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Home » Instant Pot Magic

Instant Pot Whole Turkey with Crispy Skin

By Gary White
This post may contain affiliate links.
Read my full disclosure here.

Published November 17, 2020. Last modified July 31, 2025 By Gary White

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Instant Pot Whole Turkey image for Pinterest
Instant Pot Whole Turkey image for Pinterest

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.

Fully cooked whole turkey in Instant Pot .

(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

  1. Moisture Lock: No need to brine! The Instant Pot seals in moisture and flavor with the steam pressure, so your turkey stays juicy.
  2. 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.
  3. Quick Cook Time: The turkey is ready in under two hours—perfect for busy holidays or last-minute gatherings.
  4. Versatile Aromatics: You can use your favorite herbs and spices for customized flavors.
  5. No Extra Dishes: Everything is done in one pot, including crisping the skin.
  6. Broth Bonus: The leftover broth makes for an incredibly flavorful soup.

Ingredients for Instant Pot Whole Turkey

Ingredients for cooking a turkey in an Instant Pot.
  • 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

  • Southern Cornbread Dressing
  • Southern Baked Mac & Cheese
  • Collard Greens
  • Deviled Egg Potato Salad

How to Make an Instant Pot Whole Turkey

Aromatics in bottom of pot with water and trivet.
Prepare the Aromatics: 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.
Uncooked whole turkey in pot, seasoned with salt and pepper.
Season and Cook the Turkey: 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.
Cooked whole turkey in pot with broth.
Once cooking is complete, allow the pressure to release naturally—this should take about 40 minutes.
Whole turkey in Instant Pot with crispy skin.
Crisp the Skin: 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.

And This is the AMAZING Result

Fully cooked whole turkey in Instant Pot .

Expert Tips

  1. Turkey Size: Aim for an 8-9 lb. turkey. Larger turkeys may need their wings or drums removed to fit.
  2. Crisping: Broil using the air fryer lid for the best crispy skin, but be sure to watch closely to prevent burning.
  3. Carving: Carve the turkey directly in the Instant Pot for easy removal and less mess.
  4. Soup Bonus: Save the broth left in the Instant Pot to make a delicious post-Thanksgiving turkey soup.
  5. Avoid Frozen Turkeys: Always defrost the turkey thoroughly and remove the giblets before cooking.
  6. 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!★

📖 Recipe

Fully cooked whole turkey in Instant Pot .

Instant Pot Whole Turkey with Crispy Skin

Cook the most tender, moist, and incredibly flavorful Instant Pot whole turkey with perfectly crisp skin in under 2 hours using the Instant Pot Duo Crisp or Ninja Foodi.
5 from 10 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour hour 40 minutes minutes
Total Time: 1 hour hour 45 minutes minutes
Servings: 24
Calories: 243kcal
Author: Gary White

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

  1. Turkey Size: Aim for an 8-9 lb. turkey. Larger turkeys may need their wings or drums removed to fit.
  2. Crisping: Broil using the air fryer lid for the best crispy skin, but be sure to watch closely to prevent burning.
  3. Carving: Carve the turkey directly in the Instant Pot for easy removal and less mess.
  4. Soup Bonus: Save the broth left in the Instant Pot to make a delicious post-Thanksgiving turkey soup.
  5. Avoid Frozen Turkeys: Always defrost the turkey thoroughly and remove the giblets before cooking.
  6. 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

Calories: 243kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 122mg | Sodium: 191mg | Potassium: 395mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 107IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag us Today!Mention @thefoodieeats or tag #TheFoodieEats!

This post may contain affiliate links. To find out more, visit our disclosure page.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Barbara

    November 17, 2020 at 11:42 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Gary White

      November 23, 2020 at 8:29 am

      The bird releases plenty of liquid. I think adding more might be too much.

      Reply
  2. Angel

    December 24, 2020 at 11:38 am

    What temperature is it supposed to be cooked at

    Reply
    • Gary White

      December 28, 2020 at 7:29 pm

      As stated in the recipe, cook at high pressure, then use the broil function with the air fryer lid.

      Reply
  3. Ralph

    February 05, 2021 at 11:32 am

    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 ?

    Reply
    • Gary White

      February 05, 2021 at 2:23 pm

      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.

      Reply
  4. Teodora Grujic

    December 11, 2021 at 4:15 am

    5 stars
    A great way of preparing turkey, thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  5. Amanda Mason

    December 19, 2021 at 5:22 pm

    5 stars
    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!

    Reply
  6. Sharon

    June 17, 2022 at 11:00 am

    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?

    Reply
    • Gary White

      June 21, 2022 at 7:47 am

      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!

      Reply
      • Stacey

        November 27, 2024 at 10:46 pm

        5 stars
        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!

        Reply
  7. Shannon

    August 04, 2022 at 10:32 pm

    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/

    Reply
  8. Cassie

    November 23, 2023 at 5:51 am

    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?

    Reply
  9. Britt

    November 24, 2023 at 3:14 am

    5 stars
    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.

    Reply
  10. Jessica

    April 09, 2024 at 1:45 am

    5 stars
    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!

    Reply
  11. Marissa

    November 08, 2024 at 11:34 am

    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?

    Reply
    • Gary White

      November 14, 2024 at 7:05 am

      Correct, your turkey will be fully cooked but not crispy. Sorry to say I don't have an alternative for you.

      Reply
5 from 10 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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Meet Gary

I'm Gary... husband, dad, recipe developer, and comfort food nerd. I believe in real food for real life. This blog? It’s where I share the recipes my family actually eats. Simple, soulful, and full of flavor. My goal is simple: help you cook food worth making again. More about me...

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