Honey Glazed Turkey Breast

Name: Honey Glazed Turkey Breast
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 120 min
Total time: 145 min
Ingredients: 1 bone-in turkey breast (about 6 lbs); 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 1/2 teaspoons salt; 1 teaspoon black pepper; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1/2 cup chicken broth; 3 celery stalks (cut into large pieces); 2 large carrots (peeled and cut into chunks); 1 large onion (quartered); 4 garlic cloves (smashed); 2 rosemary sprigs; 3 tablespoons honey; 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup; 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard (optional); 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar ( or fresh lemon juice); 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary; Pan drippings from the turkey; 1/4 cup all-purpose flour; 1 cup chicken broth; Salt and pepper (to taste); Splash of maple syrup or honey (optional, to echo the glaze)

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This Maple Honey Glazed Turkey Breast is the perfect centerpiece for a cozy holiday dinner or Sunday supper. Roasted over a bed of aromatic vegetables and brushed with a rich glaze of maple syrup and honey, this juicy, bone-in turkey breast is full of warm, savory-sweet flavor.

Honey glazed turkey breast in a Dutch oven.

It’s simple to prepare, packed with comforting aromas, and pairs beautifully with classic sides like Homemade Cranberry Sauce, Green Bean Casserole, Mashed Potatoes, and a pan gravy made straight from the drippings.

For more Thanksgiving and holiday recipes, try this Orange-Glazed Turkey, Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole, Mashed Potato Casserole, and No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake Cups.

Why You’ll Love This Honey Glazed Turkey Breast

Sweet and savory perfection – The honey-maple glaze adds a beautifully caramelized finish that balances rich, savory flavors with just the right touch of sweetness.
Moist, flavorful meat every time – Roasting the turkey over a bed of aromatic vegetables and broth keeps it juicy, tender, and full of deep, herby flavor.
Elegant but easy – With simple prep and an optional pan gravy, this recipe delivers holiday-worthy results without the stress of cooking a whole bird.

Equipment

Ingredients

Find the full list of ingredients, amounts, and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here are a few of the key items you’ll need:

Bone-In Turkey Breast: The star of the recipe, a bone-in turkey breast, stays juicy during roasting and has a richer flavor thanks to the bone. A 6-pound size is ideal for small gatherings or a family meal.
Olive Oil: Used to coat the turkey, helping the seasoning stick while also promoting golden, crispy skin.
Honey: Provides a warm, floral sweetness in the glaze that balances the savory notes of the turkey.
Maple Syrup: Adds rich, deep sweetness with subtle caramel notes that enhance the turkey’s golden-brown crust.
Chicken Broth: Added to the bottom of the roasting pan to keep the turkey moist and create flavorful pan drippings for gravy.You can use either store-bought or homemade chicken broth.
Vegetables: You’ll need celery, carrots, and onions.

How to Make Honey Glazed Turkey Breast

Here are the step-by-step instructions for making honey-glazed turkey breast:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Collage of four photos showing steps 1-4 for how to make honey glazed turkey breast.

2. Into a Dutch oven, roasting pan, or baking dish, place the celery, carrots, onion, smashed garlic, and fresh rosemary sprigs (Photo 1). Set aside.

3. Pat the turkey breast dry with paper towels.

4. To a small bowl, add the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Stir to combine and set aside (Photo 2).

5. Brush the turkey breast with olive oil, making sure it’s evenly distributed.

6. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture over the turkey breast (Photo 3).

7. Transfer the turkey breast, skin side up, to the Dutch oven with the vegetables (Photo 4).

8. Pour the ½ cup of chicken broth into the Dutch oven.

Collage of four photos showing steps 5-8 for how to make honey glazed turkey breast.

9. Roast uncovered for 1 hour and 30 minutes or until the thickest part of the breast reaches 150 degrees F. *Roasting times can vary, so start checking about 1 hour in.

10. Meanwhile, into a small saucepan, add the honey, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and rosemary. Set over low heat and stir until smooth and warmed through (Photo 5).

11. Using a pastry brush or a grilling brush, brush the turkey with the maple honey glaze and return it to the oven (Photos 6 and 7).

12. Baste with more glaze every 10 minutes, and until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. About 30 more minutes of roasting total (Photo 8).

Collage of four photos showing steps 9-12 for how to make honey glazed turkey breast.

13. Remove the turkey breast from the oven (Photo 9), transfer it to a platter or a lined baking sheet. Loosely tent the turkey breast with foil to keep it warm while it rests.

14. Let it rest for 15 minutes before carving. This helps the juices redistribute.

15. Once the turkey is done and resting, strain out the drippings from the vegetables through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl (Photo 10), pressing on the vegetables to extract as much flavor and liquid as possible. Discard the solids. Skim excess fat off the top, if desired.

16. Transfer the liquid back into the Dutch oven and set it over medium heat.

17. To a measuring cup or small bowl, add the chicken broth and all-purpose flour.

18. Add the chicken broth mixture to the Dutch oven with the strained drippings. Stir to combine and bring to a boil (Photo 12).

19. Allow the mixture to thicken. Check the seasoning and add more salt or pepper if desired.

Honey glazed turkey breast on a platter with slices cut off of it.

20. Once the desired consistency is achieved, remove from the heat and transfer the gravy to a gravy boat and serve.

How to Serve

Serve honey glazed turkey breast with homemade cranberry sauce, easy mashed potatoes, and oatmeal dinner rolls or sourdough discard rolls.

Sliced honey glazed turkey with gravy on a plate.

How to Store

Once the turkey has cooled completely, remove the turkey from the bone (for easy storage), transfer the turkey to an airtight container, and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

To reheat, add a small amount of gravy, broth, or water to the turkey before reheating in the oven or microwave.

How to Freeze

To freeze, allow the turkey to cool completely, remove the turkey from the bone, and transfer the turkey to a freezer-safe container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can store the turkey bone in a freezer-safe container and store it in the freezer for 3 months.

Recipe Tips:

Let the turkey rest for at least 15 minutes before carving into the turkey breast so the juices have a chance to redistribute.

Roast on top of a bed of vegetables to keep the meat moist and help infuse some flavor.

Use a meat thermometer to check doneness. Start glazing when the turkey breast reaches 150 degrees F., and remove the turkey from the oven once it reaches 165 degrees F at the thickest part of the breast.

Double the glaze if you want to serve it on the side.

If you find your turkey breast is browning too quickly, tent the turkey with some foil to prevent over-browning.

Make-Ahead Instructions

Season the turkey and prepare the vegetables the day before. Store everything covered in the refrigerator. The next day, remove from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before you are ready to start roasting.

Recipe FAQs

Can you glaze a turkey with honey?

Yes! In this recipe, you’ll cook the turkey breast for about an hour, and then you’ll brush the turkey with the honey glaze.

Can I make broth out of the turkey bone?

Yes. It won’t make as much as you would get out of a full turkey carcass, but this will make a good amount. Place the turkey bone in a pot with chopped onion, garlic, carrots, celery, salt, pepper, and other aromatics with a splash of apple cider vinegar and allow to simmer for 4 hours. Strain and use in recipes. Or, you can save (freeze) the bone to add it to other bones to make this Turkey Bone Broth.

Can I use a boneless turkey breast instead?

Yes! A boneless turkey breast will cook quicker than a bone-in turkey breast so start checking for doneness around 45 minutes into the roasting time. You’ll then want to adjust the glazing time accordingly.

Can I make this in the slow cooker?

Yes, you can cook this in the slow cooker on low for 5-6 hours. Then transfer the turkey breast to a roasting pan or baking dish and broil with the glaze on for a few minutes to caramelize the top.