Heart Healthy Roasted Turkey Breast

(5.0)
By Judy Capodanno
Updated 10/30/2025
Dietitian Reviewed: Jane Schwartz, RDN, CLT
Approved for These Diets:
Heart Healthy | Diabetic
Heart Healthy Roasted Turkey Breast
Photo Credit: Baldwin Publishing Staff Photographer

This simple and healthy roasted turkey breast recipe has all the great flavor of the whole bird without the fuss. Try your hand at this heart-healthy, herb-infused dish and never look at dinner the same way again. We'll show you the key steps to guarantee a juicy result, including the ideal roasting temperature.

If you are planning a smaller Thanksgiving or holiday meal, this roasted turkey breast offers all the classic flavor without the time and effort of a whole bird, making it the perfect solution for an intimate, stress-free celebration. For even more holiday inspiration, be sure to explore all of our delicious and healthy turkey recipes.

Total Time
120 minutes
Servings
8
Calories
205

What Makes Roasted Turkey Breast Healthy

This roasted turkey breast is a heart-healthy choice primarily because it focuses on lean protein while minimizing saturated fat and sodium. By removing the skin and using herbs for flavor instead of salt, it delivers a satisfying main course that aligns with cardiac-conscious eating patterns.

Key Health Highlights

  • Excellent Source of Lean Protein: Each 4-ounce serving provides 34 grams of protein, which is essential for muscle maintenance and satiety.
  • Low in Saturated Fat: Removing the skin before cooking significantly reduces the overall fat content, particularly saturated fat.
  • Controlled Sodium: With 286 mg of sodium per serving, this recipe uses fresh herbs and aromatics for flavor, avoiding excess salt.
  • Rich in Key Nutrients: Turkey is a natural source of B vitamins, zinc, selenium, and phosphorus, which support metabolism and immune function.
  • Good Source of Potassium: This recipe provides potassium, an important mineral for maintaining healthy blood pressure.
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FAQs About Roasted Turkey Breast

Turkey breast has a bad reputation for being healthy only when it’s dry and bland. However, let’s dive into the reasons why this moist and flavorful roasted turkey breast recipe is healthy:

  • Protein Powerhouse: Turkey breast is a fantastic source of lean protein, essential for building and maintaining muscle mass. And when it comes to calories for turkey breast, you’ll be happy to know that 4 ounces clocks in at just over 200 calories!
  • Reduced Fat: Removing the skin before roasting eliminates a significant source of fat, making this a heart-healthy meal. Worried that removing the skin will dry out the turkey? Have no fear because the bone helps keep the turkey moist while roasting.
  • Nutrient Bonanza: Turkey breast is a great heart-healthy recipe. It’s packed with B vitamins and minerals, such as zinc, selenium, phosphorus, and iron. It’s also a great source of potassium, which is good for heart health.
  • Gluten-Free Modification: While turkey breast is naturally gluten free, you can make the gravy gluten-free by simply using all-purpose gluten-free flour instead of traditional wheat flour.

Both temperatures work well, but roasting at a lower temperature like 325°F cooks the turkey more gently and can result in a moister, more tender breast. Roasting at a higher temperature like 350°F or even 400°F will cook it faster but requires more careful monitoring to prevent drying out.

A 6-pound bone-in turkey breast typically takes about 1 3/4 to 2 hours to roast at 400°F. Always use a meat thermometer and cook until the internal temperature reaches 165°F in the thickest part.

Yes, tenting the turkey breast with foil for the initial part of the roasting process helps trap steam and moisture, preventing the surface from drying out before the inside is cooked. You can remove the foil for the last 20-30 minutes to allow the top to brown nicely.

The safest and most reliable internal temperature for a fully cooked turkey breast is 165°F (74°C). Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the breast, avoiding the bone, to check for doneness.

More Heart-Healthy Main Dishes

Roasted & Braised Favorites

If you enjoyed making this heart-healthy roasted turkey, explore our other simple main courses. Each recipe is designed to be nutritious and flavorful, helping you expand your collection of go-to healthy meals.

Heart Healthy Roasted Turkey Breast with Root Vegetables
Herb-Roasted Chicken
Heart Healthy Chicken Cacciatore
Turkey Piccata

Perfect Pairings & Sides

To make your Heart-Healthy Roasted Turkey Breast a complete meal, explore our favorite healthy side dishes. These recipes are perfect pairings, from classic mashed potatoes to flavorful roasted vegetables that your family will love.

