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.

Instant Pot Turkey Breast Recipe - Crunchy Creamy Sweet (1)

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!

Instant Pot Turkey Breast Recipe - Crunchy Creamy Sweet (7)

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? ›

If a turkey is cooked too long, the muscle proteins coagulate within the meat and cause dryness. In all of our research, we learned that moisture is the most important piece behind cooking the perfect turkey. It's also the most challenging.

What tenderizes turkey? ›

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 can I get my turkey breast to stand up in my roasting pan? ›

If the turkey breast won't stay upright in the roasting pan, take two or three feet of aluminum foil, wad it up and partially stuff into the turkey's chest cavity to create a “stand” to keep the breast steady.

Does cooking a turkey breast down make it more moist? ›

Cooking a turkey upside down allows the juices to trickle down during the roasting process for extra moist and juicy breast meat. Plus, since the dark meat is closer to the heat source, it cooks faster than it does with the traditional method. It's a win-win!

Does turkey get tougher the longer you cook it? ›

Once the turkey meat is no longer pink, it's cooked through. Continuing to cook it beyond this point will only make the turkey tough and dry. Unlike some meats that become more tender the longer they cook, turkey tends to get tougher and drier the longer it's cooked."

What does vinegar do to a turkey? ›

When Top Chef winner Kristen Kish took over the responsibility of cooking Thanksgiving dinner, she gave her brother the job of roasting the turkey. This recipe, which she taught him, uses cider vinegar as the brine, which tenderizes it and yields flavorful drippings perfect for pan jus.

What makes the crispiest turkey skin? ›

Rub the skin with fat.

Once you've carefully dried off the skin, the next step you can take to guarantee perfectly crispy turkey skin is to rub it with a fat, like butter or oil. Oil will yield a crispier skin than butter because butter is at least 20 percent water, while oil contains no water.

What liquid tenderizes meat? ›

Simply soak your beef cuts in these natural tenderisers before cooking, and we guarantee the beef will be fall-apart tender!
  • 1) Tea. Tea contains tannins, which are a natural tenderiser. ...
  • 2) Coffee. ...
  • 3) Cola. ...
  • 4) Pineapple, pawpaw, figs, kiwis. ...
  • 5) Ginger. ...
  • 6) Baking Soda. ...
  • 7) Vinegar. ...
  • 8) Beer or wine.
Nov 9, 2016

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 cook turkey breast side down? ›

Breast Side Down. The main difference between how my mother makes her turkey and everyone else is to cook it breast side down. By cooking the turkey this way, the juices from the cooking turkey fall into the breast while the turkey cooks, resulting in the most succulent breast imaginable.

What to stuff a turkey with for flavor? ›

Alliums: Add quartered onions, shallots, leeks, or garlic cloves for a delicious, earthy aroma. Fruits: Insert quarters of apple, lemon, orange, lime, or even grapefruit to add moisture and brightness to the turkey. You can even go with dried fruit, like cranberries, to double down on the autumn vibes.

Do you put water in bottom of pan when roasting turkey breast? ›

Place your turkey on a wire rack and then place the rack in a roasting pan. Pour 1 cup of water in the bottom of the roasting pan. This will prevent the drippings from burning on the bottom of the pan. If using a flat rack (use a V-rack if you have one), you will notice the turkey will tilt to one side or the other.

How long does it take to cook 2 turkey breasts at the same time? ›

Bake 1 1/2 to 2 1/4 hours or until meat thermometer reads 170 degrees.

Can you cook a turkey in a glass dish? ›

Preheat oven to 425° F. Drizzle the bottom of your Pyrex® 9”x13” Deep baking dish with olive oil. Season the bird generously with salt, using about 2-3 tablespoons in total and rubbing into the bird. Place the bird in the dish and bake for 30 minutes.

Why is my turkey meat so tough? ›

Rubbery texture comes from cooking too long with too low a heat. Most land fowl like chicken, turkey, pigeon, guineafowl, peafowl, etc. are best when cooked hot and fast. The quicker you seal up the outside, the more moisture that will be retained inside.

What to do with tough turkey breast? ›

FIRST, BRING ON THE BROTH

The white breast meat loses it's juiciness first, but it also tends to be a guest favorite, so focus on reviving that first: Combine a few tablespoons melted butter with chicken broth and pour over the sliced turkey. Cover with foil or place in a 200º oven to keep warm.

How do you salvage a tough turkey? ›

Use Turkey Stock

If your turkey is too dry, heat the broth in a wide, shallow pan and add the turkey slices to rehydrate them. Alternatively, you can use the oven: put the turkey in an oven-proof pan, pour the stock overtop, cover the pan, and reheat on low, around 300 degrees F (150 degrees C), for about 20 minutes.

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.

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