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Get It NowI’m all about easy cooking, especially when it comes to hosting a holiday meal. That’s why I love this Instant Pot turkey breast recipe. It’s a game-changer for making a tender, juicy turkey without all the fuss of a whole Thanksgiving turkey. Like my other Instant Pot recipes, it saves time and it’s totally hands-off, without compromising on flavor. If you want to make the perfect turkey with minimal effort, this recipe is for you!
Why You’ll Love This Instant Pot Turkey Breast
- Tender, juicy turkey breast
- Savory herby flavor
- Common pantry ingredients
- Hands-off cooking (the pressure cooker does all the work!)
- Faster cook time and less messy than roasting or baking
- Perfect for a hassle-free Thanksgiving dinner
Ingredients & Substitutions
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for cooking turkey breast in the Instant Pot what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
- Turkey Breast – I used a 4-pound bone-in turkey breast, but you can use any size that will fit in your Instant Pot. While you could cook a frozen turkey breast in the Instant Pot, I don’t recommend it because it won’t cook evenly and will take a long time.
- Unsalted Butter – Let it sit on the counter for about 30 minutes to soften.
- Fresh Herbs – I made a compound butter with a combination of fresh thyme leaves, fresh sage, and fresh rosemary. You can use other fresh or dried herbs, such as parsley, tarragon, oregano, my Italian seasoning recipe, or my poultry seasoning recipe. If using dried, use 1 teaspoon to replace each tablespoon of fresh.
- Garlic – Fresh has the best flavor, but if you want to save time, use 1/2 tablespoon of jarred minced garlic instead. You can also add a couple tablespoons of grated onion for extra flavor if you like.
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper
- Chicken Broth – This is the liquid necessary for the bottom of the Instant Pot. I use the reduced sodium kind, but feel free to substitute with regular broth, bone broth, or even just water.
How To Cook Turkey Breast In An Instant Pot
This section shows how to make Instant Pot turkey breast, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Prep the herb butter. In a small bowl, mash together butter, fresh herbs, garlic, sea salt and black pepper.
- Spread over the turkey. Dry the turkey breast with paper towels. Rub the butter mixture on the turkey breast, both under and over the skin. (Be careful not to tear it.)
- Pressure cook. Pour the chicken broth into the bottom of an Instant Pot, and add the trivet. Place the turkey breast in the Instant Pot on top of the trivet. Close the lid, turn the valve to the Sealing position, and cook (see time chart below depending on the weight of your turkey breast). Use the natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then move the knob to the quick release.
- Broil. Transfer the turkey breast to a baking dish or roasting pan. Place under the broiler in the oven, until the skin is browned and crispy.
- Rest. Remove the turkey breast from the oven, tent the top with foil for a few minutes before you cut into slices.
How Long To Cook Turkey Breast In The Instant Pot?
Pressure cook turkey breast in the Instant Pot for 6 minutes per pound. For a 4 pound turkey breast, that would be 24 minutes. Then, broil in the oven for 5-6 minutes, until the skin is crispy and the turkey breast is cooked through.
TIP: Use a meat thermometer to check internal temperature.
Check the internal temp of the turkey breast with a meat thermometer (I like this one) after pressure cooking — it should reach 155 to 160 degrees F. Then, it should reach 160 to 165 degrees F after broiling, and at least 165 degrees F after resting.
If the internal temperature has not reached at least 160 degrees F after broiling, reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and bake until it reaches that temperature.
Storage Instructions
- Store: Keep turkey breast in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days.
- Reheat: You can actually reheat turkey breast in the Instant Pot! Fill the bottom with a cup of chicken broth, place your desired amount of turkey onto the trivet, and pressure cook for 3-5 minutes depending on the amount you’re heating. You can also use the oven or microwave, though the microwave will dry it out more.
- Freeze: Once completely cooled, put the meat (you can keep the bone or cut it into pieces) in a zip lock bag, squeeze out extra air, and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
What To Serve With Instant Pot Turkey Breast
I have a variety of Thanksgiving side dishes you can make! Here are a few of my go-to choices:
- Gravy – If you want to make turkey gravy, you can use the turkey drippings from the bottom of the Instant Pot and cook it on the stovetop with a little cornstarch or a cornstarch substitute.
- Potatoes – Make a heaping pot of mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, or healthier cauliflower mash.
- Classic Sides – Try roasted green beans (pictured above), healty roasted sweet potatoes, or an easy Thanksgiving salad.
