3 lb boneless turkey breast in instant pot

This Instant Pot Turkey Breast Recipe is ready in a fraction of the time and is ultra moist and tender!

Instant Pot Turkey Breast Recipe:

• Start by making sure your turkey breast is thawed.
• I am using a boneless, skinless turkey breast, but you can also use a bone-in breast as long as it can fit nicely in your pressure cooker.
• Pat your turkey breast dry with paper towels and then brush with olive oil.

The turkey breast was held together with kitchen twine, which I left on until I was ready to slice and serve.

I used a combination of seasonings then rubbed them all over the turkey breast. Once the turkey breast was seasoned I seared it on all sides using the SAUTÉ function of my pressure cooker.

Do I Need to Sear My Turkey Breast?

• The reason we are searing the turkey breast before we cook it under pressure is so that it “locks in” the flavors and moistness of the turkey.
• Is it a crucial step? In my opinion, yes, but it’s not going to ruin your turkey if you skip it.
• Just make sure to DEGLAZE the bottom of your instant pot before bringing the pot to pressure. (scrape the browned bits off the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon)

It’s important to scrape the browned bits off the bottom for two reasons – it makes a delicious gravy, and it also helps the Instant Pot come to pressure.

Use a rack to keep your turkey breast elevated in the instant pot, over the turkey drippings.

Can I Cook a Frozen Turkey Breast in the Instant Pot?

• If you don’t have time to defrost your turkey breast, you CAN cook it from frozen.
• Skip the searing of the turkey breast and rub as much of the seasoning on the turkey breast as possible.
• Cook a frozen turkey breast for at least 12 minutes PER POUND of turkey breast, but check to make temperature is at least 165 degrees in the thickest part of the breast before slicing.
• When cooking a defrosted turkey breast, you’ll want to cook for at least 6 to 7 minutes PER POUND of turkey breast.
• Always allow the pot to release the pressure naturally for at least 10 minutes, to avoid all the juices escaping the turkey breast.

When you cut into the turkey breast you’ll see how extremely tender it is! It practically wants to fall apart!

My whole family LOVED this ultra moist and tender turkey. But what really sent it over the top was the delicious gravy I whipped up using the drippings in the Instant Pot!

Once you remove the turkey breast from the pressure cooker, cover it with foil to let it rest for about 10 minutes before slicing. While it’s resting let’s make some gravy!

How to Make Instant Pot Turkey Gravy:

• Pour the liquid from the bottom of the instant pot through a mesh strainer into a separate bowl and set aside.
• Place the pressure cooker on SAUTÉ mode and add 2 tbsp of butter, let it melt.
• Whisk in 2 tbsp of flour and cook until the flour is browned and no longer raw.
• Gradually whisk in the strained liquid, until the gravy is smooth and thickened. (makes about 2 cups of gravy)

  Instant Pot Turkey Breast cooked in the pressure cooker is super moist and tender, with only a 30 minute cook time. Thanksgiving dinner doesn’t need to take hours when you have a pressure cooker and this easy Instant Pot turkey breast recipe!

  

  Thanksgiving turkey cooked in the electric pressure cooker / Instant Pot is perfect for a small Thanksgiving gathering or just a delicious Sunday supper. This recipe can be paired with these other Thanksgiving recipes, including Instant Pot Stuffing, Pumpkin Pie, and Creamy Mashed Potatoes.

  Traditional oven-roasted turkeys have a tendency to turn out dry. Since pressure cooker uses steam to cook, you’ll have tender, moist meat.

  When you pressure cook a turkey, you don’t end up with the classic golden-brown skin right out of the cooking pot. But you can still get crisp skin with an air fryer attachment or a quick broil in the oven.

  

  When I’m having a crowd over for dinner, I still cook a large turkey in my big oven. But since my crowd loves white meat, I like to pressure cook a turkey breast as well so I’ll have extra white meat and extra gravy.

  Check out our How To Cook Turkey in the Instant Pot video on YouTube.

