Have you ever had to eat dry turkey for Thanksgiving or Sunday dinner? You bake the turkey breast for hours, but no matter how many lemon wedges you stuff in, it still comes out dry. Now, you can say goodbye to dry turkey, thanks to your Instapot! The first time I served this dish, my whole family was shocked. Is this turkey breast? But it only took 35 minutes. How is this possible? The instant pot method is a time-saver that locks in flavor and moisture. Pressure-cooking turkey breast gives it melt-in-your-mouth tenderness you don’t usually get with a baked turkey.
Recipe Ingredients
How To Make Instant Pot Turkey Breast
Prep the Turkey Breast – Season turkey breast with salt, slipping it under the skin where possible. Loosen up the skin by running your fingers carefully between the skin and the meat. (Photos 1-2)Herb Butter – Combine the butter, garlic, sage, rosemary, thyme, paprika, and parsley well. Let the herbed butter rest in the fridge until you’re ready to prep the turkey. You can make the herb mix a day or so in advance if desired. (Photo 3)Rub the Herb Butter – Generously rub the turkey breast with herb butter combination and seasoning under the skin of the turkey breast. You can do this step the day before. (Photo 4)Saute – In a 6- or 8-quart Instant Pot, press the saute function. Once hot, add oil and saute the chopped onion and celery. (Photo 5)Deglaze – Pour in chicken stock and stir, scraping the bottom of your pot with a spoon to remove any stuck pieces. (Photo 6)Cook – Place turkey breast on the trivet and close the lid with the vent set to seal. Cook on manual high pressure for about 20 minutes (or 6 minutes per pound) until your instant-read thermometer reads when 165℉/74℃ inserted into the thickest part of the turkey. The Instant Pot takes approximately 10 minutes to come under pressure. Then start the timer. (Photo 7)Release Pressure – When the cooking time is up, let the Instant Pot Pressure release naturally for 15 minutes, then turn the knob to vent to release any remaining pressure.Rest – Let the turkey breast sit for 10 minutes before carving. That way, the juices settle back into the meat. (Photo 8)Serve – This recipe goes great with mashed potatoes and gravy, mashed sweet potatoes, or roasted vegetables.
Recipe Variations
Tips and Tricks
Make-Ahead Instructions
You can do most of the prep for your instant pot turkey breast ahead. The herb butter tastes even better if you make it a day or two before (keep it in the fridge). Whether you are brining your turkey breast or using a dry rub, you can season it the day before, and it will be ready to throw in your instant pot. Pre-chopping your veggies will save you a ton of time. Then you will have more time for those show-stealing sides.
Serving and Storage Instructions
This instant pot turkey breast recipe is the best piping hot with delicious sides, like mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, green beans, or mac and cheese. You can store leftovers in the fridge for four days. To reheat your turkey, you could zap it in the microwave. However, reheating in the oven, stovetop, or instant pot is much better. Bake it covered with foil in a 350℉/177℃ oven for about 20 minutes. Alternatively, you could cut it into 1-inch cubes, add a cup or so of gravy, and heat it in a saucepan large enough to hold what you want to serve.
What to Serve with Instant Pot Turkey Breast
Finish your special meal with one of these desserts; pumpkin pie, sweet potato casserole, or peach cobbler.
More Incredible Instant Pot and Slow Cooker Recipes
Conclusion
Do away with dry turkey breast for good and usher in a new tradition of tender, juicy, mouthwatering turkey. Have you ever made a turkey breast in an Instant Pot? Let me know what amazing sides you served with it.
Watch How to Make It
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”3zPIHeBq” upload-date=”2021-10-05T11:58:12.000Z” name=”Instant Pot Turkey Breast” description=”Instant Pot Turkey Breast – Making Thanksgiving dinner has never been this easy! Quick, easy, and stress-free Thanksgiving dinner all done in less than an hour! Then off to enjoy tender, moist, and juicy turkey breast smothered in herb-infused butter and served with luscious homemade gravy.” player-type=”collapse” override-embed=”false”] This blog post was originally published in October 2021 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video.