- Appetizers – A festive Thanksgiving charcuterie board is the perfect start to your meal. But you can’t go wrong with bacon deviled eggs or a warm spinach artichoke dip, either.
- Dessert – For a lighter twist on a classic, make crustless pumpkin pie.
Ideas For Leftovers
There are so many ways to enjoy leftover turkey besides just reheating it. Check out these ideas for leftovers:
- Soup – Create a turkey soup or give traditional ground turkey soup a comforting twist by using leftover turkey.
- Casserole – Transform meat into a leftover turkey casserole with veggies, cranberry sauce, cheese, and nuts. You can also switch out the meat in a breakfast casserole for turkey.
- Salads – Tear the turkey into pieces and use it in a chicken Caesar salad (instead of the chicken) or make a turkey salad that pairs perfectly with crackers or vegetables.
More Easy Turkey Breast Recipes
Looking for more ways to cook up a Thanksgiving turkey breast? Here are some more of my tried and true recipes:
Recommended Tools
- Instant Pot – Any Instant Pot will work, but this is the one I use and it’s great.
- Baking Dish – This baking dish holds my 4-pound turkey breast perfectly, but you could use any dish that has high sides.
Instant Pot Turkey Breast
Instant Pot Turkey Breast
This Instant Pot turkey breast recipe is super juicy and flavorful, with fresh herbs and garlic. The perfect hassle-free holiday meal!
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Ingredients
Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them. Please turn Safari reader mode OFF to view ingredients.
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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Pat the turkey breast dry with a paper towel.
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In a small bowl, mash together the butter, fresh herbs, garlic, sea salt and black pepper.
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Run your hands underneath the skin to separate it from the meat. Rub the butter mixture on the turkey breast, both under and over the skin.
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Add the chicken broth to the bottom of the instant pot, along with the trivet.
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Place the turkey on the trivet. Close the lid, turn the knob to Sealing, and cook on High pressure. Set the time to 6 minutes per pound (that was 24 minutes for my 4-pound turkey breast, but adjust based on the weight of yours).
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Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes. At the same time, preheat the oven to Broil on High. After 10 minutes, switch the knob to Venting to release any remaining pressure. The temperature of the turkey breast should be at least 155-160 degrees F (71 degrees C) at this point.
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Transfer the turkey breast to a baking dish. Broil in the oven for 5-6 minutes, until the skin is browned and crispy. If the internal temperature has not reached at least 160 degrees F (71 degrees C) by this point (it should), reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F (177 degrees F) and bake until it reaches that temperature.
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Remove the turkey breast from the oven, tent the top with foil, and rest for 10 minutes. As it rests, the temperature will increase about 5 degrees.
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Recipe Notes
Serving size: 6-8 oz cooked turkey breast, or 1/4 entire recipe
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
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9 Comments
Debbie Stikeleather
0I could not find cooking times for less than 4 pounds lbs. How long for a 2 lbs. and 21/2 lbs? 3 lbs?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Debbie, You will have to reduce the cook time for a turkey breast less than 4 pounds.
Jackie
0How much time should I allow for a boneless turkey breast? Any other adjustments? Thanks.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Jackie, For boneless turkey I suggest following my instant pot chicken breast recipe.
Tammy
0This is a great idea for a smaller crowd when there’s just no need for a big turkey. I love that it’s made in the IP so the oven is free for everything else. I tried it out for dinner last weekend as a test run since it’s also perfect for a Sunday meal and we loved it. Can’t wait to make it for the holiday!
Ana
0I was craving some turkey so I was searching for ideas and this was perfect! I made it and I really love the result, savory, tender, and so juicy! Plus I really like the herby flavors too! I’ll definitely make this again 🙂
Bea
0This Instant Pot turkey breast recipe is a game-changer for anyone who loves a hassle-free holiday meal! I tried it for a small gathering, and the result was a perfectly juicy and flavorful turkey. The blend of fresh herbs and garlic infused the meat with a savory goodness.
Davi
0I just did a test run of this recipe before the big day next week. It came out so well! There are only two of us in my household so a whole turkey just doesn’t make sense. Glad to have found this recipe.
Lea
0I made this recipe for a potluck and it was a hit in the crowd! Everyone loved the juicy and flavorful turkey breast, and they were impressed with the food presentation. I’m so happy with it! I served it with some mashed potatoes and green beans, and it was a perfect meal. I will definitely make it again!