Looking for a simple yet impressive way to make a juicy, tender turkey with perfectly crispy skin? This Instant Pot whole turkey recipe is your answer! With the Instant Pot Duo Crisp, Mealthy CrispLid, or Ninja Foodi, you can achieve delicious results in less than two hours, perfect for holidays or any special dinner.
(Originally posted on November 17, 2020; Updated on October 24, 2024.)
I’ve cooked turkey in just about every way—frying, spatchcocking, dry and wet brining. While those methods are good, they weren’t show-stopping. After we got the Instant Pot Duo Crisp, I couldn’t resist testing out a turkey for Thanksgiving. It only took one bite for my wife to declare, “This is the best turkey I’ve ever had.” That’s when I knew this recipe had to be shared!
Why This Recipe Works
- Moisture Lock: No need to brine! The Instant Pot seals in moisture and flavor with the steam pressure, so your turkey stays juicy.
- Crispy Skin in One Pot: The air fryer lid crisps the skin without transferring it to the oven, making cleanup easier and avoiding delicate transfers.
- Quick Cook Time: The turkey is ready in under two hours—perfect for busy holidays or last-minute gatherings.
- Versatile Aromatics: You can use your favorite herbs and spices for customized flavors.
- No Extra Dishes: Everything is done in one pot, including crisping the skin.
- Broth Bonus: The leftover broth makes for an incredibly flavorful soup.
Ingredients for Instant Pot Whole Turkey
- 1 Yellow Onion (sliced): Adds sweetness and depth to the flavor of the turkey.
- 1 Garlic Bulb (sliced in half horizontally): Infuses the turkey with a rich, savory aroma.
- 1 Lemon (sliced): Brightens the flavor and balances the richness of the meat.
- 6 Thyme Sprigs: Provides an earthy, herbal note.
- 1 tsp. Liquid Smoke: Adds a subtle smoky flavor, mimicking a roasted turkey.
- 9 lb. Young Turkey: The perfect size for even cooking in an Instant Pot.
- Salt and Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance the turkey’s natural flavor.
- 1 cup of Water: Helps build pressure in the Instant Pot and keeps the turkey moist.
More Thanksgiving Favorites
How to Make an Instant Pot Whole Turkey
And This is the AMAZING Result
Expert Tips
- Turkey Size: Aim for an 8-9 lb. turkey. Larger turkeys may need their wings or drums removed to fit.
- Crisping: Broil using the air fryer lid for the best crispy skin, but be sure to watch closely to prevent burning.
- Carving: Carve the turkey directly in the Instant Pot for easy removal and less mess.
- Soup Bonus: Save the broth left in the Instant Pot to make a delicious post-Thanksgiving turkey soup.
- Avoid Frozen Turkeys: Always defrost the turkey thoroughly and remove the giblets before cooking.
- Wing Tip Use: If cutting off the wings or drums, reserve them for homemade turkey stock.
FAQs
What size Instant Pot did you use? The Instant Pot Duo Crisp
is 8 quarts. If you're looking for a recipe for a 6qt Instant Pot
, I recommend our Instant Pot turkey breast recipe.
Can I make this in a regular 8qt pressure cooker? Yes. After pressure cooking, transfer the turkey to the oven and broil until crisp. You will need to do this carefully, as the turkey will be very tender.
Can I cook this from frozen? No. Almost all store-bought turkeys have the giblets inside the cavity, usually in a bag. You definitely need to remove them before cooking, which means defrosting is a must.
★ Did you make this Instant Pot Whole Turkey?
Please give it a star rating below!★
Instant Pot Whole Turkey with Crispy Skin
Ingredients
- 1 yellow onion sliced
- 1 garlic bulb sliced in half horizontally
- 1 lemon sliced
- 6 thyme sprigs
- 1 tsp. liquid smoke
- 9 lb. young turkey
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Place the sliced onion, garlic, lemon, and thyme sprigs into the bottom of the Instant Pot. Add ½ teaspoon of liquid smoke and 1 cup of water. Position the trivet on top of the aromatics.
- Pat the turkey dry with paper towels. Generously season both the inside and outside with salt and pepper. Place the turkey on the trivet, breast side up.
- Lock the Instant Pot lid and set it to "Pressure Cook" on high for 60 minutes. Once cooking is complete, allow the pressure to release naturally—this should take about 40 minutes.
- Remove the pressure lid and switch to the air fryer lid (Duo Crisp or Mealthy CrispLid)—broil for 10 minutes or until the skin reaches your desired level of crispiness. If using a regular Instant Pot, carefully transfer the turkey to the oven and broil on high for 10-15 minutes.
