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Cozy Cranberry Orange Glazed Turkey Breast

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A tender and juicy turkey breast with a perfectly balanced cranberry orange glaze that’s tart, bright, and warmly spiced. This easy holiday recipe comes together in under 2 hours and is perfect for cozy dinners or special occasions.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 bone-in turkey breast (about 5–6 pounds)
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 cup whole berry cranberry sauce (canned or homemade)
  • ⅓ cup orange juice, freshly squeezed
  • 2 tablespoons orange zest
  • ¼ cup brown sugar, packed (light or dark)
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 orange, quartered (optional)
  • 3 sprigs fresh rosemary (optional)
  • 3 sprigs fresh thyme (optional)
  • 2 cloves garlic, smashed (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Take the turkey breast out of the fridge about 30 minutes before cooking to let it come to room temperature. Pat the skin completely dry with paper towels.
  2. In a small bowl, mix together the softened butter, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder until it forms a paste. Gently loosen the skin of the turkey breast with your fingers, being careful not to tear it. Rub about half of the butter mixture directly onto the meat under the skin. Spread the remaining butter mixture all over the outside of the skin.
  3. If using, stuff the cavity of the turkey breast with the quartered orange, rosemary sprigs, thyme sprigs, and smashed garlic cloves. If your turkey breast doesn’t have a cavity, place the aromatics around the turkey in the pan.
  4. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the cranberry sauce, orange juice, orange zest, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and a pinch of salt. Stir and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens slightly (consistency of warm maple syrup). Remove from heat and set aside.
  5. Place the turkey breast on a wire rack set inside your roasting pan. Roast uncovered for 45 minutes. If the skin is browning too fast, tent loosely with foil.
  6. After 45 minutes, remove the turkey from the oven. Using a pastry brush, generously brush the cranberry orange glaze all over the turkey breast. Return to the oven, uncovered, for another 15 minutes.
  7. Repeat the glazing process every 15 minutes for the next 45 minutes to 1 hour (about 3-4 glaze applications total).
  8. The turkey is done when an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast (without touching bone) reads 165°F (74°C). This usually takes about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours total for a 5-6 pound bone-in breast.
  9. Once the turkey reaches 165°F, remove it from the oven and transfer it to a cutting board. Let it rest for at least 15-20 minutes before slicing. Tent loosely with foil during resting.
  10. Optional: While the turkey rests, pour the pan drippings into a small saucepan. Add a splash of chicken broth or white wine and whisk over medium heat, scraping up any browned bits. Simmer for 2-3 minutes, then season with salt and pepper.

Notes

Don’t skip the orange zest—it adds essential oils that give the orange flavor its pop. Apply glaze in thin layers every 15 minutes to build a glossy, caramelized coating. Resting the turkey for 15-20 minutes is crucial for juicy meat. If the glaze drips and burns in the pan, pour off drippings carefully and tent the turkey with foil if the skin gets too dark.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry orange glazed turkey breast, holiday turkey recipe, easy turkey breast, cranberry orange glaze, Thanksgiving turkey, cozy dinner

Find it online: https://freshforkful.com/cozy-cranberry-orange-glazed-turkey-breast-easy-holiday-recipe/