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.
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 sealing position. 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.
HOW LONG DO YOU COOK TURKEY BREAST IN INSTANT POT?
My turkey breast weighs about 7 lbs and the 35 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 breast also 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.
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!
HOW TO USE LEFTOVER 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 Spaghetti (fail-proof and no burn!)
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! 😀
INSTANT POT TURKEY BREAST RECIPE
Instant Pot Turkey Breast Recipe
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
Nutrition
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.
Stephanie Gilbert says
Do you have to use the trivet or can you just set the turkey in the pot? Also I have a 10-Qt pot, does that change anything?
Anna says
Hi Stephanie! If you won't use the trivet, the bottom of the turkey will be submerged in the liquid and in a way it will "boil". Also, check your instructions to make sure what is the required amount of liquid for a 10 qt Instant Pot. I used 6 qt. Hope this helps!
Hanna says
Was it defrost or frozen?
Elyssa says
I was wondering if you can use it frozen as well
Noemi says
I purchased an IP JUST to try this recipe. I will do a practice run before Thanksgiving. How long did it take to come to pressure? How many minutes did your turkey take during the natural release? I'm just trying to get an idea so I know how long before dinner I should start cooking.
If my turkey is not to proper temp (165 degrees) after the cook time and natural pressure release....what should I do?
Also, can I used dried herbs?
Sorry for all the questions....I would greatly appreciate your help!!
Anna says
Hi Noemi! I am so excited for you to try this recipe! Definitely do a test run so you know what to expect. For example, you may want to adjust the seasonings to your likings so the Thanksgiving bird is perfect.
It's hard to say exactly how many minutes it will take for the Instant Pot to come to pressure but I would expect it to be anywhere from 12 to 16 minutes. Same for natural pressure release. I would add at least 30 more minutes to the cooking time to include both of those. If the turkey is not at 165 degrees F (most likely it will be higher), close the lid and add 5 to 10 more minutes to cooking time. You can use dried herbs and increase the amount to 3 teaspoons.
I hope this helps! Let me know. I am always happy to help!
Noemi says
Thank you so much for your help!! First time ever using the instant pot. I used an almost 6 lb turkey and it took almost 20 mins to come pressure.
I did have a question. After my turkey was done there was a ton of liquid in the pot....like half full. My turkey looked like it was stewed and the skin was quite soggy (I had the breast sitting cavity side down in the IP, but had to lay it on it's side slightly because it was pretty tall). I tried to crispy up the skin under the broiler but it took almost 10-15 minutes to get it brown but it never got crispy. Is that pretty typical of using a pressure cooker?
Linda S. says
I'll be darned! It was amazingly delicious...Weight Watchers doesn't assign many points to turkey breast so I decided to make it for sandwiches. Husband likes dark meat so I didn't figure him in at all. Well, I made the gravy and the aroma floating through the kitchen persuaded him to try it. He really liked it - as did I. I only cut back on the herbs/spices for he doesn't like a lot. It was still delicious. Definitely a keeper!! Thank you for posting.
Anna says
Hi Linda! Yay! That's absolutely wonderful! I am so glad the turkey was a success and such a hit. Thank you for trying my recipe!
Michele A says
This will be my first time preparing Thanksgiving and I'm going to use this recipe. My question is how long do I thaw out a 7 lb Turkey breast before putting it in the IP? Thanks ahead of time for helping out a Turkey Day newbie!!! 🙂
Anna says
Hi Michele! I always give myself at least 24 hours to thaw a turkey breast. Just remember to defrost it in the fridge. If it still has some frozen parts after you take it out of the packaging, place it in cold water until it is completely defrosted. I hope this helps!
Michele A says
Thank you so much!!!
Carol says
I usually do not make Turkey Breast because it is always dry. This was the best one I have ever made. The seasoning was perfect and the meat was moist and delicious. My family loved it.
Anna says
Hi Carol! That is wonderful! Thank you so much for trying my recipe and for letting me know. I am so glad it was a success!
Kimberly P says
i just got an instant pot and plan on using it this thanksgiving. I have never used it before so i was wondering how to know when the instant pot is fully pressurized to start the actual cook time for the turkey?
Anna says
Hi Kimberly! The Instant Pot will beep a few seconds after you close the lid. It will start coming to pressure. Depending on the model of your Instant Pot, it may beep when it is done and it will start the cooking time (the timer will start). I hope this helps! I suggest you do the water test and a few simple recipes before cooking the turkey breast for Thanksgiving. It will help you familiarize yourself with the pressure cooking process.