- Let the turkey rest for 15-20 minutes before carving. Use the flavorful broth in the bottom of the pot for gravy or soup.
Video
Notes
Expert Tips
- Turkey Size: Aim for an 8-9 lb. turkey. Larger turkeys may need their wings or drums removed to fit.
- Crisping: Broil using the air fryer lid for the best crispy skin, but be sure to watch closely to prevent burning.
- Carving: Carve the turkey directly in the Instant Pot for easy removal and less mess.
- Soup Bonus: Save the broth left in the Instant Pot to make a delicious post-Thanksgiving turkey soup.
- Avoid Frozen Turkeys: Always defrost the turkey thoroughly and remove the giblets before cooking.
- Wing Tip Use: If cutting off the wings or drums, reserve them for homemade turkey stock.
FAQs
What size Instant Pot did you use? The Instant Pot Duo Crisp
is 8 quarts. If you're looking for a recipe for a 6qt Instant Pot
, I recommend our Instant Pot turkey breast recipe.
Can I make this in a regular 8qt pressure cooker? Yes. After pressure cooking, transfer the turkey to the oven and broil until crisp. You will need to do this carefully, as the turkey will be very tender.
Can I cook this from frozen? No. Almost all store-bought turkeys have the giblets inside the cavity, usually in a bag. You definitely need to remove them before cooking, which means defrosting is a must.Nutrition
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Barbara
Can I add an extra cup of water? I want lots of liquid. I want to use some for gravy and some in my dressing/stuffing. Looks great!
Gary White
The bird releases plenty of liquid. I think adding more might be too much.
Angel
What temperature is it supposed to be cooked at
Gary White
As stated in the recipe, cook at high pressure, then use the broil function with the air fryer lid.
Ralph
I want to use this recipe to cook a 4.5 to 5 lb turkey breast. Do I need to adjust the cooking times because the turkey breast is only half the weight of the turkey described in the recipe? If so, how should I adjust the times?
Also, my wife would like to use orange juice rather than water during pressure cooking. Will this work ?
Gary White
I use the rule: 5 minutes per pound, plus 5 more minutes. You can see our Instant Pot turkey breast recipe here: https://thefoodieeats.com/instant-pot-turkey-breast/
I have not cooked this recipe using orange juice. It should still cook properly, but I cannot speak to how the flavor would compare to the recipe as written.
Teodora Grujic
A great way of preparing turkey, thanks for sharing!
Amanda Mason
I have made a lot of things in my instant pot but I'd yet to make a whole chicken. This was so easy and so good! The whole head of garlic was key! Will be making this going forward!
Sharon
I usually put plenty of butter inside the turkey along with salt and pepper. I noticed you didn't have butter in the ingredients. Would the butter be too much in the instant pot?
Gary White
When I use butter for an oven turkey, it's usually to help keep it from drying out, or to help the skin get crispy. You don't need to worry about either of those things when using an IP. But, I mean, adding butter will only make it taste better!
Stacey
Last year, when our oven broke, I stuffed my turkey, along with butter, lemon zest, and other aromatics into the instant pot for an hour. It was AMAZING! I KNOW your recipe is amazing, also. My family insists that it's the ONLY WAY THAT WE'LL MAKE TURKEY-- EVER! Moist, juicy, and so flavorful!
I totally agree with you!
Shannon
Thank you, Great recipe!
You should join this Instant Pot Tips & Recipes Facebook group. I got a lot of new ideas and recipes. highly recommended! Here is a link to the group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/434020724110015/
Cassie
If I wanted to cook my stuffing in the bird do u think the time it's air frying would be long enough for the stuffing to cook?
Britt
Just tried this for Thanksgiving 2023 and WOW it was great. My family recipe calls for butter in the bird and in the pan, salt and pepper and chicken broth (we use the dripping to make gravy and dumplings) so I needed a recipe that didn’t require an oven but still resulted in a juicy turkey and drippings to use. 10/10 this is how I will cook my turkey from now on. For reference I used an 11lb turkey but deconstructed it and used both breasts and both wings. The air fryer lid was what made the skin beautiful and crispy. Highly recommended.
Jessica
I made it almost exactly the same except my daughter uses all my liquid smoke, but it didn't matter it was delicious and moist and honestly better than in the oven I don't know if I can go back. Thank you!
Marissa
I don't have an oven at the moment or a broil function on my instant pot. Will my turkey be done and not crispy? What can I do?
Gary White
Correct, your turkey will be fully cooked but not crispy. Sorry to say I don't have an alternative for you.