If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to cook turkey, then try this Instant Pot Boneless Turkey Breast recipe. Cooked turkey is a healthy lean protein that can be sliced or shredded to use in a variety of ways.

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sliced boneless turkey breast on a plate

I don’t know about you, but I like to eat turkey all year round, and not just at the holidays. It’s a very versatile lean protein that can be used for sandwiches, shredded for salads and Mexican dishes, cut into chunks for soups, and more. See my Leftover Turkey Vegetable Soup recipe.

This recipe in particular:

  • only takes 20 minutes cooking time,
  • is a one-pot dish,
  • can be cooked from fresh or frozen,
  • can be served for the holidays or a special dinner,
  • and is perfect for meal prepping!

Recipe Steps

Step One

To start, you need one boneless turkey breast. I most often buy them frozen, defrost them in the refrigerator, and then cook them one at time whenever I’m doing my weekly meal prep (see all of my meal prep tips for beginners).

You do need to be careful that you don’t buy a turkey breast so large that it won’t fit into your Instant Pot. I usually try to keep it around 3 pounds or smaller.

And, if you want to cook a bone-in turkey breast in your pressure cooker, I have a separate recipe for that.

Step Two

Place the trivet inside your 6-quart or 8-quart Instant Pot, plus one cup of water. Put the turkey breast on top, and sprinkle your spices on top.

Don’t worry if some of the meat touches the sides of the pot.

boneless turkey breast inside of instant pot

Step Three

Lock on the lid, set the time to 20 minutes on high pressure, and let the Instant Pot do its magic. If you’re new to using the Instant Pot, be sure to check out my guide on how to use the Instant Pot Duo.

Step Four

When the cooking time is up, let the pressure come down for about 10 minutes, then you can remove the lid. Use tongs to transfer the turkey to a bowl or cutting board.

Slice the turkey and serve it hot, or use two forks to shred it.

cooked turkey breast

Cooked turkey can be served warm or chilled. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Recipe Tips and Substitutions

  • Feel free to get creative with your seasonings. You can use a poultry mix, Italian seasoning, or your favorite dried herbs.
  • You can use a boneless turkey breast with the skin-on, if you can find it. If you want crispy skin, then put your cooked turkey under the broiler for a few minutes after you take it out of the Instant Pot. Be careful to not let it burn!

FAQs

Do I need to defrost my frozen turkey breast before I cook it in the pressure cooker?

I do, because I find it’s less likely to get dried out in the cooking process. But, you can cook a frozen turkey breast in the Instant Pot. See the recipe card for the time.

How do you cook a bone-in turkey breast in the Instant Pot?

I have a recipe for an Instant Pot Bone-In Turkey Breast.

sliced turkey on a plate

Other Easy Instant Pot Recipes You Might Like

Or, check out my entire index of gluten-free Instant Pot recipes.

I hope you make this recipe! If you do, please leave a comment and a starred review below.

And, consider following me on social media so we can stay connected. I’m on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube!

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plate with sliced turkey breast

Instant Pot Boneless Turkey Breast

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Description

If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to cook turkey, then try this Instant Pot Boneless Turkey Breast recipe. Cooked turkey is a healthy lean protein that can be sliced or shredded to use in a variety of ways. 

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 3–pound boneless turkey breast
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme or rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  1. In the base of a 6-quart or 8-quart Instant Pot, place the trivet. Add one cup of water. Put the turkey breast on top of the trivet.
  2. Sprinkle on the garlic powder, thyme, salt, and pepper. 
  3. Lock on the lid and set the time to 20 minutes at high pressure (or 50 minutes if your turkey breast is frozen)
  4. When the cooking time is complete, let the pressure come down naturally for 10 minutes. Then, use the quick release to release any remaining pressure. 
  5. Carefully remove the lid and use tongs to transfer the turkey breast to a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to slice the turkey, or use two forks to shred the turkey.
  6. Store any leftovers in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. 

Notes

  1. If the turkey breast is frozen, set the cook time to 50 minutes. 
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Main dish
  • Method: Instant Pot pressure cooker
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: boneless turkey in pressure cooker, instant pot turkey, how to cook a boneless frozen turkey breast

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