  How to Cook Turkey Breast in the Instant Pot / Electric Pressure Cooker

  This Instant Pot Turkey Breast recipe will work in any brand of electric pressure cooker, including the Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi, or Mealthy MultiPot. Pressure cookers are the perfect moist environment for cooking turkey.

  If you’ve never made turkey in your pressure cooker before, be sure to give yourself plenty of time so you’re not stressed about getting dinner on the table.

  Before preparing the turkey breast, check to make sure it fits inside your pressure cooking pot.

  

  Bone-in or Boneless Turkey Breast?

  You can pressure cook both bone-in or boneless turkey breasts. My recipe is for a bone-in turkey breast. You can cook a boneless turkey breast as well, it will take about the same amount of time to cook.

  Do I Brown the Turkey Breast Before Cooking?

  The first time I pressure cooked turkey breast, I browned it in the pressure cooker before cooking. It was difficult to brown evenly because of its shape, and I didn’t notice any difference in terms of the flavor of the turkey or gravy.

  

  And, after pressure cooking, the turkey wasn’t golden or crispy enough to serve with the skin on.
  If you want to serve a beautiful brown turkey breast, I recommend browning it AFTER you pressure cook it. This is easy to do with a Ninja Foodi, Instant Pot Duo Crisp (review coming soon!), or Mealthy Crisp Lid. You can also use a traditional air fryer or a broiler in your oven.

  If you don’t eat the skin anyway, you can skip this step. Just discard the skin and slice the turkey before serving.

  How Long Do I Pressure Cook a Turkey in the Instant Pot?

  The cook time on an Instant Pot Turkey Breast depends on the weight and the thickness. There’s no one-size fits all turkey breast cooking time!

  If you’re cooking a bone in turkey breast, the weight of the turkey breast generally determines the cook time.

  Generally, I use a 30 minute cook time with a 10 minute natural pressure release to cook a 6-pound bone-in, skin-on turkey breast. A 3 to 4 pound bone-in turkey breast has a 25 minute cook time, and a 4 to 5 pound turkey has a 27 minute cook time.

  

  If you’re cooking a boneless turkey breast, the thickest part of the breast will determine the cook time.

  Boneless breasts can vary in shape. If your turkey breast is long and skinny, your cook time will be less. However, if your breast is more rounded, you’ll need a longer cook time.

  For a general start time, I use a 30 minute cook time with a 10 minute natural pressure release on a round, 3-pound boneless, skinless breast.

  My Turkey Timer Hasn’t Popped

  For some reason, the tender timer doesn’t always work when you cook the turkey breast in the pressure cooker, so don’t rely on that.

  

  Use an instant-read thermometer to make sure your turkey is cooked to 165°F at the thickest part of the breast.

  Can I Cook a Frozen Turkey in the Instant Pot?

  Well, you can, but that doesn’t mean that you should.

  For best results, make sure your turkey is fully defrosted before pressure cooking! (See the USDA’s recommended defrosting schedule. It always seems to take longer than expected to defrost the turkey, so be sure to leave yourself plenty of time.)

  

  If there’s even a chance the center of the turkey is frozen, you’ll need to add extra cook time. The rule of thumb is to add 5 minutes per pound when cooking from frozen.

  Remember, when you cook from frozen, the outside of the bird will cook faster than the inside. Which means that by the time the inside is cooked to a safe temperature, the meat on the outside will be tougher and dry.

  Making Turkey Gravy in the Instant Pot

  One of the great things about pressure cooker turkey breasts is that you get lots of flavorful liquid that makes a wonderful turkey gravy. (I’ve given gravy directions in the recipe so you can make in the pressure cooking pot after the turkey’s finished cooking.)

  

  Keep in mind that what you flavor your turkey with will also flavor your gravy. So if you know your family’s not crazy about onions, then reduce the amount of onions you use to cook the turkey. If your mom always added rosemary to the turkey, go for it!

