Instant Pot Turkey Breast Recipe that cooks in just 18 minutes! The turkey breast is seasoned with herbed butter and then cooked until tender and juicy-- like our roast turkey. Then it is served with a creamy gravy sauce prepared with the turkey drippings. It makes the best quick and easy Thanksgiving dinner for a couple or a small family-- just like our roasted cornish hen.
Our turkey breast in Instant Pot is a game-changer because you can cook a whole boneless skin-on turkey breast in almost ⅓ of the time it would take to roast it in the oven.
And you know what, in the meantime it frees up your oven to bake your holiday side dishes. Awesome, right?
Instant Pot Turkey Breast
This recipe consists of boneless turkey breast seasoned with salt and pepper, topped with herbed butter, and cooked in the Instant Pot for 6 minutes per pound. Then it is broiled in the oven for 5-10 minutes to make the skin turn brown and crispy as if it were roasted in the oven.
The result is a tender and juicy turkey breast with a golden brown crispy skin that will be the talk of your holiday gathering. Yet it is an effortless turkey recipe.
Moreover, you can take advantage of the turkey drippings to make your gravy sauce in the Instant Pot itself.
How to cook turkey breast in Instant Pot?
It is so quick and easy to cook a turkey breast in the pressure cooker that you won’t believe it. I still can’t!
- Place garlic, peppercorns, and rosemary in a food processor bowl and pulse to grind. Add butter, Italian seasoning, and smoked paprika, and then pulse again to form a coarse paste. Set aside at room temperature!
- Pat the turkey breast dry all over with a paper towel. Season all over with salt and pepper. Next, massage the turkey breast with the herbed butter on all sides and also under the skin (if possible).
- Arrange the rack of the Instant Pot inside, place the turkey breast on top (skin side up), and pour in a cup of chicken broth (beside, but NOT on top of the breast). Close the lid, turn the valve to sealing, and cook on High Pressure for 18 minutes (or 6 minutes per pound thawed boneless breast). When done, let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes and then release it quickly. Allow the breast to rest for 10 minutes before broiling in the oven.
- Preheat your broiler to high. Transfer the turkey breast into a foil-lined baking sheet. Brush a mixture of honey and soy sauce on top. Place on the higher rack of the oven (about 8-inches away from the heat source) and broil it for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the skin is crispy and golden brown. Watch carefully so it will not burn!
- Tent with foil and let it rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing. Serve with gravy and garnish as desired.
WATCH OUR QUICK RECIPE VIDEO!
To make the turkey gravy:
- Remove the rack from the Instant Pot. Either strain the cooking liquids from the instant pot into a large bowl or use chicken broth/stock. Reserve!
- Press the sauté button and let the pot heat for 2 minutes. Melt the butter and whisk in the flour until forming a roux. Slowly pour in 1 cup of the liquids, while whisking well until thickened and smooth. Adjust salt and pepper. Make sure your gravy is free of lumps. Serve along with the Instant Pot turkey breast.
Slow Cooker Turkey Breast (Alternative Method)
Season turkey breast with salt and pepper. Spread the herbed butter all over the breast. Pour in chicken broth (but NOT directly over the breast). Place the breast into the crockpot (skin side up if boneless, or meat side down if bone-in).
Cook on low for 4-6 hours, starting to check the internal temp after 4 hours. It must reach 165 degrees F. Then broil it!
How long to cook a turkey breast in a pressure cooker?
The general rule of thumb for cooking defrosted poultry (bone-in or boneless) in the Instant Pot is 6 minutes per pound with a 10 minute NPR (Natural Pressure Release).
This way:
- 3 lb Turkey or Turkey Breast = 18 minutes + 10 minutes NPR
- 5 lb Turkey or Turkey Breast = 30 minutes + 10 minutes NPR
- 8 lb Turkey or Turkey Breast = 48 minutes + 10 minutes NPR
Find out more about how a pressure cooker works and get our cooking time charts.
My turkey breast weighed about 3 lbs and cooked in just 18 minutes. That means it cooks in just 6 minutes per pound of thawed, boneless turkey breast.
However, if you cook frozen turkey breast in the Instant Pot, it will take around 10 minutes per pound to cook.
The correct thing is always to check its internal temperature with a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast. It must reach a minimum of 165°F (74°C).
This size of turkey breast also fits perfectly in my 6 qt. Instant Pot.
After the timer beeps, let the pressure release naturally for 5-10 minutes before quickly releasing the rest of the pressure. It will keep the turkey juicy!
