Cooking a boneless turkey breast can seem intimidating, but it’s actually quite simple! A boneless turkey breast is an excellent alternative to cooking a whole turkey, especially if you have a smaller gathering. It cooks quicker than a whole bird while still giving you plenty of delicious turkey meat. In this article, we’ll walk through step-by-step how to cook a juicy, flavorful Kirkwood boneless turkey breast.
What is a Kirkwood Boneless Turkey Breast?
Kirkwood is a brand of turkey products sold at Costco stores. Their boneless turkey breasts are premium turkey breasts that have been carefully trimmed of excess fat and bones. This makes them quicker and easier to cook than bone-in turkey breasts.
Kirkwood boneless turkey breasts come packaged together in a cryovac bag. They range from 3 to 6 pounds each. Having them boneless allows you to portion out just what you need for your meal. The meat is juicy, tender, and full of turkey flavor.
Benefits of Cooking a Boneless Turkey Breast
There are several advantages to cooking a boneless turkey breast over a full turkey:
- Cooks much faster – Boneless breasts cook in about 2-3 hours while a whole turkey takes upwards of 4+ hours
- Easy to portion – Can cook just what you need for your gathering without having lots of leftovers
- More juicy white meat – Turkey breasts have the most tender, juicy white meat without any dry dark meat
- Easier to prepare – No need to remove bones, skin, or wings
- Greater turkey flavor – All of the flavor concentrates into the white breast meat
So if you want tender, juicy turkey in less time, a boneless turkey breast is a great option!
How Much Turkey Per Person?
When calculating how much turkey you need per person, a general rule of thumb is 1/2 pound of boneless turkey breast per person.
So for example:
| Number of People | Pounds of Boneless Turkey Needed |
|---|---|
| 4 people | 2 pounds |
| 8 people | 4 pounds |
| 12 people | 6 pounds |
This accounts for leftover turkey for sandwiches or turkey pot pie. It’s better to have extra than not enough.
Ingredients Needed
Here are the ingredients you’ll need to cook a juicy, delicious Kirkwood boneless turkey breast:
- 1 Kirkwood boneless turkey breast (3-6 lbs)
- Olive oil or butter
- Dry poultry seasoning
- Salt
- Pepper
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 lemon
- Fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme, sage)
- Chicken or turkey stock
- Flour
Having the right simple ingredients on hand will ensure you get the most flavorful roast turkey breast possible.
Step 1 – Thaw the Turkey
If your Kirkwood turkey is frozen, the first step is safely thawing it:
- Keep frozen turkey in original cryovac packaging
- Place in a rimmed pan or container to catch drips
- Thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours per 1 pound of turkey
- A 6 lb turkey will take about 4 days to thaw
Never thaw turkey at room temperature, as bacteria can grow rapidly. Refrigerator thawing keeps it consistently cold.
Step 2 – Prepare the Aromatics
While the turkey breast thaws, you can prep your aromatic ingredients:
- Chop 1 onion into large chunks
- Zest and juice 1 lemon
- Pick the leaves from fresh herb sprigs (like rosemary, thyme, sage)
- Peel 2 cloves garlic
- Grate about 2-3 inches of fresh ginger (optional)
Combining these aromatics with the turkey will really boost the flavor.
Step 3 – Remove Skin and Pat Dry
Once thawed, remove the turkey from the cryovac packaging. Peel off any skin and excess fat from the turkey breast. Rinse under cool water and pat very dry with paper towels. Removing the skin will prevent the breast from becoming greasy as it cooks.
Step 4 – Brine the Turkey (Optional)
For extra moist turkey, you can brine the breast before roasting:
- In a pot, heat 4 cups chicken stock, 1/4 cup salt, and 1/4 cup brown sugar until salt & sugar dissolve
- Cool the brine completely then submerge turkey breast
- Refrigerate 1-2 hours if time allows
- Pat dry again before seasoning
Brining helps the turkey breast retain moisture. If short on time, you can skip this step.
Step 5 – Season the Turkey Breast
Once patted dry, generously season the turkey all over:
- Coat with olive oil or melted butter
- Sprinkle dry poultry seasoning evenly over the breast
- Salt and pepper generously on all sides
- You can also rub fresh chopped herbs like rosemary under the skin for more flavor
Seasoning is key for a flavorful turkey breast. Be generous with the salt and pepper.
