Roast Turkey Breast with Spiced Apple Cider Glaze | Thanksgiving is on approach so, let’s talk turkey… breast. (See what I did there?) Turkey is the center of almost every Thanksgiving table. But, not every table needs a whole turkey.

We are a family of two and three dogs. Most years, we spend Thanksgiving with friends, but some years we take it easy and spend a relaxing Thanksgiving at home. Needless to say, during those Thanksgivings we don’t need a whole turkey. This is when a turkey breast is a perfect centerpiece to our intimate Thanksgiving dinner.

Our go-to recipes are my roasted turkey breast, an herb roasted turkey breast, and this Roast Turkey Breast with Spiced Apple Cider Glaze recipe when we want a little tangy sweetness to go with the tender, savory meat. 

I rub the turkey breast with a mixture of butter, onion, garlic, and sage and allow it to marinate overnight.  This gives the turkey breast time to absorb and develop flavor.

For the glaze, I reduce the apple cider to a syrup, added a bit of honey, and brush it on the turkey breast giving it a beautiful color and shine. Of course, no turkey should be served without a savory gravy and this turkey breast gives you more than enough pan drippings to make an amazing savory sweet gravy.

Apple Cider Glazed Turkey Breast Recipe Ingredients

turkey breast

• turkey breast
• sage leaves
• butter
• salt
• pepper
• onion
• garlic

gravy

• flour
• apple cider vinegar
• milk
• spiced apple cider or chicken stock

How to Marinate Roast Turkey Breast

There are three keys to delicious roasted turkey breast: using bone-in instead of boneless turkey breast, cooking it at a lower temperature, and letting it marinate overnight. It might take a little longer, but it locks in the flavor and keeps the bird from drying out.

To get started on the turkey, make the marinade. To the bowl of a food processor, add the butter, sage, onion, garlic, salt and pepper. Whirr it up until it becomes a paste. If you don’t have a food processor, finely chop the fresh herbs and veggies and mix them with the butter in a small bowl.

Now, make a little pocket between the turkey skin and the meat with your fingers, gently enough that the skin doesn’t tear. Then spread half of the paste evenly under the skin and half of the paste all over the skin side. Cover and let that marinade flavor the turkey in the fridge overnight.

The next day, remove the turkey breast from the refrigerator and leave it out on the counter for 30 minutes or so. Then it’s the perfect time to make your glaze!

What’s in the Spiced Apple Cider Turkey Glaze?

• spiced apple cider
• honey
• sugar

How to Make Apple Cider Glaze for Roast Turkey

Brushed in the pan and on top of the turkey, this delicious glaze truly makes the recipe. Make it by adding 1.5 cups of spiced apple cider with the honey in a small saucepan.

Bring it to a boil and let it reduce until it’s about ½ a cup. Remove it from the heat and watch as it thickens into a syrup-like consistency. Magic!

How to Roast Turkey Breast

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. In the bottom of the roasting pan, spread 1 cup of the spiced apple cider glaze. Place the turkey in the pan and place in the oven.

Roast turkey breast for about 30 minutes to 40 minutes then brush with the glaze. Then put it back in until an instant-read thermometer registers 165° F when inserted into the thickest and meatiest areas of the breast. Occasionally basting with pan drippings, this should take another 45 minutes or hour.

The skin should be perfectly golden brown when it’s ready. But keep an eye on the bird throughout the cooking process. If the skin is over-browning, tent it with aluminum foil.

Once the roast turkey is finished, transfer it to a platter or giant cutting board and cover with foil. Let it rest at room temperature for 15 – 20 minutes to lock in those flavorful juices.

How long to roast turkey breast in the oven

This is one of the beautiful things about turkey breast. Even at a lower temperature of 325 degrees, 4-5 lbs bone-in whole turkey breast should only take about 2 hours of cooking time.

But it’s best to use a meat thermometer and roast the turkey breast until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Let the thermometer, not the minutes per pound, be the best gauge of when the bird is done.

How to thaw turkey breast

The proper and safest way is to thaw in the bottom of the refrigerator. I like to place it on a sheet pan to catch any juices that may leak to avoid a mess.

A turkey breast will typically take 24 hours. If opting to use a whole turkey, it will take at least 2 days to thaw. So plan accordingly!

How to use leftover Roast Turkey Breast

Apple cider glazed turkey breast is so full of flavor and it makes for great leftovers too. We use the leftovers in turkey sandwiches for lunch or turkey hash for breakfast. 

I really love a great sandwich made with Thanksgiving turkey leftovers. I put all of the leftovers in my sandwich, turkey, cranberry, gravy, and stuffing. It’s heaven between two slices of bread.

My favorite thing to do is use it in my favorite chicken recipes. You can dice it up and put it in fried rice, in a breakfast burrito, on top of nachos, shredded in enchiladas, in place of the chicken in sopa de pollo, or in this comforting soup with lemony broth and dumplings.

