4.87 from 15 votes

Ninja Foodi Turkey Breast

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Pressure Cook Turkey Breast easily in Ninja Foodi with Crispy Air Fryer Skin, no boring Turkey Recipe here! Make Thanksgiving a SNAP and clear up the oven space for more delicious sides (the way we like it)!

Ninja Foodi Turkey Breast

When it comes to the holidays I love everything but making the turkey- after all, this is a side dish site. But partly that is due to the longevity of turkey making….hours and hours hours. Admittedly last year I skipped that step and did the whole Publix pick up turkey thing. I should be ashamed but I am not. But fast forward to this year and insert the pressure cooker.

The pressure cooker makes a fall off the bone delicious turkey breast that takes the timing incredibly down AND leave the oven open for all the side dishes, an incredible win for families everywhere. The only downside in this case is that if you want a 30 pound turkey, that will not be happening in the Instapot or the Ninja Foodi, so this recipe is more for small family gatherings with turkey breasts that are in the 6-8 pound range and can fit into the pots.

Please note that this recipe was done with the 6.5 quart Ninja Foodi pressure cooker and any alterations will need reference to the Ninaj Foodi recipe booklet that comes with your machine OR if you have an alternative machine, double checking the timing based on the size of your turkey.

Ninja Foodi Turkey Breast Recipe

✔Air Fryer ✔ 6.5 quart Ninja Foodi ✔ Thanksgiving

The Ninja Foodi all in one pressure cooker makes it SO easy to make a fall off the bone turkey breast for your family. Year round turkey can be a thing – enjoy turkey sandwiches and left over turkey any day of the year, but more importantly and more common, on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Please read below to see our Ninja Foodi Turkey Breast recipe and seasonings as well as some tips to create your own beautiful holiday spread this year!

  • 1 cup water
  • 1 fresh turkey breast, 6-8 lbs, thawed or partially thawed
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground sage
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • fresh rosemary for garnish (Optional)

COMPLIMENTARY SIDES: Homemade Cranberry Sauce (stove), Corn Casserole (oven), Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole (slow cooker), Pumpkin Pie Dump cake (oven), Cranberry Sausage Stuffing (oven)

Pressure Cooking Turkey Breast

Place the roasting rack in the pressure cooker insert and add 1 cup of water.

pour water into the ninja foodi pressure cooker

Place the turkey on the rack.

place partially thawed turkey breast into ninja foodi

Put the pressure cooker lid on and seal shut.

Close the pressure release valve.

Pressure cook on high, for 40 minutes.

When cooking cycle is complete, naturally release for 10 minutes and then quick release pressure.

pressure cook turkey breast

Air Fried Turkey Breast

Carefully open the instant pot and brush the turkey with melted butter.

baste turkey breast with butter after pressure cooker and before air fried

Mix seasonings together and sprinkle on top of the butter.

heavily season turkey breast before placing air fryer lid onto ninja foodi

Place the air fryer lid onto the Foodi and air crisp the turkey at 350 degrees for 8 minutes.

When cooking is complete, open the Foodi and carefully remove the turkey breast by lifting the rack (silicone gloves help).

air fry at 350 degrees for perfect crispy air fried turkey skin

Let rest for 5 minutes before carving and serving.

Serving size depends on size of turkey, our 6.5 pound approximately serves 8-12.

slice and enjoy turkey breast from your all in one ninja foodi

Common Ninja Foodi Questions with Turkey Breast

How do I move the turkey to readjust for seasoning skin?  After you are done pressure cooking the turkey breast, you may find that it was placed in on the wrong side for optimal skin seasoning and buttering.  You can see I put the turkey in on it’s side. I had to reposition the turkey after the PC function in order to put butter on the skin and crisp it. it’s not hard, a set of tongs or two forks, but you do need to be careful it doesn’t fall apart, because it’s so tender and the bones will pull right out.

What if turkey breast is frozen/thawed/in between? As always, no matter what pressure cooker you are using, if there are any changes in your turkey size, pound, frozen or thawed, its always a good idea to refer to your Ninja Foodi hand book. I suggest that as a starting point for people with a similar but different appliance as well.

Is this turkey frozen in your recipe? My turkey wasn’t frozen, but it wasn’t completely thawed either. It was in the fridge for 2 days and the center was frozen but the outside was thawed.  To thaw in your turkey, make sure you put it into a bowl because it will leak all over your fridge. And a plate isn’t deep enough to hold all of the juices.

Will there be enough liquid for turkey gravy? There  will be TONS of liquid left so you can easily make your own gravy with the drippings if desired.

lots of liquid left for delicious homemade gravy from ninja foodi

Ninja Foodi HamNinja Foodi Ham in a pressure cooker and air crisped glaze, is a super easy and delicious way to cook holiday ham this year.

Ninja Foodi Corn Casserole – Nothing says Thanksgiving like corn casserole, or as some say, corn pudding. Made with Jiffy corn meal, corn casserole is a staple around nearly every holiday table.

Ninja Foodi Bacon Wrapped JalapenosCream Cheese Stuffed Jalapeño’s wrapped in bacon is THE best appetizer – and its so easy to make in the Ninja Foodi Air Crisp basket for perfect bacon every time!

