Description

This Oven Roasted Turkey Breast recipe features a juicy, tender turkey breast enhanced with a flavorful honey orange sauce. The marinade of orange zest, juice, brown sugar, and spices creates a deliciously sweet and savory profile, while the optional honey orange sauce adds a glossy, zesty finish that pairs wonderfully with your favorite side dishes. Perfect for holiday dinners or any special occasion, this recipe ensures a succulent turkey breast that’s easy to prepare and sure to impress.

Ingredients

Scale

Turkey and Marinade

1 turkey breast (about 4 pounds)
Zest of 1 orange
1/2 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
3 tablespoons vegetable oil (or olive oil)
1 tablespoon honey (or maple syrup)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Honey Orange Sauce (Optional)

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 cup honey (or maple syrup)
1/4 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon orange zest
2/3 cup water
2 tablespoons cornstarch

Instructions

Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F. Line the bottom of a roasting pan with foil and drizzle with vegetable or olive oil to prepare the pan.
Prepare the Marinade: In a medium bowl, mix together the orange zest, orange juice, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, vegetable oil, honey, salt, and pepper until combined.
Rub the Turkey: Generously rub the marinade all over the turkey breast. Place the turkey in the prepared roasting pan. Pour any remaining marinade over the top of the turkey and cover the pan with foil.
Roast the Turkey: Roast the turkey breast in the preheated oven for about 1 1/2 hours. Remove the foil during the last 30 minutes of roasting to allow the skin to brown nicely. Ensure the internal temperature reaches 165°F for safe consumption.
Slice and Serve: Once the turkey is fully cooked, remove from the oven, let it rest briefly, then slice the turkey breast. Serve it drizzled with the optional Honey Orange Sauce and alongside your preferred side dishes.
Prepare the Honey Orange Sauce (Optional) – Combine Cornstarch Mixture: In a small cup, mix the water and cornstarch until the cornstarch is fully dissolved. Set aside.
Sauté Aromatics: Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil and wait until it’s hot and sizzling. Add minced garlic, freshly grated ginger, and red pepper flakes. Stir immediately to prevent burning.
Mix Sauce Ingredients: Add soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, orange juice, orange zest, and the cornstarch-water mixture to the skillet. Stir continuously to combine.
Simmer and Thicken: Continue cooking and stirring until the sauce lightly simmers and thickens to your desired consistency. Remove from heat once thickened.
Serve the Sauce: Drizzle the warm Honey Orange Sauce over the sliced turkey breast before serving.

Notes

Ensure the internal temperature of the turkey breast reaches 165°F to guarantee it’s fully cooked.
For more intense orange flavor, consider zesting an additional half orange into marinade or sauce.
You can substitute maple syrup for honey for a different sweet note in the marinade and sauce.
Rest the turkey for 10-15 minutes after roasting to help retain juices and ensure moist slices.
The honey orange sauce can be made ahead and reheated gently before serving.
Use a meat thermometer to achieve perfectly cooked turkey without overcooking.
Adjust red pepper flakes in the sauce to control the heat level.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Roasting
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/6 of the turkey breast with sauce (approximately 170g)
Calories: 320
Sugar: 15g
Sodium: 450mg
Fat: 12g
Saturated Fat: 2g
Unsaturated Fat: 9g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 28g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 35g
Cholesterol: 95mg

Keywords: oven roasted turkey breast, honey orange sauce, roasted turkey recipe, holiday turkey breast, citrus turkey marinade