Instant Pot Turkey Breast with Garlic Butter Gravy (GF, LC, K)

It is officially comfort food season, peeps. One of the meals I crave the most at this time of year is a nice hearty plate of turkey with rich and buttery gravy. Satisfying this craving would typically require me to make it an all-day affair.

First I have to run out and buy a bird, then there is the prep to get it in the oven. Followed by basting and monitoring the cooking process for several hours.

But I have discovered there is another way. A much faster way. And this recipe for Instant Pot Turkey Breast with Garlic Butter Gravy is the answer. Just when I thought I couldn’t love my Instant Pot more.

The Instant Pot truly does make it sooooooo easy. No basting, no need to constantly check the progress. Just put your turkey breast in the magical Instant Pot, set it, and walk away. Yeap. Thanksgiving dinner and holiday meals just got a whole lot easier. 

After realizing just how simple it is to make Instant Pot Turkey Breast I decided to take it to the next level by using a coriander seed butter rub to really infuse the meat with tons of flavor.

I discovered my love of coriander seeds after trying biltong in South Africa and now use them regularly for meat. While the addition of coriander seeds is not mandatory, it really does give the turkey a fab taste and is worth a try.

Why You’ll ♡ This

• It’s so fast – Cooking turkey breast in Instant Pot means you’re ready to serve in under an hour.
• Super flavorful – pressure cooking turkey gives you super moist, juicy, and delicious meat. And the herb butter rub adds tons of amazing flavor.
• Versatile – suitable for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or as a quick and easy midweek dinner.

Tools Needed

So folks, are you ready to learn how to make amaaaaazing turkey in Instant Pot? Gather up your ingredients and let me show you……

How To Make Instant Pot Turkey Breast with Garlic Butter Gravy

To make the turkey breast:

1. Mix together butter, herbs, coriander seeds, garlic purée, and salt to form a paste.
2. Rub ⅓ of the butter under the skin and ⅓ butter on top, and reserve final ⅓.
3. Add the stock to the Instant Pot insert. Place the trivet inside the Instant Pot and set the turkey breast on top of trivet, skin side up.
4. Close the lid and turn the valve to the sealing position. Set for manual/high pressure of 35 minutes. Once cook time is completed, allow for a full natural pressure release.
5. Take the turkey breast out of the Instant Pot and place on a baking tray. Rub with remaining butter and then broil until it is browned to your liking.

To make the garlic butter gravy:

1. Transfer broth from the Instant Pot into a small saucepan.
2. Stir in xanthan gum and lemon juice and simmer until the gravy thickens.
3. Adjust seasonings to suit your taste and serve.

Expert Tips

• Let the turkey rest for at least 10-15 minutes before slicing. You want to make sure all the delicious juices stay in the meat.
• I recommend slicing the meat thinly and against the grain.
• Vary the herbs to suit your taste. Parsley, sage, tarragon, basil, and oregano all work well.
• Brown and crisp the skin with a kitchen torch (if you have one) instead of broiling.
• If you are not following the Keto diet, you can use corn flour to make the gravy (see section below for step by step instructions).
• Use leftovers to make this Crunchy Healthy Turkey Salad.

Delicious Variations

• Swap the herbs: sage, basil, tarragon, or marjoram are great options.
• Use a different rub: for variety, use this poultry seasoning instead of the herb butter rub.
• Change out the stock: swap the chicken stock for vegetable, or even beef to use what you have on hand.

MEAL PREP AND PREP AHEAD

• Prep Ahead – This recipe is so easy to make. You can even prep and store the herb butter rub in advance then pull out when needed. 
• Store – Make the herb butter ahead of time and store in an airtight container inside the fridge for up to 5 days. 
• Freeze – Cook turkey as directed, let cool down, slice, and then transfer into these very handy Ziploc Freezer bags. Squeeze out all the extra air and seal the bags. Label the bags and then lay them flat in the freezer. Store in the freezer for 3 months.
• Thaw and Reheat – Remove frozen turkey from the freezer and allow it to thaw overnight in the fridge. 
• Reheat – reheat turkey in the microwave. 

