Instant Pot Turkey Breast

If you're hosting Thanksgiving for a small crowd – or don't want to hassle with a big bird – this tender, juicy, never dry Instant Pot Turkey Breast will be your favorite new recipe! We have cooks of all levels of experience on our site, and we get a lot of questions and requests for additional information on our recipes.

At Avdaye, we add lots of tips in all of our recipes – because we are a home cook without any formal training, and we find we are more confident making dishes when we understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe. Our goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.

How to Make Instant Pot Turkey Breast

Our secret to a stress-free Thanksgiving – or turkey dinner – without having to worry about the bird taking up all the oven space? Our Instant Pot! This little countertop appliance does so many things – its a pressure cooker and extra stovetop surface, all in one – and it is our secret to a solid, juicy, tender turkey that won't dry out! And hello… it doesn't take up ANY space in the oven!

Turkey Brine Ingredients

First assemble the following ingredients:

• Turkey breast (1 skin-on bone-in) – serves as the main protein, staying juicy and flavorful while bones add richness during cooking.
• Stick butter (1) – adds moisture and helps create a savory, browned flavor on the turkey as it cooks.
• Italian Herbs Blend (1 tbsp) – provides an herb-forward, classic Italian seasoning profile.
• Pink sea salt (1 tsp) – seasons the meat deeply for balanced flavor throughout.
• Fresh cracked pepper (1 tsp) – add warmth and a peppery bite that enhances the turkey's natural flavor.
• Chicken broth (2 cups) – creates the pressure-cooking liquid for tender results and adds savory depth to the cooking juices.

Optional Aromatics

• Medium onion chopped into large slices (1) – adds sweetness and savory aroma, infusing the broth for extra flavor.
• Garlic cloves (4) – brings bold, aromatic richness that rounds out the overall seasoning.
• Sprigs Thyme (2) – adds earthy, piney herbal notes that pair especially well with poultry.
• Orange or lemon (1 sliced thin) – provides bright citrus fragrance and a subtle tang to keep the turkey tasting fresh and lively.

Steps to Make IP Turkey Breast

Once you have assembled the ingredients, use this method:

Prep. Pat turkey dry with paper towels. Generously rub turkey breast with softened butter – rub butter all around turkey, and carefully lift up skin to rub butter under turkey skin, too. Stuff turkey breast cavity with aromatics.

Add to IP. Add chicken stock to the bottom of Instant Pot. Coat turkey breast with herbs and spices. Place on can lifter and lower into Instant Pot. Place lid on Instant Pot. Set valve the sealing.

Cook. Press “manual”, set timer to 35 minutes High Pressure. When the IP is done cooking, let pressure release naturally… don't manually release pressure.

Rest. Remove turkey from Instant Pot (take care when opening pressure cooker, even if you think all pressure has been released, and always open away from your face) and place on a baking sheet. Tent with foil for at least 10 minutes before carving.

Kitchen notes

How to brown turkey in an Instant Pot. The Instant Pot doesn't brown food well – our only big complaint with it.When using an Instant Pot with the regular lid, it doesn't crisp up – but that is no matter for this recipe. We are providing two ways to crisp your turkey breast skin below – one that involves an accessory for the Instant Pot, and one that involves a few minutes under a broiler.

Crisp Skin In Instant Pot Without Crisp Lid. Since turkey skin is even better when crisp, it's necessary to broil for a few minutes to crisp your turkey skin after cooking in the instant pot if you want solid crispy skin. If you'd like to get an extra browned, crispy turkey breast – please pop under the broiler after cooking for 5-10 minutes to crisp skin!

Make it a Slow Cooker Turkey Breast. If you're looking for a good, knockout, no-fail turkey breast to cook in a slow cooker, instead of an Instant Pot, please check out our turkey breast in gravy slow cooker recipe below. Get our Slow Cooker Turkey Breast in Gravy Recipe Here.

