Cooking turkey breast can be tricky. It’s easy to end up with dry, stringy meat if you don’t know what you’re doing. But with the right techniques, you can make amazingly juicy and delicious turkey breast in the versatile Ninja Foodi.
As someone who has cooked many turkey breasts in my trusty Ninja Foodi, I’ve learned a thing or two about how to get perfect results every time. In this guide, I’ll share my best tips and walk you through the entire process step-by-step. Whether you’re cooking for Thanksgiving or just a weeknight dinner, you’ll be able to impress your family and friends with amazing Ninja Foodi turkey breast.
Why the Ninja Foodi is Great for Cooking Turkey Breast
The Ninja Foodi is a multipurpose countertop appliance that combines the functions of a pressure cooker, air fryer, and more. This makes it fantastic for cooking turkey breasts for a few key reasons
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Tender and juicy meat: The pressure cooking function infuses moisture deep into the meat, giving you succulent and tender turkey breast even from the inside. No more dry spots!
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Crispy skin Switch to air crisp mode at the end to make the skin deliciously crispy
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Saves time: Cooking in the Ninja Foodi is way faster than roasting in the oven. You can have perfect turkey breast on the table in under an hour.
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Versatile: You can also use the Ninja Foodi’s other functions like roasting, baking, broiling, dehydrating, etc. Lots of options for getting the best results!
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Convenient: With its compact size, the Ninja Foodi is easy to store and doesn’t take up much counter space. It’s my new go-to for weeknight dinners.
Step-By-Step Instructions for Cooking Turkey Breast
Follow these simple steps for foolproof turkey breast every time:
Ingredients
- 1-3 lb boneless, skin-on turkey breast
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- Fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme etc.)
Directions
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Remove turkey from packaging: Pat turkey dry with paper towels and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking.
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Rub with oil and season: Drizzle olive oil over the turkey breast and use your hands to evenly coat the skin. Season generously with salt, pepper, and any fresh herbs you want.
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Preheat Ninja Foodi: Select Air Crisp function at 400°F. Let it preheat fully before adding turkey.
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Add turkey breast: Place seasoned turkey breast skin-side up on the cooking rack. Make sure air can properly circulate around it.
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Pressure cook: Close lid and pressure cook on high for 10-15 minutes depending on size. Allow 10 minute natural pressure release.
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Air crisp the skin: Remove rack, pat turkey dry with paper towels. Place back on rack skin-side up and air crisp at 400°F for 10-12 minutes until skin is crispy.
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Check internal temp: Turkey is safe to eat at 165°F. Let rest 5 minutes before slicing.
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Enjoy! Dig into your incredibly juicy, tender turkey breast with deliciously crisp skin!
Tips for the Best Results
Follow these tips for perfect turkey breast every time in your Ninja Foodi:
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Brine the turkey breast overnight in saltwater and aromatics for extra juicy meat.
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Use a meat thermometer to check internal temperature – don’t rely on time alone.
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Pat the skin dry before air crisping to help it get ultra crispy.
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Add broth or water to the pot before pressure cooking to keep the meat moist.
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Let the turkey breast rest after cooking so juices can redistribute.
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Switch to broil function for a few minutes if the skin needs more crisping.
Get Creative with Turkey Breast Recipes
The basic Ninja Foodi turkey breast recipe above is delicious. But you can also get creative with different seasonings and ingredients:
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Herb-Butter Turkey Breast – Stuff fresh herb butter under the skin before cooking.
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BBQ Turkey Breast – Coat with your favorite smoky BBQ rub and sauce.
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Garlic-Rosemary Turkey Breast – For a Tuscan flavor profile.
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Maple Dijon Turkey Breast – With a sweet and tangy maple Dijon glaze.
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Jerk Turkey Breast – Use Jamaican jerk spices for a kick.
The possibilities are endless for making unique turkey breast creations in your Ninja Foodi!
Common Turkey Breast Mistakes to Avoid
It’s easy for turkey breast to go wrong. Watch out for these common pitfalls:
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Not patting the skin dry before air crisping → soggy skin
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Overcrowding → uneven cooking
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Natural pressure release too short → moisture loss
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Skipping brining step → dry meat
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Wrong size cooking rack → poor air circulation
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Checking temperature too late → overcooked meat
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Cutting into turkey before resting → juices run out
As long you follow the instructions above and avoid these mistakes, you’ll get fantastic results every time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about cooking turkey breast in the Ninja Foodi:
How long does it take to cook turkey breast?
- 10-15 minutes under pressure, followed by 10-12 minutes air crisping usually does the trick. Use a meat thermometer for doneness.
Can it cook from frozen?
- It’s better to thaw turkey breast in the fridge before cooking. For food safety and best texture.
What temperature should I cook to?
- Cook until the thickest part of breast reaches 165°F. Juices will run clear when pierced.
Do I need to flip halfway?
- No flipping required! Keep skin-side up the entire time.
What else can I make in the Ninja Foodi?
- Anything! Roast chicken, steaks, fish, veggies, baked goods…the possibilities are endless.
Take Your Turkey Breast to the Next Level
Cooking turkey breast in the Ninja Foodi is easy once you know the secrets to juicy, tender meat and crispy skin. In your versatile Ninja Foodi, you can take basic turkey breast to new culinary heights. From brining, to seasoning, to air frying – the tips above will help you nail tasty turkey breast every time.
Impress your family at the next dinner or holiday feast with your amazing Ninja Foodi turkey breast creations. You’ll be the new MVP of the kitchen in no time!
