Instant Pot Turkey Breast Recipe - Crunchy Creamy Sweet (2024)

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Instant Pot Turkey Breast Recipe - juicy turkey breast cooked in pressure cooker in just 35 minutes! The best way to save time preparing Thanksgiving dinner.

I serve this turkey breast with my Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce, Sweet Corn Casserole and use the leftovers to make Turkey Tetrazzini.

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When I said, that the Instant Pot digital pressure cooker can change your life, I meant it. It's been saving me time in the kitchen since I got it. But this Instant Pot Turkey Breast is a game-changer on a whole new level. I can cook a whole bone-in skin-on turkey breast in my pressure cooker in ⅓ of the time I would take me to roast it in the oven. I can bake side dishes in the oven in the meantime.

INSTANT POT TURKEY BREAST

The turkey comes out juicy and flavorful, the pan drippings are perfect to make the gravy and if the crispy skin is your favorite part, place the turkey breast under the broiler for a few minutes. I also have a recipe for a boneless turkey breast that cooks from frozen to juicy!

HOW TO COOK TURKEY BREAST IN INSTANT POT?

You won't believe how easy it is to cook a turkey breast in the digital pressure cooker. I still can't!

  • Add two cups of broth or stock to the bottom of the Instant Pot insert. Add sliced onion, garlic and celery.
  • Set the turkey breast side up in the trivet ( it came with your pressure cooker ) and brush it with herbed and spiced olive oil. It's a simple mixture of oil, paprika, salt, pepper and poultry herb mix ( thyme, rosemary and sage ).
  • Place lid on the Instant Pot, set valve to sealingposition. Press "manual" and set it the timer.
  • When the IP is done, let the pressure release naturally. It will keep the turkey moist. Once the pressure pin is down, carefully open the lid away from your face. Check the temperature of the turkey in it's thickest part, not touching the bone. It should be at least 165 degrees F.
  • Remove turkey from Instant Pot and broil for a crispy skin, if desired. For a low fat option, remove the skin and slice the meat.
  • Make gravy with liquid remaining in the Instant Pot.

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HOW LONG DO YOUCOOK TURKEY BREAST IN INSTANT POT?

My turkey breast weighs about 7 lbs and the35 minutes was perfect. You should check the turkey with a digital thermometer once done to make sure the temperature is at minimum 165 degrees F in the thickest part of the breast.This size of the turkey breastalso fit perfectly in my 6 qt Instant Pot. After the timer beeps, let the pressure release naturally. It will keep the turkey juicy. If you do a quick pressure release, all of the juices will escape the meat. Set turkey on cutting board and let cool. Remove skin and slice the meat.

If the crispy skin is your favorite part of the Thanksgiving bird, place the cooked turkey breast on a baking pan or dish and set under the broiler for a few minutes. I set my broiler to 440 degrees F and watched the turkey the whole time.

I have the Instant Pot DUO60 6qt and love it. ( affiliate link )

HOW TO MAKE TURKEY GRAVY IN INSTANT POT?

To make the gravy, drain the pan drippings through a sieve to catch the onions and garlic. You can also press them through it to get all the flavor into the gravy. Measure out two cups of the liquid and place back in the Instant Pot insert. Add a mixture of 2 tablespoons or cornstarch with ¼ cup of cold water and whisk well. Saute until thickens. You can use the rest of the liquid from cooking the turkey for soups later. I simply place it in ziploc bag once it completely cools. It's a very flavorful broth and perfect for making soups during winter.

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SIDE DISHES TO SERVE WITH TURKEY BREAST:

- mashed potatoes: If you are lucky and have two Instant Pots, I highly recommend making my IP Mashed Potatoes as a side dish. It's the only way I cook them now. Perfect every time!

- roasted Brussels sprouts: my Garlic Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts are perfect for Thanksgiving! Even the kids will love them.

- carrots: my Brown Sugar Roasted Carrots are a family favorite here. So easy and so delicious!

- green beans: my classic Green Bean Casserole made entirely from scratch yet still super easy and accidentally gluten free ( completely if you use GF fried onions ) is a must for a family holiday dinner.

- hashbrowns: this Hashbrown Casserole makes for a perfect side dish in place of mashed potatoes. It's cheesy and creamy and everyone loves it!

