• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • meet the team
  • blogger resources
  • Contact Me
My Account
Member Dashboard
40 Aprons Premium (Ad Free!)

40 Aprons

Delicious, Healthy-ish Meals for the Whole Family

  • All Recipes
  • Course
    • Appetizers
    • Cooking Basics
    • Breakfast
    • Condiments
    • Dessert
    • Main Course
    • Meal Prep
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Method
    • Air Fryer
    • Baking
    • Crockpot
    • Grilling
    • Instant Pot
    • Sous Vide
  • Dietary Needs
    • Dairy Free
    • Gluten Free
    • Keto
    • Low Carb
    • Paleo
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
    • Whole30
  • Cuisine
    • American
    • Asian
    • Indian
    • Italian
    • Mediterranean
    • Mexican & Latin
    • Southern
Home Blog Course Main Course

Whole30 Instant Pot Turkey Breast with Gravy (Paleo)

Cheryl Malik
Cheryl Malik Posted: 11/13/17 Updated: 12/10/20
5
/5
18 Comments
Jump to Recipe
DF Dairy Free GF Gluten Free P Paleo 30 Whole30

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This Whole30 Instant Pot turkey breast with gravy is quick, so delicious, and totally Whole30 compliant. Brined with a garlic-herb butter under the skin, this Whole30 turkey breast and the gravy are both made in the Instant Pot, making Thanksgiving easier! You’ll love this Whole30 Instant Pot turkey breast and gravy, because the meat is so tender, and the gravy is so easy. Perfect for any Whole30 Thanksgiving or paleo Thanksgiving table. Click here to buy an Instant Pot (it’s life-changing!)

This Whole30 Instant Pot turkey breast with gravy is quick, so delicious, and totally Whole30 compliant. Brined with a garlic-herb butter under the skin, this Whole30 turkey breast and the gravy are both made in the Instant Pot, making Thanksgiving easier! You'll love this Whole30 Instant Pot turkey breast and gravy, because the meat is so tender, and the gravy is so easy. Perfect for any Whole30 Thanksgiving or paleo Thanksgiving table. 

I’m trend-resistant.

It’s always the same with me:

Smoothie bowls? Wtf, why? I’m good.

Six months later:

Oh, OK, yeah, this makes a lot of sense. Dammit!

This Whole30 Instant Pot turkey breast with gravy is quick, so delicious, and totally Whole30 compliant. Brined with a garlic-herb butter under the skin, this Whole30 turkey breast and the gravy are both made in the Instant Pot, making Thanksgiving easier! You'll love this Whole30 Instant Pot turkey breast and gravy, because the meat is so tender, and the gravy is so easy. Perfect for any Whole30 Thanksgiving or paleo Thanksgiving table. 

Or this:

Avocado toast? How about just keep the avocados on freaking chips where they belong.

Six months later:

Oh, well, yeah, this is delicious. OK.

This Whole30 Instant Pot turkey breast with gravy is quick, so delicious, and totally Whole30 compliant. Brined with a garlic-herb butter under the skin, this Whole30 turkey breast and the gravy are both made in the Instant Pot, making Thanksgiving easier! You'll love this Whole30 Instant Pot turkey breast and gravy, because the meat is so tender, and the gravy is so easy. Perfect for any Whole30 Thanksgiving or paleo Thanksgiving table. 

And the same goes for the Instant Pot, of course. Why would I add yet another gadget to my kitchen? It’ll just overcook everything and make it soupy and weird. And y’all are like a damn cult with this EyePee stuff. Hard pass.

And now? I’m seriously counting down the days until my Paleo Instant Pot cookbook comes out, complete with 30 Whole30-compliant recipes (meaning no sugar at all, no alcohol, and no paleo-ified treats or breads!) to make eating clean that much easier.

And if you haven’t noticed lately, I make a ton in the Instant Pot. From my Instant Pot Whole30 cranberry sauce with apples and rosemary to my Whole30 Instant Pot mashed potatoes with garlic and herbs, even my Instant Pot caramel sauce, the Instant Pot is my happy place.

