Instant Pot Turkey Breast is super juicy, ready in under an hour, and is complete with gravy all in one pot. It’s perfect for saving time, money and it produces less waste when you’re feeding a smaller crowd!
Don’t have Instant Pot? Make my boneless turkey breast roast or bone-in turkey breast or here is how to cook turkey legs for all dark meat lovers. All are delicious, juicy, and easy as well!
Table of contents
Why Make Turkey Breast in the Instant Pot?
- So easy: Plump turkey breast results with little effort. If hosting, a little less time in the kitchen and a little more time with your guests is always a good thing.
- Delicious and juicy: Turkey, especially white meat is generally drier. Pressure cooking in the Instant Pot retains moisture resulting in meat that is juicy and tender.
- Fast: A turkey dinner ready in 40 minutes. Who would have thought?!
- Saves space: Save oven room for your healthy sides – or maybe you don’t need to turn the oven on at all!
- Small crowd: Only cook what you need for a smaller gathering- without worrying you will be eating leftover turkey for days on end!
Ingredients
- Fresh or frozen turkey breast: You can use bone in turkey breasts or boneless turkey breast. See below for a detailed guide.
- Olive oil: Used to coat the turkey to not only help it cook and stay moist but it also helps the spices and seasonings to stick to the bird.
- Seasoning: Fresh grated garlic, smoked paprika, dried rosemary, and salt & pepper.
- Cornstarch: Once you cook a turkey breast, thicken up the juices to make a delicious gravy!
Types of Turkey Breast You Can Use
There are 3 types of turkey breast you can use. Choose any one for this Instant Pot turkey breast recipe!
- Bone-in turkey breasts removed straight from a turkey. The ingredients photo above shows my 5 lb turkey breast I got at Costco. White meat is still attached to the bone for additional flavor.
- Turkey breast meat in a mesh pouch. It is simply boneless meat rolled into a turkey tenderloin that is held together by a mesh. It can be sold in a plastic tray covered with plastic or in a box. Do not remove the mesh or twine when you cook boneless turkey breast Instant Pot.
- Frozen turkey breast is an option, too. I have tested it and you just have to make sure to rinse meat to remove frost for the oil and spices to stick. Cooking time will be longer as will the time it takes for the Instant Pot to come to pressure. Or here is how to thaw a turkey breast in cold water quickly.
How to Make Instant Pot Turkey Breast
- Prep: Add 1 cup water and trivet to 6 quart or 8 quart Instant Pot. Mesh roast can fit into a 3 quart pot. Place turkey in a bowl or cutting board and trim the fat. Rub the turkey breast with olive oil and sprinkle it with spices.
- Add turkey: To the Instant Pot, place the turkey breast side up onto the trivet. Close the lid, and set the valve to the Sealing position.
- Cooking: Cook a turkey breast on High pressure, then allow the pressure to come down on its own until the pin drops. This is called a natural pressure release.
For a fresh turkey breast you’ll cook it for 6 minutes per pound. If it’s frozen, you’ll cook it for 10 minutes per pound.
- Broil: Remove the turkey onto a foil-lined baking sheet and broil until the skin is golden brown and crispy.
- Make the gravy: Press Sauté, whisk in cold water and cornstarch (a slurry) right into the Instant Pot with the delicious cooking liquid infused with flavor from the drippings and cook until thickened.
How Long to Cook Turkey Breast in Instant Pot
Fresh – 6 minutes per lb with Natural Pressure Release (takes about 10-15 minutes):
- 2 lbs = 12 mins
- 3 lbs = 18 mins
- 4 lbs = 24 mins
- 5 lbs = 30 mins
- 6 lbs = 36 mins
- 7 lbs = 42 mins
- 8 lbs = 50 mins
Frozen – 10 minutes per lb with Natural Pressure Release.
- 2 lbs = 20 mins
- 3 lbs = 30 mins
- 4 lbs = 40 mins
- 5 lbs = 50 mins
- 6 lbs = 60 mins
- 7 lbs = 70 mins
- 8 lbs = 80 mins
Check for doneness. The most efficient way of knowing whether your breast is fully cooked is to use a thermometer. It should be at 165 degrees F when checking the thickest part of the breast.
