Instant Pot Frozen Turkey Breast

Let us show you how to cook an Instant Pot frozen turkey breast in case you forget to defrost your meat for Thanksgiving. This is a healthy, easy meal if you don’t want a whole pressure cooker turkey this year.

Why would you do this? Well because we can be forgetful and Cooking Frozen Meat can turn out wonderful if done properly. We are here to convince you that that statement is true. I have been there many many times which is why I share a lot of these kinds of tips here.

We first showed you how to cook a pressure cooker turkey breast when it was totally thawed out. Then it was time to experiment with it right out of the freezer. We found out that it doesn’t change the cook time really at all either way, seriously. Biggest reason it varies would be the size.

How long does it take to cook a frozen turkey breast?

You will need about 35 minutes but you need to account for the 10 minute natural release and time it takes to come to pressure too. With that said I would say the total is approximately 50 minutes or so in a pressure cooker. Much faster than any other method out there.

If you are new to the pressure cooker world you are in for a real treat. It has given our family the ability to eat together more often, which is important to us. I can cook healthier meals too in little to no time. We have a few things to start with in this same category:

You can really pack in all the veggies you like just ensure you have enough room for the meat on top and lid to close. If it won’t just remove a few and you’ll be set to go. I don’t think it needs to be said but yes, please remove the plastic bag over the top before you put it in. EEeeek let’s not have a disaster y’all.

How do you get a golden brown turkey skin?

If you rub some fat on the skin and put it under the broiler for just a few minutes that will do the trick. Oil can be used but butter is much better to get the desired result and flavor. If you have a Ninja Foodi you can just swap lids and with the one that is attached you can crisp at 400F for 4-5 minutes or so.

How to Thicken the Gravy

If you want to create something like our turkey neck gravy you can add a dry gravy packet to the drippings at the bottom and whisk together with the saute function on. Just wait until it bubbles, add a few tbsp of water with cornstarch, whisk together until smooth and pour that in. Whisk until smooth and thick to your liking.

Tips for Success

If you want a ton of flavor on the outside of the skin you can use our smoked turkey rub. To get it to stick just rub some olive oil on the outside and coat as well as you can.

The breast we had was 3 lbs. which fit perfectly inside with some veggies on the bottom. Of course you’ll need it to fit with the lid sealed so keep that in mind if you are intentionally buying one to try this. In general I would stick to a 3 lb. piece or so, much larger won’t fit in your pot unless you have the new 10 quart one! Mine is a 6 qt. that I use regularly and it worked out quite well.

I highly suggest that you do add some vegetables to the bottom of your trivet or meat so you can make Instant Pot gravy with the drippings when it is done. Yes, you can do that too, all in one pot!

Ninja Foodi (Option)

If you need easy Ninja Foodi recipes, you can use that pot using the lid that is not attached and the pressure cook button. A Crockpot Express works just as well too. All the brands basically work the same except the Foodi does have the option to air fry at the end if you’d like.

This is a great recipe to cook year round because it feeds a lot and is an overall cheap meal! It only takes about 15 minutes to prep and get everything together. Throw it in and bam it’s done in no time. If you do happen to remember to defrost it, you can also try our Crockpot turkey breast.

How do you fix an overcooked turkey breast?

First off, if you follow the printable directions below this shouldn’t happen. The key is to allow the steam to release naturally. If you don’t do this or are in a hurry and think it’s no big deal, it is!! That’s how it stays tender.

If this does happen though, combine a few tablespoons melted butter with chicken broth. Pour this over slices of warm turkey and cover with foil. Allow to sit for 5-10 minutes and it should help quite a bit.

How long is leftover turkey good for in the fridge?

Should you let turkey cool before refrigerating?

Yes, do not put it in hot. Rather, allow it to reach room temperature, or close to it. A general rule of thumb is to bag it up and refrigerate it within 2 hours of taking it out of your oven or other method of cooking.

How to reheat turkey and keep it moist

This goes along with how you save an overcooked bird: Melt butter and chicken broth. Slice meat and put on to an oven safe plate or baking sheet. Pour liquid over all pieces and cover with foil. Reheat in an oven set to 350 degrees F for about 30 minutes. Timing will depend on how much you’re warming. Meat off the bone will not take as long as turkey legs will.

Below is a printable recipe so you can keep it handy. Of course we love “seeing you” so feel free to just come back to read it. Find many more under my IP recipes tab here on my site and enjoy friends.

Other family friendly meals you’ll love

You should make our chicken pot pie soup that is creamy and delicious. Similar to a clam chowder but using up the meat you have it’s packed with veggies and potatoes too. Throw a bunch into a leftover turkey pot pie that’s easy to make with refrigerated pie crust. Any recipe using leftover chicken will work with what you have on hand too like our Instant Pot chicken and rice dish.