  After pressure cooking the turkey, taste the drippings left in the cooking pot. If they’re too strong, add a little extra broth to the cooking pot. (Remember, the flavors generally intensify as the gravy cooks down. So if they’re too strong now, they’ll get even stronger.)

  I prefer to use cornstarch when making a turkey gravy. Cornstarch is a great thickener with very little taste, and it doesn’t need to be long-simmered like flour does.

  However, if you prefer the texture of a flour-thickened gravy, I’d start with 1/4 cup of flour and 1/4 cup water and whisk until smooth. Slowly combine the flour mixture with the liquid in the cooking pot and whisk until completely incorporated. Then bring to a boil and simmer on low for several minutes to make sure the flour is cooked through.

   

  How to Use Leftover Turkey

  Leftover turkey is one of my favorite parts of Thanksgiving! 

  I save the carcass to make Pressure Cooker Turkey Stock and the meat to make Pressure Cooker Turkey Noodle Soup. 

  My husband also likes to combine the leftover stuffing, cranberry sauce, and turkey to make a loaded turkey sandwich. 

  Storing/Reheating Leftover Turkey

  Leftover turkey should be wrapped and refrigerated within 2 hours of coming out of the pressure cooker.

  To reheat, use the pot-in-pot method. Place 1 cup water and a trivet on the bottom of the pressure cooking pot. Put the turkey and gravy in a cake pan or oven-safe bowl, and cook at High Pressure for a few minutes, depending on how much you’re reheating. When the cook time ends, use a quick pressure release and check to see if the turkey and gravy has reached the desired temperature. 

  Continue to Content

  

  Pressure Cooker / Instant Pot Turkey Breast

  Yield: 8 servings

  Prep Time: 5 minutes

  Cook Time: 30 minutes

  Additional Time: 20 minutes

  Total Time: 55 minutes

  Spend minutes in your pressure cooker instead of hours in the oven with this easy Instant Pot Turkey Breast recipe.

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  Ingredients

  • 6.5 lb. bone-in, skin-on turkey breast
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 can (14 ounces) turkey broth or chicken broth
  • 1 large onion, quartered
  • 1 stalk celery, cut in large pieces
  • 1 sprig thyme
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 3 tablespoons cold water

  Instructions

  1. Season turkey breast liberally with salt and pepper. (You can also season with dried thyme or your favorite spice blend under the skin if you prefer.)
  2. Put a trivet in the bottom of the pressure cooking pot. Add the broth, onion, celery, and thyme. Add the turkey to the cooking pot, breast-side up.
  3. Lock the lid in place. Select High Pressure and set the cook time for 30 minutes.*
  4. When the cook time ends, turn off the pressure cooker and allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then use a quick pressure release.
  5. When the valve drops, carefully remove the lid. Use an instant read thermometer at the thickest part of the breast to check if the turkey is done. It should be 165°F. If needed, return the lid and cook at High Pressure for a few more minutes.
  6. When the turkey is done, use the trivet to carefully remove it from the cooking pot and place on a platter. Cover with foil to rest.
  7. To make the gravy, pour the juices in the cooking pot through a strainer and skim off the fat. (I like to use a fat separator.)
  8. Whisk together cornstarch and cold water; add to broth in cooking pot. Select Sauté and stir until broth thickens. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  9. If you're not planning to brown the turkey: Remove the foil and discard the skin. Slice the turkey and serve immediately.
  10. If you would like to brown the turkey in the pressure cooking pot: Transfer the gravy to a serving dish and rinse and wipe out the cooking pot. Carefully transfer the turkey on the trivet back to the inside of the cooking pot. Lock the air fryer lid in place. Set the temperature to 350 degrees F and cook until the skin is crispy and browned. (For a 5.5 pound turkey, this took me about 15 minutes in the Ninja Foodi. But be sure to check regularly!) Slice the turkey and serve immediately.

  Notes

  * For larger or smaller turkeys, or if you're cooking from frozen, adjust the cook time as discussed above.

