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 Turkey
- Convection Oven Whole Turkey
- Instant Pot Whole Turkey
- Leftover Thanksgiving Dinner Casserole
- Marinated Turkey Breast
- Slow Cooker Cranberry Turkey Breast
- Slow Cooker Turkey and Stuffing
- Slow Cooker Turkey Breast
- Thanksgiving Turkey
Instant Pot Turkey Breast Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 4 lbs turkey breast, thawed
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 Tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons 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
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.
Questions & Reviews