Optional Add-In’s and Variations
- Use chicken broth or turkey broth instead of water for even more flavor for the gravy and infused in the meat as well.
- Switch up the seasoning from rosemary to thyme, tarragon, or sage, or a simple blend of Italian seasoning. Make this turkey breast rub recipe with very simple spices from your spice drawers.
- If you like a bit of smoky flavour to your turkey, try smoked paprika.
- Poultry seasoning is another popular blend used around the holidays, especially for stuffing. Use it on the turkey breast too!
- Vegetables: Before turning on the Instant Pot, add onions, celery, and carrots, to the liquid and remove just before making the gravy. So good!
Tips for Best Results
- Roast and Instant Pot size: I fit a 5 lb roast into my 6 quart Instant Pot Lux but truthfully it could fit up to 7 lbs. If you have an 8-quart size, it can hold up to a 9 lb turkey breast or a whole mini turkey.
- Don’t do quick release: The meat won’t be fully cooked.
- Digital thermometer: Although we’re not cooking an entire turkey, and my instructions are pretty much foolproof, it’s never a bad idea to use a thermometer to check the internal temperature, just in case!
- Pat dry: There’s no need to rinse your turkey breast before cooking, although I know some people will anyway. If you do, be sure to pat it dry before doing anything else.
- Always sear after: I tried to sear turkey breast before cooking on Saute mode and prefer broiling after. Turkey skin comes out more roasted instead of poached.
- Frozen turkey: Yes, it’s possible to cook Instant Pot frozen turkey. BUT, whenever possible thaw first.
FAQs
You absolutely can if you want to but it’s not a must. The brine is meant to add flavor and moisture to the meat, but the Instant Pot does that all on its own. It’s up to you!
Definitely. Although, if there’s a choice between using frozen or thawed from frozen, I would recommend thawing turkey breast. The seasoning will adhere better and the cooking time will be faster.
You bet! The Costco turkey breast as pictured has a bone that gives it great flavour and is just as easy to cook as any boneless turkey breast Instant Pot.
The Instant Pot captures the moisture by using steam and cooking the turkey under pressure. You want to make sure to do everything you can to maintain those results before serving! The first thing is to allow it to rest before slicing. Let the juices settle so they don’t run out leaving the turkey breast dry. For added assurance, you could use brine (although not necessary). Serving it with a luscious thick gravy is another surefire way to keep it nice and moist.
Submerge it in cold water. Seems counterintuitive right? It works! Use this method to defrost any meat. Not necessarily because it’s faster than using warm water, but it is safer. Keep meat in cold water for up to 5 hours, changing the water as needed to keep it cold.
Not exactly. The tenderloin is just a part of the whole breast. So, it’s skinless and boneless whereas the whole breast will contain the skin and the bone. Either one can be used in this recipe.
You bet. Season it the same way, and cook on low for 4 hours. You won’t get the same amount of liquid in the end, but that’s ok, you can make gravy on the side! Place it under the broiler to get a crispy golden finish.
Or just make my slow cooker turkey breast.
Yes, and there’s no need to remove the net to do it!
Servings Recommendations
Here are classics made healthy so you can enjoy the holidays and not feel “blah” the day after. Don’t get me wrong, you’ll still need your stretchy pants! 😉
- Healthy mashed potatoes or healthy mashed sweet potatoes
- Instant Pot sweet potato casserole or healthy sweet potato casserole
- Healthy green bean casserole or garlic green beans
- Gravy and cranberry sauce
- Instant Pot mashed potatoes (if you have 2 or 3 Instant Pots like me haha) or Instant Pot baked potatoes.
- Steamed vegetables.
Alternately, browse through more than 50 healthy Thanksgiving recipes!
Making This Recipe in Advance
- Storing: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Reheating: Reheat in a pot with a lid. Add a splash of broth and drippings and simmer on low. It will create a bit of steam for moisture. Do not bake as it will dry out the meat.
