Instant Pot Turkey Breast: A delicious, moist turkey breast can be prepared in a fraction of the time when cooked in an electric pressure cooker. This herb seasoned turkey breast is cooked to perfection and is served with an easy gravy made right in the Instant Pot.
When it comes to turkey, I prefer turkey breast over dark meat turkey any day.
In fact, I often opt to have one small whole turkey along with a turkey breast at Thanksgiving.
This ensures there is plenty of turkey for everyone to enjoy and that I am left with leftover turkey breast meat, which I find is just perfect for my Southwest Turkey Soup, Turkey and Cheddar Sandwich and Turkey Quesadilla
Instant Pot Turkey Breast
Cooking a turkey breast in a pressure cooker not only frees up space in the oven for things like Sweet Potato Casserole and Classic Stuffing, this method also produces the most moist, tender, juicy turkey breast you have ever had.
This Instant Pot Turkey Breast is rubbed with an herb butter which helps to flavor the meat and keep the turkey juicy. However, it is the moist heat from the instant pot, that really does a perfect job of roasting the turkey without drying out the meat.
This turkey breast recipe is easy to follow and impressive enough to serve guests!
How to Cook a Turkey Breast in the Instant Pot
Make sure your Turkey Breast Fits
The most important step to properly cooking a turkey breast inside a pressure cooker is to be sure that your turkey breast will fit inside your instant pot.
I test by placing the turkey breast still in packaging inside the pressure cooker to see if I can fit lid on the Instant Pot.
Don’t worry about your turkey breast extending past the max fill line in your pressure cooker, this is one time that is okay!
In my experience, an instant pot can hold the following size turkey breasts.
- For 6 quart: 5-6.5 pounds
- For 8 quart: 7-8.5 pounds
Compound Herb Butter
You can use any herbs you like, but I find rosemary and thyme are perfect compliment for turkey breast.
- Mix together the softened butter with fresh minced herbs and 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
- Loosen skin on turkey breast using your hand.
- Rub herb butter underneath skin of turkey breast.
- Season outside of the turkey breast with remaining salt and pepper.
**An important note, do NOT rub compound butter on outside of turkey breast if placing turkey breast meat side down in pressure cooker, this could cause a burn notice. If you do want to rub the butter on outside of the turkey , simply cook meat side up in pressure cooker.
Roast Turkey Breast in Instant Pot
- Pour 1 cup stock into inner pot or pressure cooker.
- Place turkey inside Instant Pot, meat side DOWN.
- Place onion and celery stick in cavity of turkey breast.
- Close lid on instant pot.
- Set vent knob to sealed. C
- Cook on high pressure, using manual button, for 6 minutes per pound.
- Once cook time has elapsed, let pressure release naturally for 10 minutes naturally, then release any remaining pressure.
- Test turkey breast with digital thermometer to be sure meat has reached at least 160 degrees. (The turkey breast will continue to cook as it rests and needs to reach 165 degrees.)
- Remove turkey from instant pot and place on cutting board and tent with foil.
- Allow to rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing.
Brown the Turkey Breast
At this point the turkey breast is ready to eat, however if you would like to get crispy skin or a golden brown appearance, it is easy to brown the turkey breast in oven.
- Place cooked turkey breast on baking sheet.
- Place under broiler for 5-6 minutes, watching closely so as not to burn, and brown up the skin of the turkey breast.
- There is no need to brush the skin of your turkey with butter or oil, the herb butter underneath the skin of the turkey breast is all your turkey should need to brown perfectly.
Instant Pot Frozen Turkey Breast
It can be very tricky to cook a frozen turkey breast for two reasons.
- It is hard to get a frozen turkey breast out of it’s packaging and to remove any gravy packet frozen to the turkey breast.
- It is hard to rub the compound herb butter under the skin of the turkey breast if frozen.
To cook a frozen turkey breast in the pressure cooker
- Season turkey breast with salt and pepper liberally. (Skip the herb butter)
- Pour 1 cup stock into the pressure cooker.
- Place turkey inside pressure cooker.
- Cook on high pressure for 10 minutes per pound.
- Allow pressure to release for at least 10 minutes before releasing pressure in Instant Pot.
