• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Get my free Meal Prep Quick Start Guide

Get my free Meal Prep Quick Start Guide

  • New? Start Here
  • Contact

Sweet Peas and Saffron

meal prep recipes for busy people

  • All Recipes
    • Course
      • Breakfast
      • Lunch
      • Dinner
      • Sides
      • Salad
      • Soups & Stews
      • Drinks
    • Method
      • Air Fryer
      • Instant Pot
      • Slow Cooker
      • Grill
      • One Pot Meals
    • Diet
      • Dairy-Free
      • Gluten Free
      • Low Carb
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
      • Nut Free
    • Protein
      • Beans
      • Beef
      • Chicken
      • Lentils
      • Seafood
      • Pork
    • Recipe Index
  • Air Fryer
  • Instant Pot
  • Shop
    • Shop Meal Plans
    • Shop Favorites
  • Get my free Meal Prep Quick Start Guide

    Get my free Meal Prep Quick Start Guide

Home Meal Type Holiday
5
/5
4 hours hours 50 minutes minutes

Instant Pot Turkey Breast

Dairy Free Dairy-Free Gluten Free Gluten Free Low Carb Low Carb Nut Free Nut Free
Jump to Recipe
By: AnnieLeave a Comment
Posted: 12/20/24 Updated: 12/20/24

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Quick and easy, this Instant Pot turkey breast is great for cooking a smaller batch of turkey for Thanksgiving or Christmas! With a dry brine, the turkey breast is juicy and flavored with crispy skin. 

A pressure cooker is such a useful appliance during the holidays. Whether you use it to free up space on your stovetop to cook mashed potatoes or your oven to make honey-glazed carrots, it cooks your food quickly and in a hands-off way.

close up shot of sliced instant pot turkey breast on platter

Cooking turkey can be intimidating! This step by step guide will show you exactly how to make turkey that tastes amazing, but doesn't take all day! This Instant Pot turkey breast recipe is juicy, tender, flavorful, and much easier to prep than a full bird. I think you're going to love it!

Reasons you’ll ♡ Instant Pot turkey breast

  • It makes a small batch, great for small celebrations.
  • It frees up space in your oven (though you will need to broil it at the very end).
  • It's flavorful, juicy, and has crispy skin.

Recipe video

Watch the video below to see how simple it is to cook Instant Pot turkey breast. It’s so easy! You can find more of my recipe videos on my YouTube channel.

Don't forget to pin this post to save it for later!

step by step instructions showing how to dry brine turkey breast

Start with a dry brine

This recipe took me 5 tries (!) to perfect, and the key to juicy and flavorful turkey is to include a 3 hour dry brining step. If you are new to dry brining, it's really super simple.

  1. Gather ingredients- for this recipe, you'll need a 2-3 lb boneless turkey roast, ¼ cup of kosher salt, 1 teaspoon of brown sugar and 1 teaspoon of black pepper.
  2. Open the turkey roast up- for the brine to effectively penetrate the turkey, it's necessary to unroll the roast. Cut the twine off the roast and open it up to flatten out the two breasts. Place it in a 9 x 9 inch baking dish.
  3. Apply the dry brine- stir together the salt, brown sugar and pepper, then rub it generously all over both sides of the turkey.
  4. Refrigerate- place the baking dish into the fridge and allow to sit for 3-4 hours. This timing is the sweet spot; 2 hours is not quite long enough, but overnight was too salty.

Dry brining tips

  • salt- it's absolutely crucial that you use kosher salt and not table salt; otherwise the turkey will be too salty
  • gravy- due to the brine, the juices from the turkey will be too salty to make gravy. If gravy is a non negotiable, seek a recipe that does not include a brine (but then you'll have to suffer with blander turkey meat 😉 )
  • turkey- make sure that you are not using a turkey which has already been brined; check the ingredients on the package and it should simply say 'turkey breast'
step by step images showing how to cook turkey breast in the instant pot

Cooking it in the Instant Pot

After brining the turkey, you are ready to cook it!

  1. Rinse the turkey off + gather ingredients- after a 3-4 hour dry brine, rinse the turkey off under cold water in the sink. No need to dry. Gather 1 cup chicken stock, 1-2 sprigs of fresh rosemary and 4 cloves of garlic.
  2. Set up the Instant Pot- in the base of a 6 or 8 quart Instant Pot, place the chicken stock, rosemary and garlic. Place the trivet over these ingredients.
  3. Add the turkey breast + cook- add the turkey breast on top of the trivet, place the lid on the Instant Pot, and set the valve to the sealed position. Pressure cook on high pressure for 10 minutes.
  4. Natural pressure release + check temperature- after the cooking cycle has completed in the Instant Pot, allow it to naturally depressurize for 10 minutes. Release the reamining pressure, and check the internal temperature of the turkey breast using an instant read thermometer. It should read 145-150°F *.
  5. Broil the turkey breast- the last step is important to get that golden, crispy skin. Transfer the turkey breast to a baking sheet and blot dry with a paper towel. Brush melted butter over the turkey breasts and roast under the broiler for 5-7 minutes, until skin is nice and crispy. Check the internal temperature again, it should be 165°F at the thickest part of the breast at this point.
  6. Rest the turkey breast- it's absolutely crucial that you rest the turkey breast for 15 minutes before carving it. This allows the juices to settle evenly through the turkey breast meat. If you cut it too early, the juices will run out onto the cutting board. Leave uncovered for crispy skin, or cover with a dish.