- Freezing: Cooked turkey leftovers freeze very well. Freeze cubed turkey meat in measured-out portions in glass containers for casseroles and salad. I freeze the carcass in a giant Ziploc bag for soups.
More Instant Pot Recipes to Try
Browse through all my healthy Instant Pot recipes!
Juicy Turkey Breast in Instant Pot
Equipment
Ingredients
- 5 lbs fresh or frozen turkey breast
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large garlic clove grated
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp dried rosemary
- 1 3/4 tsp salt
- Ground black pepper to taste
- 3 tbsp cornstarch
Instructions
- Add 1 cup water and trivet to 6 or 8 quart Instant Pot. Mesh roast could fit into 3 quart.
- Trim fat from the turkey if necessary. Mix smoked paprika, rosemary, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Rub turkey breast with oil, garlic and sprinkle with spices. You can do it in a bowl, on a platter or right inside Instant Pot if you pour 1 cup water after on the side w/o washing off spices.
- Remove turkey onto baking sheet. Broil turkey breast until skin is golden brown and crispy.
- Now you can make gravy with the drippings right in Instant Pot. Press Saute and whisk 1/4 cup cold water with 3 tbsp cornstarch. Pour into bubbling drippings, whisk to combine.
- Cook until gravy has thickened, about 1-2 minutes. Press Cancel.
- Slice turkey breast roast against the grain with sharp long knife. Serve hot with gravy and your favorite side dishes.
Video
Notes
- Store: Refrigerate leftovers for up to 5 days.
- Freeze: In portions for up to 3 months and use in sandwiches, salads, frittatas, casseroles and soups.
- How Long to Cook Turkey Breast in Instant Pot
- Fresh – 6 minutes per lb with Natural Release (takes about 10-15 minutes):
- 2 lbs = 12 mins
- 3 lbs = 18 mins
- 4 lbs = 24 mins
- 5 lbs = 30 mins
- 6 lbs = 36 mins
- 7 lbs = 42 mins
- 8 lbs = 50 mins
- Frozen – 10 minutes per lb with Natural Release.
- 2 lbs = 20 mins
- 3 lbs = 30 mins
- 4 lbs = 40 mins
- 5 lbs = 50 mins
- 6 lbs = 60 mins
- 7 lbs = 70 mins
- 8 lbs = 80 mins
- Instant Pot size: I fit in 5 lbs roast into my 6 quart Instant Pot Lux and could fit in up to 7 lbs. 8 quart can hold even 8-9 lbs turkey breast or a whole mini turkey. Do not do Quick Release as meat might be not fully ready and come out dry.
If I am cooking two 3lb. Boneless breasts do I use the time for 3lbs or 6 lbs?
You use time for 3 pounds. It’s about the thickness rather than the amount when it comes to roasts in Instant Pot.
I made a 2 pound turkey breast using this recipe for my brother and his wife tonight. The turkey was nice and juicy and my brother kept commenting on the delicious smokey flavour. He said that it was like it had been done on the bbq! Thanks so much for this recipe! I’ve been volunteered to cook for thanksgiving this year, too!
So happy to hear, Donna!
Delicious! I have a suggestion, though. Perhaps you should include the very necessary 1-cup of water in the Ingredients section of the recipe. New Instant Pot users are apt to forget it.
Omg. Perfect tender juicy Turkey!
Thanks for the review, glad you enjoyed!
I am going to cook a small turkey breast in the instant pot for Thanksgiving according to your directions. I am confident my Turkey will turn out delicious ….but one question:
Can I add two Turkey drumsticks along side or on top of the turkey in the instant pot?
I would like to serve the drumsticks to someone who loves them. Not sure how it would work. Could you please advise ?
Hi Marian. You sure can but make sure there is enough empty space for pressure to build up – depends what size is your pot and meat too. I would make sure Instant Pot comes to pressure when you do that, before walking away, just to be safe. Otherwise, should work.