When I’m looking for an elegant and delicious meal for a smaller group during the holidays, I turn to Thanksgiving recipes such as bacon wrapped pork loin, beef tenderloin, rack of lamb or this simple yet satisfying Instant Pot turkey breast, complete with homemade gravy!
How Do You Make Instant Pot Turkey Breast?
To make this Instant Pot turkey breast recipe, start by mixing together butter, garlic, herbs and spices in a small bowl. Coat a bone-in, skin-on turkey breast with the butter mixture. Pour chicken broth into the bottom of the instant pot, then add peeled and cut carrots, sliced onion and chopped celery. Don’t forget to serve your bird with some side dishes like homemade cranberry sauce, make ahead mashed potatoes and turkey stuffing! Place the turkey breast on a trivet inside the pot. Secure the lid on the pot, seal the valve and pressure cook until turkey is cooked through. Let the pressure release naturally for about 10 minutes, then manually release the pressure. If you prefer turkey with crispy skin, place the turkey under the broiler until the skin is browned and crisp. Slice the turkey, then serve and enjoy.
Instant Pot Turkey Gravy
The great part of this Instant Pot turkey breast recipe is that there are plenty of juices and drippings at the end to make gravy with! To make your gravy, use a slotted spoon to remove the carrots, celery and onions from the Instant Pot. Turn the pot to sauté mode and bring the liquid to a simmer. Whisk together corn starch with cold water, then add that mixture to the pot. Let the gravy simmer for a few minutes until just thickened. Stir in some butter, salt and pepper, then transfer the gravy to a serving container.
Tips For The Perfect Turkey
Try using my turkey brine recipe for 12 hours before you cook your turkey for even more flavor! While I typically use a whole turkey breast for this recipe, you can also use a half breast or a boneless turkey roast. You can season these other cuts the same way, just reduce the cooking time accordingly. You should plan to purchase 1 pound of turkey per guest. For example, a 6 pound breast will serve 6 people. If you want to make sure you have leftovers at the end of the night, aim for 1 1/2 pounds per person. This recipe calls for a trivet. It keeps the turkey from sitting in the liquid in the bottom of the pot. Some pots come with a trivet or you can purchase an Instant Pot trivet online. Use your leftover turkey to make a creamy and hearty turkey tetrazzini! You can also check out my full list of leftover turkey recipes.
Flavor Variations
This recipe is delicious as-is, but you can easily customize the flavors to suit your tastes.
Seasonings: Feel free to use a spice blend such as turkey rub, Cajun seasoning, poultry seasoning or even blackened seasoning. Herbs: You can swap out the dried thyme for fresh herbs such as parsley, sage or rosemary. Another option is to use a dried herb blend such as Italian seasoning or Greek seasoning. Olive Oil: If you like the flavor of olive oil, you can mix some olive oil into your butter.
You simply can’t go wrong with this turkey recipe for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. It’s full of flavor and is sure to please any crowd!
Instant Pot Turkey Breast Video
