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Easy Instant Pot Turkey Breast
5 from 15 votes

Easy Instant Pot Turkey Breast

This recipe prepares a boneless, skin-on turkey breast cooked under pressure in the Instant Pot, infused with herb butter. After searing, it's pressure-cooked with orange juice for moisture, then crisped under a broiler for golden skin. A simple gravy using drippings and broth rounds out the dish.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
40 mins
Additional Time
10 mins
Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 269 kcal
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Turkey
  • 3-6 lb turkey breast boneless, skin on
  • 6 tablespoons butter unsalted, softened
  • 1 ½ teaspoons thyme chopped (or sub with 1 teaspoon dried, fresh
  • 1 ½ teaspoons rosemary chopped (or sub with ½ teaspoon dried, fresh
  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ cup orange juice
For the Gravy
  • turkey drippings
  • 1-2 tablespoons cornstarch or 2-4 tablespoons flour
  • 1-2 tablespoons water
  • 2-3 cups chicken broth or turkey broth

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Heat large skillet over medium-high heat. Take butter slathered breast and place in large hot saute pan and sear (brown) quickly on all sides. Remove to Instant Pot trivet. Pour pan juices and orange juice into the Instant Pot. Using trivet arms, carefully add the turkey to the pressure cooker.
  2. Seal lid, making sure the valve is set to the seal position. Set to HIGH pressure cook for 25 minutes if using two breast halves and 30 minutes if using a whole turkey breast.
  3. Natural release for 10 minutes, remove breast using trivet and transfer breast to baking sheet. Place turkey under broiler (rack about ⅔ up) and crisp up skin again, watch closely, should only take 2-3 minutes, you may want to turn and crisp the other side too.
  4. Remove from oven and tent with foil, RESTING meat for 10-20 minutes. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP! This allows the juices to return to the meat before slicing.
  5. GravyPour drippings into gravy separator or carefully pour into glass measuring cup, wait a few minutes and using a large spoon skim the fat off the top.
  6. Heat a medium-large skillet to medium heat, pouring the drippings, but stopping at the fat, adding the bay leaf, pour in 1 cup at a time of additional stock (turkey or chicken), tasting between to make sure not too salty and flavor is adjusted corrected. Whisk the cornstarch (or flour) and water together until smooth. Bring drippings to simmer, then whisking, slowly drizzle the cornstarch mixture until desired consistency. Remove from heat.
  7. Store in refrigerator, up to 4 days in airtight container. May be frozen. Cool completely and play in airtight container or baggie, freeze up to 3 months. To thaw, place in refrigerator overnight and follow reheating instructions. Or reheat from frozen, warming 10-15 minutes longer until warmed through.

Notes

  • If a whole boneless turkey breast isn't available, tie two halves together with kitchen twine after seasoning.
  • Resting the turkey for 10-20 minutes after cooking allows juices to redistribute for moist meat.
  • For frozen turkey breasts, increase pressure cooking time to 60 minutes; herb butter may not be fully under skin.
  • Adjust gravy saltiness by tasting and diluting with additional broth if needed.
  • To fix undercooked turkey, slice and bake covered with stock at 375°F until fully cooked.
  • Reheat sliced turkey covered with pan juices or broth in a moderate oven to retain moisture.
  • Fresh herb variations like sage, marjoram, Italian seasoning, parsley, or tarragon can be used to flavor the butter.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1serving Calories 269kcal (13%) Carbohydrates 4g (1%) Protein 38g (76%) Fat 12g (18%) Saturated Fat 6g (30%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g (6%) Monounsaturated Fat 3g (15%) Trans Fat 0.4g (20%) Cholesterol 114mg (38%) Sodium 872mg (36%) Potassium 504mg (11%) Fiber 0.2g (1%) Sugar 1g (2%) Vitamin A 407IU (8%) Vitamin C 8mg (9%) Calcium 33mg (3%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8 servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 269

% Daily Value*

Serving 1serving
Calories 269kcal 13%
Carbohydrates 4g 1%
Protein 38g 76%
Fat 12g 18%
Saturated Fat 6g 30%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 3g 15%
Trans Fat 0.4g 20%
Cholesterol 114mg 38%
Sodium 872mg 36%
Potassium 504mg 11%
Fiber 0.2g 1%
Sugar 1g 2%
Vitamin A 407IU 8%
Vitamin C 8mg 9%
Calcium 33mg 3%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.