Make an easy turkey brine. While this recipe doesn't need a brine, we're adding our recipe for an easy turkey brine in case you don't mind the extra step – while not necessary, brining your turkey will always come out with the most flavor and tenderness. You can also check out our knockout recipe for a Dry Turkey Brine!

Make homemade turkey gravy. We are not adding the gravy in the Instant Pot Turkey Breast recipe below to make sure it is as easy as possible to follow. To get our knockout, easy recipe for Turkey Gravy, please click here for our Easy Turkey Gravy Recipe.

Serve it with

While we LOVE more traditional recipes for Thanksgiving like our Easy Smoked Turkey or Brown Bag Turkey – or even our Orange Glazed Ham or Bourbon Molasses Glazed ham – sometimes we have smaller celebrations and we don't want to go through with the hassle of a giant main course we will be eating for leftovers for the next weeks – and opt for a smaller turkey breast.

Try our other favorite recipes like Easy No Knead BreadThe Best Easy Baked Scalloped Corn Recipe Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Scallops RecipeThe Best Easy Oven Roasted Asparagus RecipeThe Best Easy Turkey Gravy RecipeThe Best Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce RecipeCranberry Apple Sangria and Virgin Sangriaand Sparkling Apple Cider Rum Punch Recipe.

From classic sides like brussels sprouts green beansand fresh baked bread – to mashed potatoescauliflower riceand more!

Share Pin It Follow

Instant Pot Turkey FAQs

What temperature should we cook turkey to?

When your turkey is fully cooked, it should reach 165 degrees with a thermometer placed into the fattest part of the breast (be careful to not hit the bone, as it will make your turkey's temperature reading inaccurate.)

Do we have to brine the turkey breast?

Brining is optional but always gives more flavor and a better texture.

How do we brown the skin of the Turkey?

After pressure cooking, transfer the turkey breast to a plate or baking sheet to pat it dry again (if needed).
Place the turkey breast back on the trivet in the Instant Pot.
Attach the crisp lid.
Set the crisp lid to 400°F (200°C) and crisp for 5-8 minuteschecking frequently to avoid burning.
Rotate the turkey breast if necessary to ensure even browning.
Once the skin is golden and crispy, remove the turkey breast and let it rest for 10 minutes before carving.

How Long to Cook Turkey Breast in the Instant Pot?

Cook with high pressure for 5 minutes per pound, about 35 minutes for a standard 7 pound turkey breast. This will NOT take into account any time needed to bring the Instant Pot to pressure – OR the time it takes to naturally release pressure/resting time after cooking – so count on about an hour twenty minutes total time when planning your meal around the turkey.

How do we make an easy turkey brine?

Bring all ingredients, except ice to a boil. After you reach a rolling boil, turn off heat and let cool. Combine cooled brine with ice inside a large bag in a beverage cooler, stock pot, or other large container with a tight fitting lid. Submerge turkey and seal container. Brine for at least 12 hours and up to 3 days – keep turkey cold with ice as it brines.

Ingredients

• 1 skin-on bone-in turkey breast
• 1 stick butter
• 1 tbsp Italian Herbs Blend
• 1 tsp pink sea salt
• 1 tsp fresh cracked pepper
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 medium onion chopped into large slices
• 4 garlic cloves
• 2 sprigs Thyme
• 1 orange or lemon, sliced thin

Method

1. Pat turkey dry with paper towels.
2. Generously rub turkey breast with softened butter – rub butter all around turkey, and carefully lift up skin to rub butter under turkey skin, too.
3. Stuff turkey breast cavity with aromatics.
4. Add chicken stock to the bottom of Instant Pot.
5. Coat turkey breast with herbs and spices.
6. Place on can lifter and lower into Instant Pot.
7. Place lid on Instant Pot.
8. Set valve the sealing.
9. Press "manual", set timer to 35 minutes High Pressure.
10. When the IP is done cooking, let pressure release naturally… don't manually release pressure.
11. Remove turkey from Instant Pot (take care when opening pressure cooker, even if you think all pressure has been released, and always open away from your face) and place on a baking sheet.
12. Tent with foil for at least 10 minutes before carving.