  Recommended Products

  As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    Instant Pot DUO Plus 60, 6 Qt 9-in-1

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    Mrs. Anderson's Baking and Cooling Rack, 6-Inches

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    OXO Good Grips Pressure Cooker Sling

  Nutrition Information:Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
  Amount Per Serving: Calories: 126Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 48mgSodium: 300mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 0gSugar: 2gProtein: 19g

  Nutrition information is calculated by Nutritionix and may not always be accurate.

  © Barbara Schieving

  Cuisine: American / Category: Turkey

  

  This recipe is one of my Pressure Cooker Thanksgiving recipes. Check out the other recipes in the series!

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  The Best Instant Pot Thanksgiving Recipes

  Make your Thanksgiving dinner faster and easier by using your electric pressure cooker! These Instant Pot Thanksgiving Recipes taste like traditional Thanksgiving classics but come together in much less time.

  

  Tender Turkey Breast

  This pressure cooker turkey breast is the remedy to dried-out oven-roasted white meat on your holiday table. 

  Get the Recipe

  

  Creamy Mashed Potatoes

  Stop boiling your potatoes! Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes are the best, boil-free method to make everyone’s favorite side dish. 

  Get the Recipe

  

  Stuffing (aka Dressing)

  Crisp on the outside and soft and creamy on the inside, this Instant Pot stuffing is "baked" in the pressure cooker and crisped up right before serving.

  Get the Recipe

  

  Sweet Potato Casserole

  Creamy sweet potatoes dressed up for Thanksgiving with a sweet, crunchy brown sugar pecan topping. (Recipe also includes a marshmallow topping option.)

  Get the Recipe

  

  Homemade Cranberry Jelly

  Cranberry jelly is quick and easy, and SO much better tasting when you make it at home in your pressure cooker.

  Get the Recipe

  

  Homemade Turkey Stock

  Take your gravy to the next level—homemade turkey stock tastes like it has simmered on the stove for hours, but it's ready in a fraction of the time.

  Get the Recipe

  

  Classic Pumpkin Pie

  This Pressure Cooker Pumpkin Pie has a classic pumpkin pie filling in a crumbly Pecan Sandies cookie crust, so it's perfect for the pressure cooker!

  Get the Recipe

  

  Pumpkin Caramel Pecan Cheesecake

  For the non-traditional pumpkin lovers, this cross between cheesecake and pumpkin pie is amazing when topped with creamy caramel and crunchy pecans.

  Get the Recipe

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  Other Thanksgiving/Holiday Recipes to enjoy:

  • Pressure Cooker / Instant Pot Stuffing
  • Pressure Cooker / Instant Pot Pumpkin Pie
  • Creamy Pressure Cooker / Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
  • All our Pressure Cooker Thanksgiving Recipes

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  How long does it take to cook a 3lb Butterball boneless turkey breast?

  Roasting time is approximately 1 to 2¼ hours. During final ½ hour, check internal temperature by inserting thermometer into thickest part of roast or breast. Remove from oven when internal temperature reaches 165°F to 170°F.

  How long does it take to cook a 3.3 lb turkey breast?

  Roasting times for a turkey breast cooked in a 325 degrees F oven: Unstuffed, a 2 to 3-pound turkey will cook from 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Unstuffed, a 7 to 8-pound turkey will cook from 2 1/4 to 3 1/4 hours; if stuffed, it will cook in 3 to 4 hours.

  How long does it take to cook 3 pounds of turkey?

  20 minutes per pound at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. For example, my turkey breast was 3 pounds, so I roasted it for 60 total minutes at 350F. If you're ever unsure whether your bird is done, an instant read thermometer really is a lifesaver in these situations. A cooked turkey is ready at 165 degrees F.

  How long does it take to cook a 3lb boneless?

  Roast for approximately 15 to 20 minutes per pound, or until the pop-up thermometer pops out, ( or meat thermometer reads 165F.) The breast should be golden brown.