Instant Pot Turkey Gravy
You can easily make gravy right inside your pressure cooker.
- Strain cooking liquid from instant pot and reserve.
- Return inner pot back to Instant Pot.
- Turn to Saute function and allow instant pot to heat.
- Once pressure cooker is heated, add in butter and melt.
- Add in flour to melted butter and whisk well to form a roux.
- Cook for 1 minute to cook away raw flour flavor.
- Add in dry white wine and whisk well.
- Slowly add 1/2 cup reserved cooking liquid to instant pot whisk well.
- Allow gravy to bubble and thicken, adding more cooking liquid as needed to reach desired consistency.
- Season with salt and pepper and serve with turkey.
More Instant Pot Recipes
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
- Instant Pot Pumpkin Cheesecake
- Instant Pot Whole Chicken
- Instant Pot Chicken Stock
Instant Pot Turkey Breast Recipe
I would love to know how you enjoy this recipe! Be sure to leave a comment and let me know. Or snap a picture and tag @amindfullmom on Instagram and hashtag it #amindfullmom
Instant Pot Turkey Breast
Ingredients
For the Turkey Breast
- 1 cup chicken or turkey stock
- 1 5-6 pound turkey breast bone in
- 4 tablespoons butter softened
- 1/2 tablespoon rosemary chopped
- 2 teaspoons thyme leaves
- 2 teaspoon kosher salt divided
- 1 teaspoon pepper divided
For the Turkey Gravy
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1/3 cup dry white wine optional
- 1 cup turkey drippings
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
For the Instant Pot Turkey Breast
- Mix together the butter with fresh herbs and 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
- Loosen skin on turkey breast using your hand. Rub herb butter underneath skin of turkey breast. And any remaining butter on top of turkey.
- Season outside of turkey with remaining salt and pepper.
- Pour 1 cup stock into inner pot or pressure cooker.
- Place turkey inside Instant Pot, meat side DOWN. Place onion and celery stick in cavity of turkey breast.
- Close lid on instant pot. Set vent knob to sealed. Cook on high pressure, using manual button, for 6 minutes per pound.
- Once cook time has elapsed, let pressure release for 10 minutes naturally, then release any remaining pressure.
- Test turkey breast with digital thermometer to be sure meat has reached at least 160 degrees. (The turkey breast will continue to cook as it rests and needs to reach 165 degrees.)
- Remove turkey from instant pot and place on cutting board and tent with foil. Allow to rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing.
- To brown turkey skin, Place cooked turkey breast on baking sheet. Place under broiler for 5-6 minutes, watching closely so as not to burn, and brown up the skin of the turkey breast.
For Turkey Gravy
- Strain cooking liquid from instant pot and reserve.
- Return inner pot back to Instant Pot. Turn to Saute function and allow instant pot to heat.
- Once pressure cooker is heated, add in butter and melt. Add in flour to melted butter and whisk well to form a roux. Cook for 1 minute.
- Add in dry white wine and whisk well. Then slowly add 1/2 cup reserved cooking liquid to instant pot whisk well. Allow gravy to bubble and thicken, adding more cooking liquid as needed to reach desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper and serve with turkey.
Notes
- For frozen turkey breast, simply season with salt and pepper and cook for 10 minutes per pound on high pressure.
- Feel free to use chicken stock in place of white wine for the gravy.
- See Instant Pot High Altitude Conversion if cooking 2500+ feet above sea level.
To Make Turkey Breast in an Instant Pot, You May Need
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Kristen Chidsey
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Can I cook a turkey breast in my 3 quart pot
As long as it fits Betty! You would need a fairly small Turkey breast in order to fit in a 3 quart instant pot. I suggest placing the turkey breast (while still in packaging) in the pressure cooker to see if it fits. If it does, remove from packaging and and proceed with the recipe.
So if you have a boneless turkey breast that is frozen do you have to cook it longer?
Hi Tami! I would still cook for 6 minutes per pound if thawed out or 10 minutes per pound if defrosted (regardless of bone in or boneless). Hope that helps.
10 minutes per pound if defrosted? Did you mean if frozen?
Yes, Kurt! Sorry about the confusion!
