Instant Pot Turkey Thighs
The Instant Pot is a great way to cook up juicy and tender turkey thighs that are perfectly cooked. Learn how to make Instant Pot Turkey Thighs with your pressure cooker for a main course to serve with any side dish!
Turkey is a popular dish during the holidays, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it year-round. Whether you are hosting a holiday dinner or looking for an easy weeknight main course, instant pot turkey thighs are the perfect solution when you enjoy dark meat but don’t want to cook a whole turkey.
Cooking turkey thighs in the instant pot is great for many different reasons. By using a pressure cooker, the turkey thighs are cooked quicker than traditional methods – plus they retain their juicy flavor. You don’t have to worry about the meat drying out in your instant pot since the turkey thighs are seared beforehand, and the pressure cooker helps keep moisture inside.
🧂Ingredients and Tools
- Turkey Thighs – You’ll want turkey thighs that are 1.5-2 pounds each. They can be bone-in or boneless.
- Cooking Oil – You can use olive oil or melted butter to heat in the instant pot on saute mode to crisp up the skin.
- Broth or Water – Used to help create steam in the pressure cooker to keep the meat moist and tender.
- Dried Thyme – Adds a fresh herb flavor to the turkey thighs that make them warm and comforting.
- Seasonings – A blend of salt, pepper, and garlic pepper helps balance and enhance the natural flavor of turkey.
- Instant Pot – This is the most popular brand of an electric pressure cooker, but you can use any brand you have.
- Heat Safe Tongs – The turkey thighs will get very hot in the pressure cooker, so make sure to use heat-safe tools for handling and flipping the turkey.
📖How To Cook Turkey Thighs In The Instant Pot
1️⃣Prepare the turkey thighs: Pat the turkey thighs dry with a paper towel and trim off any excess fat. Let the turkey thighs sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes to take the chill off from the fridge. Season the turkey thighs on both sides with thyme, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
2️⃣Sear the skin: Add the butter or olive oil to the bottom of the instant pot. Turn it to SAUTE mode. Once the oil is shiny, place the turkey thighs skin side down and sear for 4-5 minutes on each side. Remove from the pressure cooker and place them on a plate.
3️⃣Deglaze the instant pot: Pour the broth into the bottom of the instant pot to remove the browned bits on the bottom. Stir, then add the turkey things back in skin side up with the liquid at the bottom of the pot.
4️⃣Pressure cook the turkey thighs: Turn the valve to SEALING then set the pressure cooker on manual HIGH for 30 minutes. Once its finished cooking, let the pressure cooker sit for 15 minutes before releasing the rest of the pressure.
5️⃣Check internal temperature: Check to make sure that the internal temperature of your turkey thighs has reached 165°F in the thickest part.
6️⃣Rest & Serve: Let your turkey thighs rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Add to a baking dish and broil for 1-2 minutes or until the skin is crispy. Enjoy!
👩🍳Chef’s Tips
- Don’t overcrowd the instant pot – Make sure you only cook two turkey thighs at a time in the instant pot so they can sear and brown evenly.
- Keep an eye on the internal temperature – How long it takes to cook turkey thighs in the instant pot depends on their size. To ensure your instant pot turkey thighs are cooked to perfection, use a digital thermometer to check that the internal temperature has reached 165°F.
- Get creative with your seasonings – Feel free to experiment and try different seasoning blends, or add a few tablespoons of herbs like rosemary or sage.
🦃More Turkey Recipes
- Instant Pot Turkey Necks
- Instant Pot Turkey Legs
- Dutch Oven Turkey Breast
- Sous Vide Turkey Burgers
- Sous Vide Turkey Tenderloin
Instant Pot Turkey Thighs
Ingredients
- 3 pounds Turkey Thighs 2 pieces
- 2 tablespoon Butter or olive oil
- 1 cup Turkey Broth or chicken broth, water
- 1 teaspoon Dried Thyme
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
Instructions
- Pat the turkey thighs dry with a paper towel and trim off any excess fat. Let the turkey thighs sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes to take the chill off from the fridge. Season the turkey thighs on both sides with thyme, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Add the butter or olive oil to the bottom of the instant pot. Turn it to SAUTE mode. Once the oil is shiny, place the turkey thighs skin side down and sear for 4-5 minutes on each side. Remove from the pressure cooker and place them on a plate.
- Pour the broth into the bottom of the instant pot to remove the browned bits on the bottom. Stir, then add the turkey things back in skin side up with the liquid at the bottom of the pot.
- Turn the valve to SEALING then set the pressure cooker on manual HIGH for 30 minutes. Once its finished cooking, let the pressure cooker sit for 15 minutes before releasing the rest of the pressure.
- Check to make sure that the internal temperature of your turkey thighs has reached 165°F in the thickest part.
- Let your turkey thighs rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Add to a baking dish and broil for 1-2 minutes or until the skin is crispy Enjoy!
