This Instant Pot Turkey Breast Recipe makes juicy turkey breast in the pressure cooker in just 35 minutes! It's 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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Why this method works
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 it would take me to roast it in the oven. I can bake side dishes in the oven in the meantime.
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 the 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 broth or stock, sliced onion, garlic, and celery to the bottom of the Instant Pot insert.
- 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 the lid on the Instant Pot, and set the valve to a sealing position. Press "manual" and set 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 its 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 the liquid remaining in the Instant Pot
How long do you cook turkey breast in the 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 a minimum of 165 degrees F in the thickest part of the breast. This size of the turkey breast also fits 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 the 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 it 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.
How to make turkey gravy in the 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: a 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 meat?
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 it 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:
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, let me know in the comments below! Don't forget to rate it if you enjoyed it!
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.2 cups chicken broth, 1 medium onion chopped into large slices, 4 garlic cloves, 2 celery stalks
- In a small bowl or measuring cup, mix oil, paprika, herb mix, salt and pepper.3 Tablespoons olive oil, ¾ teaspoon paprika, 2 teaspoon chopped poultry fresh herb mix, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon ground black 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.7 lb bone-in skin-on turkey breast
- 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 ℉. 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 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 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
Joan says
Very juicy! Perfect timing
Noreen Gamble says
This easy recipe produced a juicy and tasty turkey breast. Thank you!
Kel says
I assisted my sister with this recipe on Thanksgiving today, and it hands down produced the best, juiciest, most flavorful white turkey meat I’ve ever had in my life. Instapot for the win again!
Paul says
I'm making a 6.6 lb turkey breast as I type this. The only deviation is that I had to put the turkey directly into the instant pot as my trivet was to tall for the breast to fit.
I'm hoping for the best.
Linda Deshler says
I made this recipe and it was absolutely amazing! It was so tender and juicy. I will keep this recipe in my repertoire! I did not crisp the skin because we don’t eat it.
I am sharing your recipe with all of my instant pot friends and family!
Linda D.
Anna says
I'm so glad the turkey was a success, Linda! Thank you so much for the lovely comment! Happy Thanksgiving! God bless you!
Donna says
Was a hit.. even though I forgot salt and pepper. Lol. Juicy and flavorful will definitely cook again. After I took turkey out I cooked baby carrots in broth.. oh my yummy
Jola says
My husband doesn't like turkey. He always says it's dry meat. I served him dinner from your recipe and he praised what a good and juicy meat. When he found out it was a turkey he couldn't believe it 🙂
Debbie says
This was my first time using the Instant Pot pressure cooker. The recipe was spot on and delicious. Tender and juicy in 35 minutes. I couldn’t believe it! The broth made an excellent gravy. My family enjoyed Thanksgiving in January. I will definitely make this again. Thank you so much for this great recipe
Anna says
Hi Debbie! I'm so glad the recipe was a success and you enjoyed the turkey! Thank you for giving my recipe a try and for the wonderful comment. Have a wonderful day!
Sabrina A Ross says
Do you think I had add collard greens underneath the turkey?
John Simson says
Turkey was 6 pounds with bones. Cooked it for 40 minutes, turkey was tender and juicy after natural pressure release. Everyone want seconds on turkey.
Amy S says
I have never liked turkey, but made this for my mother in law this year at Thanksgiving. This was THE BEST turkey I have ever eaten! Thanks for the recipe - will definitely make again!
Anna says
That is fantastic, Amy! I'm so glad the turkey was a success! Thank you for making my recipe!
Susan says
Super easy, absolutely delicious and the only turkey recipe I will be making from now on. Thank you!!
john catlos says
I was skeptical about this recipe but, its only 2 of this year so what the hell, lets go for it. So glad I did, one of the best turkeys I have made. 30 minutes to cook
40 minutes for the steam to release. I'll never cook turkey breast any other way.
rayne says
LOVE LOVE LOVE this 4 stars because the website a little glitching tho
Jim says
This is the second time to try this recipe. Both times were exceptional results. First time 3 lb butterball breat and second 6 lb bone-in. Did use air fryer to get brown cripsy skin for 8 minutes. Flavor with fresh herbs and moisture of turkey was a huge hit with everyone. Definitely a keeper.
Anna says
That's absolutely wonderful! Thank you so much for making my recipe, Jim!
Becky says
Thanksgiving is not a meal where I try to experiment too much...but this experiment turned out great! The 7.4 lb turkey breast took 22 minutes to pressurize, cooked 35 mins, and took 35 to natural release. It was delicious! The meat stayed moist and was very flavorful. Thanks so much for this recipe! Happy Thanksgiving!
Anna says
Haha! I love that! Glad the turkey was a success! Thank you so much, Becky!
Amy S says
Thanks so much for the very specific time estimates!
K. says
Absolutely the easiest, fastest to prepare, tastiest, and most moist turkey my family has ever prepared or eaten!!!! We will use this recipe for years to come.
Anna says
I love that! Thank you so much!