Sometimes, you do not need a whole turkey or to feed a ton of people for Thanksgiving. That’s when turkey breast in the Instant Pot comes in! Pressure cooker turkey breast is one of the fastest ways to cook a turkey breast, as well as capture and enhance the flavor of the turkey. By using the pressure cooker you will be able to get the flavor of roasting a turkey in less than half the time.
Recipe Ingredient Notes
To cook turkey breast in the Instant Pot, you will need the following ingredients:
- Turkey breast
- Olive oil
- Smoked paprika
- Italian seasoning
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic
Equipment Needed
We use a Instant Pot LUX 6 Quart 6-in-1 Programmable Pressure Cooker. It is basically seven appliances in one. You can use it as a pressure cooker, rice cooker, slow cooker, saute, steamer, cake maker, and warmer.
For this recipe, you only need a few simple kitchen tools. We recommend using the following equipment:
How to Make Instant Pot Turkey Breast
- Start by drizzling the olive oil all over the turkey breast and rub it in very well. Next, take the smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and garlic measure them out and place them in a small bowl and mix everything together.
- Take the spice mixture and rub it all over the whole turkey breast. Making sure it’s covered evenly to distribute the flavor.
- In the bottom of the Instant Pot, place the trivet (the wire rack that comes with the Instant Pot) with the handles up. Afterward, pour a ½ cup of water into the bottom of the Instant Pot.
- Once the Instant Pot is set up, put the seasoned turkey breast into the trivet. Continue by placing the lid on top, be sure close it by turning it all the way as the Instant Pot will not turn on if it’s not secure.
- To start the cooking process, press the MANUAL (or PRESSURE COOK) button and set the timer to 25 minutes. It will not start right away. Once it is fully pressurized the 25 minutes will show up on the digital screen.
- After the 25 minutes is up and the Instant Pot cycle is complete, let the Instant Pot do a natural release. The natural release takes anywhere from 10-15 minutes. You will know it’s done when you hear the pin drop.
- Now you can carefully unlock and remove the lid from the Instant Pot.
- Lift the trivet out of the Instant Pot by grabbing the handles and transfer the turkey breast to a cutting board. Make sure to cover the turkey completely with aluminum foil and let the turkey rest for 10 to 15 minutes before cutting into it.
- If you enjoy a crispier skin then throw the turkey in the broiler for about 5-10 minutes depending on how crispy you want it.
- Then just cut it into slices and serve it with your favorite sides.
Cooking Time
The general rule of thumb for cooking poultry in the Instant Pot is 6 minutes per pound with a 10 minute NPR (Natural Pressure Release).
- 4 lb Turkey or Turkey Breast = 24 minutes + 10 minutes NPR
- 8 lb Turkey or Turkey Breast = 48 minutes + 10 minutes NPR
How to Store Leftover Turkey
Leftover turkey should be cooled down as quickly as possible. The more surface area that is exposed to cold air, the faster your turkey will cool. A whole turkey in a large container will take too long to cool down to a safe temperature, which will give bacteria a chance to multiple.
- In the Refrigerator: Place in an airtight container and place in the the refrigerator. Leftover turkey can store in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.
- In the Freezer: Once cooled, place your turkey flat in an airtight freezer bag. Label your bag with the date. Turkey stored in the freezer will last up 3 months. Thaw in a refrigerator, and use within 1 day of thawing.
- Reheating: Our favorite way to reheat leftover turkey is to warm it on a nonstick pen to give it some extra crispiness. You can also reheat in the oven at 350℉ for 12 to 15 minutes. When reheating in the microwave, heat for 1 to 2 minutes checking every 30 seconds. Try not to overheat your turkey, it can become dry and hard.
Enjoy More Delicious Turkey Recipes
Whether you want to cook your turkey in the Instant Pot, slow cooker, or traditional oven roasting, we have got you covered. Check out our comprehensive collection of turkey recipes here.
- 5 Ways to Cook a Thanksgiving Turkey
- Crockpot Turkey Breast
- Easy Marinated Turkey Breast
- How to Cook a Frozen Turkey in the Instant Pot
- How to Roast a Turkey in a Convection Oven
- Roasted Thanksgiving Turkey
- Slow Cooker Cranberry Turkey Breast
- Slow Cooker Turkey and Stuffing
Instant Pot Turkey Breast Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 lbs turkey breast, thawed
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 Tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup water
Instructions
- Drizzle 1 Tablespoon of olive oil all over the turkey breast and rub it in.
