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Best Easy Cranberry Orange Turkey Breast for Two

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A perfectly sized, juicy turkey breast for two with a beautiful cranberry orange glaze. This recipe is designed for small households and busy schedules, delivering a holiday-worthy meal without the stress of a large bird.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 bone-in turkey breast (about 2 to 2.5 pounds)
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
  • ½ cup fresh orange juice (about 1 large orange)
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar (light or dark)
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 cinnamon stick (optional)
  • Fresh orange slices (for garnish, optional)
  • Fresh rosemary sprigs (for garnish, optional)
  • Extra fresh cranberries (for garnish, optional)

Instructions

  1. Make the Glaze: Combine cranberries, orange juice, honey, brown sugar, orange zest, apple cider vinegar, and cinnamon stick in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cranberries have burst and mixture has thickened slightly. Remove cinnamon stick and let cool for a few minutes.
  2. Prep the Turkey: Remove turkey breast from fridge 30 minutes before cooking. Pat completely dry with paper towels. Using a sharp knife, make shallow diagonal cuts across the skin, about 1 inch apart, without cutting into the meat.
  3. Season the Turkey: In a small bowl, mix softened butter with salt, pepper, thyme, garlic powder, and onion powder. Rub this mixture all over the turkey breast, getting some under the skin where scored.
  4. Roast the Turkey: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Place seasoned turkey breast in a roasting dish, skin side up. Roast for 30 minutes, then brush about half the glaze over the skin. Continue roasting for another 15 to 25 minutes, until internal temperature reaches 155°F (68°C) in the thickest part.
  5. Glaze and Rest: Remove turkey from oven and brush with remaining glaze. Tent loosely with foil and let rest for 10 to 15 minutes. Internal temperature will rise to 165°F (74°C) during resting.
  6. Serve: Slice turkey breast against the grain into thick slices. Arrange on a platter with orange slices and fresh rosemary sprigs if desired. Spoon any extra glaze from the pan over the top.

Notes

Don’t skip scoring the skin—it helps the glaze penetrate and creates crispy skin. Use a meat thermometer for perfect doneness. Let the glaze cool slightly before applying to prevent it from sliding off. Resting the turkey is essential for juicy meat. The glaze can be made up to 3 days ahead. For a dairy-free version, substitute butter with olive oil.

Nutrition

Keywords: turkey breast for two, cranberry orange turkey, small thanksgiving, easy turkey recipe, holiday dinner for two, glazed turkey breast

Find it online: https://tablemira.com/best-easy-cranberry-orange-turkey-breast-for-two/