Easy Brined Turkey Breast

This recipe is: dairy freeegg freegluten freenut free

If you aren’t hosting a crowd this Thanksgiving, a turkey breast is probably a great option for your main course. It will cut down on leftovers and cook in way less time. How to cook a turkey breast is fairly simple, and using this easy turkey brine recipe can really take the flavor to a new level. Makes enough brine for one large turkey breast.

2.50 from 2 votes
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sliced turkey breast on a plate with gravy and homemade stuffing (easy turkey brine recipe)

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Do you already have your menu planned? Normally I would want to have everything planned to the very last detail, but since it’s just Marc and I this year, I’m really not sure what we’ll be doing.

Is brining a turkey worth it?

If you’ve never tried a turkey brine, I think it’s totally worth trying. It might change the way you look at turkey, especially the white meat. It creates a tender, juice turkey breast that can withstand a tiny bit of overcooking.

But, not every turkey breast should be brined. If you’re planning to brine, make sure you check the ingredients on your turkey breast package. Many commercial turkey breasts on the market are already brined before being packaged. If there’s anything about a salt solution or any ingredients other than turkey listed, don’t brine it.

And just in case you are still looking for side dishes to serve with your turkey, you will love my vegan scalloped potatoes, homemade stuffing, green bean casserole, and pumpkin pie – they are all Thanksgiving classics without dairy!

sliced turkey breast on a serving platter (easy turkey brine recipe)

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Ingredients & substitutions

  • Sugar
  • Coarse salt
  • Peppercorns
  • White wine
  • Dried herbs

Making changes to a recipe can result in recipe failure. Any substitutions listed below are simple changes that I believe will work in this recipe, but results are not guaranteed.

baked turkey breast on a cookie sheet

The following is a detailed overview of the recipe steps with added tips and tricks for recipe success. For a simplified and printable version, including ingredient amounts and more formal instructions, see the recipe card below.

How to cook a turkey breast

Make the turkey brine. Heat the water in a large stockpot until boiling. Add the sugar and salt, and stir until they have dissolved.

Remove the pot from the heat and add the herbs and wine. Once the liquid has cooled completely, add your turkey. If your turkey is too large for your stockpot, you can try a turkey brine bag or an extra large food storage container.

Prep the turkey. Let the turkey brine overnight in the refrigerator, and when you’re ready to cook, remove it from the liquid. You’ll need to pat it dry with paper towels so the skin will brown.

Whatever you do, do not rinse it. Rinsing does nothing for the recipe and just contaminates your kitchen with germs.

Preheat your oven to 350˚F and place your turkey breast on the pan you’re going to use. Brush the skin with olive oil and season it liberally with coarse salt, black pepper and granulated garlic.

Bake the turkey. Bake the turkey for about 20 minutes per pound (for bone in) or 15 minutes per pound (for boneless), or until the turkey breast reaches a temperature of 160˚F. It will continue cooking when you remove it from the oven, but you will ultimately want it to reach 165˚F.

I always recommend using a meat thermometer when making poultry because you really want to be sure that your turkey isn’t over or under done. If you find that it’s not fully cooked and your skin is getting to crispy, go ahead and tent it with aluminum foil for the remainder of the cooking time.

Looking for leftover turkey recipes? These are some of my favorite ways to use up all that leftover turkey. Turkey club sandwich / Leftover turkey pho / turkey wraps with apple and bacon / white turkey chili

sliced turkey breast on a plate with gravy and homemade stuffing (easy turkey brine recipe)

FAQs and tips for making the best brined turkey

  • How long should you brine a turkey? You should brine your turkey breast between 8 – 20 hours. I recommend putting your turkey in the brine at night and removing the turkey from the brine in the morning.
  • Can you brine a turkey too long? Yes. You can definitely over-brine your turkey. I recommend brining for no longer than 24 hours.
  • Do you rinse a turkey after brining? No. It isn’t necessary. It will not remove excess salt, and rinsing the turkey will increase your risk of contamination.
  • How long does it take to cook a turkey breast per pound? Boneless turkey breast takes 15 minutes per pound to cook, and bone-in turkey breast takes 20 minutes per pound to cook to a food safe temperature.
  • How do I know when my turkey breast is done? I recommend using a meat thermometer to check your turkey breast for doneness. This is the safest and most accurate way to know if it has reached 165˚F.
  • Does brining meat need to be refrigerated? Absolutely. Since the meat will need to be brined for an extended period, it’s important that it’s kept at a food safe temperature in the fridge.
A thanksgiving dinner on a plate with stuffing, gravy and mashed potatoes.

Easy Brined Turkey Breast

2.50 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 9 hours
Servings 12 servings
If you aren't hosting a crowd this Thanksgiving, a turkey breast is probably a great option for your main course. It will cut down on leftovers and cook in way less time. How to cook a turkey breast is fairly simple, and using this easy turkey brine recipe can really take the flavor to a new level. Makes enough brine for one large turkey breast.

Ingredients

For the brine:
  • 10 cups water
  • 2/3 cup coarse salt
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon peppercorns
  • 1/2 tablespoon dried rosemary
  • 1/2 tablespoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried sage
  • 3 leaves bay leaves
  • 1 cup dry white wine
For the turkey:
  • 1 turkey breast
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Coarse salt
  • Black pepper
  • Granulated garlic

Instructions

To make the brine:

  • In a large stockpot, heat water with sugar and salt until dissolved.
  • Remove from heat and add wine and spices.
  • Allow to cool completely.
  • Add turkey breast and refrigerate overnight.

To make the turkey breast:

  • Preheat oven to 325˚F (160˚C).
  • Remove turkey from brine and pat dry.
  • Brush turkey skin with olive oil. Season liberally with salt, pepper and granulated garlic.
  • Bake for 15 minutes per pound.

Nutrition

Calories: 1649kcal Carbohydrates: 113g Protein: 169g Fat: 42g Trans Fat: 0.1g Cholesterol: 421mg Sodium: 77191mg Fiber: 3g Sugar: 103g Vitamin C: 4mg

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Melissa Belanger is the founder and food-obsessed visionary behind Simply Whisked, where she creates dairy free recipes with simple ingredients. She lives in Wisconsin with her milk-allergic husband and two kids. Melissa's experience in developing dairy free recipes is unparalleled and she strives to make dairy-free living accessible and enjoyable. In addition to running Simply Whisked, Melissa also manages two other publications: Another Cocktail Blog, a cocktail recipe website, and The Pasta Twins, a joint venture with her twin sister.

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