This Whole30 Instant Pot turkey breast with gravy is quick, so delicious, and totally Whole30 compliant. Brined with a garlic-herb butter under the skin, this Whole30 turkey breast and the gravy are both made in the Instant Pot, making Thanksgiving easier! You'll love this Whole30 Instant Pot turkey breast and gravy, because the meat is so tender, and the gravy is so easy. Perfect for any Whole30 Thanksgiving or paleo Thanksgiving table. 

I really think you should get one on an inevitable Black Friday sale, if you’re not already so lucky to have one.

So, thinking of how to keep the holidays less stressful, more fun, and generally just easier, a Whole30 Instant Pot turkey breast with gravy was so logical. But I won’t lie to you: I kept it simple. I took my amazing brined turkey breast with a garlic-herb butter stuffed under the skin and made it into an Instant Pot-friendly recipe. The result?

Super moist and tender turkey with a rich gravy made quickly and easily. And hey! The gravy is made in the Instant Pot while the turkey cooks, infusing it with that garlic-herb butter, turkey juices, and making last-minute gravy while everyone sits at their place setting, waiting to eat, trying desperately to avoid talking about religion and politics (and probably doing a very poor job of it) a thing of the past.

This Whole30 Instant Pot turkey breast with gravy is quick, so delicious, and totally Whole30 compliant. Brined with a garlic-herb butter under the skin, this Whole30 turkey breast and the gravy are both made in the Instant Pot, making Thanksgiving easier! You'll love this Whole30 Instant Pot turkey breast and gravy, because the meat is so tender, and the gravy is so easy. Perfect for any Whole30 Thanksgiving or paleo Thanksgiving table. 

What, just my family? Oh… OK.

How To Make This Recipe

To make this Whole30 Instant Pot turkey breast and gravy, I used…

Hey – you’ve made it this far, so now we’re basically best friends! If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a quick review & star rating ★ below. Make sure you follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Facebook, too!

This Whole30 Instant Pot turkey breast with gravy is quick, so delicious, and totally Whole30 compliant. Brined with a garlic-herb butter under the skin, this Whole30 turkey breast and the gravy are both made in the Instant Pot, making Thanksgiving easier! You'll love this Whole30 Instant Pot turkey breast and gravy, because the meat is so tender, and the gravy is so easy. Perfect for any Whole30 Thanksgiving or paleo Thanksgiving table. 
5 from 10 votes

Whole30 Instant Pot Turkey Breast and Gravy (Paleo)

Prep:8 hours 10 minutes
Cook:45 minutes
Total:8 hours 55 minutes
This Whole30 Instant Pot turkey breast and gravy is quick, so delicious, and totally Whole30 compliant. Brined with a garlic-herb butter under the skin, this Whole30 turkey breast and the gravy are both made in the Instant Pot, making Thanksgiving easier! You'll love this Whole30 Instant Pot turkey breast and gravy, because the meat is so tender, and the gravy is so easy. Perfect for any Whole30 Thanksgiving or paleo Thanksgiving table. 
Print Save Saved! Click Here to Remove Ads
2 people

Ingredients

Turkey Breast

  • 5 tablespoons ghee divided
  • 6 cloves garlic minced, divided
  • 3 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 (3-pound) whole skin-on turkey breast thawed
  • 1-2 pinch salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
  • 1 onion diced
  • 1 cup cauliflower florets fresh or frozen
  • 1/4 cup chicken broth

Brine

  • 9 cups water
  • 1/2 cup salt
  • 2-3 few sprigs of fresh thyme
  • 3 cloves garlic peeled and smashed

Gravy

  • 4 tablespoons arrowroot powder
  • 1-2 tablespoons water
  • 1 tablespoon coconut aminos to taste
  • salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Instructions 

