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.

sliced turkey on a plate with fresh rosemary

Recipe Highlights

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
  • 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.

collage of how to cook turkey breast

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.

Step Three

Lock on the lid, set the time to 20 minutes on high pressure, and let the pot do its magic.

Step Four

When the cooking time is up, let the pressure come down for about 10 minutes, then you can remove the lid. Slice the turkey and serve it hot, or use two forks to shred the turkey.

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

sliced turkey breast on a plate with fresh rosemary

FAQs

Do I need to defrost my frozen turkey breast?

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.

Other Easy Instant Pot Recipes

Here is my printable recipe:

Print

Instant Pot Boneless Turkey Breast

plate with sliced turkey breast

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

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. 

  • Author: Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x
  • Category: Main dish
  • Method: Instant Pot pressure cooker
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Gluten Free
Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 3-pound boneless turkey breast
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme or rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • ½ 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

If the turkey breast is frozen, set the cook time to 50 minutes. 

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

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