Effortlessly Delicious: The Ultimate Instant Pot Turkey Breast for Juicy, Tender Results Every Time

Say goodbye to dry, flavorless turkey and hello to the most succulent Instant Pot Turkey Breast you’ve ever tasted! This recipe is a game-changer, especially for those intimate holiday gatherings or even a cozy Sunday dinner when you’re not feeding a massive crowd. Forget spending an entire day glued to the kitchen; this method takes the pressure off, allowing you more time to relax and enjoy the company of your loved ones. The turkey breast emerges from the Instant Pot incredibly juicy, exceptionally tender, and infused with the aromatic flavors of fresh herbs. Plus, by cooking it alongside a bed of vibrant potatoes and carrots, you create a complete, incredible one-pot meal that simplifies both cooking and cleanup.

Not every celebration demands a colossal turkey to feed twenty-plus people. For those moments when you’re envisioning a more comfortable and intimate setting – perhaps a smaller Thanksgiving feast or a special family meal – this Instant Pot turkey breast recipe is your perfect solution. It delivers a deeply satisfying and flavorful main course without the stress, making your day significantly easier and more enjoyable. Enjoying a perfectly cooked turkey doesn’t have to be a monumental task.

To elevate your holiday table with more festive flair, consider serving this delightful turkey with complementary side dishes. This easy Sweet Potato Goat Cheese Salad offers a beautiful balance of sweet and tangy flavors. Pair it with this rich and creamy Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese for a comforting touch that everyone will adore. For a seasonal vegetable option, this Roasted Red Kuri Squash makes a visually stunning and delicious addition to your spread. Whether you’re preparing for a grand holiday or a quiet family meal, you’ll undoubtedly appreciate spending less time bustling in the kitchen and more cherished moments gathered around the table.

Essential Ingredients for Your Instant Pot Turkey Breast

Crafting the perfect Instant Pot Turkey Breast begins with selecting quality ingredients that contribute to its exceptional flavor and texture. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll need and why each component is vital:

• Chicken stock: This liquid is crucial for generating the steam needed for pressure cooking, preventing scorching at the bottom of the pot, and infusing the turkey with savory depth. It also forms the delicious foundation for an effortless gravy once the turkey is cooked. While water can be used, chicken stock significantly enhances the overall flavor.
• Optional veggies: A flavorful bed of vegetables – such as onions, potatoes, carrots, and celery – isn’t just a place for the turkey to rest; it’s an integral part of this one-pot meal. These vegetables absorb the turkey drippings and stock, becoming incredibly tender and flavorful side dishes themselves. They also help elevate the turkey breast slightly, promoting more even cooking.
• Butter: Not only does butter add richness and flavor, but it’s also key to keeping the turkey breast wonderfully moist. When rubbed under the skin, it creates a protective barrier that locks in juices and helps the fresh herbs and garlic adhere to the meat, creating a compound butter that melts and bastes the turkey from the inside out. For a dairy-free option, olive oil can be substituted.
• Fresh herbs: The combination of fresh parsley, sage, thyme, and rosemary, along with minced garlic, provides that classic, aromatic holiday flavor profile. These herbs infuse the turkey with a fragrant, savory essence that sets this dish apart. Feel free to adjust the proportions or incorporate other fresh herbs you love, such as oregano or marjoram, to suit your taste.
• Boneless skin-on turkey breast: For Instant Pot cooking, a boneless turkey breast is highly recommended. It cooks more quickly and uniformly, ensuring every slice is perfectly tender. The skin provides an extra layer of flavor and protection, although it won’t become crispy in the pressure cooker (you can achieve this with a quick broil!).
• Olive oil: Drizzled over the skin, olive oil helps to develop a beautiful golden hue during cooking and creates a slight barrier that seals in moisture, ensuring the exterior of the turkey remains tender and flavorful.
• Kosher salt + black pepper: These fundamental seasonings are essential for enhancing all the other flavors. Properly salting and peppering the turkey breast is crucial for a well-balanced and delicious result. Kosher salt provides a clean, even flavor.

Simple Steps to Making Instant Pot Turkey Breast

Creating this juicy Instant Pot turkey breast is surprisingly straightforward. Follow these easy instructions for a perfectly cooked meal:

