Can you believe I fit a 10 lb whole turkey in the Ninja Foodi? The best part is how wonderful it turned out! Im sure the first thing you want to know is what size Ninja Foodi do I have. I have both the 6.5 qt and the 8 qt.
The first turkey I bought was an 8 pound turkey and that fit in the Ninja Foodi 6.5 qt. Unfortunately, I overcooked it! I followed my formula for a whole chicken and pressure cooked the turkey for 32 minutes. While it was moist and delicious, it was overcooked and registered about 196° F on my thermometer.
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I could tell immediately it was overcooked because the leg bones were exposed, but I was really surprised that the flavor and texture were still perfect. So, even if you overcook it, it still is great… just not very pretty! I wish I would have snapped a picture!
Anyway, I am big fan of a pressure cooked turkey and will be doing this from now on! Unless of course, Im hosting Thanksgiving and need a bigger turkey. Even then, I might consider cooking 2 smaller turkeys instead of 1 large one. Maybe even season them differently. The lightbulb is going off in my head right now!
Roasting a juicy, flavorful turkey breast in the Ninja Foodi can seem daunting for many home cooks With the right timing and technique, you can easily achieve tender and succulent meat with crispy skin using this versatile pressure cooker In this comprehensive guide, I’ll explain how long you should roast a turkey breast in the Ninja Foodi based on its weight and provide tips for brining, seasoning and cooking.
Turkey Breast Sizes
Turkey breasts for roasting typically range from 3 to 10 pounds. Smaller boneless breasts may only be 1-2 pounds For the Ninja Foodi, select a bone-in, skin-on breast between 3-8 pounds. Larger turkey breasts may not fit as easily
Here are common turkey breast sizes
- 3-4 pounds – feeds 2-3 people
- 5-6 pounds – feeds 4-6 people
- 7-8 pounds – feeds 6-8 people
- 9-10 pounds – feeds 8-10 people
Thawing the Turkey Breast
For food safety, you’ll want to thaw frozen turkey breasts before cooking. Thawing in the refrigerator is best and takes 1-2 days for a 5 pound breast. Submerge sealed turkey in cold water to quick thaw in a few hours.
I don’t recommend cooking directly from frozen, as the outside can overcook before the inside thaws. For best results, thoroughly thaw turkey breasts before roasting.
Brining for Flavor and Moisture
Brining is a must for flavorful, juicy turkey breast. Dissolving salt and sugar in water enables seasonings to deeply penetrate the meat. I recommend brining turkey breasts 8-24 hours before roasting.
My go-to brine contains:
- 1 cup kosher salt
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- Herbs and spices like garlic, peppercorns, rosemary
- 1 gallon water
After brining, rinse turkey and pat dry before seasoning. The salt will help the breast retain moisture as it cooks.
How Long to Roast a Turkey Breast in the Ninja Foodi
Cooking times vary based on the size of your turkey breast. Larger breasts take longer. Here are my recommended Ninja Foodi cook times for bone-in, skin-on turkey breasts:
- 3-4 pounds: Cook 5 minutes high pressure, 15 minute natural release
- 5-6 pounds: Cook 7 minutes high pressure, 15 minute natural release
- 7-8 pounds: Cook 9 minutes high pressure, 15 minute natural release
- 9-10 pounds: Cook 11 minutes high pressure, 15 minute natural release
Allowing a natural pressure release for 15 minutes prevents moisture loss. Then air crisp the skin at 400°F for 10-15 minutes until browned and crisp.
Use a meat thermometer to confirm the turkey breast reaches 165°F at the thickest part. If undercooked, air crisp for a few more minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before slicing.
Step-by-Step Cooking Directions
Follow these simple steps for roasting turkey breast in the Ninja Foodi:
- Thaw and brine turkey breast 1-2 days in advance.
- Remove from brine, rinse and pat dry. Season with salt, pepper and herbs.
- Place turkey breast skin side up on a trivet in the pot. Add 1 cup broth.
- Pressure cook using time based on breast size. Allow 15 minute natural release.
- Remove turkey and pat dry if needed. Discard broth.
- Air crisp at 400°F for 10-15 minutes until skin is browned and crisp.
- Check internal temp, air crisp longer if needed until 165°F.
- Let rest 10 minutes before carving.
Tips for Crispy Skin
Achieving crispy turkey breast skin in the Ninja Foodi is easy with a few simple tips:
- Pat the skin dry before air crisping to remove moisture
- Brush skin with oil or butter before air crisping
- Rub skin with baking powder or salt to draw out moisture
- Air crisp at 400°F, checking often, until deep golden brown
- Cut skin open to allow steam to escape during air crisping
- Prop up skin side with balls of foil to prevent sogginess
Crispy skin takes your Ninja Foodi turkey breast from good to incredible!
