Description

A festive and flavorful centerpiece perfect for the holidays, Cranberry Glazed Turkey Breast combines tender, juicy meat with a sweet-tart glaze made from fresh cranberries, honey, and citrus. It’s ideal for smaller gatherings or when you want the warmth of a traditional holiday meal without cooking a full turkey. Elegant, easy, and bursting with seasonal flavor, this recipe is sure to impress your guests.

Ingredients

Scale

1 (3–4 lb) bone-in or boneless turkey breast, skin on
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried rosemary

For the Cranberry Glaze:

2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
½ cup honey (or pure maple syrup)
½ cup orange juice
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon orange zest
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Optional Garnish:

Fresh rosemary sprigs
Orange slices or zest curls
Extra cranberries for decoration

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a roasting pan or baking dish with foil or parchment paper for easy cleanup. Pat the turkey breast dry with paper towels.
Rub the turkey breast with olive oil and season evenly with salt, pepper, garlic powder, thyme, and rosemary. Place on a rack in the roasting pan, skin-side up.
In a medium saucepan, combine cranberries, honey, orange juice, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, orange zest, salt, and cinnamon. Bring to a boil, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 10–12 minutes until cranberries burst and the mixture thickens slightly.
Remove from heat. Strain or blend for a smooth texture if desired. Reserve half of the glaze for serving and use the rest for basting.
Brush the turkey breast generously with glaze. Roast for 1½ to 2 hours, basting every 25–30 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
If glaze darkens too quickly, loosely cover the turkey with foil.
Remove from oven and tent with foil. Let rest for 10–15 minutes before slicing.
Warm the reserved glaze and drizzle over sliced turkey before serving. Garnish with rosemary and orange slices if desired.

Notes

Boneless turkey breasts cook faster; begin checking for doneness around 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Frozen cranberries can replace fresh — just simmer a few extra minutes.
If glaze thickens too much, add a teaspoon of warm water to loosen it.
Use a meat thermometer to ensure perfect doneness.
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days; reheat gently before serving.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 45 minutes