Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for cooking turkey breast in the Instant Pot what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
Turkey Breast – I used a 4-pound bone-in turkey breast, but you can use any size that will fit in your Instant Pot. While you could cook a frozen turkey breast in the Instant Pot, I don’t recommend it because it won’t cook evenly and will take a long time. Unsalted Butter – Let it sit on the counter for about 30 minutes to soften. Fresh Herbs – I made a compound butter with a combination of fresh thyme leaves, fresh sage, and fresh rosemary. You can use other fresh or dried herbs, such as parsley, tarragon, oregano, my Italian seasoning recipe, or my poultry seasoning recipe. If using dried, use 1 teaspoon to replace each tablespoon of fresh. Garlic – Fresh has the best flavor, but if you want to save time, use 1/2 tablespoon of jarred minced garlic instead. You can also add a couple tablespoons of grated onion for extra flavor if you like. Sea Salt & Black Pepper Chicken Broth – This is the liquid necessary for the bottom of the Instant Pot. I use the reduced sodium kind, but feel free to substitute with regular broth, homemade broth, bone broth, or even just water.
How To Cook Turkey Breast In An Instant Pot
This section shows how to make Instant Pot turkey breast, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
How Long To Cook Turkey Breast In The Instant Pot?
Pressure cook turkey breast in the Instant Pot for 6 minutes per pound. For a 4 pound turkey breast, that would be 24 minutes. Then, broil in the oven for 5-6 minutes, until the skin is crispy and the turkey breast is cooked through.
Storage Instructions
Store: Keep 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! Fill the bottom with a cup of chicken broth, place your desired amount of turkey onto the trivet, and pressure cook for 3-5 minutes depending on the amount you’re heating. You can also use the oven or microwave, though the microwave will dry it out more. Freeze: Once completely cooled, put the meat (you can keep the bone or cut it into pieces) in a zip lock bag, squeeze out extra air, and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
What To Serve With Instant Pot Turkey Breast
I have a variety of Thanksgiving side dishes you can make! Here are a few of my go-to choices: Check the internal temp of the turkey breast with a meat thermometer (I like this one) after pressure cooking — it should reach 155 to 160 degrees F. Then, it should reach 160 to 165 degrees F after broiling, and at least 165 degrees F after resting. If the internal temperature has not reached at least 160 degrees F after broiling, reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and bake until it reaches that temperature.
Gravy – If you want to make turkey gravy, you can use the turkey drippings from the bottom of the Instant Pot and cook it on the stovetop with a little cornstarch or a cornstarch substitute. Potatoes – Make a heaping pot of mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, or healthier cauliflower mash. Classic Sides – Try roasted green beans (pictured above), healty roasted sweet potatoes, or an easy Thanksgiving salad. Appetizers – A festive Thanksgiving charcuterie board is the perfect start to your meal. But you can’t go wrong with bacon deviled eggs or a warm spinach artichoke dip, either. Dessert – For a lighter twist on a classic, make crustless pumpkin pie.
Ideas For Leftovers
There are so many ways to enjoy leftover turkey besides just reheating it. Check out these ideas for leftovers:
Soup – Create a turkey soup or give traditional ground turkey soup a comforting twist by using leftover turkey. Casserole – Transform meat into a leftover turkey casserole with veggies, cranberry sauce, cheese, and nuts. You can also switch out the meat in a breakfast casserole for turkey. Salads – Tear the turkey into pieces and use it in a chicken Caesar salad (instead of the chicken) or make a turkey salad that pairs perfectly with crackers or vegetables.
More Easy Turkey Breast Recipes
Looking for more ways to cook up a Thanksgiving turkey breast? Here are some more of my tried and true recipes: Please enter your first name for your account. Your saved recipe will also be sent to your email.