Step 6 – Prepare the Turkey Roasting Pan
Preheat your oven to 325°F. As the oven heats, prepare your roasting pan:
- Place chopped onion, lemon, garlic, herbs, and ginger in center of pan
- Add 1 cup chicken or turkey stock to the pan
- You can also place thick onion slices under turkey to elevate it
The aromatics and stock will add lots of flavor to the turkey as it cooks.
Step 7 – Roast the Turkey Breast
Once your seasoning is complete, place the turkey directly on top of the aromatics in the center of the pan.
Follow approximate roasting times:
| Turkey Weight | Unstuffed Roasting Time |
|---|---|
| 3 pounds | 1 1/2 – 2 hours |
| 4 pounds | 2 – 2 1/2 hours |
| 5 – 6 pounds | 2 1/2 – 3 hours |
Roast at 325°F until the internal temperature reaches 165°F when a meat thermometer is inserted into the thickest part.
Basting with the pan drippings every 30 minutes will ensure the turkey stays juicy. Tent with foil if the skin starts browning too quickly.
Step 8 – Make a Pan Sauce
Once turkey is roasted, remove it from the pan and tent with foil to rest. Make a quick pan sauce:
- Pour pan drippings into a skillet
- Add chicken stock and scrap up any browned bits
- Whisk in a few tablespoons of flour to thicken
- Whisk in lemon juice, herbs, salt and pepper
- Let sauce reduce 5-10 minutes until thickened
The pan sauce adds tons of savory flavor and keeps the turkey breast nice and moist.
Step 9 – Carve and Serve
After resting 10-15 minutes, carve the turkey breast into slices. Serve warm with the pan sauce spooned over the top.
Delicious sides like mashed potatoes, stuffing, and roasted vegetables pair perfectly with the roasted turkey breast.
Top your turkey with gravy if desired and enjoy this wonderful meal!
Turkey Breast Cooking Times Chart
For reference, here are approximate roasting times for various weights of boneless, unstuffed turkey breasts:
| Turkey Breast Weight | Roasting Time at 325°F |
|---|---|
| 2 pounds | 1 – 1 1/2 hours |
| 3 pounds | 1 1/2 – 2 hours |
| 4 pounds | 2 – 2 1/2 hours |
| 5 pounds | 2 1/4 – 2 1/2 hours |
| 6 pounds | 2 1/2 – 3 hours |
Always use a meat thermometer to confirm the breast reaches 165°F internally. If stuffed or cooked at a higher temp, cook times may be shorter. Let rest at least 10-15 minutes before slicing.
Get Creative with Seasonings and Sauces
While this recipe uses a simple dry poultry seasoning, you can get creative with different seasonings and flavors:
- Cajun turkey – Cajun seasoning and sliced bell peppers
- Chipotle orange turkey – Adobo chipotle sauce and orange slices
- Herb roasted turkey – Lots of fresh rosemary, thyme, and sage under the skin
- Asian turkey – Ginger, garlic, sesame oil, and soy sauce
Use flavors your guests will love! The pan sauce can also be flavored with ingredients like brandy, cranberries, or citrus for even more options.
Bonus Recipes!
Leftover turkey breast is excellent for recipes like:
- Turkey Pot Pie – Dice turkey and mix with veggies and gravy in a pie crust
- Turkey Casserole – Shred turkey, mix with rice or stuffing, cream sauce, and bake
- Turkey Tetrazzini – Turkey, mushrooms, pasta, Parmesan cheese, white sauce
- Turkey Enchiladas – Shredded turkey, cheese, beans, wrapped in tortillas and enchilada sauce
- Turkey Soup – Dice turkey, mix with veggies, broth, pasta or rice
- Turkey Salad Sandwiches – Shredded turkey, mayo, celery, lettuce on bread
- Turkey Hash – Diced turkey mixed with potatoes, veggies, eggs
Get creative with the leftovers! Turkey breast is very versatile.
Conclusion
Cooking a Kirkwood boneless turkey breast is an easy way to enjoy tender, juicy turkey meat without roasting a whole bird. Preparing it with aromatic ingredients, broth, and pan drippings results in delicious flavor. Use your favorite seasonings and serve warm with home-made pan sauce for an amazing meal. With proper thawing, seasoning, roasting, and resting, you’ll have a perfectly cooked turkey breast to enjoy any time.