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This Roast Turkey Breast with Lemon Rosemary Gravy is a lean, healthy option that is full of delicious flavor. The lemon rosemary gravy perfectly complements the roasted turkey.
Featured with this recipe
- Ingredients for Roasted Turkey
- Herb Mixture Stuffing
- How to Make Gravy
- Tips and Variations for the Best Roast Turkey Breast
- Healthy Turkey Option
- Nutrition Information
- Favorite Side Dishes for Roasted Oven Turkey
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Thanksgiving Recipes
- Roast Turkey Breast with Lemon Rosemary Gravy Recipe
I’m so excited to share this recipe with you all. Roast turkey is a fantastic meal that is both flavorful and easy to make. Plus, it’s a healthy option as well, especially when you follow this recipe! All the ingredients are on the healthier side to begin with but still have all the flavor!
This roast turkey breast recipe comes from Chef Sam, the executive chef at the all-inclusive fitness resort, Fitness Ridge. Instead of making a whole turkey, this is nice to make for Sunday dinners or special occasions. Cooking this roasted turkey is a simple and delicious protein every time!
Ingredients for Roasted Turkey
The ingredients are simple and so easy to create the best turkey breast cooked in the oven. With just a few ingredients, this roasted turkey will be your go-to dinner for any occasion!
- Turkey breast – You can do either a bone-in turkey breast or without a bone.
- Grapeseed oil – A neutral flavored oil that will cling onto the herbs and give the turkey breast a nice crispy outside layer.
- Celery, onion, and carrots – Chop all the vegetables the same size to help them cook evenly.
Herb Mixture Stuffing
Stuffing is usually known to be inside of a turkey. Mix together the ingredients into a small bowl and add the stuffing mixture to the recipe when ready. You will love the flavor combination!
- Thyme, rosemary, sage, and garlic – Fresh or dried herbs chopped up in small amounts.
- Lemon and orange zest – Add a fresh, fruity flavor and texture to the stuffing.
- Grapeseed oil – Add this to the stuffing mixture to help keep it moist.
How to Make Gravy
This is an extra special gravy that is simple to make and will add to the turkey breast dinner. The gravy is filled with herbs, turkey broth leftovers, and tender vegetables. This combination will make you want to have leftover gravy all year long!
- Turkey broth – Once the turkey is cooked, take the pan drippings from the baking dish. These juices will be the flavor of the gravy.
- Onion, carrot, celery – Dice more vegetables for the gravy.
- Rosemary and garlic cloves – Fresh herbs are best!
- Lemon juice – The lemon juice brings all the flavors together.
- Sherry vinegar – Rich and nutty flavoring that is slightly sweet.
- Cornstarch – Make a cornstarch slurry with 2 tablespoons water whisked together. If you don’t have cornstarch, flour will work in place of it.
Tips and Variations for the Best Roast Turkey Breast
There are so many variations and ways to roast turkey breast in the oven. The best way is following the recipe; however, we always need to substitute or help with how to do each step. Here are some great tips and variations to get your through cooking your turkey breast in the oven.
- Turkey – Pat the turkey dry with a paper towel before adding the herbs.
- Oil – If you are wanting a more nutty flavor your can use olive oil.
- Vegetables – Add in more or less depending on how much you love! Slicing your vegetable the same size will help the veggies cook evenly in the pan.
- Herbs – Fresh or dried herbs will work for this recipe. Fresh herbs seem to have more flavor, taste, and smell to them compared to dried herbs.
- Resting turkey breast – Remove the breast from the pan and let it rest for 10 minutes before cutting into the meat. This will help seal in all the juices before slicing it.
- Cutting a turkey – First place turkey breast on a cutting board. Using a knife, line up the breast bone and slice against the grain with long slices. Separate the white meat and dark meat.
Healthy Turkey Option
Did you know that turkey breast has fewer calories than chicken breast? This is a great recipe to use if you are wanting to do a lighter Thanksgiving dinner or even a healthy Sunday dinner.
