Pressure Cooker Turkey

Have you tried a pressure cooker turkey yet in your Instant Pot? It’s easier than you think and frees up your oven on Thanksgiving Day! Take a look.

Now that it is nearing the holidays it was time to cook a pressure cooker turkey! I am serious, it is possible to cook a turkey in your Instant Pot and it comes out so moist and full of flavor in less than an hour! No more bags to use to keep in the moisture when cooking a turkey in the oven. Just pop it in for a 45 minute cook time with some broth and vegetables and you can walk away. It will come out perfect every time. We have 101+ easy Instant Pot recipes here on The Typical Mom blog you can enjoy too. (originally published 9/18. affiliate links present)

• I bet you never thought of making a pressure cooker turkey huh?

If you follow my blog at all you know I am all about easy Instant Pot recipes, especially during the holidays when you have multiple dishes to cook. I started by cooking this Instant Pot ham and was amazed at how easy it was and just how juicy it came out!

What size turkey will fit in an Instant Pot?

• An 8 lb. turkey fit in our 8 qt. pot. I wouldn’t buy one larger than that. You need the lid to shut and a bit of space in between the meat and the top too to cook properly.

Why would you cook a turkey in an Instant Pot

• It frees up your oven during the holidays
• Great idea for those living in small spaces or if you’re celebrating Thanksgiving in an RV
• Cooks much faster than in an oven
• Allows you to cook turkey more often because it takes less than an hour
• Pressure cooker turkey comes out moist without having to put it in a bag

Here is what the pot looks like before you lower your turkey inside your Instant Pot.

It’s filled with cut up vegetables and vegetable broth. Of course you could use water instead but I use broth every chance I can because it has so much more flavor.

You also have the ability to add more or less depending on how large your turkey is. If you’re looking for how to cook a moist turkey breast recipe in your Instant Pot we’ll share those instructions too.

Equipment you’ll need to make a turkey in electric pressure cookers

1. 8 qt. Instant Pot– 6 qt. would work for just a pressure cooker turkey breast. Some pressure cookers have 10 qt. sizes so you could fit a larger bird in that
2. Trivet – the one that comes with your Instant Pot works great, you can get a replacement trivet here
3. Internal meat temperature chart and thermometer

If you want bold seasonings you can use this mixture we made for our smoked turkey recipe. You can also just use salt, pepper, and garlic. That part is totally up to you.

• If you crisp the skin after it’s cooked you’ll want to add a bit of additional seasonings before you do that so it really sticks. 

Pressure cooker turkey ingredients needed

• Turkey – thawed, 8 pound turkeys will fit in an 8 qt. pot
• Carrots
• Onion
• Celery
• Garlic whole cloves
• Vegetable broth – way better than using water
• Spices – rub on outside skin, or leave turkey plain if desired
  • Use our turkey dry rub recipe
  • Seasoned salt and black pepper
  • Garlic powder and/or salt
  • Thyme
  • Have slid slices of lemon under the skin too
• Trivet – I like this one with handles

I’m sure you’ve learned by now, but cooking in a pressure cooker makes everything so moist without a bag needed (yay).

This is the only way I make Instant Pot whole chicken now, it just turns out fall off the bone delicious in 1/3 of the time it would in the oven and is so tender.

Once your pressure cooker turkey is done you’ll have amazing drippings in the bottom of the pot. So you can add those to a pot and make turkey gravy if you wish.

• I think everyone has their own gravy recipe handed down from years ago but in case you don’t you can follow this turkey pressure cooker gravy recipe.
• Remember that you can use the saute function to make your gravy instead of dirtying another pan and making it on the stove. That is up up to you.
  • Put it on saute using the drippings already inside your pot. Remove vegetables, and add other ingredients to make a thick sauce for your gravy if you desire.

Pour some generously over your moist white meat and dark meat and enjoy a wonderful meal.