Hi Kristen, I have an 8qt instant Pot and was wondering if I could use this recipe for chicken breasts? It looks like 3 might fit in my pot. The lbs would be about 3.3
For bone in, skin on–yes, you can follow this recipe. For boneless, I would use my recipe for Instant Pot Chicken Breasts.
I wonder if the turkey breast needs to be on the rack of the Instant Pot or just sit in the broth.
Hi Starlyn! For the turkey breast to fit, it will more than likely need to be in the broth and this keeps the meat nice and juicy!
I didn’t even use any butter with the herbs, just put the herbs on top of the onion and celery and it was a HUGE HIT!! Excellent Recipe!
I am so glad you enjoyed Ann! Thank you for taking the time to let everyone know the success you had with this recipe!
Can you use boneless turkey breasts instead of bone in?
Will that adjust the time in the instant pot?
Hi Vicki! Yes, you can make boneless turkey breasts in the Instant Pot as well. I would still cook for 6 minutes per pound. I hope you enjoy!
6 minutes per pound? I have a 5.5 lb’er and 33 minutes seems quick…ive taken up to 27 minutes for a split breast before around just under 3lbs?
Hi Dan! Yes, I have found 6 minutes per pound with Natural Pressure Release to get my Turkey Breast to 165 degrees. I tried longer at first and was left with an overcooked, dry turkey breast. However, if after cook time has elapsed, your turkey has not reached 165 degrees, cook for an additional 5-10 minutes on high pressure. It will not take as long to reach pressure a 2nd time. I hope that helps.
I have made turkey breast in my pressure cooker a few times with this recipe. My husband loves it! Today is the first time I made the gravy with it-wow-I did not think it could get better!! Thank you so much!
Oh I am so glad you and your husband enjoyed so much! I love hearing that!
Are we to place the turkey breast on a trivet in the pot or just put it in the broth?
Hi Ruth, I place the turkey directly on in the broth. You can place your turkey on the trivet, but you may find it hard to fit the Turkey breast in the pressure cooker that way, but it will not change cook time.
I made this last night. My husband loved it! He usually takes a small serving of turkey breast because he is afraid it will be too dry but he quickly went back for more! He was still reminiscing about it tonight!
That makes me so happy Jen! And my husband agrees–this turkey is so juicy and he hates dried out turkey.
I made this recipe according to the directions (mostly) & LOVED it! I did use different spices that I had since I didn’t have fresh. We like Montreal chicken seasoning so I put that in the butter under the skin. The meat was so tender & the gravy so good!! I think the onions & celery helped in the cavity for the overall flavor. Also, I didn’t brown the skin much as I was afraid it would dry out the meat, (so if you like crispy skin, I’m not sure about that). Thanks for the recipe. I will be making turkey more often!!!
I am so glad you enjoyed! And I love that you used seasoning you had–that is the greatest thing about recipes, when you can make them your own 🙂
Mine turned out very good, thanks! Just a note… you mention onion and celery (for the cavity) in the instructions but they’re not in the ingredients list, so at first glance I thought I had everything I needed but didn’t. How much of each would you recommend? Thanks!
I am glad you enjoyed! Sorry for the omission of the celery and onion–this is an optional ingredient. I would add 1 small onion (cut in half) and 1-2 stalks of celery.
would the recipe be followed precisely if a stove-top pressure cooker is used? Same cooking times? I don’t have either a stove-top pressure cooker or an electric instant pot and I am trying to decide which type to buy.
Hi Laurie, I have VERY little experience with a stove top pressure cooker. And the experiences I have had with it, left a very bad taste in my mouth. And the cooking times are not exactly the same, so I can’t give you much guidance there. Sorry! I will say I love my electric pressure cooker and they are about the same price as quality stove top cookers. Sorry, I am not much more help with stove-top cookers.
It’s recipes like this that make me want an instant pot for Christmas because this looks perfect! I feel so behind the times.
Maggie, it is a great way to prepare SO many things. I love my Instant Pot. Maybe your Christmas wish will come true.
Such an easy way to make turkey for Thanksgiving! I love this!
Thanks Tayler! I hope your family enjoys!
Can I stuff it with small chopped potatoes
Hi Lee, I would not recommend it, as the potatoes will overcook and as they absorb all the moisture in the Instant Pot, they would turn to mush.