Ninja Foodi Bacon Wrapped and Cream Cheese Stuffed Chicken BreastAir Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken stuffed with herbed cream cheese is a perfect weeknight dinner that your entire family will enjoy!

NINJA FOODI LINE OF PRODUCTS

*may contain affiliates*

Ninja Foodi Blender – Meet the Ninja Foodi blender with heat-iq. Combines high-speed crushing with a precision-heat cooking blender to go beyond smoothies and frozen drinks to unlock natural flavors with heat. With the push of a button, heat fruit, melt chocolate, and toast spices to create perfectly customized craft drinks.

Ninja Foodi 6.5 Quart 9 in 1 CookerThe Ninja Foodi—The pressure cooker that crisps. Pressure cooker, air fryer, tender crisper

Ninja Foodi Indoor Grill – The Smart XL grill that sears, sizzles, and crisps. Indoor countertop Grill and Air Fryer

Ninja Foodi Toaster Oven – The ultimate meal making machine with 8 in 1 functionality: Air fry, air roast, air broil, bake, bagel, toast, dehydrate, and keep warm all in one powerful 1800 watt appliance.

Ninja Foodi Turkey Breast Recipe with Air Fried Crispy Skin

4.87 from 15 votes

Ninja Foodi Turkey Breast


Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 58 minutes
Air Fry – 350 Degrees 8 minutes
Skip the 4 hours of turkey basting and instead get right to the good stuff- Pressure cook turkey breast in Ninja Foodi (or similar pressure cooker) and then air fry the chicken to crispy perfection. This quick alterative for turkey is a great year round way to enjoy turkey sandwiches or make the thanksgiving holiday a snap. Whether pressure cooking turkey in the Ninja Foodi or Instant Pot, you can depend on a super tender, moist and oh so delicious turkey that is flawless anytime you want to enjoy a turkey platter or lunch! The best part of making turkey in a Ninja Foodi is the turkey is read in an HOUR, making it one of the fastest ways to get to fresh turkey breast and all the sides. 

Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup water
  • 1 fresh turkey breast 6-8 lbs, thawed or partially thawed
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground sage
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • fresh rosemary for garnish Optional

Instructions

  • FIRST STEP: Pressure Cook Turkey Breast
  • Place the roasting rack in the pressure cooker insert and add 1 cup of water.
  • Place the turkey on the rack.
  • Put the pressure cooker lid on and seal shut.
  • Close the pressure release valve.
  • Pressure cook on high, for 40 minutes.
  • When cooking cycle is complete, naturally release for 10 minutes and then quick release pressure.

  • SECOND STEP: Air Fry Turkey Breast Skin
  • Carefully open the instant pot and brush the turkey with melted butter.
  • Mix seasonings together and sprinkle on top of the butter.
  • Place the air fryer lid onto the Foodi and air crisp the turkey at 350 degrees for 8 minutes.
  • When cooking is complete, open the Foodi and carefully remove the turkey breast by lifting the rack.
  • Let rest for 5 minutes before carving and serving.

Notes

Serving size depends on size of turkey, our 6.5 pound approximately serves 8-12.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 43kcal | Protein: 3g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 167mg

Nutritional Disclaimer: The nutritional data provided here is auto-calculated and intended for your convenience only. As it’s generated via automation, its accuracy may be compromised. For precise nutritional insight, please compute the values utilizing the actual ingredients in your recipe through your chosen nutrition calculator or application.

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4.87 from 15 votes
4.87 from 15 votes (14 ratings without comment)

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3 Comments

  1. I am so glad I found your recipe for a larger sized turkey breast in the Ninja. Yours is the recipe I’m using this Thanksgiving. I have a couple of questions based upon my Ninja Foodi model that you may or may not be able help me out with. I have the 8qt XL with Smartlid. Could I use the Steam & Crisp setting to cook the Turkey? Or, should I pressure cook and then switch to air fry? If I don’t do either and use your method, should the breast be flipped during the air crisp mode? My apologies if I sound like a newbie to Ninja cooking but I am having owned my first Ninja for all of two months. Thank you for any insight you can offer.

    1. Trisha Haas says:

      I emailed you too, but just to add here – Ryan, I got your message on my blog about the pressure-cooked/air fryer turkey. To be honest, that is not the air fryer I have w/ that setting so I am unable to give incite on what that setting does. Typically the Ninjas have a book with them or on their website. I really wish I could. I am not a Ninja Foodi site specifically, just have a few from my own home cooking.

      Regarding flipping it, it’s not something we did but I don’t see any harm in doing that in the air-crisp setting as long as you don’t remove too much heat.

      Happy thanksgiving!


      Trisha

  2. First of all, I’m sorry I’m responding so late to you, Trisha. Thank you for answering here and I received your email. I could not find an answer to my steam & crisp question on the Ninja site ir in the manual. The more I thought about it, I didn’t want to waste by messing up, I decided to follow your recipe. It was the best turkey breast I’ve made and my guests echoed my sentiments. I did, however, have to crisp it up to my personal preference for 15 minutes. Next time I’ll put the temp to 400 and watch it carefully. By the way, I showed my guests your recipes and two of them bought a Ninja SmartLid the next day. I say that speaks volumes to your cooking abilities. Thank you.