The herb blend used for the turkey is so fresh and delicious! It adds so much flavor, you don’t even NEED gravy. However, if you are looking for a lighter gravy to put on your mashed potatoes, this Lemon Rosemary Gravy is a hit! The slight citrus flavor along with the fresh herbs gives it such a bright, wonderful flavor, sans calories.
Nutrition Information
There’s nutrition information in the recipe card below, but if you are curious what the nutrition is for the turkey and gravy individually, here you go:
Turkey: serves appx. 14 (4oz. each) = 117 Calories
Gravy: serves appx. 16 (1 oz. each) = 20 calories
Favorite Side Dishes for Roasted Oven Turkey
Make this a complete meal with all the favorite sides for special occasions. These easy sweet potatoes, brussels sprouts, and dinner rolls are always a favorite around the table.
Frequently Asked Questions
Actually both! To begin, you will cook your turkey breast covered with foil. Once the cooking is almost done, uncover for the last 10 minutes. This will give the breast a nice crisp layer on the outside, and tender and juicy white and dark meat on the inside.
It depends on how big your turkey breast is to begin with. It is usually known that cooking time is based on how many pounds of turkey per 20 minutes at 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
Using the thickest part of the breast, place the meat thermometer into it. Once the internal temperature reaches between 165 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, you can remove the pan from the oven.
Often, people think that liquid is required at the bottom of the pan, but it does not need to be with this recipe. There is enough liquid and juices for the turkey to stay moist, tender, and juicy throughout the cooking process.
More Thanksgiving Recipes
You can never have too much turkey! Thanksgiving is known to have turkey at the table and this one should be the main star when preparing for the holiday. Add these side dishes to make an incredible meal for your family and friends!
Roast Turkey Breast with Lemon Rosemary Gravy
Equipment
- Roasting pan
Ingredients
For the Turkey:
- 3 ¾ pounds turkey breast
- 2 Tablespoons grapeseed oil
- 2 cups celery
- 2 cups onion
- 2 cups carrots
- 3 Tablespoons Herb mixture see below
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Herb Mixture:
- 1 Tablespoon thyme chopped
- 1 Tablespoon rosemary chopped
- 1 Tablespoon sage chopped
- 1 teaspoon garlic chopped
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 1 Tablespoon grapeseed oil
For the Gravy:
- 3 cups turkey broth
- 1/4 cup onion diced
- 1/4 cup carrot diced
- 1/4 cup celery diced
- 1 teaspoon rosemary chopped
- 2 garlic cloves chopped
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons sherry vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons cornstarch +2 T. water to make a cornstarch slurry
Instructions
For the Turkey:
- Heat oil in a large sauté pan to high heat and sear the turkey breast on each side. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- In a roasting pan, add the carrots, celery, and onion to the bottom of the pan; add the turkey on top of the vegetables.
- Cover pan with foil and roast turkey for 1 ½ – 2 hours or until the internal temp is 180 degrees- 10 minutes before the turkey is done rub the turkey with the herb mixture and bake.
- Let rest for 10 minutes before you carve it.
Herb Mixture:
- Chop all the herbs. Using a mixing bowl, add the herb mixture, then stir.
For the Gravy:
- In a pot, heat liquid to a simmer. Add the remainder of the ingredients except for the cornstarch slurry. Simmer for 10 minutes on low heat, just long enough to cook the vegetables but not reduce the liquid.
- Make the cornstarch slurry by mixing the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of water together, then whisk into the gravy to thicken.
- Blend the gravy. Serve hot.
Notes
Tips for Cutting a Turkey Breast
- Resting turkey breast – Remove the breast from the pan and let it rest for 10 minutes before cutting into the meat. This will help seal in all the juices before slicing it.
- Cutting a turkey – First place turkey breast on a cutting board. Using a knife, line up the breast bone and slice against the grain with long slices. Separate the white meat and dark meat.
Nutrition Information
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I LOVE LEMON. WILL MAKE THIS FOR MY CHRISTMAS DINNER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I LOVE ALL YOUR RECIPES.