If you don't want a large turkey for your Thanksgiving dinner, this Ninja Foodi turkey breast is for you! So tender and juicy inside with crispy skin outside, you will love this super easy holiday recipe!
This is by far the best turkey breast recipe I have had in a long time. And this is coming from someone who always struggled with the bland taste of turkey breast. With the ninja food air fryer, I can finally say goodbye to dry turkey breast!
If you don't want to deal with a big turkey in the oven, a smaller turkey breast will work just fine. Last year, just the four of us in my house celebrated Thanksgiving, and this air fryer turkey breast was the easiest way to prepare a small Thanksgiving turkey.
The Ninja foodi delivered moist turkey breast that my family loved and begged for seconds, and there was enough turkey to go round!
Jump to:
What is the Ninja Foodi?
So you've never heard of a Ninja Foodi Grill? Or perhaps you've heard of it, but you have no idea exactly just how awesome it is?
Picture this. Imagine being able to roast, steam, bake, dehydrate or slow-cook in a pressure cooker that's also an air fryer all in one!
Yes, it sounds too good to be true, but that's what the Ninja Foodi is! This fantastic all-in-one appliance does all that and more. I use it for my air fryer rotisserie chicken and it turns out really perfect!
This electric pressure cooker cooks your food in a fraction of the time it takes other cooking methods. It also cooks it seamlessly without over-heating your kitchen or messy cleanups!
Is turkey breast keto-friendly?
The good news for turkey lovers is that turkey breast will fit a keto lifestyle when prepared with keto-friendly ingredients.
Also, turkey breasts are packed with much-needed proteins, with 100g containing roughly 29g of protein. And with zero carbs and 7g fat, you can indulge in this turkey breast recipe guilt-free.
Ingredients Used
- Whole Turkey breast: I use a boneless two pound turkey breast for this recipe, but you can use a bone-in turkey breast. I get my turkey breast from my local grocery store but you can get your turkey meat from your local farmer's market. If you can get one with the cavity of the turkey breast already cleaned out, then all the better. I use a smaller size turkey breast, so it fits well in the ninja foodi with room to spare.
- Homemade chicken seasoning: I use my homemade chicken seasoning, which is so easy to make. I prefer to make mine because I've found that many store-bought ones have hidden carbs and other chemicals in them. My poultry seasoning recipe is delicious, convenient, and it's made with ingredients already in your pantry or your spice drawer. It very quickly turns plain turkey or chicken into a chef's masterpiece!
- Olive oil or olive oil spray. Here, you can also choose to use your preferred oil or even use unsalted butter.
How To Cook Turkey Breast In The Ninja Foodi
If you will use frozen turkey breast meat, be sure to defrost it overnight in the refrigerator. The first thing you need to do is brine the turkey, so it becomes most and juicy.
Also, you can place the whole turkey breast as-is in the ninja foodi, but I split mine into two, so it cooks faster and more evenly.
Brine turkey breast
- Place the turkey breast in a pot and add enough water to cover it.
- Add 2 tablespoons of salt and let it soak for 20 mins.
- Pour out the water, then rinse the turkey breast and pat dry with paper towels when done.
Air fry turkey breast
- Preheat the ninja foodi to 350F.
- Rub or spray the turkey breast with olive oil, then rub it all over with the homemade chicken seasoning.
- Place the entire turkey in the ninja foodi with the breast side down.
- Air fry the turkey breast for 25 minutes, then flip it over and air fry for 15-20 minutes till it's a lovely golden brown color.
- Use a meat thermometer to make sure it has reached an internal temperature of 165F.
- Take the cooked turkey breast out of the air fryer and wrap it in aluminum foil, so it absorbs the juices.
- Let the turkey breast cool for a few minutes before you slice it.
Storing and Reheating
Store turkey breast in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It'll keep fresh for a few days. You can freeze it for a few months in a freezer bag.
Reheat the frozen air-fried turkey breast in an air fryer. First, allow it to thaw to room temperature before reheating. Then, air fry at 350F for about 10mins.
What can I eat this recipe with?
This perfect turkey breast can go well with so many side dishes! So this holiday season, enjoy this turkey recipe with some mashed cauliflower, keto cranberry sauce, air fryer broccoli or air fryer asparagus. You can also drizzle some keto gravy on it!
Use leftover turkey breasts to make this leftover turkey stir fry or Nigerian turkey stew.
Tips on making this recipe
- Make sure you use a small turkey breast, so it fits in the Ninja foodi.
- Your cooking time will vary depending on how crispy you want your turkey breast to be, but don't overcook it. To make the skin more crispy, increase the temp to 400F and air fry for 5 more minutes.
Recipe variations
- To make slow cooker turkey breast, brush turkey breast with olive oil and spices. Then place the turkey in the slow cooker and add 1 cup of water. Cook on low for 5-6 hours till the turkey is tender.
- You can also make the turkey breast in the oven using the same instructions as the Ninja Foodi.
- For even more flavor, use this low carb chicken or turkey brine.
Frequently asked questions
No, the Ninja Foodi and an Air Fryer aren't quite the same. The Ninja Foodi is a pressure cooker AND an air fryer, while an air fryer is just... well, an air fryer. The Ninja foodi can boil and cook food under pressure.
It also roasts, grills, steams, bakes, and dehydrates ingredients. An air fryer fries food by circulating hot air, as the name suggests. A Ninja foodi has all the features of the air fryer and then some.
Of course, you can! The ninja foodi has air fryer features, among others, but a regular air fryer will work just as well for this recipe. I highly recommend the Ninja Air Fryer if you're in the market for one.
I use a 4-quart ninja foodi, and it was just perfect for two 2-pound turkey breasts. So if you use an air fryer, use a similar size.
I recommend you brine turkey breast before cooking. This is because Turkey breasts, known as white meat, can quickly dry out when cooked.
Brining it beforehand would allow the moisture to seep well into the meat, so it retains its moistness and remains juicy even after being fried or baked.
Need more easy air fryer recipes? Next time, try these!
Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings
Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings
Enjoy more healthy turkey recipes!
📖 Recipe
Ninja Foodi Turkey Breast (Air Fryer)
Ingredients
- 2 lb turkey breast
- 4 tablespoon homemade chicken seasoning
- 2 tablespoon olive oil or olive oil spray.
Instructions
Brine turkey breast
- Place the turkey breast in a pot and add enough water to cover it.
- Add 1 tablespoon of salt and let it soak for 20 mins.
- Pour out the water, then rinse the turkey breast and pat dry with paper towels when done.
Air fry turkey breast
- Preheat the ninja foodi to 350F.
- Rub or spray the turkey breast with olive oil, then rub it all over with the homemade chicken seasoning.
- Place the entire turkey in the ninja foodi with the breast side down.
- Air fry the turkey breast for 25 minutes, then flip it over and air fry for 15-20 minutes till it's a lovely golden brown color.
- Use a meat thermometer to make sure it has reached an internal temperature of 165F.
- Take the cooked turkey breast out of the air fryer and wrap it in aluminum foil, so it absorbs the juices.
- Let the turkey breast cool for a few minutes before you slice it.
Notes
- Make sure you use a small turkey breast, so it fits in the Ninja foodi. I used two small turkey pieces that fit perfectly.
- Your cooking time will vary depending on how crispy you want your turkey breast to be, but don't overcook it. To make the skin more crispy, increase the temp to 400F and air fry for 5 more minutes.
So delicious and moist! My pickiest kid even loved it.
I'm so glad you enjoyed the turkey breast, Veronica!