The Blond Cook

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Instant Pot Frozen Turkey Breast

So incredibly moist and tender, this Instant Pot Frozen Turkey Breast (and gravy!) is prepared in a fraction of the time than traditional baking.

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So incredibly moist and tender, this Instant Pot Turkey Breast (and gravy!) is prepared in a fraction of the time than traditional baking.

The best part is that no thawing of the turkey breast is required in this recipe.  All you’ll need to do is run warm water over the frozen turkey breast to loosen the gravy packet.  Easy peasy!

So incredibly moist and tender, this Instant Pot Turkey Breast (and gravy!) is prepared in a fraction of the time than traditional baking.

I was skeptical at first about cooking this turkey FROZEN in the Instant Pot, but it turned out phenomenal.  Whether you’re cooking dinner for your family on a weeknight or cooking for a small crowd on Thanksgiving, this is the way to go if you own a pressure cooker.

Every Thanksgiving I struggle with oven space because I’m doing so much baking… using your Instant Pot for this turkey frees up not only oven space but lots of time without sacrificing flavor.

How long does it really take this turkey breast to cook in the Instant Pot?

The actual “cook” time is 50 minutes, but that can be deceiving.  I’ve figured prep time (15 minutes), the time it takes to sauté the vegetables (6 minutes), time it takes the pot to come to pressure (12 minutes for me), cook time (50 minutes), natural pressure release time (15 minutes for me) and rest time under aluminum foil (10 minutes) yields a grand total of 1 hour and 48 minutes.

Not bad for a frozen turkey breast from start to finish!  

So incredibly moist and tender, this Instant Pot Turkey Breast (and gravy!) is prepared in a fraction of the time than traditional baking.

Enjoy!

Print
So incredibly moist and tender, this Instant Pot Turkey Breast (and gravy!) is prepared in a fraction of the time than traditional baking.

Instant Pot Frozen Turkey Breast

★★★★★ 5 from 6 reviews
  • Author: Amy @ The Blond Cook
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 77 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 48 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Pressure Cook
  • Cuisine: American
Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1/2 teaspoon rubbed sage
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons dried thyme
  • 2 teaspoons dried rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 (3-pound) frozen boneless turkey breast roast (I used Butterball)
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 small yellow onions, peeled and quartered
  • 3 stalks celery, sliced into approximately 3/4-inch slices
  • 2–1/4 cups low sodium chicken broth
  • 1 (0.87-ounce) package turkey gravy mix
  •  1 large bay leaf
  • 2 tablespoons corn starch
  • 1/2 cup cold water

Instructions

  1. Place frozen turkey breast under running warm water for 3-4 minutes to loosen gravy packet from turkey.  Place gravy packet in a medium bowl of hot water to completely thaw while seasoning turkey and sauteing vegetables.
  2. In a small bowl, mix together sage, salt, pepper, garlic powder, thyme, rosemary and oregano.
  3. Drizzle olive oil over turkey breast and rub to coat breast.  Rub spice mixture evenly over turkey breast and set aside.
  4. Turn Instant Pot to the saute function.  Add butter and melt.  Add onions and celery and cook for 5-6 minutes, or until onions are translucent, stirring frequently.
  5. Add chicken broth and stir to combine, scraping any bits off of the bottom of the pot.  Add turkey gravy mix and gravy packet that came with turkey breast.  Stir to combine.  Add bay leaf.  Turn off Instant Pot.
  6. Place trivet in bottom of pot and place seasoned turkey breast on top of trivet.
  7. Place the lid on pressure cooker and lock.  Steam release knob should be set on “sealing”.  Cook on manual setting (high pressure) for 50 minutes.  Allow pressure to release naturally.
  8. Remove turkey breast from pot and transfer to a cutting board.  Cover completely with aluminum foil and let rest for 10 minutes while you’re preparing the gravy.
  9. Remove trivet.  Using a large slotted spoon, remove vegetables and place in a bowl.  Remove bay leaf and discard.
  10. In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and water until smooth.
  11. Turn Instant Pot to the saute function and allow broth to come to a boil. Slowly pour in cornstarch slurry (while stirring) until desired thickness is reached (gravy will thicken as it sits).
  12. Remove netting from turkey and slice.  Serve with gravy.

