Instant Pot Turkey Breast is a great and easy way to cook your Thanksgiving Turkey! Cooking turkey breast in a pressure cooker takes off all the pressure of holiday dinners. This recipe is quick, easy, and always leads to juicy turkey!

Instant pot turkey breast with gravy and mashed potatoes on a plate.

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Why We Love This Instant Pot Turkey Breast Recipe

Cooking a turkey can be intimidating, so we love to make this simple, juicy, and delicious Instant Pot Turkey Breast. It has graced our table several times and it’s a family favorite.

  • Quick. From start to finish, this recipe only takes 1 hour!
  • Easy. You only need a few ingredients and a pressure cooker to make this turkey breast.
  • Tasty. Fresh herbs like sage, rosemary, thyme, and parsley add so much flavor to this dish.

Gravy for Pressure Cooker Turkey Breast

Once you’ve finished cooking the turkey breast in the Instant Pot, you can make a turkey gravy to go with it. Strain the cooking liquid and vegetables over a large bowl. Set the Instant Pot to sauté and pour the turkey drippings back into the pot. Add the gravy packet and whisk until smooth. Bring to a low boil and cook, stirring until thickened, 5-10 minutes, then season to taste.

Slices of pressure cooker turkey breast on a baking sheet with a dish full of turkey gravy.
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How to Store and Reheat

Store leftover Instant Pot turkey breast in airtight containers, and keep in the refrigerator up to 4 days. Reheat in a 325°F oven, or in the microwave in 30-second increments, until fully warmed through (to 165°F).

You can use leftover turkey to make turkey wild rice soup or turkey sliders.

How to Freeze

Freeze slices of pressure cooker turkey breast in resealable, freezer-safe bags, and store up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating.

Serving Suggestions

This Instant Pot turkey breast will be the star of your holiday meal, along with Thanksgiving dinner rolls, and all of your favorite Thanksgiving side dishes. If you want to keep using the pressure cooker for your sides, make Instant Pot mashed potatoes, Instant pot sweet potato casserole, and Instant Pot green bean casserole.

How long do you cook turkey breast in an instant pot?

Estimate 7-8 minutes per pound when cooking turkey breast in a pressure cooker.

Can I cook a turkey from frozen in the instant pot?

I recommend thawing your turkey before cooking it in the Instant Pot for best results and accurate cooking times. However, if you want to cook it directly from frozen, add about 10 minutes (per pound) to the time.

What size turkey breast can I cook in an instant pot?

Most turkey breasts range between 2-8 pounds. As long as you have the right size pressure cooker, any size turkey will work. An 8 quart cooker is large enough for a 7-8 pound breast. Smaller breasts will fit in a 6 quart.

What’s the correct internal temperature for turkey breast?

Your turkey breast should be cooked to 165°F before consuming. It will likely be in the 155-160°F range when you remove it from the cooker, but it will rise slightly while it rests.

How do I get crispy skin on my Instant Pot turkey?

After removing the turkey breast from the pot, place it under the broiler (in the oven) for 5-10 minutes to crisp up the skin!

A plate of turkey breast with gravy and mashed potatoes.

More Turkey Breast Recipes We Love

5-Star Review

“This was delicious and so simple to make! ” -Tammy

Recipe Card

Instant Pot Turkey Breast Recipe

4.57 from 65 votes
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 1 hour
Total: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 6
Author: Becky Hardin
Turkey with gravy and mashed potatoes on a plate.
Cooking juicy turkey breast in an Instant Pot is so easy, it's sure to take the pressure off of your Thanksgiving dinner!
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Ingredients 

  • 1 7½-8 pound whole turkey breast I use Butterball, all white, thawed
  • 6 tablespoons butter softened
  • 2 tablespoons fresh sage minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh thyme minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley minced
  • teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 cups low-sodium or unsalted chicken broth
  • 1 large onion peeled and quartered
  • 3 medium carrots washed and cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 2 medium celery stalks cut into 2-inch pieces

Instructions 

  • Set the Instant Pot trivet in the bottom of the Instant Pot insert.
  • Remove the turkey breast from the packaging and set the gravy packet aside.
    1 7½-8 pound whole turkey breast
  • Pat the turkey breast dry with paper towels.
    uncooked turkey breast on a white tray.
  • In a small bowl, mix together butter, sage, thyme, rosemary, parsley, salt and pepper. Rub the butter mixture all over the outside of the turkey, under the skin, and inside the rib cavity.
    6 tablespoons butter, 2 tablespoons fresh sage, 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, 2 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley, 1½ teaspoons kosher salt, 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
    turkey breast covered with herb butter on a white plate.
  • Place the turkey, large cavity side up. Pour the chicken broth inside and around the outside of the turkey. Scatter the chopped onion, carrots, and celery around the turkey. (*Note: the turkey can be stuffed with stuffing/dressing, but if not doing so, place some of the vegetables inside the cavity, too.)
    1 large onion, 3 medium carrots, 2 medium celery stalks, 2 cups low-sodium or unsalted chicken broth
    An instant pot filled with turkey breast, carrots, onions, and celery.
  • Set the Instant Pot lid in place and seal/lock the lid. Close the vent.
  • Cook on manual HIGH for 1 hour. Allow pressure to release naturally and wait for the pressure pin to drop before opening. This will take approximately 10 minutes.
  • Once the pressure pin has dropped, it is safe to open the Instant Pot.
  • Remove the turkey by lifting the Instant Pot trivet, set the turkey in a large bowl, and allow it to cool enough to handle. Reserve the turkey juices/drippings for making gravy. When turkey has cooled enough, set the turkey on a cutting board, remove the meat from the bones and slice. Transfer sliced turkey to a serving platter. Serve immediately.
    Sliced turkey on a cutting board with a knife.
  • Enjoy!

