Cranberry Orange Glazed Turkey Breast – Perfect Holiday Centerpiece

BY:

Linda

September 25, 2025

  • Introduction
  • This Cranberry Orange Glazed Turkey Breast is juicy, tender, and bursting with festive flavor. The sweet-tart cranberry glaze paired with zesty orange makes this dish both vibrant and delicious. Perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any holiday gathering, it’s an impressive yet manageable alternative to roasting a whole turkey.

  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
A festive holiday turkey breast served with orange slices, cranberries, and herbs.
Cranberry Orange Glazed Turkey Breast – festive holiday recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 (3–4 lb) turkey breast, bone-in and skin-on
  • 2 cups fresh cranberries
  • 1 cup orange juice
  • ½ cup honey
  • 2 tbsp orange zest
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped
  • 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
  • Salt and pepper to taste
Juicy roasted turkey breast brushed with cranberry orange glaze for the holidays.
Juicy roasted turkey breast with cranberry orange glaze

Instructions

➜ Step 1: Make the Glaze
In a saucepan, combine cranberries, orange juice, honey, and orange zest. Bring to a boil, then simmer 10–15 minutes until cranberries burst and mixture thickens. Cool slightly.

➜ Step 2: Prep the Turkey
Pat turkey breast dry. In a small bowl, mix olive oil, garlic, rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper. Loosen turkey skin and rub half under skin; spread rest over skin.

➜ Step 3: Roast
Place turkey breast in roasting pan, skin side up. Roast at 375°F for about 20 minutes per pound, until internal temp reaches 165°F.

➜ Step 4: Glaze and Finish
During last 30 minutes of roasting, brush turkey every 10 minutes with cranberry-orange glaze.

➜ Step 5: Rest and Serve
Remove from oven and let rest 15–20 minutes before slicing. Garnish with orange slices, cranberries, and rosemary.

Pro Tips

How do I keep turkey breast juicy?
Cook bone-in, skin-on for best moisture and let rest before slicing.

Can I make this ahead?
Yes, you can make the glaze up to 2 days in advance and refrigerate. Reheat before brushing on turkey.

What sides go well?
This dish pairs beautifully with wild rice, roasted Brussels sprouts, or creamy mashed potatoes.

Cranberry Orange Glazed Turkey Breast with golden skin and fresh cranberry-orange garnish.
Holiday turkey breast recipe with cranberry and citrus

Nutrition Summary

A lean, flavorful turkey breast with festive cranberry-orange glaze.

Serving SizeCaloriesProteinCarbsFatFiberSugar
1 serving~325 kcal*~38 g~16 g~12 g~3 g~13 g

*Estimated values.

Disclaimer: Nutrition facts are estimated.

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