Finally, an easy turkey recipe that’s juicy, flavorful, and practically hands-free. This Instant Pot Turkey Breast takes the stress out of Thanksgiving, or any other time you need an easy main dish.
Table of Contents
Easy Turkey Breast in Instant Pot
I love making this Instant Pot Turkey Breast because I get to enjoy all the flavor of Thanksgiving without having to cook the whole turkey, which can be stressful. The Instant Pot does the work for you by locking in the flavor and keeping the turkey tender and extra juicy.
This is a great recipe for someone cooking turkey for the first time because it truly is a fail-proof recipe with step-by-step directions. It’s also great for seasoned cooks who don’t want to use precious oven space, are cooking for a smaller crowd, or want more flexibility with sides and timing.
Ingredients & Estimated Cost:
Below is everything you need for this Turkey Breast, and a few simple substitutions.
- Bone-in skin-on turkey breast (7 lbs – $15.84): The star of the recipe. Use skin-on as it helps add flavor to the meat while cooking.
- Salted butter (3 Tablespoons – $0.48): Helps brown the turkey. You can use olive oil too.
- Poultry seasoning (2 Tablespoons – $0.44): Use Italian seasoning as a substitute for a similar taste.
- Salt (1 teaspoon – $0.01): Enhances the overall flavor. Kosher salt or sea salt will work.
- Ground black pepper (½ teaspoon – $0.04): Gives a mild spiciness to the turkey. Cayenne pepper will give a similar taste.
- Chicken or turkey broth (2 cups – $0.64): Adds a savory flavor while keeping the turkey moist. Vegetable broth will work as an alternative.
- Celery stalks (2 stalks – $0.35): Gives a subtle flavor that helps create the delicious gravy.
- Yellow onion (1 medium – $0.90): Adds a natural sweetness and helps create a delicious gravy.
- Carrot (1 large – $0.22): Also adds a natural sweetness that enhances the drippings for the gravy.
- Garlic cloves (4 cloves – $0.50): Adds a savory depth. Use ½ teaspoon of garlic powder instead of fresh.
The recipe cost is calculated based on the amounts needed and will vary depending on fluctuating grocery costs. The pricing for this recipe was updated in September 2025.
How To Make Instant Pot Turkey Breast
Add the veggies, brush the turkey with the butter herb mixture, cook, broil, and serve. Let me show you how.
- Put the celery, onions, carrots, and garlic on top of the trivet, and pour in broth.
- Whisk together melted butter, poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper. Set this mixture aside.
- Wash and pat dry the turkey breast with a paper towel.
- Brush turkey breast with butter mixture.
- Nestle the turkey breast, breast side up, onto the veggies.
- Set the pressure to HIGH pressure and the timer to 35 minutes, then let it naturally release for 25 minutes.
- Place the turkey breast on the prepared baking sheet and roast the turkey in the oven until the skin is crisp and golden in color.
- Remove the breast from the oven and let it sit for 10 minutes before cutting it into slices and serving. (While the turkey rests, it’s a good time to make gravy from the pan drippings!)
***Make sure you check out the recipe video in the recipe card below!
Instant Pot Turkey Breast
Recipe Cost 19.42 Serving Cost 1.61Equipment
- cutting board
- chef's knife
- Instant Pot
- rimmed baking sheet
- carving fork
Ingredients
- 7-9 lb bone-in skin-on turkey breast
- 3 Tablespoons salted butter melted
- 2 Tablespoons poultry seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 cups chicken or turkey broth
- 2 large celery stalks cut into large chunks
- 1 medium yellow onion chopped into large chunks
- 1 large carrot cut into large chunks
- 4 large garlic cloves
Instructions
- Place trivet in Instant Pot Insert. Put the celery, onions, carrots, and garlic on top of the trivet, and pour in broth.
- In a small bowl whisk together melted butter, poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Run the turkey breast under cold water, remove gravy pocket, and pat the turkey breast dry with paper towels.
- Use a pastry brush to brush turkey breast with butter mixture. Nestle the turkey breast, breast side up, onto the veggies.
- Secure the Instant Pot lid, and make sure that the valve is in the sealing position. Select MANUAL and set the pressure to HIGH and the timer to 35 minutes.
- Once the timer goes off, let the pressure release naturally for 25 minutes.
- While the pressure releases, move the oven rack to the upper-middle position and preheat the oven to 450 degrees Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil; set aside.
- Once the instant pot has naturally released for 25 minutes, move the valve to venting to release any additional steam. Then, open the lid and use a large carving fork to remove the turkey from the Instant Pot.
- Place the turkey breast on the prepared baking sheet and roast the turkey in the oven until the skin is crisp and golden in color. DON’T TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE TURKEY DURING THIS STEP! Remove the breast from the oven and let it sit for 10 minutes before cutting into slices and serving. (While the turkey rests, it’s a good time to make our Instant Pot gravy from the pan drippings!)