  • Make the brine: Stir together all ingredients until salt is totally dissolved. Pour brine into large food storage container or Ziploc bag and place turkey breast in brine. Seal completely and refrigerate about 4-8 hours, up to 12.
  • Drain brine and let turkey breast dry until very dry or pat dry with paper towels.
  • Mix 3 tablespoons ghee, garlic, and thyme in food processor. Keep the elastic wrap on your turkey breast. Carefully, using your fingers, peel the skin away from the chicken breast and rub the butter mixture under the skin. You can also stick a spoon with ghee on it under the skin, then use your fingers outside the skin to hold the ghee down for you to remove the spoon. Rub the outside of the skin with 1 tablespoon ghee and season with salt and pepper.
  • Turn Instant Pot on Sauté mode. When hot, add 1 tablespoon ghee and sauté onions and garlic, stirring constantly, until slightly softened. Add cauliflower and chicken broth and stir. Place turkey breast on top of onion-cauliflower mixture, and put lid on Instant Pot, making sure valve is in Sealing position.
  • Cook on Manual High Pressure mode for 28 minutes. Then let naturally release for 10-15 minutes.
  • Remove turkey breast carefully and cut elastic wrap off. If desired, preheat broiler and broil turkey for a few minutes to brown skin.
  • Make the gravy: use an immersion blender, or transfer remaining mixture in Instant Pot cooking pot to regular blend, and process until completely smooth. Return to Instant Pot pot and cook on Sauté mode on Normal heat.
  • In a small bowl, combine 4 tablespoons arrowroot powder and 1-2 tablespoons water. Whisk until completely smooth, then add this arrowroot slurry to gravy in Instant Pot. Whisk vigorously to incorporate and let simmer until thickened to desired texture. Add coconut aminos for color and saltiness, but be careful: it's naturally sweet, so don't use too much. Add salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste.
  • Slice turkey breast and serve with gravy and my Whole30 Instant Pot mashed potatoes.

Notes

If you're not on a Whole30 and need to make this recipe entirely dairy-free (not just lactose-free), substitute a dairy-free margarine for the ghee. Butter would also be amazing here, if you eat it and aren't on a Whole30.

Video

Nutrition Information

Serving: 2g, Calories: 461kcal, Carbohydrates: 31g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 38g, Saturated Fat: 23g, Cholesterol: 96mg, Sodium: 28685mg, Potassium: 371mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 546IU, Vitamin C: 53mg, Calcium: 146mg, Iron: 3mg, Net Carbs: 27g

Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

 

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

 

To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @40aprons on social and be sure to leave a review on the blog post!

Rate Recipe Tag Me on Instagram

You’ll also like…

These Whole30 Instant Pot mashed potatoes with garlic and herbs are a Whole30 Thanksgiving dream: rich, creamy, garlicky, and so easy. These Whole30 Instant Pot mashed potatoes are a must for any paleo Thanksgiving table or Whole30 Thanksgiving table, and they'll become your favorite paleo Instant Pot mashed potatoes recipe for sure!

Whole30 Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes with Garlic and Herbs (Vegan Option, Paleo)

This Whole30 turkey breast and gravy is epic: brined to perfection with an herb butter stuffed under the skin (using ghee, of course)! It's my perfect Thanksgiving turkey made Whole30 Thanksgiving compliant, and it's a must for any paleo Thanksgiving or Whole30 Thanksgiving! This Whole30 turkey breast and gravy might actually become your favorite turkey recipe...

Whole30 Turkey Breast with Gravy

This Whole30 sweet potato casserole with pecans is a must for any Whole30 Thanksgiving table! With no sweeteners and a cinnamon pecan-date topping, you might end up eating the leftovers for breakfast (we did!). This Whole30 sweet potato casserole is naturally sweetened and just so delicious. A new Whole30 Thanksgiving classic! 