Stephanie says
Do you leave the "keep warm" button on to keep it warm after it cooks or do you just use the pressure cook and let the pressure come down without the added warmth?
Anna says
Hi Stephanie! Once the timer is done, press "cancel/off" button and let the Instant Pot release the pressure. Do not switch the valve. Once the pin drops, you can open the lid. I do not keep it at warm during that time.
Becky says
I had no idea that turkey breast has that many calories! 918 per serving and 45g of fat? Is that right?
Anna says
Hi Becky! The nutritional value is an estimate. A 6 to 7 lb turkey breast will feed 6 to 8 people, so it all depends on how many servings you will serve.
Joyce says
The calorie count states 918. Is this the calorie count for a 7 lb. breast devoured by ONE person or do you divide 918 by the number of actual servings to determine the calorie count per person?
Anna says
Hi Joyce! The calorie count is per serving, which means if you slice the turkey breast and divide it into 6 servings. Please keep in mind that it is an estimate. You should always use a calorie counter that you are familiar with. I hope this helps!
Joyce says
Thank you for responding. Fortunately I will not be consuming 1.16 Lbs. of turkey per serving. The average serving of turkey is approximately 4 ounces so the calories consumed will be reasonable for anyone that is concerned about their intake. I’m looking forward to trying this recipe.
Vickie says
I have a 6.5 lb. turkey breast that is thawing in the fridge. I am going to use your recipe tomorrow in my 8 qt. Crock Pot Express Pot. I also have a 8.5 lb. turkey breast. I know the 6.5 lb. will fit but wondering if you think the 8.5 lb. would work in my 8 qt. pot.
Debra Jurcek says
I just made it and it is the best turkey breast I have ever eaten. It was so moist and flavorful. I usually don't care for turkey breasts but this recipe won me over,. I will only make it this way from now on.
Joanna says
Hands down the best turkey I've ever made! It was such a hit with everyone! Thank you for the recipe!
Nicole says
Amazing!’ I used a 5lb turkey because it was all I could find and cooked as directed for 32 minutes. This was my very first turkey and “the pressure was on” because my in-laws were coming for Christmas dinner. My in-laws LOVED it, and my husband went to bed talking about it! Thank you so much for this recipe! It will now be a staple on our home!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Hi Nicole! YAY! That's a huge win! I am so happy to know it was such a success. Amazing! Thank you so much for trying my recipe and for leaving this sweet comment!
Pam says
How would I adjust this to a boneless, skinless turkey breast?
Nancy says
I just got a Strata brand electric pressure cooker, and all the buttons are different from the insta pot, so having problems figuring out the cooking times. Can you help please. Thank you.
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Hi Nancy! I am not familiar with Strata but if it's a digital pressure cooker (not stove-top), the cooking times stay the same. I hope this helps! Let me know if there is anything else I can help with!
Lori says
Five stars! I made this tonight and it came out great. The weight tag on my bird was torn off, so I wasn't exactly sure of the weight. To be safe I cooked it for 38 minutes and did a 10 minute NR. I probably didn't need quite that long, the internal temp was closer to 180 degrees. BUT! Boy was this bird delicious! I didn't bother to broil. The meat was super tender and juicy. I used some fresh sage, rosemary, and dried thyme, plus tons of black pepper and garlic powder in addition to the other seasonings. I made more of the seasoning rub since I ran out on the first side of the bird. Also, I cooked mine breast-side down and stuffed the cavity with a head of garlic, onion, carrots, and celery. I stacked the bird on more veggies and didn't bother with the trivet. Perfect result. Thanks for this super fast and easy recipe for a quick Thanksgiving dinner.
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Hi Lori! Yay! That's fantastic! I am so glad I was able to help. Thank you!
Marcie says
Wow! Great recipe. I had a 5.20 lb turkey breast. I cooked it for 28 minutes. Took forever to depressurize, but it was juicy and delicious. And the gravy was so good!! It made a small Thanksgiving dinner easy to prepare 🙂
Faith says
How long would I cook a 7.56lb turkey
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Hi Faith! I would set the timer for 38 minutes. Make sure the turkey is at least 165 degrees F when done. Hope this helps!
Diane says
How long for a fresh 4.4 lb turkey breast?
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Hi Diane! I would set it for 23 minutes. Hope this helps!
Diane says
Thank you, going in the pot right now. Lol
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Good luck! Let me know how it goes, Diane!