• First, place the trivet insert into the bottom of your Instant Pot. This raises the turkey slightly above the liquid, allowing for even steaming and preventing it from sitting directly in the stock.
• Pour the chicken stock into the Instant Pot. If you’re using the optional bed of vegetables, arrange them in an even layer over the trivet. This provides a flavorful foundation for your turkey and becomes a delicious side dish.
• In a small bowl, combine the softened butter with minced garlic, parsley, rosemary, sage, and thyme. Mix thoroughly to create an aromatic herb butter.
• Pat the turkey breast dry with paper towels. This helps the seasoning adhere better. Gently lift the skin away from the meat without completely detaching it, and carefully rub the prepared herb butter mixture evenly under the skin. This ensures maximum flavor and moisture retention from within.
• Drizzle olive oil over the top of the turkey skin, then generously sprinkle with kosher salt and black pepper. Rub the seasoning all over the skin to coat it thoroughly.
• Place the turkey breast on the trivet (or on top of your veggie bed), skin side up. This orientation helps to achieve the best texture for the skin, even if you plan to broil it later for crispiness.
• Securely attach the Instant Pot lid and ensure the steam release valve is set to the “sealing” position.
• Select the “Pressure Cook” or “Manual” setting and set the cooking time for 35 minutes. The Instant Pot will take some time to come to pressure before the cooking cycle begins.
• Once the pressure cooking cycle is complete, allow a natural pressure release for 15 minutes. This gentle release helps the turkey remain exceptionally juicy. After 15 minutes, carefully switch the valve to the “venting” position to quick-release any remaining pressure.
• Carefully remove the cooked turkey breast from the Instant Pot. If you prefer crispy skin, transfer the breast to a baking sheet and broil it for 3-4 minutes, or until it reaches your desired level of crispness. Watch it closely, as broiler temperatures can cause quick burning.
• Allow the turkey to rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Resting is crucial as it allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring every slice is tender and moist. Slice against the grain and serve immediately.
• Store any leftover turkey in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Expert Tips for a Perfect Instant Pot Turkey

• This Instant Pot turkey dinner is generously portioned to feed 6 people comfortably. The entire process is efficient, requiring only 25 minutes for prep and a mere 35 minutes for pressure cooking, plus the time for the pot to come to pressure and release.
• Keep in mind that turkey skin cooked in the Instant Pot won’t achieve the same crispiness as oven-roasted turkey. If you typically don’t eat the skin, simply discard it before slicing and serving.
• However, if crispy skin is a must-have for you, it’s easily achievable! After pressure cooking, transfer the turkey breast to a baking sheet and place it under a broiler for 3-4 minutes. Keep a very close eye on it, as broiler heat can brown and burn quickly. Broil until it reaches your desired golden crispness.
• Before you begin prepping, always double-check that your turkey breast fits comfortably inside your pressure cooker pot. This avoids any last-minute surprises. A 6-quart Instant Pot, for instance, typically accommodates turkey breasts weighing up to 5 to 6 pounds.
• For food safety and perfect doneness, it’s essential to use a meat thermometer. Insert it into the thickest part of the turkey breast, ensuring it doesn’t touch any bone (if using bone-in). The internal temperature should register 165°F (74°C). This guarantees your turkey is fully cooked and safe to eat.
• One of the best advantages of the Instant Pot is making gravy from the drippings directly in the same pot! Utilize the sauté setting to thicken the flavorful liquid, eliminating the need to wash an extra pan.
• Leftover turkey can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. To maintain freshness, transfer the turkey breast to a container within two hours of cooking. It’s absolutely delicious reheated or repurposed in creative ways, such as these tasty Stuffing Balls, sandwiches, or salads.
• If you wish to freeze leftover turkey, place it in an airtight, sealable bag or container, label it with the date, and it will remain good for up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw the frozen turkey in the refrigerator overnight, then gently warm it in the microwave at 50% power in 45-second intervals until it is thoroughly heated through.

How Long to Pressure Cook Turkey Breast in an Instant Pot?

Determining the exact cooking time for turkey breast in an Instant Pot involves a few key variables. The weight and, more importantly, the thickness of your turkey breast are the primary factors. Therefore, there isn’t a single “one-size-fits-all” answer.

Generally, the weight of a boneless turkey breast serves as a good starting point. For this recipe, we used a 3-pound boneless, skin-on turkey breast, which cooked perfectly in 35 minutes. If your breast is heavier, you will need to add a few more minutes to the cooking time. A good rule of thumb is approximately 6-7 minutes per pound for boneless turkey breast.

However, thickness is equally, if not more, important than weight. Boneless turkey breasts can vary significantly in their dimensions. A thinner, longer breast will naturally cook faster than a thicker, more robust one of the same weight. Always prioritize cooking to temperature rather than strictly by time.

Using a reliable meat thermometer is absolutely essential for cooking any type of meat safely and accurately. We highly recommend checking the internal temperature of the thickest part of the breast. It must reach 165°F (74°C) to ensure it is thoroughly cooked and safe to consume.

Bone-in or Boneless Turkey Breast?

Both bone-in and boneless turkey breasts can be successfully cooked in an Instant Pot. For this recipe, we opted for boneless, primarily because it tends to cook more evenly and often a bit faster, making it a great choice for beginners or those seeking maximum convenience.

While bone-in turkey breast can impart a slightly richer flavor due to the bone marrow, it doesn’t drastically alter the pressure cooking times. Again, the thickness and overall weight of the breast remain the most critical factors for determining doneness, regardless of whether it’s bone-in or boneless.

Should You Brine the Turkey Breast?

When cooking turkey breast in an Instant Pot, brining is generally not necessary. The pressure cooker creates an incredibly moist cooking environment, essentially steaming the turkey, which makes it highly unlikely for the turkey breast to dry out. This method naturally yields a perfectly juicy and tender turkey without the extra step of brining.