Whole30 Sweet Potato Casserole with Cinnamon Pecan-Date Topping

This Whole30 green bean casserole is just like the classic Thanksgiving dish: tender green beans in a rich cream of mushroom sauce, topped with fried onion straws. This Whole30 green bean casserole (also a paleo green bean casserole, of course!) is an absolute must for the Whole30 Thanksgiving table. And to be honest, this paleo green bean casserole tastes even better than the classic version! 

Whole30 Green Bean Casserole

This Instant Pot Whole30 cranberry sauce with apples and rosemary is the perfect Whole30 cranberry sauce: sweet and tart with no added sweeteners at all! It's the perfect addition to any Whole30 Thanksgiving table and goes beautifully with my Whole30 green bean casserole. You'll love this Instant Pot Whole30 cranberry sauce with apples and rosemary because it's so easy and quick yet gourmet!

Instant Pot Whole30 Cranberry Sauce with Apples and Rosemary

Paleo Stuffing (Whole30 / Primal) - Perfect for Thanksgiving

The Best Paleo Stuffing

This Whole30 Instant Pot turkey breast with gravy is quick, so delicious, and totally Whole30 compliant. Brined with a garlic-herb butter under the skin, this Whole30 turkey breast and the gravy are both made in the Instant Pot, making Thanksgiving easier! You'll love this Whole30 Instant Pot turkey breast and gravy, because the meat is so tender, and the gravy is so easy. Perfect for any Whole30 Thanksgiving or paleo Thanksgiving table. 

Cheryl Malik

Meet Cheryl Malik

Cheryl Malik is the recipe developer, writer, and photographer behind the healthy, flavorful, family friendly recipes at 40 Aprons. She's been a blogger for 10+ years and is known for her delicious recipes and detailed recipe instructions. Cheryl is a mom of three who lives in Memphis, TN.

Read more...

You may also like...

  • Instant Pot turkey breast slices covered with gravy on a plate
    Instant Pot Turkey Breast
  • overhead image of whole30 instant pot chicken tortilla-less soup in a bowl with fresh cilantro, avocado, and red onion on top
    Whole30 Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla-Less Soup (Paleo)
  • Instant pot baby back ribs on a wooden chopping board
    Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Submit your question or comment below.

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Pamela says

    Posted on 2/10/20 at 8:41 am

    Hi would love to make this but I Can’t use ghee or margarine, can I use oil ? If so any specific kind. Thx

    Reply
    • Savannah | 40 Aprons Team says

      Posted on 2/22/21 at 10:41 am

      Avocado oil will work!5 stars

      Reply
  2. Jaclyn says

    Posted on 11/28/19 at 8:41 pm

    Wow! This recipe is a keeper!! I made this for my Paleo Thanksgiving and my turkey was sooo good. Also the gravy was to die for. Seriously I think this was the most delicious turkey and gravy I’ve made. Everyone loved it! Many thanks to you for sharing your recipe!5 stars

    Reply
  3. Sue says

    Posted on 10/1/18 at 6:29 pm

    Did you use a bone-in turkey breast or a boneless turkey breast/roast?

    Reply
    • Cheryl MalikCheryl Malik says

      Posted on 10/5/18 at 1:22 pm

      Boneless breast5 stars

      Reply
  4. Jennifer says

    Posted on 11/21/17 at 8:38 am

    Ooooh! I just read it again and saw that it says elastic wrap, not plastic wrap! I didn’t notice any elastic on the one I got. Is it necessary if it didn’t come with it? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Cheryl MalikCheryl Malik says

      Posted on 11/21/17 at 12:12 pm

      Totally not necessary if your turkey breast doesn’t come with it 🙂5 stars

      Reply
  5. Jennifer says

    Posted on 11/21/17 at 8:35 am

    I can’t find where the plastic wrap comes in in the recipe. I have it in the brine in a gallon ziplock bag and am making this for tonight’s dinner, but I don’t see where the plastic wrap came in.. please help! Thanks so much! It looks delicious!