*we are going to continue cooking the turkey breast under the broiler to get it to 165°F.

Instant Pot tips

Models that work

This recipe was tested in both a 6-quart Instant Pot and an 8-quart Instant Pot, and it works great in both, even with just 1 cup of cooking liquid. I have not tested in a mini, and don't believe the turkey breast would fit. If you try, leave us a comment below so we know how it goes!

10 minute natural pressure release

We do a 10-minute natural pressure release in this recipe. What this means is that we will let the Instant Pot sit for 10 minutes after the timer beeps. At this point, you can release any remaining pressure (though the pin may have already dropped).

For more information on quick versus natural pressure release, check out Instant Pot 101.

Broiling step

Broiling the turkey gets nice and crispy skin, and makes for a great presentation, however it is not necessary for flavor. If you'd like to skip this step, increase the cook time to 5 minutes/pound (10 minutes for 2 lbs, 15 minutes for 3 lbs). Check with an instant read thermometer and remove from the Instant Pot when it reaches 165°F.

Turkey Gravy

As mentioned above, because we use a dry brine in the recipe, the turkey juices will be too salty to make a gravy.

sliced turkey breast on cutting board

Slice the turkey across the grain

After resting the Instant Pot turkey breast for 15 minutes, you can slice and serve. Look for the grain in the turkey, and slice directly across it. This is a key step to juicy turkey meat; if you don't slice it across the grain, the meat can be ragged and tough.

Bone in turkey breast

I have not been able to get my hands on a bone in turkey breast, which is larger and will likely require a longer cooking time. I would proceed with the dry brine but increase the cooking time to 5 minutes per pound. Check the internal temperature, and if it is 145-150°F, proceed with the broiling step.

If you give it a try, we'd love to hear how it goes for you! Leave us a comment below.

Serve it with

  • Instant Pot Steamed Broccoli
  • Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
  • Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce
  • Instant Pot Mashed Cauliflower
  • Instant Pot Wild Rice Pilaf
platter with sliced instant pot turkey breast, rosemary and cranberries

More holiday recipes

  • Dry Brined Turkey
  • Crock Pot Ham
  • Easy Mashed Sweet Potatoes
  • Sauteed Green Beans
  • Cheesy Cauliflower Gratin

Did you make this? Tag me on social @sweetpeasandsaffron and be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe!

close up shot of sliced instant pot turkey breast on platter

Instant Pot Turkey Breast (Juicy with Crispy Skin!)

5 from 1 vote
Prep Time: 4 hours hrs 15 minutes mins
Cook Time: 15 minutes mins
Time to pressurize/depressurize: 20 minutes mins
Total Time: 4 hours hrs 50 minutes mins
Print Rate
Quick and easy, this Instant Pot turkey breast is great to cook a smaller batch of turkey for Thanksgiving or Christmas! With a dry brine, the turkey breast is juicy and flavored through with crispy skin. 
8

Ingredients

  • 2-3 lb boneless turkey breast roast see note 1

Dry brine

  • ¼ cup kosher salt do not use table salt
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

Instant Pot ingredients

  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • 1-2 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 4 cloves garlic whole or minced

To broil

  • 1 tablespoon butter

Instructions 

Dry brine (4-5 hours before serving)

  • In a small bowl, stir together the salt, brown sugar and black pepper.
  • Cut the twine off the turkey breast roast and unroll the roast, laying the turkey breasts flat. Place in a 9 x 9 inch baking dish.
  • Rub the dry brine generously over the roast, making sure you thoroughly coat both sides.
  • Refrigerate uncovered for 3-4 hours.

Instant Pot (1 hour before serving)

  • In the stainless steel insert of a 6 or 8 quart Instant Pot, place the chicken stock, rosemary and garlic. Place the trivet on top.
  • Rinse the dry brine off the turkey (no need to dry), and arrange skin side up on the trivet.
  • Place the lid on the Instant Pot, set the valve to 'sealing', and pressure cook on high pressure for 10 minutes.
  • Allow for a 10 minute natural pressure release: let the Instant Pot sit for 10 minutes, then release remaining pressure by moving the steam release handle carefully to the 'venting' position.
  • Check the internal temperature of the turkey by sticking an instant read thermometer into the thickest portion; it should read 145°F-155°F.