Roasting juicy, flavorful turkey breast in the Ninja Foodi is easy when you follow my cook times and brining tips. For the most tender and moist meat, brine your bone-in, skin-on breast 1-2 days beforehand. Calculate pressure cook times based on the weight. Allow a natural release, then air crisp the skin until browned and crisp. Check the internal temperature to ensure doneness. Follow my guide for phenomenal Ninja Foodi turkey breast every time. Enjoy this easy roasted turkey breast recipe for holidays, weeknight meals or anytime.
How to carve your turkey
No matter how you choose to cook your turkey, the carving principles are the same. While there are many ways to approach carving a turkey or a chicken for that matter, the way the professionals do it results in the most usable meat and the prettiest presentation.
I am no expert on this for sure, but here is a video showing you the basic steps to carving your turkey. You can find the full video on YouTube right HERE: How to carve a turkey
How to determine your pressure cook time for a whole turkey
You guess! Just kidding. Although, that is exactly what I did the second time around. The first turkey I pressure cooked was an 8 pound turkey and I did it in the 6.5 qt Ninja Foodi. I figured the turkey would cook just like a chicken and used my formula of 4 minutes per pound. Nope, not even close. The turkey was way overdone. Dont get me wrong, it was still moist and delicious (thats the beauty of pressure cooking), but it wasnt very attractive with the bones sticking out all over the place.
I desperately searched for another 8 pound turkey and just couldnt find one. My poor husband went to 4 different stores looking for one, as well, and none were to be had. So, if you want to cook a whole turkey in the Ninja Foodi and you want to do it in the 6.5 qt or even in the 8 qt, start looking NOW.
A 10 pound turkey will fit in the 8 qt, but you most likely will not be able to use the TenderCrisp lid to crisp it up. My first choice would be an 8 pound turkey for the 8 qt for sure.
Okay, back to timing. I formed an educated guess based on my experiences and decided that after a certain number of pounds, the 4 minutes per pound is too long. I also kept in mind that we would most likely be crisping up the skin either in the oven or in the Ninja Foodi and that will raise the temperature some. I always err on the side of undercooked instead of overcooked because we can fix undercooked.
Even in my video, the turkey was overcooked slightly and I only went under pressure with a 10 pound turkey for 21 minutes.
Please know that this is only a guideline as there are many factors that change cooking times. Always rely on an accurate thermometer to determine doneness.
My suggestion is to take the total weight of the turkey and multiply it by 2 and then subtract 1 to get the pressure cooking time.
For example:
- 8 pounds multiplied by 2 is 16, subtract 1 and the cook time will be 15 minutes.
- 10 pounds multiplied by 2 is 20, subtract 1 and the cook time will be 19 minutes.
Also, keep in mind the time to pressure and adjust timing accordingly. The formula above is taking into consideration a time to pressure around 18 minutes. If your time to pressure is much quicker, you may want to add a minute or two to the total cook time. If it is much longer, decrease the time by a minute.
The amount of liquid you put in matters too, my recipe calls for just ½ cup of water and if you add more that can increase your time to pressure.
Remember, it is always better to undercook than overcook. You can even go back under pressure for another minute or two if you need to, but once the turkey is overdone, there is no reversing it. However, the beauty of pressure cooking a turkey is that even if you overcook it, the meat will not be dry. It may not look pretty, but it will still taste delicious!
If you pressure cook your turkey and follow my formula, I really want to hear your feedback! I hope everyone has great success!
*** Through your wonderful feedback, I wanted to update this post to let you know that organic turkeys are taking longer to cook. So, if you have an organic turkey, I would suggest cooking for 2 minutes per pound and adding 3-5 minutes of PC time.
NINJA FOODI-ROASTED TURKEY BREAST
FAQ
How long does it take to cook a turkey breast in a Ninja Foodi?
Air fry turkey breast
Place turkey in the Ninja Foodi air fryer basket with the breast side down. Air fry the turkey breast for 25 minutes, then flip it over and air fry for 15-20 minutes until it’s a lovely golden brown color.
How long will a 5 lb turkey breast take to cook?
- Oven: Cook at 350°F for about 20 minutes per lb, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F
- Smoker: Cook at 225°F for about 2 hours per 5 lbs
- Slow cooker: Cook on low for about 5–6 hours
- Stovetop: Cook for about 15–20 minutes per lb
Is it better to roast a turkey breast at 325 or 350?
- Moist results: A lower temperature allows for more even cooking, which can help keep the turkey breast moist.
- Less burning: Lower heat reduces the risk of the skin burning before the inside is fully cooked.
- Longer cook time: While the temperature is lower, the cooking time will be slightly longer.