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I love simple cooking, especially when hosting holiday meals.That’s why I like this Instant Pot Turkey Breast recipe.It’s a game changer and allows you to prepare a tender, juicy turkey without all the fuss whole thanksgiving turkey.like my other Instant Pot Recipes, it saves time and is completely intervention-free without compromising on flavor. If you want the perfect turkey with minimal effort, this recipe is for you!
Why you’ll love this Instant Pot Turkey Breast
- Tender and juicy turkey breast
- Savory Vanilla Flavor
- Common Pantry Ingredients
- No hands-on cooking (the pressure cooker does all the work!)
- Cooking time is faster and less messy than roasting or roasting
- Perfect for a fuss-free Thanksgiving dinner

Ingredients and Substitutions
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for cooking turkey breast in the Instant Pot, what each ingredient does in the recipe, and substitution options.For measurements see Recipe card below.
- turkey breast – I used a 4-pound bone-in turkey breast, but you can use any size that fits your Instant Pot. While you can cook frozen turkey breast in an Instant Pot, I don’t recommend it because it doesn’t cook evenly and takes a long time.
- unsalted butter – Leave it on the counter for about 30 minutes to soften.
- fresh herbs – I made one compound cream A combination of fresh thyme leaves, fresh sage and fresh rosemary. You can use other fresh or dried herbs such as parsley, tarragon, oregano, italian seasoningor poultry seasoning. If using dried, substitute 1 teaspoon per tablespoon of fresh.
- garlic – Fresh tastes best, but if you want to save time, use 1/2 tbsp canned minced garlic instead. If you wish, you can also add a few tablespoons of grated onion for extra flavor.
- sea salt and black pepper
- chicken soup – This is the liquid you need in the bottom of the Instant Pot.I use reduced sodium Not bad, but can be replaced with regular broth, Bone soupor even just water.

How to Cook Turkey Breast in the Instant Pot
This section shows you how to make Instant Pot turkey breast, with step-by-step photos and details on the technique to help you visualize it.For full instructions, including quantities and temperatures, see Recipe card below.
- Prepare vanilla buttercream. In a small bowl, mash together the cream, fresh herbs, garlic, sea salt, and black pepper.
- Spread over turkey. Pat turkey breast dry with paper towels. Spread cream mixture under and over skin of turkey breast. (Be careful not to tear it.)


- Pressure cook. Pour the chicken stock into the bottom of the pot instant pot, then add a tripod. Place turkey breast in Instant Pot and place on trivet. Place lid, turn valve to sealing position, and cook (see schedule below based on turkey breast weight). Use natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then move the knob to quick release.
- bake. Transfer turkey breast to Baking pan or baking sheet. Place in the oven under the broiler until the skin is browned and crispy.
- rest. Remove the turkey breast from the oven, cover the top with aluminum foil for a few minutes, then cut into slices.


How long does it take to cook turkey breast in the Instant Pot?
Place turkey breast in Instant Pot and cook on high pressure for 6 minutes per pound. For a 4-pound turkey breast, 24 minutes. Then, roast 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 temperature of the turkey breast with a meat thermometer (i like this one) After pressure cooking – should reach 155 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit. It should then reach 160 to 165 degrees Fahrenheit after baking and at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit after resting.
If the internal temperature does not reach at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit after baking, reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake until it reaches that temperature.
Storage instructions
- Shop: Store 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! Pour a cup of chicken stock in the bottom, place the desired amount of turkey on a trivet and cook on high pressure for 3-5 minutes depending on the heat. You can also use an oven or microwave, but microwaves will dry it out more.
- freeze: When completely cool, place the meat (you can keep the bones or cut it into chunks) into a ziplock bag, squeeze out any excess air, and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.

What to Serve with Instant Pot Turkey Breast
I have various grateful Side dishes you can make! Here are some of my top picks:
Leftovers Ideas
There are many ways to enjoy leftover turkey besides reheating. Check out these ideas for leftovers:
More Easy Turkey Breast Recipes
Looking for more ways to cook turkey breast for Thanksgiving? Here are some of my tried and true recipes:
Instant Pot Turkey Breast
This Instant Pot turkey breast recipe is super juicy, flavorful, and topped with fresh herbs and garlic. The perfect hassle-free festive meal!
Prepare: 5 Every minute
chef: 40 Every minute
All: 45 Every minute
Serving size: 4 (Adjust according to recipe proportion)
raw material
Click on the underlined ingredients to see where you get them. Please turn off Safari reader mode to view ingredients.
instruct
Click on the time in the instructions below to start the kitchen timer while cooking.
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Pat turkey breast dry with paper towels.
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In a small bowl, mash together the cream, fresh herbs, garlic, sea salt, and black pepper.
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Reach under the skin and separate it from the flesh. Spread cream mixture under and over skin of turkey breast.
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Add chicken stock to the bottom of the pot instant canningand a tripod.
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Place turkey on trivet. Place the lid on, turn the knob to the “sealing” position, and cook on high pressure.Set the time to 6 minutes per pound (i.e. 24 minutes For my 4 pound turkey breast, but adjust based on your weight).
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Let stress release naturally 10 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to “Bake on High.” After 10 minutes, switch the knob to “Vent” to release remaining pressure. The turkey breast should be at least 155-160 degrees F (71 degrees C) at this time.
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Transfer turkey breast to Baking pan.Bake in the oven 5-6 minutes, until the skin is browned and crispy. If the internal temperature has not reached at least 160°F (71°C) by this time (it should be), reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (177°F) and bake until it reaches that temperature.
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Remove the turkey breast from the oven, cover the top with aluminum foil, and let rest 10 minutes. When it rests, the temperature rises by about 5 degrees.
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Recipe Notes
Serving size: 6-8 ounces cooked turkey breast, or 1/4 of the entire recipe
nutrient content
Amount per serving. Serving sizes in recipe instructions above.
Calories Chapter 579
fat 19.6 grams
protein 99.4 grams
total carbohydrates 2.6 grams
net carbs 2 grams
fiber 0.6g
sugar 0.3g
Nutritional facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you’re getting different results?Please see our nutrition policy.
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