Cajun Turkey Breast

Spice up your holiday with this easy-to-make Cajun Turkey Breast recipe roasted in the oven to juicy perfection. It’s positively delicious!

We make a lot of turkey in our house. That’s probably because we love recipes that make leftovers because I’m all about knocking out the cooking on one day and then keeping prep light for a few days after that.

This is why recipes like this super simple oven-roasted turkey breast that is flavored with Cajun seasonings is a favorite around here. When you want to jazz things up and make something different from the traditional turkey recipe – this is the one to make.

I also love this meal because it makes just enough for our reduced crowd. Now that the kids are out of the house and often can’t make it back for holidays – we don’t need to make a massive amount of food.

A small, 3-pound turkey breast is not only just perfect for a lovely dinner for two – but it gives us just enough leftovers that we can have the same meal again the next night or toss it into a soup or casserole if we want something different.

So good – I know you’ll love it!

Cajun Turkey

Here are some commonly asked questions

What temperature should a turkey be cooked to?

The best way for a turkey to be cooked is with high heat, which will kill all the bacteria in the turkey. The USDA recommends cooking a full-size turkey at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes per pound of weight when using a conventional oven.

When cooking just a small turkey breast, it can be done at 350 degrees and until the internal temp reaches 165 degrees.

What to make with leftover turkey

We love to have leftover turkey because it makes for great soups and sandwiches. Here are a couple of our favorites.

• Turkey Cranberry Sliders
• Slow Cooker Turkey Chili (also can be made stovetop or in the Instant Pot)
• Crockpot Turkey and Rice Soup

boneless turkey breast recipe

Can you tell me the concern about clear glass bakeware?

There have been countless reports of the glassware exploding – I even had one of my readers tell me that when she was pulling out the dish at the end of baking another recipe, the whole thing exploded, sending glass & all the hot juices all over her oven, kitchen & herself.

I don’t recommend using the glass baking dishes for baking over 350 degrees. Some say that it is because they set the hot dish on a cool countertop, but many people report that it happened when they were pulling it out before it left the oven, and in some cases, when it wasn’t even being touched with the door closed.

You can see more information here and there are many images on the internet if you search glass bakeware exploding.

How much turkey breast do you need per person?

First – if you know that those you are feeding like to go back for seconds – always keep that in mind. I almost always double what I think I will need because not only does my family love seconds – but we love leftovers too.

The rule of thumb is to buy one pound of turkey per person.

Something to also factor, that will change this is whether or not you will be providing side dishes. If you are making this for Thanksgiving – then you will most likely be serving side dishes too. So people may serve themselves a bit less turkey if they plan on loading up their plate with a lot of extras.

How to Carve a Turkey Breast

The key here is to be patient so you get the best possible result.

1. First, start by allowing the turkey breast to rest after cooking. You want to make sure to give it at least 15 minutes. To keep it warm and allow the juices to distribute throughout the breast – tent it loosely with foil.
2. Make sure you are using a sharp knife.
3. Make your slice along the side of the breast bone – making smooth, long even strokes. You can saw back and forth if using a serrated knife.
4. When the knife reaches the edge the slice should fall. You can continue to follow this pattern until all of the turkey is removed from the breast.

bake a turkey breast

Ingredients for Cajun Turkey Breast

• boneless turkey breast – approx 3 pounds
• olive oil
• paprika
• granulated garlic
• table salt
• oregano
• thyme
• onion powder
• cayenne pepper
• crushed red pepper

Can leftover turkey be frozen?

You bet. We like to keep the leftovers in the fridge for a couple of days for quick and easy meals. But if it looks like we aren’t going to be able to eat it all within 3-4 days – then I toss the remaining leftovers in a zip-top bag and freeze it for up to 2 months.

It’s great to add it to a last-minute dinner-like soup in the Instant Pot. I don’t even have to thaw it first.

Why don’t you rinse the turkey first?

