This Instant Pot turkey breast is seasoned with butter, garlic and herbs, then pressure cooked to tender and juicy perfection and served with gravy. A super easy way to prepare a holiday main course that’s sure to get rave reviews.
When I’m looking for an elegant and delicious meal for a smaller group during the holidays, I turn to Thanksgiving recipes such as bacon wrapped pork loin, beef tenderloin, rack of lamb or this simple yet satisfying Instant Pot turkey breast, complete with homemade gravy!
You can never go wrong serving a whole turkey breast for a special occasion. It tastes delicious, looks elegant and is a great way to feed your family and friends. This Instant Pot turkey breast recipe takes less than an hour to cook, and it produces perfect turkey each and every time. It’s a great way to save on oven space when you have multiple things to cook at the same time.
Don’t forget to serve your bird with some side dishes like homemade cranberry sauce, make ahead mashed potatoes and turkey stuffing!
Table of Contents
- Instant Pot Turkey Breast Ingredients
- How Do You Make Instant Pot Turkey Breast?
- Instant Pot Turkey Gravy
- Tips For The Perfect Turkey
- Quick Tip
- Recipe FAQs
- Flavor Variations
- Side Dishes To Serve With Turkey
- Instant Pot Turkey Breast Video
- Love This Recipe?
- Instant Pot Turkey Breast Recipe
Instant Pot Turkey Breast Ingredients
To make this Instant Pot turkey breast recipe, you will need a bone-in skin-on turkey breast, butter, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, dried thyme, salt, black pepper, chicken broth, onion, carrot, celery and corn starch. See the recipe card for amounts and details. You also might want fresh herbs to garnish your bird.
- Turkey Breast: Look for a bone-in, skin-on turkey breast. If your turkey breast is frozen, thaw it in a refrigerator before making this recipe or make the adjustments stated in the FAQ below.
- Butter: The seasonings for this turkey get mixed into the butter. The butter not only give the turkey a fantastic taste but it helps you spread the seasonings evenly around the meat.
- Chicken Broth: The chicken broth infuses the turkey with flavor while it cooks and creates a delicious gravy. Pick your favorite chicken broth or make your own chicken broth. If you cook multiple turkeys you could even make your own turkey broth!
How Do You Make Instant Pot Turkey Breast?
To make this Instant Pot turkey breast recipe, start by mixing together butter, garlic, herbs and spices in a small bowl. Coat a bone-in, skin-on turkey breast with the butter mixture. Pour chicken broth into the bottom of the instant pot, then add peeled and cut carrots, sliced onion and chopped celery.
Place the turkey breast on a trivet inside the pot. Secure the lid on the pot, seal the valve and pressure cook until turkey is cooked through. Let the pressure release naturally for about 10 minutes, then manually release the pressure. If you prefer turkey with crispy skin, place the turkey under the broiler until the skin is browned and crisp. Slice the turkey, then serve and enjoy.
Instant Pot Turkey Gravy
The great part of this Instant Pot turkey breast recipe is that there are plenty of juices and drippings at the end to make gravy with! To make your gravy, use a slotted spoon to remove the carrots, celery and onions from the Instant Pot. Turn the pot to sauté mode and bring the liquid to a simmer. Whisk together corn starch with cold water, then add that mixture to the pot. Let the gravy simmer for a few minutes until just thickened. Stir in some butter, salt and pepper, then transfer the gravy to a serving container.
Tips For The Perfect Turkey
- Try using my turkey brine recipe for 12 hours before you cook your turkey for even more flavor!
- While I typically use a whole turkey breast for this recipe, you can also use a half breast or a boneless turkey roast. You can season these other cuts the same way, just reduce the cooking time accordingly.
- You should plan to purchase 1 pound of turkey per guest. For example, a 6 pound breast will serve 6 people. If you want to make sure you have leftovers at the end of the night, aim for 1 1/2 pounds per person.
- This recipe calls for a trivet. It keeps the turkey from sitting in the liquid in the bottom of the pot. Some pots come with a trivet or you can purchase an Instant Pot trivet online.
- Use your leftover turkey to make a creamy and hearty turkey tetrazzini! You can also check out my full list of leftover turkey recipes.
Quick Tip
I recommend using a meat thermometer to confirm that your turkey cooked all the way through. Insert the thermometer probe into the thickest part of the breast. The temperature should read at least 165 degrees F.
Recipe FAQs
Can you cook frozen turkey breast in an Instant Pot?
You can cook a frozen turkey breast in a pressure cooker, although I think the flavor is better if you thaw your turkey first. To cook a turkey breast from frozen, follow the directions in the recipe, except increase the cooking time to 7 minutes per pound and increase the manual pressure release to 20 minutes.
How long do you cook turkey in an Instant Pot?
You will want to plan on cooking your turkey breast for about 5 minutes per pound. A typical double turkey breast is about 6-7 pounds in size, so plan on a cook time of about 30-35 minutes, plus the 10 minute natural pressure release.
How long does turkey breast stay good?
Leftover turkey breast will stay fresh in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days. You can freeze it for 2 months.
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Flavor Variations
This recipe is delicious as-is, but you can easily customize the flavors to suit your tastes.
- Seasonings: Feel free to use a spice blend such as turkey rub, Cajun seasoning, poultry seasoning or even blackened seasoning.
- Herbs: You can swap out the dried thyme for fresh herbs such as parsley, sage or rosemary. Another option is to use a dried herb blend such as Italian seasoning or Greek seasoning.
- Olive Oil: If you like the flavor of olive oil, you can mix some olive oil into your butter.
You simply can’t go wrong with this turkey recipe for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. It’s full of flavor and is sure to please any crowd!