- stuffing: my Slow Cooker Sausage Stuffing is another time and work saver in the kitchen during the holidays. It's perfect for this Instant Pot Turkey Breast!

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HOW TO USELEFTOVER TURKEY?

After cooking up the big feast, you won't feel like spending much time in the kitchen on the following days. Save the turkey meat, dice it and use in my One Pot Turkey Tetrazzini recipe. It's perfect to use the leftover turkey meat!

Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup - use turkey in place of chicken for a perfect soul-comforting soup.

To see how to cook BONELESS turkey breast (from frozen) in the pressure cooker, check out my new recipe and video for Instant Pot Boneless Turkey Breast with Gravy.

MORE INSTANT POT RECIPES:

Instant Pot Pot Roast

Instant Pot Chicken Thighs

Instant Pot Baked Potatoes

Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Wings

Instant Pot Fluffy Rice

Instant Pot Spaghetti (fail-proof and no burn!)

Instant Pot Whole Chicken

Instant Pot Guinness Beef Stew

If you want to learn more about the Instant Pot, check out my Guide for Beginners! Also, if you experienced the "burn" message, check out my Instant Pot Burn Message post to learn how to fix it and prevent it in the first place.

If you like this recipe and make it, snap a photo and share it on INSTAGRAM! Tag me @crunchycreamysweet so I can check it out and leave a comment! 😀

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INSTANT POT TURKEY BREAST RECIPE

Instant Pot Turkey Breast Recipe - Crunchy Creamy Sweet (6)

Instant Pot Turkey Breast Recipe

Juicy turkey breast cooked in the pressure cooker in just 35 minutes! The best way to save time preparing Thanksgiving dinner.

4.87 from 90 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 6 people

Calories 918 kcal

Ingredients

  • 7 lb bone-in skin-on turkey breast
  • 3 Tablespoons olive oil
  • ¾ teaspoon paprika
  • 2 teaspoon chopped poultry fresh herb mix rosemary, sage and thyme
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 medium onion chopped into large slices
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 2 celery stalks

Instructions

  • Add chicken broth to Instant Pot insert. Place trivet inside. Arrange onions, garlic and celery.

  • In a small bowl or measuring cup, mix oil, paprika, herb mix, salt and pepper.

  • Wash the turkey breast, remove gravy pocket. Wash and pat dry. Brush turkey breast with olive oil mixture. Place in the trivet, breast side up.

  • Place lid on Instant Pot. Set valve the sealing. Press "manual", set timer to 35 minutes High Pressure.

  • When the IP beeps, press "cancel/off" and let the pressure release naturally. It will keep the turkey juicy.

  • When pressure is released, open lid carefully, away from your face.

  • Using large fork, remove turkey from pressure cooker. Set on a cutting board, serving platter or if desired on a baking pan, to crisp up the skin in the oven. To do so: place cooked turkey breast in the oven under broiler set to 440 degrees F. Broil until skin is golden and crispy, watching the turkey the whole time. You may have to rotate the pan during broiling.

  • To make the gravy, drain the pan drippings through a sieve to catch the onions and garlic. You can also press them through it to get all the flavor into the gravy. Measure out two cups of the liquid and place back in the Instant Pot insert. Add a mixture of 2 tablespoons or cornstarch with ¼ cup of cold water and whisk well. Saute until thickens.

Notes

The cook time does not include the time it takes for the Instant Pot to come to pressure.

My turkey breast weighs about 7 lbs and the35 minutes was perfect. You should check the turkey with a digital thermometer once done to make sure the temperature is at minimum 165 degrees F in the thickest part of the breast.This size of the turkey breastalso fit perfectly in my 6 qt Instant Pot Duo60.

You can use the rest of the liquid from cooking the turkey for soups later. I simply place it in ziploc bag once it completely cools. It's a very flavorful broth and perfect for making soups during winter.

Nutrition

Calories: 918kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 117g | Fat: 45g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 343mg | Sodium: 998mg | Potassium: 1606mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 235IU | Vitamin C: 7.8mg | Calcium: 91mg | Iron: 6.8mg

Tried this recipe?Leave a comment with rating below!

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Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you use my link and make a purchase on Amazon, I will make a small commission, without any extra cost to you.

Instant Pot Turkey Breast Recipe - Crunchy Creamy Sweet (2024)

FAQs

Why is my turkey breast meat tough? ›

Of course the longer the turkey is cooked, the more the proteins are denatured and the meat gets tougher.

