Instant Pot Turkey Breast

This Instant Pot Turkey Breast recipe is perfect for smaller gatherings and takes the pressure off of having to spend an entire day in the kitchen. The turkey comes out juicy and tender and is ideal when you’re not feeding a huge crowd. It’s seasoned with fresh herbs and cooked with potatoes and carrots making an incredible one-pot meal.

Not every holiday calls for feeding 20 plus people, so using the instant pot makes the perfect amount for a gathering of 6. If you’re thinking cozy and intimate this Thanksgiving, this turkey breast recipe is for you. It’s a satisfying meal and makes the day so much easier.

If you’re wanting more Thanksgiving flair serve it with this easy Sweet Potato Goat Cheese Salad along with this creamy Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese. This Roasted Red Kuri Squash also looks great!

Whether cooking for a big holiday or a quaint Sunday meal, I think you’ll enjoy having less time in the kitchen and more time at the table.

Ingredients:

Chicken stock – this helps prevent the bottom of the pot from burning. And it can be used to make a gravy once the turkey is cooked! You can use water if you prefer.

Optional veggies – I used onions, potatoes, carrots and celery. Adding this bed of veggies is optional, but it’s a nice place for the turkey to si, and it adds extra flavor. Plus it turns this into a one-pot meal! 

Butter – not only is it delicious, but it keeps the turkey breast moist and holds the herbs and garlic on the meat. Of course, it melts, so you could likely use olive oil in its place.

Fresh herbs – parsley, sage, thyme, rosemary. I’m using a combination of garlic, parsley, thyme, rosemary, and sage to flavor the turkey but feel free to use any combination of fresh herbs that you like!

Boneless skin-on turkey breast – I highly recommend a boneless turkey breast as they cook faster and more evenly in the Instant Pot.

Olive oil – it helps lock in the juices on the outside of the turkey so it stays moist.

Kosher salt + black pepper – salt and pepper season the turkey as well!

How to make Instant Pot Turkey Breast:

• Make a bed of veggies for the turkey breast, and add chicken stock in the instant pot.
• Mix butter and fresh herbs.
• Rub the mixture under the skin of the turkey breast.
• Drizzle olive oil on the outside of the turkey breast and season with salt and pepper.
• Put the turkey on a trivet, skin side up.
• Pressure cook it, then release pressure.
• Remove the turkey from the pot, slice and serve (perhaps with some Maple Bourbon Glazed Carrots!).

Tips:

• This turkey dinner feeds 6 people and takes 25 minutes to prep and only 35 minutes to cook (plus a few minutes it takes to come to pressure).
• This instant pot turkey breast won’t have that crispy skin like it would if it were made in the oven. If you’re not one to eat the skin, just discard it and slice before serving.
• But if you want to brown the turkey skin after cooking, transfer the cooked turkey breast to a baking sheet and broil for 3-4 minutes or until your desired doneness. Make sure to keep an eye on it so it doesn’t burn.
• Before you start prepping the turkey breast, make sure it fits inside the pot of the pressure cooker. Better to know sooner than later. My Instant Pot is a 6 quart which should hold up to 5 to 6-pound turkey breasts.
• I recommend taking the temperature of the thickest part of the breast to make sure it is thoroughly cooked. Make sure you get a reading of 165°F (74°C).
• You can make a gravy from the drippings right in the Instant Pot! Just use the sautee setting and you don’t have to wash yet another pan.
• You can store any leftover turkey in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. You should transfer the turkey breast to a container within 2 hours after cooking. It’d be delicious in these Stuffing Balls!
• If you want to freeze the leftover turkey, just put it in an airtight sealable bag, date it and it should be good for up to 3 months. To reheat it, just thaw it in the fridge then microwave it at 50% power for 45-seconds at a time until it’s thoroughly heated.

How long do I pressure cook the turkey in an Instant Pot?

There are a lot of variables to look at when answering this question. The weight and thickness of the turkey breast matters the most so there is no one size fits all.

However, the weight of the boneless turkey breast is generally a good indicator. In this recipe, I used a 3-pound boneless skin-on turkey breast and pressure-cooked it for 35 minutes. A heavier breast would need a little more time.

Thickness, too, is something to consider. Boneless turkey breasts can differ in size. If you have a thin and long breast, then the cook time will be less than a thicker, more robust turkey breast.

Using a thermometer is essential in cooking just about any meat, so I highly recommend taking the temperature of the thickest part of the breast to make sure it is thoroughly cooked. Make sure you get a reading of 165°F (74°C).

Bone-in or boneless turkey breast?

You can cook either in an Instant Pot. I used boneless because it cooks more evenly.

Using bone-in doesn’t necessarily change the cook times that much, but again it depends on the thickness and weight of the breast.

Should I brine the turkey breast?

It’s not necessary. Brining the turkey will allow it to absorb the extra moisture to make it extremely unlikely the turkey breast will dry out. Salt also breaks down the meat so it makes it super tender.

If you decide to brine the breast, just dissolve ¾ cup of salt in enough water to cover the turkey breast. Cover it and soak it overnight.

When you’re ready to cook it, just rinse off the breast and follow the directions. That being said, because the pressure cooker is actually steaming the turkey, you shouldn’t have any issues getting a perfectly juicy, tender turkey without having to brine it. 

What pressure cooker did you use?

I used this 6-Quart Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker. It has just about every function you could want from a cooking machine.

It’s not only a pressure cooker, but also a slow cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker, steamer, saute pan and a food warmer.

Why use an Instant Pot for a turkey breast?

It’s super easy and makes a wonderful meal in a fraction of the time compared to traditional methods. It makes the juiciest turkey meat I’ve ever had and I don’t have to spend all day in the kitchen.

Really, it just takes the stress off the day with appetizers, side dishes, and desserts, and then the turkey being the star of the show – it’s a lot!

Using the instant pot just makes the day so much simpler and more relaxing for everyone. Plus, I can spend more time with desserts. 😉 If you don’t have an Instant Pot, this Smoked Turkey is another great option!

And should you want to try a different meat in your IP, try this Instant Pot Round Steak.

How to make turkey gravy in the Instant Pot:

To make turkey gravy, drain the drippings through a sieve to catch the onions and garlic. If you want a heartier flavor, you can press the onions and garlic through the sieve and into the gravy.

Add 2 cups of the stock back into the Instant Pot. Add 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with ¼ cup of cold water and whisk. Saute until it thickens.

You can use the rest of the stock for turkey soup later. Just put it in a ziploc bag once it has cooled and freeze it for up to 3 months. To use it in soups for winter, just thaw and add your favorite ingredients.

What to serve with this turkey breast:

This Corn Chowder is a wonderful starter for any special meal. It’s made with fresh corn, sweet onions, tender potatoes, fresh thyme and bits of crispy bacon.

These Dairy-free Mashed Potatoes are creamy and rich and include tricks so you never make gummy mashed potatoes again.

This Roasted Red Kuri Squash also looks fantastic! As do these Roasted Sweet Potatoes.

This Tuscan-style Panzanella Salad is a hearty bread salad loaded with fresh tomatoes, spicy arugula, crunchy cucumbers, sweet red onions and zesty capers.

 

I hope you enjoy this Instant Pot Turkey Breast dinner. If you make it, I would love to see how it turns out. Please snap a pic and tag #fooddoodlesrecipes so I can easily find them.