Broil

  • Position the top oven rack 4-6 inches from the top element. Pre-heat oven broiler for at least 5 minutes.
  • Carefully transfer the turkey breast roast to a baking sheet.
  • Blot with a paper towel to remove as much moisture from the turkey breast skin as possible. Brush with melted butter.
  • Set the baking sheet in the oven, and keep an eye on the turkey. If you find certain spots are cooking quicker than others, you can cover them with small bits of foil.
  • Broil for 5-10 minutes, until skin is crispy and brown, and an instant read thermometer inserted into the thickest portion reads 165°F.
  • Allow the turkey breast to rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing.

Tips:

1- I have not tested with a bone-in turkey breast roast; start with 5 minutes per pound in the Instant Pot and set under the broiler when it reaches 145-155°F.
Dry brining tips
  • salt- it’s absolutely crucial that you use kosher salt and not table salt; otherwise the turkey will be too salty
  • gravy- due to the brine, the juices from the turkey will be too salty to make gravy. If gravy is a non negotiable, seek a recipe that does not include a brine (but then you’ll have to suffer with blander turkey meat 😉 )
  • turkey- make sure that you are not using a turkey which has already been brined; check the ingredients on the package and it should simply say ‘turkey breast’
Instant Pot models
This recipe has been tested in both 6 and 8 quart Instant Pots; I do not believe a turkey breast roast will fit in the mini.
Broiling
If you'd like to skip the broiling step and cook the turkey all the way through in the Instant Pot, increase the cook time to 5 minutes/pound (10 minutes for 2 lbs, 15 minutes for 3 lbs). Check with an instant read thermometer and remove from the Instant Pot when it reaches 165°F.
Storage
After cooking, cool the turkey completely before storing in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Turkey breast is prone to drying out and is best eaten within 48 hours.
Reheating
Heat in the microwave or a frying pan until steaming hot, or heat a whole turkey breast in a covered dish in the oven at 350°F for 15-20 minutes, until warmed through.
*nutritional information was calculated with 1 tablespoon of salt since the majority of the salt is rinsed off; this is strictly an estimate.

Video

Nutrition Information

Serving: 4oz *, Calories: 143kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 25g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 66mg, Sodium: 1005mg, Potassium: 312mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 66IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 19mg, Iron: 1mg
Author: Annie Holmes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American

© Sweet Peas & Saffron - Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.

Did You Make This?Don't forget to leave a review below, and tag us on Instagram using @SweetPeasAndSaffron or #sweetpeasandsaffron
Tag Me On Instagram Rate Recipe
  • Share
  • Flipboard
  • Email

You May Also Like...

  • overhead shot of herb and garlic instant pot mashed potatoes in brown bowl
    Herb & Garlic Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
  • overhead shot of sweet potatoes lined up with text showing number of minutes to cook each
    PERFECT Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
  • instant pot turkey chili in a bowl with toppings and spoon
    Instant Pot Turkey Chili
  • two asian ground turkey lettuce wraps on gray plate
    Instant Pot Ground Turkey Lettuce Wraps (From FROZEN!)
ham sliced with spiced honey in crock pot
Previous Post
Crock Pot Honey Ham
Next Post
Crispy Domino Potatoes

Reader Interactions

5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Submit your question or comment below.

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

photo of annie meal prepping ingredients

Hi, I'm Annie

Meal prep took me from feeling constantly stressed out about meals to cool, collected and in control. I want to share this amazing and transformational habit with you, so you can feel in control, too! Read more ...

Meal Prep

Instant Pot

Air Fryer

Freezer Meals

Slow Cooker

Breakfast

Popular

overhead shot of sweet potatoes lined up with text showing number of minutes to cook each

PERFECT Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes

overhead shot of 7 easy stir fry sauces on gray background

7 Easy Stir Fry Sauce Recipes

overhead shot of a variety of seven easy rice recipes with text description

7 Easy Rice Recipes (Stove Top & Rice Cooker)

5 minute asian salad dressing in a mason jar on gray background

5 Minute Asian Salad Dressing

Get my free Meal Prep Quick Start Guide

Get my free Meal Prep Quick Start Guide

Reader Faves

overhead shot of blue mason jar filled with crispy chickpeas

ULTRA Crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas

a stack of fluffy protein pancakes with blueberries on top and syrup being drizzled over them

Perfect Fluffy Protein Pancakes (no banana!)

ingredients to make greek seasoning blend with labels on white background

Easy Greek Seasoning Blend

collage image that says 25 popular meal prep ideas

25 Most Popular Lunch Meal Prep Ideas

As seen on:

Wondering where to start?

Get my Meal Prep Quick Start Guide

Join My Free Meal Prep Challenge!
  • Browse Recipes
    • Dinner
    • Lunch
    • Breakfast
    • Snacks
    • Drinks
    • Air Fryer
    • Instant Pot
    • Freezer
  • Meal Prep 101
    • Shop Meal Plans
    • Meal Prep Basics
    • Meal Prep Challenge
    • Quick Start Guide
Back to Top

Privacy Policy

Disclaimers

Contact

Accessibility

Causes

About

© 2025 Sweet Peas and Saffron
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled Logo by Wooden Spoons

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.