- In a small bowl, combine the spices.
- Rub the spice mixture all over the outside of the turkey breast.
- Add the trivet (wire rack that came with your Instant Pot) into the bottom of the pot. Pour 1/2 cup of water into the pot. Place the turkey on top of the trivet.
- Close the lid and push MANUAL (or PRESSURE COOK) and set the timer to 25 minutes.
- Once the Instant Pot cycle is complete, let the pot do a natural release cycle (should take about 10 to 15 minutes – you will hear the pin drop when the pressure has naturally released).
- Carefully unlock and remove the lid from the Instant Pot.
- Transfer the turkey breast to a cutting board, cover completely with aluminum foil and let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes before cutting into it.
- If crispier skin is desired, broil it in the oven for an additional 5-10 minutes.
- Cut turkey into slices and serve.
Notes
- 4 lb Turkey or Turkey Breast = 24 minutes + 10 minutes NPR
- 8 lb Turkey or Turkey Breast = 48 minutes + 10 minutes NPR
Nutrition
Video
Did You Make This Recipe?We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave a review or a question in the comment section below the post.
Have you ever cooked a frozen turkey breast in the Instant Pot? Do you have any instructions for that? TIA!
Just 1/2 cup of water? I thought you always needed at least a whole cup…Just checking before I try this 🙂
I’m also curious if you can do the frozen turkey breast too? I have a 6lb JennyO
We added 1/2 cup to the instant pot turkey breast.
In the YouTube video for this recipe, you didn’t mention using the trivet…Does it matter if you use it or not?
How can bone-in Turkey breast be used?
I have an electric pressure cooker not an instant pot. Do I choose low pressure or high pressure?
Can I put two 3 lb breasts in the instant pot together? They might have to stack on top of each other. Would that change the cook time?
You want to try and not stack them if possible.
Will there be enough juice to make gravy?
Yes, there was over 3 cups of juice to make gravy.
Hi. Can I use chicken broth instead of water?
Yes, you can definitely use chicken broth instead of water!!
Would the cool time need to be adjusted for a bone in turkey? I’m wanting to make this for Christmas but have never made it in a pressure cooker before. Actually, this will be my first turkey ever!!!!
Sorry, I meant to say cook time not cool time. Auto correct won again! Lol
It should be the same. Best of luck with your turkey.
I see other people have asked about doing a frozen turkey breast, but no reply. So I am going to ask again. Can you do a frozen turkey breast and if so, how do I adjust the time. It may be partially thawed by the time I want to start it.
COOKING TIME FOR INSTANT POT TURKEY BREAST USING FROZEN MEAT:
3 pounds turkey breast = 39 minutes cooking time on High Pressure with a 15 minutes Natural Pressure Release
3.5 pounds turkey breast = 46 minutes cooking time on High Pressure with a 15 minutes Natural Pressure Release
4 pounds turkey breast = 52 minutes cooking time on High Pressure with a 15 minutes Natural Pressure Release
4.5 pounds turkey breast = 60 minutes cooking time on High Pressure with a 15 minutes Natural Pressure Release
5 pounds turkey breast = 65 minutes cooking time on High Pressure with a 15 minutes Natural Pressure Release
The paprika was overpowering . Would leave that out. I did a 3# turkey roast.
I was wondering the same thing.
I loved this recipe! I was in charge of cooking the turkey for Thanksgiving and was cooking for family I had not seen in a while. I didn’t want a dry turkey breast and this recipe didn’t let me down. Thank you for making it so easy.
We are so happy that it worked for you! It’s an easy way to cook a moist and tender turkey breast.
Tried this this week and it was awesome!!
Hi Jill, so glad you liked the IP Turkey Breast. It’s so easy and delicious.
This recipe is so easy and delicious! I prefer not making a whole turkey at Thanksgiving, and this is my favorite recipe because it opens up the oven for sides and desserts.
This was the easiest and best tasting turkey breast EVER! It was so tender you could cut it with a fork. Amazing recipe! Thank you!