Also, make sure to let it rest for about 10 minutes before broiling and also after broiling in order to seal the juices in. Remove the net, slice your turkey, and top with gravy!
What internal temperature do you cook a pressure cooker turkey breast?
The USDA recommends cooking turkey breast to a safe temperature of 165°F (74°C). Use a meat thermometer in the thickest part of the turkey breast to check it.
Making Gravy With the Drippings
One of several advantages to cooking a turkey in Instant Pot is using the drippings to make some gravy. You don’t need an extra pot. Make the gravy right in the Instant Pot using the Sauté function.
There will be only one pot to clean. Yay!
All you have to do is to strain the turkey drippings and cook the roux (butter and flour) with the liquids until smooth and thickened.
Can I Cook Frozen Turkey Breast in Instant Pot?
Yes, you can cook turkey breast from frozen in the instant pot. It will take a little longer though (about 10 minutes per pound if boneless).
However, for best results make sure your turkey is fully thawed before pressure cooking! If frozen, it won’t absorb the seasonings well and will become messy when putting our herbed butter on top. See the USDA’s recommended defrosting schedule. It also applies to these smoked turkey legs!
Side dishes to serve with this turkey breast recipe:
- Starches: Mashed sweet potatoes, sweet potato casserole, and/or microwave mac and cheese.
- Vegetables: Instant Pot Brussels sprouts, air fryer Brussels sprouts, roasted carrot and parsnips, broccoli gratin, or roasted delicata squash.
- Stuffing/Dressing: Mexican cornbread dressing
How to use leftover turkey?
There are many ways to make use of your Thanksgiving leftovers. Here are a few suggestions:
- Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup – replace the chicken with shredded turkey breast
- Turkey Pot Pie– the perfect way to get some comfort food using your turkey leftover
- Turkey sandwich
- Instant Pot Chili – shred or ground the turkey to replace ground beef in your chili.
- Shrimp carbonara -- replace shrimp with turkey.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container or sealed bag in the fridge for up to 3 days. Freeze for up to 3 months!
More Instant Pot Recipes:
- Instant Pot Whole Chicken
- Instant Pot Stuffed Acorn Squash
- Also Instant Pot Ground Beef
- Instant Pot Beets
PIN & ENJOY!
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Instant Pot Turkey Breast
Equipment
- instant pot
- wooden spoon
- whisk
- baking sheet
Ingredients
For the turkey:
- 3 lb turkey breast skin on, bone-in or boneless (fully thawed). I used boneless turkey breast
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
Herbed butter for turkey:
- 4 cloves garlic peeled
- 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
- 2 sprigs of rosemary only the leaves
- 3 tablespoons butter at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
For the gravy:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour or 1 tablespoon cornstarch for a gluten-free gravy
- 1 cup chicken broth or drippings from the turkey (strained)
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- For the turkey breast: Place garlic, peppercorns, and rosemary in a food processor bowl and pulse to grind. Add butter, Italian seasoning, and smoked paprika, and then pulse again to form a coarse paste. Set aside at room temperature!
- Pat the turkey breast dry all over with a paper towel. Season all over with salt and pepper. Next, massage the turkey breast with the herbed butter on all sides and also under the skin (if possible).
- Arrange the rack of the Instant Pot inside, place the turkey breast on top (skin side up), and pour in a cup of chicken broth (beside but NOT on top of the breast). Close the lid, turn the valve to sealing, and cook on High Pressure for 18 minutes (or 6 minutes per pound thawed boneless breast).
- When done, let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes and then release it quickly. Allow the breast rest for 10 minutes before broiling in the oven.
- Preheat your broiler to high. Transfer the turkey breast into a foil-lined baking sheet. Brush a mixture of honey and soy sauce on top.
- Place on the higher rack of the oven (about 8-inches away from the heat source) and broil it for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the skin is crispy and golden brown. Watch carefully to make sure it doesn't burn!
- Tent with foil and let it rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing. Serve with gravy and garnish as desired.
- To make the turkey gravy: Remove the rack from the Instant Pot. Either strain the cooking liquids from the instant pot into a large bowl, or use chicken broth/stock. Reserve!
- Press the sauté button and let the pot heat for 2 minutes. Melt the butter and whisk in the flour until forming a roux. Slowly pour in 1 cup of the liquids, while whisking well until thickened and smooth.
- Adjust salt and pepper. Make sure your gravy is free of lumps. Serve along with the Instant Pot turkey breast.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
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Happy Thanksgiving ! That is what I like about instant pot ; so beautiful dishes in such a little time ! Thank you Denise !