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Herb Butter Instant Pot Turkey Breast

Easy herb butter Instant Pot turkey breast for Thanksgiving.  Bone-in turkey breast rubbed with garlic-herb butter cooks up juicy and moist in no time in the pressure cooker, with gravy in minutes.  Free up the oven for everybody's favorite part of Thanksgiving ~ the sides!

Carving slices of Instant Pot turkey breast.

My dilemma every Thanksgiving is that I stress about roasting a whole bird and when it's all said and done (and delicious!), my family barely puts a dent in the turkey.  It's all about the sides for them.  My girls dutifully take the smallest piece of white meat they can find, leaving my husband and me with the rest and all the leftovers.  Not this year, I'm doing an easy bone-in turkey breast in the Instant Pot.

Instant Pot turkey breast with gravy on side.

Turkey breast cooks fast in the pressure cooker but it also frees up the oven.  Again, another source of stress ~ trying to cook and time all the side dishes.  Put the Instant Pot to use, slow cooker too, in anyway they can help.  I'm already feeling a sigh of relief for the fast approaching big day.

Mixed frsh herbs for compound butter.

For the herbs, I like fresh thyme, sage, rosemary and oregano.  Believe it or not, even in November in St. Louis, my herbs are still thriving outside in pots.  I seem to have all I need right at home in my herb garden.  This is a good mix of traditional Thanksgiving type herbs, you can mix and match as you wish.

, photo collage of herb butter ingredients and rubbed on turkey

I chose a bone-in turkey breast, I almost always prefer on the bone for any meat if I have a choice in the matter.  Then simply rub on some garlic-herb butter and put in the Instant Pot.  The only other thing I do is add some homemade turkey stock to the pot, and then I have enough juices when the turkey is done to make some gravy, right in the pot.

Ingredients for gravy collage, finished gravy in serving boat.

Two things about doing turkey in the Instant Pot, while it's fast and the turkey is juicy, the color is lacking ~ no browned skin.  That is remedied with a quick trip under the broiler, to brown the skin while you make the gravy.  Just make a simple roux of butter and flour in the Instant Pot and then add the reserved turkey juices.  Again, color will be light because of no caramelized drippings from the roasting pan.  A little dark soy sauce takes care of that, as well as adding some salty flavor.

Platter of sliced turkey breast drizzled with gravy.

This is my new turkey plan ~ herb butter Instant Pot turkey breast.  It's not Thanksgiving without turkey, or mashed potatoes for that matter, another thing my kids can do without, they are so weird.  But I know they'll like this turkey, it's the white meat and tender and juicy.  Maybe we won't have so much leftover this year.  Enjoy ~ Kelly🍴🐦

Platter of sliced turket breast.

If you have any leftover turkey, try this Turkey Tetrazzini, you will love it!

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Carving slices of Instant Pot turkey breast.

Herb Butter Instant Pot Turkey Breast

Easy herb butter Instant Pot turkey breast for Thanksgiving.  Bone-in turkey breast rubbed with a garlic-herb butter that cooks up juicy and moist in no time, with gravy, in the pressure cooker. 
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 321kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 to 4 pound bone-in turkey breast, with skin
  • 2 tablespoons butter, very soft but not melted
  • 2 tablespoons mixed fresh herbs, such as thyme, rosemary, sage and oregano, minced
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • Kosher salt
  • 1 cup turkey or chicken stock, preferably homemade

For the Gravy:

    • 2 tablespoons butter, or turkey fat from drippings
    • 2 tablespoons flour
    • More turkey/chicken stock, if needed, to add to pot drippings to make 2 cups
    • ½ - 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce, optional

    Instructions

    • In small bowl, combine butter, fresh minced herbs and garlic.  Loosen turkey breast skin, rub some butter under skin, and all over the turkey breast.  Season all over with salt and pepper.
    • Place metal trivet in Instant Pot insert and 1 cup of turkey stock.  Place turkey breast, skin side up, on rack and seal pot.  Cook on high pressure for 25 minutes.  Let pressure naturally release for 15 minutes.
    • Release any remaining pressure and remove turkey breast to sheet pan.  Turn on broiler and brown turkey for about 5 minutes, watching closely so not to burn.
    • Meanwhile, make the gravy.  Pour turkey broth in measuring cup, you should have two cups.  If not, add more stock to reach two cups.  Turn on sauté setting and add butter or turkey fat to pot, melt, then sprinkle with flour.  Whisk and cook for a minute or two until golden and flour taste is cooked off.  Whisk in about a half cup of stock until smooth and thick, then gradually whisk in remaining stock.  Cook a couple of minutes until thickened.  Add optional dark soy sauce and taste for seasonings.
    • Remove bone from turkey.  Slice turkey, plate on serving platter and serve with gravy on the side.  Enjoy.

    Recipe Notes

    • My turkey breast was 2½ pounds and cooked in 20 minutes.  Plan on 25 minutes for 3 to 4 pounds, and 35 minutes for 4 to 7 pounds.  Always check for doneness and if need be, seal and cook an additional 5 minutes or so.
    • The dark soy sauce adds color and salty flavor, my turkey broth was unsalted to start.  Start with ½ teaspoon, then taste.  If you want more color and it needs salt, add another ½ teaspoon.
    • Watch the turkey under the broiler carefully, it browns quickly.
    • If you want more gravy, add another cup or two of stock, and add more flour for the roux, about ¼ cup.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 321kcal Carbohydrates: 4g Protein: 50g Fat: 12g Saturated Fat: 6g Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 3g Trans Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 144mg Sodium: 668mg Potassium: 608mg Fiber: 1g Sugar: 1g Vitamin A: 392IU Vitamin C: 2mg Calcium: 39mg Iron: 2mg
    Did you make this recipe? Please comment, rate it and share! And mention me on Instagram @thehungrybluebird or tag #thehungrybluebird so I can see!

     

     

     

     

    Recipe Rating




    Meathead

    Saturday 17th of November 2018

    Thanksgiving is just around the corner...

    Rick

    Wednesday 16th of November 2022

    @Meathead, I’m cooking this recipe today, wish my luck 😃