Preparation
   • Place the seasoned turkey breast in the slow cooker.
   • Add ½ cup of chicken or vegetable broth to the slow cooker to prevent the turkey from drying out.
3. Cooking Time
   • Cook the turkey breast on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). If you lift the lid to take the internal temperature, and it’s not at temperature yet, you’ll need to add about 15 minutes to the cooking time each time you lift the lid.
4. Rest and Serve
   • Once cooked, allow the turkey to rest for a few minutes before slicing. Serve with your preferred Mediterranean sides. Again, this won’t have all the golden colors you get from roasting it, but it will still have all the flavor.

Instant Pot (Pressure Cooker) Instructions:

1. Preparation:
   • Season the turkey breast following the initial recipe.
2. Instant Pot Setup:
   • Turn on the Instant Pot and select the “Sauté” function. Add a tablespoon of olive oil to the pot.
3. Searing the Turkey:
   • Sear the seasoned turkey breast in the Instant Pot for a couple of minutes on each side until it gets a golden-brown color.
4. Pressure Cooking:
   • Add 1 cup of chicken or vegetable broth to the Instant Pot.
   • Secure the lid, set the valve to the sealing position, and select the “Pressure Cook” function.
   • Set the timer to 25-30 minutes (based on the size of the turkey breast) at high pressure.
   • Once done, perform a natural pressure release for 10-15 minutes before using a quick release.
5. Rest and Serve:
   • Let the turkey rest for a few minutes before slicing. Serve with your desired Mediterranean accompaniments.

Air Fryer Instructions:

1. Preparation:
   • Season the turkey breast according to the original recipe.
2. Air Fryer Setup:
   • Preheat the air fryer to 360°F (182°C).
3. Cooking the Turkey:
   • Place the seasoned turkey breast in the air fryer basket. You may need to adjust the size or cut the turkey breast to fit, depending on the air fryer’s capacity.
4. Cooking Time:
   • Cook the turkey breast in the air fryer for approximately 25-30 minutes, flipping it halfway through the cooking time. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) on an instant-read thermometer..
5. Rest and Serve:
   • Allow the turkey to rest for a few minutes before slicing. Serve alongside your preferred Mediterranean-style sides.

Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Freezing Herb-Infused Mediterranean Turkey Breast

Wrap it well so it won’t dry out in the freezer and freeze for up to 3 months.

Reheating Herb-Infused Mediterranean Turkey Breast

The best way to reheat this Herb-Infused Mediterranean Turkey Breast is to microwave it in short spurts. Turkey is hard to reheat because it dries out so quickly. You can also reheat this in the oven, but keep an eye on it. It will go from warm to cardboard really quickly.

More Thanksgiving Sides That Would Pair Well With This Herb-Infused Mediterranean Turkey Breast

• Cranberry Sauce
• Garlic Green Beans With Shallots
• Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts

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Herb-Infused Mediterranean Turkey Breast Recipe Card