Turkey Gravy

  • (If using the cooking liquid/turkey drippings to make gravy): Strain the cooking liquid and vegetables over a large bowl to reserve the liquid. Set the Instant Pot to sauté and pour the turkey gravy back into the pot. Add the gravy packet and whisk until smooth. Bring to a low boil and cook, stirring until thickened, 5-10 minutes. Season to taste.
  • If not using the turkey drippings/liquid for gravy, strain it over a large bowl to reserve the liquid. Season to taste. It is essentially turkey broth, so freeze it to use in other recipes.

Video

Becky’s Tips

  • If fresh herbs are unavailable, use dried herbs: 1 teaspoon each of sage & thyme, 1 teaspoon rosemary and 2 teaspoons parsley
Storage: Store leftover turkey breast in the refrigerator up to 4 days, or in the freezer up to 3 months.
Calories: 751kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 132gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 356mgSodium: 1984mgPotassium: 1719mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 5900IUVitamin C: 9.3mgCalcium: 133mgIron: 4.3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

How to Make Instant Pot Turkey Breast Step by Step

Prep the Turkey: Set the Instant Pot trivet in the bottom of the Instant Pot insert. Remove your 7½-8 pound whole turkey breast from the packaging and set the gravy packet aside. Pat the breast dry with paper towels.

uncooked turkey breast on a white tray.

Season the Turkey: In a small bowl, mix together 6 tablespoons of butter, 2 tablespoons of fresh sage, 2 tablespoons of fresh thyme, 1 tablespoon of fresh rosemary, 2 tablespoons of fresh flat-leaf parsley, 1½ teaspoons of kosher salt, and 1 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper. Rub the butter mixture all over the outside of the turkey, under the skin, and inside the rib cavity.

A white bowl with a mixture of cheese and spinach.

Cook the Turkey: Place the turkey, large cavity side up. Pour 2 cups of low-sodium or unsalted chicken broth inside and around the outside of the turkey. Scatter 1 large chopped onion, 3 medium chopped carrots, and 2 medium stalks of chopped celery around the turkey. The turkey can be stuffed with stuffing/dressing, but if not doing so, place some of the vegetables inside the cavity, too. Set the Instant Pot lid in place and seal/lock the lid. Close the vent. Cook on manual HIGH for 1 hour. Allow pressure to release naturally and wait for the pressure pin to drop before opening. This will take approximately 10 minutes. Once the pressure pin has dropped, it is safe to open the Instant Pot.

An instant pot filled with turkey breast, carrots, onions, and celery.

Rest and Slice: Remove the turkey by lifting the Instant Pot trivet, set the turkey in a large bowl, and allow it to cool enough to handle. Reserve the turkey juices/drippings for making gravy if desired. When the turkey has cooled enough, set the turkey on a cutting board, remove the meat from the bones, and slice. Transfer sliced turkey to a serving platter. Serve immediately.

Sliced turkey on a cutting board with a knife.

Meet Becky Hardin

Becky Hardin is a wife and mother living in Saint Louis Missouri. She founded The Cookie Rookie in 2012 as a creative way to share recipes. Now, she is a trusted resource for easy cooking around the world, being featured in Taste of Home, The Kitchn, ABC’s Home and Family, and more. Here at The Cookie Rookie she is the editor in chief of all recipes and continues to enjoy sharing her passion for cooking for busy families. She has since founded two additional food blogs, Easy Chicken Recipes and Easy Dessert Recipes.

4.57 from 65 votes (59 ratings without comment)
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34 Comments
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Lawry
Lawry
November 17, 2022 9:37 pm

How do you put stuffing in there?

Samantha Marceau
November 18, 2022 9:08 am
Reply to  Lawry

This is just turkey breast, not a whole turkey, so it doesn’t get stuffed. We made stuffing to go on the side!

Courtney Minor
November 1, 2022 12:59 pm

Sorry this recipe didn’t work for you, Mary.

Tammy B
Tammy B
June 25, 2021 3:14 pm

Do you brine this turkey? I noticed you bribed your Crock Pot Turkey.

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
June 30, 2021 10:58 am
Reply to  Tammy B

I did not brine it for the Instant Pot!

Emma
Emma
December 25, 2020 2:44 pm

When you say cook for one hour, does that include the time it takes for the instant pot to warm up? I set mine on manual for 60 minutes, but the “countdown” hasn’t started yet–it’s been 20 min and still warming up!5 stars

Mary Bartlett
Mary Bartlett
November 9, 2020 4:30 pm

What size instant pot did you use?

Linda
Linda
May 19, 2020 10:02 am

Do you need to cook it longer if you stuff it?

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
June 4, 2020 11:43 am
Reply to  Linda

Yes, I would make sure that the turkey is cooked thoroughly!

Teresa
Teresa
November 24, 2019 11:32 am

I have a 4 lb bone-in breast so I’m thinking it should cook for about 35 mins – would you agree?

Pat
Pat
February 10, 2019 10:48 pm

I have tried several recipes and wasn’t happy with any of them, this one is Awesome! Just what I was looking for. Thanks!

Courtney Minor
February 11, 2019 8:20 pm
Reply to  Pat

Yay! I’m so happy this one worked for you, Pat. Thanks for stopping by! :)

Yasmine
Yasmine
November 20, 2018 7:57 am

Can I do this in the crock pot instead??