Turkey Breast in the Instant Pot with Mashed Potatoes

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My Instant Pot Turkey Breast Recipe is the perfect solution for the easiest Thanksgiving dinner. Potatoes cook underneath the turkey, soaking up the delicious turkey drippings! Two key features of Thanksgiving dinner done in one pot. It’s ready in under an hour with minimal prep and barely any clean-up!

Instant Pot Turkey Breast

Cooking for Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be stressful. I know – easier said than done, right? But it’s true!

To be honest, I love cooking over the holidays. Every year I like to experiment by trying a new way of cooking turkey, from smoked turkey, to spatchcock, grilled, air fryer, classic oven roasted turkey, and with this recipe, Instant Pot turkey breast.

Ron and I are empty-nesters now, so I’ve become familiar with cooking less than I normally would for our big family. This super simple recipe for turkey breast in the Instant Pot is one of my favorite ways to enjoy a small turkey dinner without winding up with a fridge full of leftovers, and it’s also a great way to serve a turkey dinner any time of the year, not just for Thanksgiving.

Here’s the best part, though: this recipe is for a 3-4 pound turkey, which will feed a family of 4 comfortably, but it also includes mashed potatoes that cook directly under the turkey.

The potatoes soak up the turkey drippings, resulting in even more flavorful mashed potatoes, and by cooking both at the same time, you’re checking two major items off of your Thanksgiving menu in an hour! No more constantly checking turkey doneness, or worrying about your potatoes getting cold while you prep everything else: both cook in one pot!

I had messed up turkey recipes before and was so hesitant to try this recipe. Boy am I glad I did. This was the juiciest turkey I have ever tried. Cooking the potatoes under the turkey is just brilliant. They were so tasty!

Karen

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

• Two in One! By cooking the potatoes and turkey in the same pot, you get two dishes in one recipe!
• Perfectly cooked turkey! By pressure cooking the turkey, it turns out incredibly moist, tender, and perfectly cooked. No more dry turkey breast!
• Perfect for Small Families! Now that it’s just me and Ron, a whole turkey is too much! This recipe is perfect for cooking for a smaller family so you don’t end up with too many leftovers to eat.

Recipe for Instant Pot Turkey

Instant Pot Turkey Ingredients

• Turkey Rub: I love using my turkey rub recipe, which is perfect and super easy to make!
• Turkey breast: I use a 3-4 pound bone-in turkey breast, which is perfect for feeding myself and Ron for several days, or a 4-person family for one big meal!
• Turkey stock: If you can’t find turkey stock, you can also use chicken stock or chicken broth.
• Sea salt: Quality salt makes a big difference in simple dishes like this!
• Garlic powder: Garlic powder has a mellow flavor and clings to the meat better than diced fresh garlic.

Mashed Potatoes Ingredients

• Russet potatoes: You can use yellow potatoes as well for creamier potatoes, but be careful mixing them, as they can get gluey quickly.
• Milk: You can use any % milk, but I prefer 2% or whole milk!
• Butter: Use unsalted butter so you can more easily regulate the amount of salt!
• Salt and pepper to taste

How to Cook Turkey in the Instant Pot

1. Peel and evenly dice russet potatoes. Add to a 6 qt. Instant Pot with turkey stock, salt, and garlic powder, making sure the potatoes are completely submerged in the liquid. Place the trivet into the pot.
   
2. Season turkey breast using turkey rub. Pat the rub all over.
   
   Then, place the turkey on top of the trivet in the Instant Pot. To make it easier to lift the turkey out of the pot when it’s done cooking, fold aluminum foil into two strips and wrap it around the handles of the trivet.
   
3. Cook on high pressure for 30 minutes, then do a natural release for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes is up, let the instant pot come to natural pressure release and carefully remove the turkey.
   
   
4. Place your turkey under the oven broiler for 2-3 minutes to brown and crisp the skin. Set aside.
   
5. Drain most of the liquid from your Instant Pot, but leave a little bit at the bottom. Add milk and butter to the pot with the potatoes. Save the liquid you drain from the potatoes to make turkey gravy!
   
6. Beat potatoes with an electric hand mixer until smooth and creamy. Serve together with turkey and gravy, and enjoy!
   

I love to serve this recipe along with my Instant Pot Ham for our Christmas celebration every year!

Expert Turkey Tips

• Make sure the potatoes are diced small and even size and completely submerged in the turkey stock before cooking so they cook properly.
• Don’t drain all of the liquid when draining the potatoes. You want to leave a little at the bottom of the pot to mix in when you mash them.
• To make it easier to lift the turkey out of the pot when it’s done cooking, fold aluminum foil into two strips and wrap it around the handles of the trivet.
• You can also use your favorite poultry seasoning in this tender turkey recipe.
• Save the drippings after you drain them from the potatoes. You can use them to make my turkey gravy!
• Always let the turkey rest for 10 minutes before slicing. This will ensure the juiciest turkey ever!

Turkey Breast Instant Pot Variations

• I love using adding my favorite herbs to this recipe. Rosemary and thyme are two of my favorites.
• Feel free to add additional vegetables to the potatoes if you don’t plan on mashing them! I love adding onion, celery, and carrots.
• Don’t forget to try my Dry Turkey Brine, Butter Injection for Turkey and Compound Butter for Turkey, too. I find that butter injection adds a ton of flavor, but compound butter is best applied after the turkey cooks or else it all melts into the potatoes.

Instant Pot Turkey Breast FAQs

Turkey Breast Temperature

Top tip for cooking turkey: The internal temp for turkey breast is 170°F when inserted into the thickest part of the breast using an instant-read thermometer or meat thermometer. Follow by Turkey Temperature Chart!

For tips on thawing turkey in time for Thanksgiving, take a look at my guide on How to Thaw Turkey!

How to Make Gravy from Turkey Drippings

Follow my step-by-step instructions on how to make the perfect turkey gravy, complete with extra tips and notes. Or, see the instructions below.

1. Pour turkey juices into a measuring cup, bowl, or fat separator. Skim the fat from the drippings using a spoon; you may have to wait a few minutes for it to separate to the top.
2. Add at least 4 tablespoons of turkey fat to your Instant Pot on saute mode. If you don’t have enough fat, you can substitute the rest with butter. Whisk in ¼ cup flour and cook down until it forms a roux, about 2 minutes.
3. Mix the skimmed drippings (make sure there is no remaining fat!) with turkey stock until you have 2 cups worth of drippings. Pour the drippings into the pot and reduce to thicken, stirring frequently.
4. When the mixture thickens to your liking, remove it from the heat and season with salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!

Side Dishes for Turkey Breast

• Creamed Corn Casserole
• Instant Pot Stuffing
• Green Bean Casserole
• Sweet Potato Casserole
• Orange Cranberry Sauce

Turkey Recipes

• Best Thanksgiving Turkey
• Cajun Turkey
• Sous Vide Turkey Breast
• Spatchcock Turkey
• Smoked Turkey

Recipe