Instant Pot Turkey Breast with Gravy

Name: Instant Pot Turkey Breast with Gravy
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 125 min
Ingredients: 5 pound bone-in skin-on turkey breast ((Kirkwood brand with two included gravy packets)); 3 tablespoons porchetta seasoning “the Grass”; 1/2 tablespoon porchetta salt and pepper mix; 2 gravy packets ((included with turkey breast)); 2 cups water; Leftover turkey cooking liquid; 2 tablespoons corn starch; 1/4 cup water

You can easily cook a bone-in turkey breast for a smaller crowd - and quickly! when you get your Instant Pot involved. The results are moist, juicy turkey that you don't have to fret over for hours.

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And the lovely drippings that are leftover after the Instant Pot Turkey Breast cooks? Simply hit saute and you'll have a flavorful gravy ready in minutes without dirtying another pan!

Turkey is a fickle bird. How many overcooked, painfully dry turkeys have you had to endure in the name of tradition? Even one is too many.

Don't get me wrong, turkey that is well cooked is.... okay, admittedly even when well-cooked turkey is just so damn boring. I've never been a big fan of turkey because why put in the effort for a protein that's often lackluster at best?

This Instant Pot Turkey Breast recipe has officially changed my mind. Not only is turkey cooked in the Instant Pot moist and juicy, it cooks quickly and you don't have to baby it - worry about wrapping it in a baking bag, turning it and basting during cooking, watching the timer like a hawk...

PLUS, I turned up the flavor volume to 11 by dousing it with Iron Range Porchetta Seasoning.

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WHAT IS IRON RANGE PORCHETTA SEASONING?
The Secret to Moist, Juicy Turkey in the Instant Pot is....
Flabby skin, your biggest reservation
My Instant Pot
The Bone-in Turkey Breast
How to Cook Turkey Breast in the Instant Pot
Leftover Instant Pot Turkey Breast
Instant Pot Turkey Breast with Gravy
New Recipes on Midwexican!

WHAT IS IRON RANGE PORCHETTA SEASONING?

Iron Range Porchetta Seasoning is this earthy, Italian herb bomb. It's got basil, rosemary, oregano, fennel, and more! It’s so incredibly amazing, a bevy of Italian seasonings brought together to create one seriously stellar seasoning mix. Traditionally it's used to season pork, but wouldn't you know it works amazingly well on turkey too!

The Secret to Moist, Juicy Turkey in the Instant Pot is....

To let the Instant Pot naturally release after the turkey breast has finished cooking. That's it, that's the secret! Rushing the pressure out too quickly results in drying out the protein. You definitely don't want that.

Flabby skin, your biggest reservation

Okay yeah, the skin on your turkey is gonna be flabby and pale when cooked solely in the Instant Pot. If you gotta have that golden brown and crisped-up skin (and I know you do!), you're gonna want to broil it before you carve it.

Instant Pot Bone-in Turkey Breast — Turkey Breast cooked in the Instant Pot, then broiled to crisp the skin.

My Instant Pot

The Instant Pot I own and used to cook this bone-in turkey breast is an 8-quart model. Specifically, this one:

The Bone-in Turkey Breast

I picked up a 5-pound Kirkwood turkey breast at Aldi. It came with two gravy packets that I used along with 2 cups of water to cook the turkey in.

Bone-in Turkey Breast in your Instant Pot. It's the move this holiday season, I'm telling you.

How to Cook Turkey Breast in the Instant Pot

For this Instant Pot Turkey Breast recipe (with gravy!) you will need the following ingredients to get started.

INGREDIENTS

5-pound bone-in skin-on turkey breast (Kirkwood brand with two included gravy packets)
3 tablespoons porchetta seasoning “the Grass”*
½ tablespoon porchetta salt and pepper mix
2 gravy packets (included with turkey breast)
2 cups water

*You can you whatever seasoning you like; I love using porchetta seasoning.

Turkey Gravy

Leftover turkey cooking liquid
2 tablespoons cornstarch
¼ cup water

INSTRUCTIONS

Add the included gravy packets and 2 cups of water to your Instant Pot.
Coat the turkey breast inside and out with 3 tablespoons of porchetta seasoning, followed by ½ tablespoon porchetta salt and pepper mix. Alternatively, season however you would like.
Add the seasoned turkey breast to the Instant Pot. Cover and make sure the pressure valve is closed.
Select “Pressure Cook” and set the timer to 30 minutes on High Pressure. The Instant Pot will take around 25 or so minutes to pressurize before cooking.
When the Instant Pot beeps (finishes cooking), press "Cancel” to turn it off. Let the pressure release naturally as this will keep the turkey moist and juicy. This will take upwards of an hour or so - be patient, it's worth it!
Optional step: For crispy skin, broil cooked turkey breast in the oven until golden brown and crispy. You may have to rotate the pan during broiling to ensure even crisping, so keep a watchful eye during this step. Preheat your oven in advance so you can put the turkey in the oven as soon as the pressure has finished naturally releasing from the Instant Pot.
Once the pressure has naturally released, open the lid carefully. Remove the turkey breast and place on a cutting board. Let rest for at least 10 minutes before carving.
Carve your turkey breast and serve with gravy (see steps below).

Turkey Gravy

Make gravy with the turkey gravy and drippings left over in the Instant Pot. Press the Sauté function on your Instant Pot and set it for 7 minutes.
Combine 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with ¼ cup of cold water, whisking to combine. Add the cornstarch slurry to the Instant Pot.
Sauté, whisking frequently, until the gravy thickens. Adjust seasoning to suit your tastes. Makes about 4 cups.

Instant Pot Turkey Breast with Porchetta seasoning

How long to cook turkey breast in the instant pot?

Instant pot turkey breast cooking time will ultimately depend on the weight of the breast you are cooking. I find that a 5-pound bone-in turkey breast is best cooked on the “Pressure Cook” setting for 30 minutes on High Pressure.

Note: The Instant Pot will take around 25 or so minutes to pressurize before cooking.

What is the secret to a moist turkey?

Want to know what the secret to a moist turkey is? Cooking it in the Instant Pot with a cooking liquid! Seriously it turns out moist and juicy every time - provided that you also let the pressure naturally release after cooking.

I want crispy skin... How can I get crispy skin from a turkey breast cooked in the Instant Pot?

The only real downside to cooking a bone-in, skin-on turkey breast in a pressure cooker is that the skin won't exactly be crisp when it finishes cooking. To get that crispy skin you'll have to broil it in your oven as a final finishing touch.

Leftover Instant Pot Turkey Breast

Store leftover turkey in a tightly sealed container and refrigerate for up to five days. You can also freeze for up to 3 months.

Try repurposing leftover turkey in a quesadilla!

What does Instant Pot Turkey Breast go with?

Moist, juicy, perfectly cooking Instant Pot Turkey deserves to be paired with a fantastic side dish, like one of these!