FAQs

How To Prepare Turkey Breast with Herb Butter Rub?

Rubbing the herb butter paste both on top and underneath the skin is key for achieving maximum flavor. Simply use your hand to loosen the skin away from the breast, then push the butter mix into the gap, covering as much of the turkey breast as possible. Rub the rest of the butter mixture on top of the turkey breast skin.

Can I Make This Turkey Breast in the Slow Cooker?

No Instant Pot? No problem! You can easily adapt this recipe for your slow cooker. Just follow these steps:

• Cut 2 whole heads of garlic in half and put them in the bottom of the slow cooker.
• Set the turkey on top of the garlic halves, using them like a trivet (to keep the turkey elevated out of the juices that will release during cooking).
• Cook for 6-7 hours on low till the internal temperature reaches 165F / 74C.
• Remove the turkey from the slow cooker, set on a baking tray and broil to brown and crisp the skin, if desired.
• Use the juices in the slow cooker to make the garlic butter gravy following the steps listed above.

Important note: if you are planning to use a frozen turkey breast thaw the turkey completely (using one of the two methods below) before slow cooking to avoid any risk of harmful bacteria contaminating the meat before it reaches a safe cooking temperature.

What is the Proper Temperature for Turkey?

You should always use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of your turkey breast to make sure it is safe to eat. Make sure to insert the thermometer into the thickest section of the breast to get an accurate read. Turkey is cooked and safe to eat when the internal temperature reaches at least 165F / 74C.

How To Safely Thaw Frozen Turkey Breast?

You can safely thaw your turkey in the refrigerator or submerged in cold water. A 3-pound boneless turkey breast needs to be thawed in the fridge for a minimum of 24 hours or submerged in cold water for 2 hours, changing the water every 30 minutes.

Make sure the turkey is securely wrapped so the water is not able to get inside. Once the turkey is completely thawed, cook it immediately. Do not refreeze thawed turkey.

Is Xanthan Gum Considered Keto?

Xanthan gum is a thickener that is popular in keto and low carb cooking. Since it is a soluble fiber and does not contain any calories or other nutrients, it does not need to be counted toward daily carbohydrate totals.

Using xanthan gum to thicken the Garlic Butter Gravy in this recipe makes it both low carb and Keto friendly.

How To Make Garlic Butter Turkey Gravy with Corn Flour?

For those not following a Keto or Low Carb diet plan, you can make this garlic butter gravy using corn flour instead of xanathan gum. Just follow these steps:

1. Transfer the broth from the Instant Pot into a small saucepan.
2. In a small bowl, make a paste with your corn flour by mixing 2 to 3 tablespoons with an equal amount of water.
3. Whisk the paste into the broth and simmer until the gravy thickens.
4. Mix in the lemon juice, adjust seasonings to suit your taste, and it’s ready to serve.

Thanksgiving Menu and Christmas Menu Serving Suggestions

Wondering what to serve along with Instant Pot Turkey Breast with Garlic Butter Gravy? Here are some delicious suggestions for a fabulous Thanksgiving menu or Christmas menu;

• Instant Pot Brandy Glazed Carrots.
• Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce.
• Easy Instant Pot Stuffing.
• Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes.
• Chili Garlic Green Beans.
• Instant Pot Mashed Potato.
• Instant Pot Mushroom Risotto.
• Scalloped Potatoes.
• Slow Cooker Pumpkin Bread Pudding.
• Air Fryer Sweet Potato Pie.
• Pumpkin Salted Caramels.
• Mulled Wine.
• Cranberry Mimosa Cocktail.

More Instant Pot Recipes

• Instant Pot Whole Chicken.
• Easy Instant Pot Eggnog.
• Instant Pot Mashed Butternut Squash.
• Instant Pot Bakes Apples.
• Dump and Start Instant Pot Collard Greens.

Weight Watchers Points

There are 6 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.

Thank you for reading my Instant Pot Boneless Turkey Breast recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.

Originally published Nov 2019.

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