    Reply
  6. Selina Fleshman says

    Posted on 11/17/17 at 9:57 pm

    The smallest turkey breast I could find was 4 1/2 lbs. Would i need to extend the cooking time? I am super excited to try this!

    Reply
    • Cheryl MalikCheryl Malik says

      Posted on 11/18/17 at 11:10 am

      Yes ma’am! It’s about 9 minutes per pound, so try about 40 minutes cooking time. I find 3 pound turkey breasts in the frozen section pretty easily, though, in case you haven’t bought it yet! Let me know how it works for you 😀5 stars

      Reply
      • Selina says

        Posted on 1/4/18 at 1:11 am

        I found going by the 9 minute per pound that you stated worked perfectly. The turkey breast was a HUGE hit, my brother in laws parents took the leftovers because they loved it so much. The gravy was super delicious too!5 stars

      • Cheryl MalikCheryl Malik says

        Posted on 1/8/18 at 12:56 pm

        That’s so wonderful to hear! I love that your brother in laws parents loved it too 🙂5 stars

  7. Albert Bevia says

    Posted on 11/16/17 at 9:48 am

    This is like a whole new take on turkey, and it sounds delicious, such a beautiful presentation to this dish, incredible recipe you have created 🙂

    Reply
    • Cheryl MalikCheryl Malik says

      Posted on 11/17/17 at 11:46 am

      Yes! Such an easy and flavorful way to serve a small Thanksgiving 🙂 Thank you Albert!5 stars

      Reply
  8. Caitlin says

    Posted on 11/16/17 at 9:31 am

    Turkey in the Instant Pot is a great idea! I’m going to have to try it this year!

    Reply
    • Cheryl MalikCheryl Malik says

      Posted on 11/17/17 at 11:47 am

      Sooo easy and tender! I hope you try it and love it! 🙂5 stars

      Reply
  9. Sandra says

    Posted on 11/15/17 at 3:10 pm

    Can I ask, if I don’t have an Instant Pot, can I use or cook in a slow cooker/crock pot??

    Reply
    • Cheryl MalikCheryl Malik says

      Posted on 11/15/17 at 5:04 pm

      I think that would work! Sauté the aromatics in a regular pan then transfer to the slow cooker pot. Cover the crockpot and cook on high for 1 hour and then low for 5-7 hours or until the turkey’s internal temperature reaches 162 degrees F. Using a thermometer is really important here, since it hasn’t been tested with a slow cooker BUT a thermometer, especially one that has an alarm to alert you to the right temperature, will ensure your meat is nice and tender 🙂5 stars

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

What’s Popular?

Reusable meal prep trays with sweet potato, scrambled eggs, and sausage for a whole30 breakfast

Whole30 Breakfast Meal Prep

Crispy, golden air fryer tater tots in a large white serving bowl next to a small ramekin of bright red ketchup.

Air Fryer Tater Tots

Overhead view of marry me chicken in a cast iron skillet

Marry Me Chicken (Chicken in a Sun Dried Tomato Cream Sauce)

Instant pot chicken and rice in a bowl

Dreamy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice

In Season

Whole30 In-n-Out burgers close up

Whole30 Burgers – Burger Joint Style (Paleo, Low Carb)

Overhead photo of keto chicken tortilla soup in a rustic bowl

Keto Chicken Tortilla Soup (Low Carb, Gluten Free)

Air fryer chicken wings on a platter with sauce

Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings in Buffalo Sauce

Instant pot frozen chicken breast - easy chicken recipes for dinners with few ingredients

Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Breast

As seen on:

More Goodies + NO Ads!

Become a 40 Aprons Premium Member!

All the 40 Aprons content you love - now even better.

  • Member-Exclusive Recipes
  • Meal Plans & Grocery Lists
  • eBooks
  • NO ADS!
Join now

Privacy Policy

Accessibility

Disclaimers

Contact

© 2023 40 Aprons
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled
Back to Top
1389 shares