Notes

  • The USDA recommends an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees F in the thickest part of the breast.
  • I used an Instant Pot LUX80 8 quart in this recipe.
  • Cook time includes time it takes for pot to come to pressure and natural release time.

So incredibly moist and tender, this Instant Pot Turkey Breast (and gravy!) is prepared in a fraction of the time than traditional baking.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. I cooked a turkey breast using this recipe in my instant pot tonight for dinner. It was devoured! Great recipe, love your detailed instructions since I’m new to pressure cooking. Thanks!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  3. I tried this recipe tonight for my family and it is a “Keeper”. We all loved it. The only thing that I had problems with was the gravy as I usually simmer my gravy until it is the right thickness – in the Instant Pot it would boil. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply

  4. This sounds wonderful thanks for sharing. I am gonna be doing this but was wondering how long to cook for an 8 lb turkey breast…

    Reply

    • Hey Doris, I have only tested this recipe using a 3 pound turkey breast so I can’t say with certainty how long it will take. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help!

      Reply

    • Hi Keri, I didn’t have that problem… you could always make and add more cornstarch slurry, but the gravy does thicken as it sits once removed from heat.

      Reply

  6. FABULOUS!!! Thank you for this recipe. My frozen turkey breast turned out perfectly. I followed your recipe.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  8. Hello! I followed this recipe tonight and after the 50-minute cook time, the turkey breast wasn’t done. Any ideas as to why not? Did you defrost yours at all? I’ve made a frozen turkey breast before so I’m not sure where I went wrong.

    Reply

    • Hi Tiffany, so sorry that happened! It could possibly be a couple of things… altitude and/or the size of your Instant Pot. I used an 8-quart in this recipe and my turkey breast was done.

      Reply

    • I had the same experience. 50 minutes, but only 98 degrees inside the turkey breast instead of 165. I have no idea why either. Se la vie.

      Reply

  9. I haven’t made this yet, but it sounds great. I’m wondering if I could make it and then keep it warm in the insta pot, crock pot style?

    Reply

    • Thanks Marla! I can’t say with certainty because I’ve always made this exactly how the recipe is written. I would think that it would continue to cook (as you’re keeping it warm) and possibly be dry when served. It depends on how long you keep it warming in the Instant Pot, also. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help.

      Reply

    • Hi Wendy, I’ve only tested this recipe in an 8-quart so I can’t say with certainty. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help. Hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas!

      Reply

  11. I made this yesterday in our 6 Qt. I chose to set manual pressure for 55 minutes because we have a smaller pot. I misread the recipe, & realized I needed a pack of gravy mix, not just the packet with the turkey. Being Christmas the stores are closed. I improvised with a homemade version of flour & granular chicken bouillon. It came out perfectly cooked. Thank you so much for posting. & responding on Christmas to my question.

    Reply

    • Wendy … thank you for pointing out the fact that you need a gravy mix along with the gravy packet, as I had misread the instructions, as well!

      Reply

  12. This was delicious!! I didn’t have the packet of turkey gravy but it still came out great! A keeper for sure.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  13. This recipe was perfect. I chose this site, because “ I’m also a blonde cook”. Followed just as it said, and I wouldn’t change a thing…so moist, and with so much flavor. Thanks for the great recipe!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  14. This was so, so good! The whole family loved it; the kids kept asking for more. I made it in my 6-qt since I was using my 8-qt for mashed potatoes. 😉 I increased the cook time to 65 minutes because we’re at a rather high altitude, and it was simply fantastic. We’ll definitely make this again! Thank you.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

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