How to Cook Juicy, Tender Turkey Breast in a Ninja Foodi

The Ninja Foodi is the ultimate kitchen appliance for cooking moist tender turkey breast with crispy skin. With its pressure cooking and air frying capabilities you can go from frozen to fork-tender in under an hour. Follow these simple steps for foolproof turkey breast every time.

Benefits of Cooking Turkey in the Ninja Foodi

• Quick cooking time The Ninja Foodi can pressure cook frozen turkey breast in just 15-20 minutes, Air frying gives it a crispy skin in another 10-15 minutes Total cook time is less than an hour,

• Juicy and tender meat. Pressure cooking locks in moisture and breaks down collagen for succulent meat. An air fry crisps up the skin without drying out the meat.

• Ideal texture. Crispy browned skin on the outside with super moist meat on the inside – the best of both worlds.

• Intense turkey flavor. Pressure cooking concentrates flavors into the meat. Air frying caramelizes the skin and enhances tastes even more.

• Safer than oven roasting. The Ninja Foodi cooks the turkey evenly all over, eliminating the risk of undercooked spots that can harbor bacteria.

Picking the Right Turkey Breast

• Look for a bone-in, skin-on breast between 3-5 lbs. Bone-in retains more moisture during cooking. The skin gets deliciously crispy in the air fryer.

• Fresh or fully thawed is best, but you can cook directly from frozen in a pinch. Just add 5 extra minutes to the cook time.

• Brining is optional but recommended for the most flavorful, seasoned meat. See brining tips below.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Follow these simple steps for flawlessly cooked Ninja Foodi turkey breast.

Prep the Turkey

1. Rinse the turkey and pat it dry with paper towels. Trim off any loose skin or large fat deposits.

2. Make a compound butter by mixing room temperature butter with garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper.

3. Loosen the skin from the breast meat and rub half the compound butter directly onto the meat.

4. Rub the skin all over with the remaining compound butter. This helps crisp and brown it.

5. Brine if desired: See brining instructions below.

Pressure Cook

1. Add 1 cup liquid to the pot: Chicken broth, apple juice, or water all work well. This prevents burning and helps create steam.

2. Place turkey in basket breast-side down, directly on the rack.

3. Pressure cook 15-20 minutes on high pressure:

   • 3 lbs: 15 minutes
   • 4 lbs: 17 minutes
   • 5 lbs: 20 minutes

4. Natural release 5 minutes, then quick release. Total release time should be 10-15 minutes.

Air Fry

1. Brush skin with olive oil and sprinkle with seasoning if desired.

2. Flip breast-side up in the basket. Air frying skin-side up helps it get crispy.

3. Air fry 400F for 10-15 minutes until skin reaches desired crispness.

4. Let rest 5 minutes before slicing for juiciest meat. Enjoy!

Helpful Tips for the Best Results

• Brining is highly recommended for the most flavorful, juicy meat. See brining instructions below.

• For food safety, always use a meat thermometer to confirm the turkey reaches 165F.

• Let the pressure fully release 10-15 minutes for tender, fall-apart meat.

• Flipping breast-side up before air frying lets the skin crisp directly under the heating element.

• Resting 5 minutes before slicing allows juices to redistribute for juicier sliced meat.

• Add aromatics to the pot like onion, carrots, garlic, or fresh herbs for extra flavor.

Brining the Turkey Breast

While optional, brining really takes the turkey breast to the next level by infusing it with extra moisture and seasoning. Here’s how:

Make the brine:

• 1 gallon water
• 1 cup kosher salt
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• Aromatics like garlic, peppercorns, bay leaves, rosemary, etc.

Brine the turkey:

• Submerge breast in brine, cover, and refrigerate 8-24 hours.
• Rinse well and pat dry before cooking.

The salt in the brine seasons the meat while the sugar helps it caramelize. Aromatics add tons of flavor.

Get Creative with Flavor

The Ninja Foodi opens up lots of possibilities for putting creative spins on turkey breast:

• Stuffed turkey breast – Loosen skin and stuff with dressing or other filling before cooking.

• Flavored butter – Fold citrus zest, roasted garlic, or herbs into the compound butter.

• Spice rubs – Coat with Cajun seasoning, jerk seasoning, or other dry spice blends before air frying.

• Marinades and sauces – Soak breast in marinade or brush with sauce during last few minutes of air frying.

• Glazes – Brush with maple syrup, hoisin, chili sauce, etc. during air frying.

With the Ninja Foodi, you can easily cook moist, delicious turkey breast any night of the week – not just for the holidays. Use this step-by-step guide for perfect results.