Easy Roasted Turkey Breast

I have a plan tomorrow, for Five on Friday, to share some of my Easter recipes. 

However today I thought I'd share a quick way to have some yummy turkey on hand in a hurry.  Turkey sandwiches are one of our favorites around here and deli lunch meat can do the trick, but having a "real" piece of turkey on that sandwich is just so much yummier! Who says turkey has to only be for Thanksgiving time anyway...

Take a basic turkey breast - this one was boneless - but bone in can be even better for flavor and less chance to get dried out. Boneless was where I found a deal at the store I guess. This was a 3-4 pound turkey breast. Anyway, pat the breast really dry with paper towels. Let it sit and warm on the counter for a few minuted while you make your butter mixture and turn your oven up to 425* or 450*.

Next, take softened butter and add whichever yummy seasonings or herbs to it (I think here I did salt, pepper, garlic powder, thyme and parsley - oh and maybe a pinch of poultry seasoning). Mix it all together.

Rub the delicious butter mixture all over the turkey and especially lift up the skin and get it under there too. I have also done just olive oil rubbed all over with seasoning (or can do 1/2 butter & 1/2 oil) if you'd like to have it a bit healthier and calorie conscious. 

Put the turkey either on a rack like this (so doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan) or can put it on a bed of veggies if you want to add a quick side dish too. It could be a nice evening meal and then eat up leftovers for sandwiches. Now turn the pre-heated oven down to 350* and roast for an hour. If you have olive oil only it may brown more quickly so watch for that. I always check about 40 minutes or so in and if it's browning too much will then cover with foil for a while. After an hour use a meat thermometer to make sure it hits 165* at thickest part - then you know it's done. Sometimes it takes an hour sometimes hour and 15 mins to hour and 1/2. Depends on the size of the breast. If it needs longer than an hour just add 5 or 10 min increments and keep checking so it doesn't dry it out.

Once you take it out let it rest for 15 to 20 minutes before cutting. Then dig in! MMmmm  - nothing quite like a turkey club, or one of our favorites around here is what we call the turkey melt. We toast some bread then layer some mayo, cranberry sauce (just from the can for speed), cheese and the turkey and microwave for 30 seconds or so until the cheese and toppings ooze over the turkey. Best sandwich around!