I know there are people out there that are passionate about rinsing poultry before cooking it. However, most cooking schools these days don’t recommend the practice.

This just spreads salmonella to more parts of your kitchen – leaving more room for issues and more places to clean. Plus, anything that you may be trying to wash off isn’t going to come off without soap. You wouldn’t just rinse your hands after touching poultry, you would vigorously use soap.

Since you aren’t going to use soap on your poultry, rinsing doesn’t help. Anything that could be on there, will bake off /out as long as you are cooking the turkey to the right temperature.

seasoning a turkey breast

How to Make Cajun Turkey Breast

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
2. Spray a small casserole/baking dish with oil to coat the bottom.
3. Remove the turkey breast from the refrigerator and remove the wrapper. If it is already tied with a net, leave it on and place it in the prepared dish. If it is not tied, you will need to tie it first.
4. Brush the turkey breast with olive oil. Set aside.
5. In a small bowl, combine the paprika, granulated garlic, salt, oregano, thyme, onion powder, cayenne pepper and crushed red pepper. Stir until completely mixed.
6. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture over the top of the oiled turkey breast and then press in to help it adhere to the turkey.
7. Place in the oven and roast at 425 degrees for 15 minutes.
8. Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees and continue roasting for another 35-40 minutes OR UNTIL THE THICKEST PART OF THE TURKEY BREAST HAS REACHED 165 DEGREES. (see notes below)
9. Remove and let rest for about 15 minutes before removing the net or twine and slicing.

How long is cooked turkey good for?

Providing that the turkey didn’t sit out too long before it was transferred to an airtight container, it should last 3-4 days in the refrigerator and up to 3 months in the freezer.

As with most things, it is important to get food into the refrigerator within 1 hour after serving to prevent bacteria growth.

Cooking a Turkey Breast In Oven

How to store leftover turkey breast

If you happen to have any turkey leftovers after serving – just transfer the remaining turkey to an airtight container and keep refrigerated until ready to serve again.

To reheat – microwave for about 30-60 seconds or until hot again.

The key to reheating the turkey is to steam it. We like to place it in a microwave-safe container with a splash of water.

Then we lightly cover the container with either a paper towel, the lid to the container if it is also microwave-safe, or even an inverted paper plate.

Then we reheat and let the water steam the turkey. It comes out moist and delicious every single time.

What to serve with Cajun Turkey Breast

While the list is long as to what we like to pair with our turkey dinner – here are the recipes we make the most frequently for our family holidays.

• Cranberry BBQ Meatballs
• Apple Cranberry Spritzer
• Cranberry Quick Bread
• Traditional Deviled Eggs
• Honey Glazed Carrots
• Easy Cranberry Sauce
• Loaded Green Bean Casserole
• Easy Sausage Stuffing
• One Hour Dinner Rolls
• Easy Gravy Recipe
• Bacon & Garlic Green Beans
• Garlic Mashed Potatoes
• Mini Apple Pies
• Holiday Party Punch
• Pumpkin Roll Cake
• Best Pumpkin Pie
• Turkey Gravy

Cajun Turkey Recipe

Products I love when making Cajun Turkey Breast…

This easy turkey recipe is SUPER delicious – and if you’re like me this time of year, then you maybe already have some of these items on hand OR maybe you have never made a homemade turkey before, & you might be a bit nervous – but you’re going to love it. I have made a list below of the things I absolutely can’t live without when it comes to making this holiday staple.

• blue casserole dish – shown here
• olive oil
• paprika
• granulated garlic
• table salt
• oregano
• thyme
• onion powder
• cayenne pepper
• crushed red pepper
• cooking thermometer
• cutting board
• knives

---

If you love this Easy Cajun Turkey Breast recipe, you’re going to love these other turkey recipes too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!

---

---

If you love this recipe for Cajun Turkey Breast as much as I do, please write a five-star review, and be sure to help me share on Facebook and Pinterest!

---

---

---