How long to cook a 6.5 lb turkey breast

Roasting a whole turkey breast for Thanksgiving, rather than an entire bird, offers a few clear advantages. It cuts roasting time at least in half, reduces the hassle of carving, and frees you to create more interesting side dishes. But perhaps the best argument for roasting a breast is that you can produce white meat that is truly moist, as opposed to the dried-out white meat that results from roasting a whole turkey until the legs are cooked through. A breast of about three pounds is fine for a party of four, while one weighing six pounds or more can serve about 10. And yes, there are usually enough leftovers for sandwiches.

Featured in: THE MINIMALIST: The Ideal Turkey? Well, It All Depends; For Ease, Roast Only the Breast

Yield: 4 to 10 servings

• 13- to 6-pound turkey breast
• 2tablespoons olive oil or melted butter
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (8 servings)

392 calories; 20 grams fat; 5 grams saturated fat; 9 grams monounsaturated fat; 4 grams polyunsaturated fat; 0 grams carbohydrates; 0 grams dietary fiber; 0 grams sugars; 50 grams protein; 603 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

1. Step 1

   Heat oven to 450 degrees. Place turkey in roasting pan; brush with oil or butter, and season with salt and pepper.

2. Step 2

   Place turkey in oven, and roast for 40 to 60 minutes, depending on size, basting with the pan juices every 15 minutes or so. Begin checking every few minutes with an instant-read thermometer; turkey is ready when the thermometer reads 155 degrees. Remove the turkey from the oven, and let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes (during which time its internal temperature will rise to about 160 degrees) before carving and serving.

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There’s no need to bother with a big, messy bird. This baked turkey breast offers just enough, and not too much, of tender, succulent white meat in a thyme, butter and wine sauce. When you’re in the mood for a perfect portion of poultry, this slow-roast turkey breast recipe is a great option for a smaller group. Our Oven-Roasted Turkey Breast comes together with just 15 minutes of prep before popping it into the oven. Don't forget to let it stand 15 minutes after roasting for easier carving!

Ingredients

• 1 bone-in whole turkey breast (4 1/2 to 5 pounds), thawed if frozen
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1/4 cup dry white wine or apple juice
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme leaves
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons cold water

Steps

• 1

  Heat oven to 325°F. Place turkey, skin side up, on rack in large shallow roasting pan. Insert ovenproof meat thermometer so tip is in thickest part of breast and does not touch bone. Roast uncovered 1 hour.

• 2

  Mix butter, wine, thyme, salt, paprika and garlic. Brush turkey with half of the butter mixture. Roast 30 minutes; brush with remaining butter mixture. Roast about 1 hour longer or until thermometer reads 165°F.

• 3

  Remove turkey from oven and let stand 15 minutes for easier carving.

• 4

  Meanwhile, pour pan drippings into measuring cup; skim fat from drippings. Add enough water to drippings to measure 2 cups. Heat drippings to boiling in 1-quart saucepan. Mix cornstarch and 2 tablespoons cold water; stir into drippings. Boil and stir 1 minute. Serve with turkey.

Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens

• tip 1

  Be sure to follow food safety rules—package up any leftovers within 2 hours. If you have any unsliced meat, go ahead and either carve it up for sandwiches or chop it up to freeze in 1 to 2 cup containers for future recipes.

• tip 2

  Invest in an instant read thermometer to ensure you cook the turkey to the proper internal temperature. Insert the thermometer in the turkey breast close to, but not touching the bone as the roasting time nears the suggested doneness time.

• tip 3

  The easiest way to carve a whole turkey breast is to cut each lobe of meat from the breast bone, using a long thin knife. Then you have two nice pieces that will lie flat on a cutting board that are easy to thinly slice. You can then arrange the slices on a platter for serving, with a pretty garnish of fresh herb sprigs (more fresh thyme, sage, or rosemary are classic) or autumn kumquats and candied cranberries.

• tip 4

  Letting the turkey rest, tented by foil, for about 15 minutes allows the meat to finish cooking (which it will for several minutes after leaving the oven) and for the juices to be redistributed. Guaranteeing that your turkey will stay moist and juicy—and gifting you extra minutes to make gravy.

• tip 5

  If you use wine to roast the turkey, use a style of dry white wine that you’d like to drink with the meal. If you choose to use apple juice, make a batch of spiced cider with lots of cinnamon sticks and sliced oranges to serve while the turkey is roasting.

Nutrition

460 Calories, 28 g Total Fat, 49 g Protein, 3 g Total Carbohydrate

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Serving

Calories460 Calories from Fat250

Total Fat28 gCholesterol165 mgSodium480 mgPotassium340 mgTotal Carbohydrate3 gProtein49 g

Vitamin A14%14%Vitamin C0%0%Calcium2%2%Iron10%10%

Exchanges:

7 Lean Meat; 1 1/2 Fat;

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

More About This Recipe

• The great thing about turkey is that its mild flavor and texture make it the perfect “blank canvas” for however you’d like to express your culinary creativity. There are so many cooking methods from which to choose—including oven-roasted turkey breast or turkey made in the deep fryer, on the grill or in the slow cooker. Flavor profiles can range from sage-rubbed traditional to Cajun hot-spiced creative. If you’d like to brush up on turkey basics, follow this in-depth turkey cooking guide. It includes tips on how to buy a turkey, what type to choose, what equipment you’ll need to have on hand, preparation options, and even guidelines on how to store leftovers. Check out more turkey recipes to find recipes perfect for small groups, classic roasts and flavor twists.

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