Tips for Preparing Roast Turkey Breast with Spiced Apple Cider Glaze

• Gently loosen the skin from the flesh of the turkey breast to season under the skin. Just seasoning over the skin doesn’t allow it to penetrate the meat.
• Don’t skimp on marinating time. Giving it to marinate overnight allows the flavor to develop.
• Do not leave the cider unsupervised for long if at all. The moment you turn your back it will over reduce and burn.
• Text the cider reduction by dipping a spoon in it and swiping the back of it with your finger. When the swipe begins to hold your reduction is ready. It will thicken as it cools.
• Give the turkey breast time to rest, a minimum of 15 minutes. This gives the bubbling juices at that the surface of the breast to calm down and spread back out into the breast. Slicing too soon will cause it to juice out and dry.

A Show-stopping Thanksgiving!

It will be a perfect fit at your intimate Thanksgiving. The turkey breast finishes tender, juicy, and beautifully golden. It will be a real show stopper on your Thanksgiving table.

For a whole turkey to try, my pavochon which is basically turkey that taste like pork. Seriously.

For more Thanksgiving or holiday dishes, try my roasted sweet potato salad, pumpkin flan, or savory bread pudding. I also love these green beans with browned butter almondine from Foodie with Family and Real Housemoms’ mini sweet potato casserole. 

But, here is the great news, you can have this turkey breast anytime. Turkey breast is so much more manageable than a whole turkey and cooks in half the time. Making it a perfect addition to your weekend meal prep. Think of all the fall-themed turkey dinners!

Turkey is seriously underrated, people. If you need more of it in your life, try this turkey chorizo, these blueberry balsamic BBQ turkey meatballs, Italian turkey meatballs, this Asian turkey burger, and these turkey and sweet potato croquettes.

It’s all in how you flavor things, and this Roast Turkey Breast with Spiced Apple Cider Glaze is proof of that!

more fall recipes

• pumpkin chai hand pies
• moroccan lamb stew with harissa and garbanzos
• beef ragù with acorn squash & brown butter tortellini

Continue to Content

Yield: 8 - 12

Apple Cider Glazed Turkey Breast

Print

Sage and butter rubbed turkey breast with spiced apple cider glaze. Perfect for small gatherings during the holiday season.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 3 hours 55 minutes

Total Time 4 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

Turkey Breast

• 4 - 5 lb turkey breast, backbone removed
• 1/2 cup sage leaves, minced
• 1 stick butter
• 4 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 medium onion
• 6 cloves garlic

Glaze

• 3 cups spiced apple cider
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 2 tablespoons sugar

Gravy

• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1/4 cup spiced apple cider or chicken stock

Instructions

1. Place the turkey breast, breast side up, on a rack in a roasting pan.
2. In a food processor, combine the butter, sage, salt, pepper, onion, and garlic. Process to make a paste. Gently separate the skin from the meat with your fingers being careful not to tear the skin. Spread half of the paste under the skin and directly on the meat. Spread the remaining paste evenly on the skin. Cover and let refrigerate overnight to marinade.
3. In a saucepan combine, 2 cups spiced apple cider with honey and sugar. Bring to a boil and let reduce until the bubble because large and is reduced by half. When it cools it will become a syrup.
4. Heat oven to 325 degrees.
5. Pour 1 cup spiced apple cider into the bottom of the roasting pan. Roast the turkey for 30 to 45 minutes. Baste turkey breast with apple cider glaze. Roast another 30 - 45 minutes, turning half-way and basting again with glaze and dripping, until the skin is golden brown and an instant-read thermometer registers 165 degrees F when inserted into the thickest and meatiest areas of the breast, about 1.5 total. If the skin is over-browning, tent with aluminum foil. When the turkey is done, transfer to a platter and cover with foil and allow it to rest at room temperature for 15 - 20 minutes.
6. While the turkey is resting strain the drippings into a drippings separator. a saucepan over medium heat. Carefully pour out the excess grease into a saucepan. Add flour and whisk together. Return to the burner and whisk in vinegar and milk, add apple cider or chicken stock bringing to a simmer with each addition, until you reach desired consistency.
7. Slice turkey breast and serve with gravy.

Notes

• Gently separate the skin from the flesh of the turkey breast to season under the skin. Just seasoning over the skin doesn't allow it to penetrate the meat. 
• Don't skimp on marinating time. Giving it to marinate overnight allows the flavor to develop.
• Do not leave the cider unsupervised for long if at all. The moment you turn your back it will over reduce and burn. 
• Text the cider reduction by dipping a spoon in it and swiping the back of it with your finger. When the swipe begins to hold your reduction is ready. It will thicken as it cools. 
• Give the turkey breast time to rest, a minimum of 15 minutes. This gives the bubbling juices at that the surface of the breast to calm down and spread back out into the breast. Slicing too soon will cause it to juice out and dry. 

Recommended Products

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  Cuisinart DFP-14BCNY 14-Cup Food Processor, Brushed Stainless Steel - Silver
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  OXO 1067505 Good Grips 2-Cup Fat Separator

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