How do you not overcook turkey breast? ›

Cover the turkey breast with foil, while cooking.

This also prevents the turkey breast from overcooking or drying out.

How long to cook 9 lb turkey breast? ›

How to cook bone-in turkey breast
Estimated Roasting Time
Weight in Lbs.Roasting Time at 350°Slow Cooker Time on High
3-5 lbs.1-2¼ hours3-4 hours
5-7 lbs.2¼-3 hours4-5 hours
7-9 lbs.3-3½ hours5-6 hours
1 more row

How to prevent turkey breast from drying out? ›

Elevate the Legs. You may have noticed the 10-degree temperature difference between a ready-to-eat turkey thigh and breast. Keep your breast from drying out before the dark meat is done by elevating or trussing the legs.

What is the secret to a moist turkey? ›

HOW TO COOK A PERFECTLY MOIST AND JUICY TURKEY. Start by “brining” the turkey. This means soaking it in salt water overnight in the fridge (generally using a brining bag). You can also add a few flavors to the brine if you so desire.

Should I cook my turkey breast covered or uncovered? ›

To achieve a perfectly golden, juicy turkey, let the bird spend time both covered and uncovered in the oven. We recommend covering your bird for most of the cooking time to prevent it from drying out; then, during the last 30 minutes or so of cooking, remove the cover so the skin crisps in the hot oven.

Why not cook a turkey breast side down? ›

The United States Department of Agriculture advises to cook a whole turkey breast side up during the entire cooking time. Turning over a large, hot bird can be dangerous and it's very easy to tear the skin, making the finished product less attractive.

How many people can a 9 lb turkey breast feed? ›

Our recommendation is to plan for one pound of turkey per person, or ½ pound per person for a boneless turkey breast. If you're buying a bone-in turkey breast, figure on 3/4 pound per person.

Is it better to cook bone-in turkey breast at 325 or 350? ›

2- to 2½-pound bone-in turkey breast half: Roast at 325°F for 60 to 70 minutes. 2½- to 3-pound boneless turkey breast: Roast at 325°F for 40 to 60 minutes. 4- to 6-pound whole turkey breast: Roast at 325°F for 1½ to 2¼ hours. 6- to 8-pound whole turkey breast: Roast at 325°F for 2¼ to 3¼ hours.

What is the most common way to cook a turkey according to Butterball? ›

Roasting is the most common way to cook a turkey. Follow our tips and tricks to create a delicious roast! Grilling is a great way to bring friends together. Add a Butterball® turkey, and your next outdoor gathering will become a memorable feast.

Are frozen butterball turkeys already brined? ›

Butterball Frozen Whole Turkey is all natural*, gluten free and raised without hormones on American farms. Each turkey is pre-brined before freezing for meat that's always tender and juicy. Frozen turkey can be purchased ahead of time for convenience and thawed prior to cooking.

Do you wash a Butterball turkey breast before cooking? ›

Wash your hands, but not the turkey! Many consumers think that washing their turkey will remove bacteria and make it safer. However, it's virtually impossible to wash bacteria off the bird. Instead, juices that splash during washing can transfer bacteria onto the surfaces of your kitchen, other foods and utensils.

What to do if turkey is rubbery? ›

A blast of heat from a 450ºF oven might be enough to crisp up the skin before serving. If your turkey is done but the skin is rubbery and inedible, just take it off of the breast after carving.

How do you tenderize turkey meat? ›

Applying salt to an uncooked turkey, either by soaking in a water solution (wet brine) or by sprinkling salt directly on the bird (dry brine) causes the protein strands in the meat to break down over time so the meat tenderizes, absorbs flavors, and retains moisture.

How do you keep turkey meat moist? ›

If you let the turkey rest a bit, the juices reabsorb into the meat rather than running out of the bird and landing on the cutting board. Carve it to order. The longer you let it sit after you slice it, the drier it will be. If you need to slice it, cover it with foil or plastic wrap to keep it from drying out.

What temperature is turkey the most tender at? ›

But despite what they all say, you absolutely should NOT cook your turkey breast meat to 165°F (74°C) or to—heaven forbid—180°F (82°C)! Our answer? Cook the breast meat to 157°F (69°C) for moist, juicy turkey.

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