Healthy Mashed Potatoes
Heart Healthy Roasted Vegetables
Healthy Mac and Cheese
Healthy Green Bean Casserole (No Mushroom Soup)

How to Cook Turkey Breast

Roasted turkey breast is easy to cook! Here are a few tips and tricks to make sure your roasted turkey breast is moist and flavorful:

  • Type Matters: Use bone-in and not boneless turkey breast. Since the skin is being removed, the bone is needed to keep the turkey moist. If you can only find bone-in turkey breast with the skin, just remove it before preparing the turkey for roasting.
  • Temperature Matters: When roasting a turkey breast, use a meat thermometer and aim for an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the breast. This ensures the turkey is cooked through while remaining juicy.
  • Tent with Foil Strategically: Tenting the turkey breast with foil during the initial roasting helps trap moisture and prevent drying out. 
  • Basting Adds Flavor: Basting the turkey breast with pan drippings every 30-40 minutes during roasting adds moisture and flavor to the turkey breast. Use a spoon to baste the drippings over the breast.
  • Let it Rest: Letting the cooked turkey breast rest for at least 20 minutes after removing it from the oven is crucial. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in a more tender and flavorful bird. Slicing too early can cause the juices to run out, leaving you with a dry turkey breast. This is the perfect time to prepare the sides!

Ingredients

Recipe yields 8 servings

Directions

  1. Step 1

    Preheat oven to 400°. Rinse the turkey breast and pat dry. In a small bowl, combine the butter, garlic, shallot, sage, thyme, salt and pepper to taste and rub the mixture onto the turkey breast. Place turkey breast on a rack in a roasting pan. Roast in the middle of the oven until a meat thermometer inserted into thickest part of breast registers 165° or juices run clear when a paring knife is poked in the thickest part of breast, about 1 3/4 to 2 hours. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest.

  2. Step 2

    Meanwhile, pour the drippings from the roasting pan into a glass cup. With a spoon, skim off the fat. ln a small saucepan, heat the drippings over medium heat and stir in flour. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute, or until light brown. Whisk in the chicken broth and cider and season with pepper to taste. Cook, stirring frequently, until gravy thickens, 3 to 4 minutes. Serve the turkey breast with the gravy and garnished with thyme sprigs, if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size:
4 oz turkey

205
Calories
6
g
Fat
76
mg
Cholesterol
286
mg
Sodium
6
g
Carbs
3
g
Sat. Fat
0
g
Fiber
33
g
Protein
3
g
Sugars

Alternative Cooking Methods

While oven-roasting provides the best traditional flavor and browning, you can adapt this recipe for other methods:

  • Slow Cooker: Place the seasoned turkey breast in a slow cooker with 1/2 cup of chicken broth. Cook on low for 4-6 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. This method yields exceptionally tender meat but will not produce a browned exterior.
  • Grill: For a smoky flavor, you can grill the turkey breast over indirect heat. Keep the temperature around 350°F and cook until it reaches 165°F internally, turning occasionally.

Serving & Storage Tips

  • Rest Before Slicing: Always let the turkey rest for at least 20 minutes after removing it from the oven. This allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring a moist result.
  • Serving: Slice the turkey against the grain and serve immediately with the homemade pan gravy.
  • Refrigeration: Store leftover turkey in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
  • Freezing: For longer storage, you can freeze sliced turkey in freezer-safe bags or containers for up to 3 months. Add a splash of broth to prevent dryness upon reheating.
  • Leftover Ideas: Use sliced turkey for sandwiches, wraps, or salads. Diced turkey is excellent in soups, casseroles, or pasta dishes.

Ingredient Substitutions

You can use an equal amount of olive oil or another heart-healthy oil to rub on the turkey before roasting.

If you don't have fresh sage or thyme, you can use dried herbs. Use 1 teaspoon of dried herbs for every 1 tablespoon of fresh herbs called for.

To ensure the gravy is low in sodium, use unsalted or low-sodium chicken broth. Vegetable broth is also a suitable alternative.

As noted in the article, substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend to make the gravy gluten-free.

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