Video
Notes
Storage Tips
SERVE: Turkey should not sit at room temperature for longer than 2 hours.
STORE: Leftover turkey will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
FREEZE: Place cooked and cooled turkey in freezer-safe Ziploc bags and squeeze out any air before sealing and placing it in the freezer. Frozen this way, the turkey will keep for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Instant Pot Turkey Breast Recipe FAQs
A turkey needs to reach 170 degrees in the breast to be safe to eat. There are several ways to check if a turkey is done, but the best way is by using an internal thermometer.
Yes, but you will need to add more cooking time if the turkey is frozen. Try cooking it for about 50 minutes and then using a thermometer to check the internal temperature.
Yes, it should work just fine. You may need to adjust the cooking time to six minutes per pound.
The veggies add flavor to the gravy made from the turkey breast drippings in this recipe.
What To Serve With This Turkey
Gloria SOMMERS says
i have a 6qt how big for a turkey breast for that size
Jess Jankowski says
Hi Gloria, the max size that will fit in a 6qt Instant Pot is a 9lb turkey breast.
Jessica says
Can I use turkey thighs instead? How long would it need to cook if I use 7-9 lbs? Thanks!
Jess Jankowski says
Hi Jessica. We actually have not tried it with turkey thighs before so we wouldn’t be able to say for sure what to do. Go for it though and let us know how it turns out. We would love to know!
Calvin says
Nice and lean turkey recipe. Easy to make!
Jess Jankowski says
It makes any meal a breeze!
Saif says
I love turkey breast. It is nice to eat it with mash potato and vegetable salads. Definitely going to make one
Jess Jankowski says
And I love to make a gravy to go with it too!
Sanna says
I’m vegetarian but I’ll share the recipe with my son.
Jess Jankowski says
Thanks so much for sharing our recipe!
Sula says
Wonderful! I can almost taste the turkey sandwiches!
Jess Jankowski says
Turkey sandwiches on a homemade roll are the best!
Amy Chung says
I’m Australian so we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving but when the time does roll around, I love checking out all the amazing recipes and man, you guys really know how to feast! Love this turkey recipe and can’t believe how cost effective it is to feed 12 people!
Jess Jankowski says
The price is the best part, next to the taste of course!
Andréa Janssen says
I love instant pot recipes, because you can make this in advance. Your turkey breast sounds so delicious.
Jess Jankowski says
Isn’t the Instant Pot the best? Love that you can have something cooking in it and still have room on the stove for something else!
Stacy says
Hello! I’m making this today for Easter! My turkey breast is about 5.5 pounds, however. I always struggle with cooking times. Would the cooking time and pressure release time be the same with a turkey breast that is a little smaller? Thanks!
Jess Jankowski says
Hi Stacy, you can cook it for 30-32 minutes with a smaller bird, but if you did 35 minutes that should be ok.
Rikki says
Do you put the turkey breast in frozen or thaw it out?
Jess Jankowski says
Hello! The turkey breast should be thawed first. Thank you!
Jenny says
Jess, How big is your Instant Pot? I just got my first one and it is an 8 quart. This recipe looks delicious and a possibility for Christmas dinner. However, I’m wondering how much turkey breast I can cook in it. Thank you!
Jess Jankowski says
Mine is the 8qt. You are going to LOVE your instant pot!
Matt Freund says
This looks so good and its easy too. I am going to try it.
Jess Jankowski says
Tell us how it goes!
TIsha says
This is a great way to prepare turkey instead of waiting all day for it cook in the oven!
Jess Jankowski says
It’s life changing!
Chris Collins says
I never thought of cooking turkey breast in the IP, but I’ll definitely be giving it a go!!
Jess Jankowski says
It’s so easy you will love it!
Jennifer says
I tested this for Thanksgiving and it was delicious! THANK YOU!
Jess Jankowski says
Awesome! So glad you enjoyed it!
Anita says
This will be perfect for our Thanksgivings this year. There won’t be a lot of us gathering, and a 7 lb. is just the right amount of turkey. Plus, this is less work and less hassle with an Instant Pot. 🙂
Jess Jankowski says
Right?! Way easier!
Pam Greer says
We are only having a few people over this year and I was thinking about doing a turkey breast in the Instant Pot and trying to figure out how to do it! So thank you so much for this!
Jess Jankowski says
It’s the perfect solution! Enjoy!
Aimee Mars says
This may sound crazy but I’ve never make turkey breast before but have been wanting to try it out. This looks like a delicious and easy recipe to start with and I love how you included the age-appropriate options for kids to help.
Jess Jankowski says
I actually think you are not alone in that but here is your perfect opportunity to try it!
Chrysa says
I love that this cooks right in the Instant Pot. I don’t have the patience for the oven!
Jess Jankowski says
Who has time for the oven?!??
Ashley says
I made this for dinner this week and it was so good. We will definitely make it again.
Jess Jankowski says
Awesome! So glad you liked it. Thank you for the review!