Enjoy a flawlessly cooked turkey breast prepared with tangy, delicious buttermilk brine this Thanksgiving. The turkey breast is not only the juiciest section of the bird, but it is also a lot simpler to brine and then cook than the whole bird. Make a buttermilk brined air-fried turkey breast for the festivals to save time, money, fridge space – and hassle!
I mostly cook two Air-Fried Buttermilk Brined Turkey Breasts for my family instead of one giant turkey because it is a fantastic alternative to a whole Thanksgiving turkey.
Contents
Why Marinade Turkey Breast in Buttermilk Brine?
Tender, juicy meat is produced by bringing chicken and pork in saltwater. Buttermilk is also an excellent brine basis for pig, poultry, and turkey, as I’ve discovered. It also imparts a tangy flavor to the meat while keeping it moist.
Buttermilk’s acidity and calcium aid in the breakdown of animal proteins.
Brining is a reverse osmosis procedure as most meat holds plenty of water and a little salt. Brining causes the meat to naturally transfer moisture and become tendered over time.
Is It Possible to Brine a Frozen Turkey Breast?
Yes, you certainly can. If your turkey is frozen, you can brine it while thawing it. Remember that your brine should be at room temperature when you place a frozen turkey in it. Allow the turkey to thaw for another day. So add another day to avoid insanely salty gravy.
Is It Possible to Use this Recipe to Marinate an Entire Turkey?
This recipe yields about 1.25 gallons of brine, which is plenty for a typical turkey breast. 2-3 gallons of brine are required for a whole medium-sized turkey, weighing 12-15 pounds. This recipe may easily be quadrupled and used to bring a whole turkey in a bucket of 4 to 5 gallons.
What Additional Proteins Would Benefit from Buttermilk Brine?
Making luscious chicken breasts, pork chops, or a whole chicken with a tasty buttermilk brine is a terrific idea.
More Dinner Recipes
Air Fryer Brie-Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Air Fryer Glazed Beef Short Ribs

Air Fryer Buttermilk Brined Turkey Breast
Ingredients
- ¾ cup brine from a can of olives
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 1 (3½-pound) boneless, skinless turkey breast
- 2 fresh thyme sprigs
- 1 fresh rosemary sprig
- Non-Stick Cooking Spray
Instructions
- In a bowl, add the olive brine and buttermilk and beat until well combined.
- In a resealable plastic bag, place the turkey breast, buttermilk mixture and herb sprigs
- Seal the bag and refrigerate for about 8 hours.
- Remove the turkey breast from the bag and set aside until it reaches room temperature.
- Grease the Air Fryer Basket with cooking spray and then slide inside.
- Adjust the temperature of Air Fryer to 350 °F to preheat for 5 minutes.
- After preheating, arrange the turkey breast into the greased Air Fryer Basket.
- Slide the basket into Air Fryer and set the time for 20 minutes.
- After15 minutes of cooking, flip the turkey breast once.
- After cooking time is finished, remove the turkey breast Air Fryer and place onto a platter.
- Cover the turkey breast with a piece of foil loosely for about 10-15 minutes before slicing.
- Cut the turkey breast into desired-sized slices and serve.
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