The general rule for cooking a turkey in your Instant Pot is to cook it for about 6 minutes per pound so this one was set for 48 minutes, 45 probably would’ve been fine too.

• To gauge how long meat takes to cook or how long it takes to cook an Instant Pot turkey breast use this printable chart.
• A key to keeping it moist is to allow a natural release for 10 minutes before letting out remaining pressure.
• Always allow it to sit for 25 minutes or so before carving to keep the moisture in as well.

If you don’t have a pressure cook this is how to roast a turkey with just salt and pepper in no time in the oven!

Set to high pressure with a cook time of just 30 minutes to 60 minutes (depending on size) it’s a great way to cook holiday dinners. 

More Instant Pot Thanksgiving Recipes 

What are the most important steps to remember when making an Instant Pot turkey?

1. Natural pressure release at the end.
   1. What does NPR mean for Instant Pot?
      1. Just this, allowing steam to naturally release.
      2. That means do NOT touch the steam valve for 10 minutes once timer beeps.
      3. After that, then flip it so the rest bellows out.
2. Allow meat to sit before carving.
3. You can crisp the skin at the end using the CrispLid for Instant Pot or throw under your broiler for a few minutes.
4. Better yet, if you have a Ninja Foodi just set to air crisp at 400 degrees for a few minutes until it’s browned as much as you like.

If you are looking for an alternative way to cook a 1 hour turkey try our sheet pan turkey directions too! The skin gets REALLY crispy that way and you can really layer on the herbs and seasonings.

Here are a few easy Christmas brunch menu ideas too!

What do you serve with Thanksgiving dinner?

You don’t have to use more Instant Pot recipes for side dishes, but I do. Use your oven if you wish, I just like cooking everything at the same time so it’s all warm when dinnertime arrives.

• • Instant Pot stuffing comes out really good
  • Sweet homemade cranberry sauce is WAY better than canned and takes NO time at all
  • Best sweet potato casserole can be made in your pressure cooker or Ninja Foodi too
  • Side dish of Instant Pot bacon ranch potatoes

Print Pin

5 from 9 votes

Pressure Cooker Turkey

Have you tried a pressure cooker turkey yet in your Instant Pot? It's easier than you think and frees up your oven on Thanksgiving Day! Take a look.

Course Entree, Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword breast, instant pot, pressure cooker, turkey, whole turkey

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Servings 12

Calories 316kcal

Author The Typical Mom

Ingredients

• 8 lb turkey must be thawed, this size fits into an 8 quart pressure cooker
• 1 c vegetable broth
• 3 stalks celery cut into large chunks
• 3 carrots cut into large chunks
• 1 onion sliced, large pcs.
• 4 cloves garlic

Instructions

• Add your vegetable broth (could use water), celery, carrots, onion and garlic cloves into your pressure cooker pot.
• Put a trivet on top of your vegetables and broth so it is flat.
• Rinse your turkey and remove all items from inside cavity.
• Rub any spices you'd like on the outside skin of your whole turkey if you desire, or leave plain.
• Set turkey on your trivet with neck facing up as shown in top photo of post.
• Close your lid and steam valve and set on high pressure for 6 minutes per pound so at 8 pounds (pretty close to as large as an 8 quart could really handle) you'll set it for 48 minutes (think 45 minutes is better, comes out a bit more moist).
• Do a natural release for 10 minutes, then release rest of pressure.
• Serve or if you'd like the skin to crisp up a bit put your pressure cooker turkey on a baking sheet and under your broiler for about 3 minutes until it crisps to your liking.

Nutrition Facts

Pressure Cooker Turkey

Amount Per Serving (3 oz)

Calories 316 Calories from Fat 108

% Daily Value*

Fat 12g18%

Saturated Fat 3g19%

Cholesterol 154mg51%

Sodium 337mg15%

Potassium 573mg16%

Carbohydrates 3g1%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 46g92%

Vitamin A 2755IU55%

Vitamin C 2.2mg3%

Calcium 37mg4%

Iron 1.9mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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