However, for traditional oven-roasted turkey, brining is a popular technique because it helps the meat absorb extra moisture and seasons it deeply, resulting in an exceptionally tender and moist bird. Salt in the brine also helps to break down muscle fibers, further contributing to tenderness.

If you still wish to brine for added flavor or an extra layer of moisture, you can dissolve ¾ cup of salt in enough water to completely cover your turkey breast. Submerge the breast, cover the container, and soak it overnight in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to cook, rinse the breast thoroughly under cold water to remove excess salt, pat it dry, and then proceed with the recipe instructions.

Which Pressure Cooker Was Used?

For this recipe, we used the 6-Quart Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker. This versatile kitchen appliance is a true workhorse, offering a wide array of functions that make cooking a breeze. Beyond being an excellent pressure cooker, it also functions as a slow cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker, steamer, sauté pan, and food warmer. Its multi-functional design makes it an indispensable tool for any modern kitchen.

Why Choose an Instant Pot for Turkey Breast?

The Instant Pot truly revolutionizes turkey preparation, transforming a potentially daunting task into an incredibly simple and rewarding experience. Here’s why it’s the ultimate choice for turkey breast:

• Effortless and Fast: It dramatically cuts down cooking time compared to traditional oven roasting. You can have a perfectly cooked, flavorful meal on the table in a fraction of the time.
• Unrivaled Juiciness: The pressure cooking environment ensures the turkey meat retains an extraordinary amount of moisture, resulting in the juiciest turkey you might ever taste. No more dry, disappointing breast meat!
• Stress-Free Cooking: On busy holiday occasions, when you’re juggling appetizers, multiple side dishes, and desserts, the Instant Pot handles the main course with minimal fuss. This frees up valuable oven space and your time, significantly reducing overall kitchen stress.
• More Time for Joy: By simplifying the cooking process, the Instant Pot allows you to spend more precious moments with family and friends, rather than being confined to the kitchen. You can even dedicate more time to perfecting those delightful desserts!

If you don’t own an Instant Pot yet, fret not! A Smoked Turkey is another fantastic option for a flavorful main course. And for those who love experimenting, consider trying this Instant Pot Round Steak for a different, equally delicious meal in your pressure cooker.

How to Make Homemade Turkey Gravy in the Instant Pot

Don’t let those flavorful turkey drippings go to waste! Making a rich, homemade gravy directly in your Instant Pot is incredibly easy and adds the perfect finishing touch to your meal:

• After removing the turkey, carefully drain the drippings from the Instant Pot through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl. This step will catch any larger pieces of onions, garlic, or herbs, resulting in a smooth gravy. If you desire a heartier, more rustic flavor, you can press the softened onions and garlic through the sieve into the stock.
• Pour about 2 cups of the strained stock back into the Instant Pot.
• In a small separate bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with ¼ cup of cold water until a smooth slurry forms. This prevents lumps in your gravy.
• Turn on the Instant Pot’s “Sauté” setting (on normal or medium heat). Slowly whisk the cornstarch slurry into the simmering stock in the Instant Pot.
• Continue to whisk gently and bring the mixture to a simmer. It will gradually thicken as it heats. Cook for a few minutes until it reaches your desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary.

You can store any remaining turkey stock (after making gravy) once it has cooled. Transfer it to a freezer-safe ziploc bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months. It’s a fantastic base for delicious homemade turkey soups during the winter months; simply thaw and add your favorite vegetables and noodles.

What to Serve with This Delicious Turkey Breast

A perfectly cooked Instant Pot Turkey Breast deserves an equally delightful array of side dishes. Here are some fantastic pairings to complete your meal:

• This creamy Corn Chowder makes a wonderful and comforting starter for any special meal. It’s brimming with fresh corn, sweet onions, tender potatoes, fragrant fresh thyme, and savory bits of crispy bacon, offering a harmonious blend of flavors and textures.
• For a classic yet inclusive option, these Dairy-free Mashed Potatoes are incredibly creamy and rich. They come with clever tricks to ensure you achieve perfectly smooth mashed potatoes every time, avoiding any dreaded gummy textures.
• For a vibrant and nutritious vegetable side, this Roasted Red Kuri Squash is both beautiful and flavorful. Its sweet, nutty taste complements the savory turkey wonderfully. Similarly, these Roasted Sweet Potatoes offer a delicious and naturally sweet accompaniment.
• Brighten your meal with this Tuscan-style Panzanella Salad. It’s a hearty bread salad generously loaded with juicy fresh tomatoes, peppery arugula, crunchy cucumbers, thinly sliced sweet red onions, and zesty capers, providing a refreshing contrast to the rich turkey.

We truly hope you enjoy this effortless and delicious Instant Pot Turkey Breast dinner. If you give it a try, we’d love to see your culinary creations! Please snap a pic and tag us using #fooddoodlesrecipes so we can easily find and admire your dishes. Happy cooking!