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Top view of Instant Pot Whole Turkey on a white platter with vegetables

Instant Pot Whole Turkey

Did you know that you can cook a juicy and delicious Thanksgiving turkey in your pressure cooker? This Instant Pot Whole Turkey recipe is perfect for busy families! You get all the amazing flavors of a Thanksgiving turkey with half the work.

Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Keyword best turkey recipe, healthy thanksgiving recipes, how to cook turkey, instant pot turkey, keto thanksgiving recipes, thanksgiving turkey, whole turkey recipes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings 12 servings
Calories 276 kcal
Author Kelly

Ingredients

  • 7-8 lb turkey , fresh or fully thawed, rinsed & patted dry with insides removed
  • coarse sea salt or Kosher salt , to taste
  • freshly ground black pepper , to taste
  • 1 tsp dried sage , or sub your favorite seasoning mix
  • 1 tsp dried rosemary , or sub your favorite seasoning mix
  • 1 tsp dried thyme , or sub your favorite seasoning mix
  • 1 medium onion , sliced into quarters
  • 3 cloves garlic , cut into halves
  • 2 stalks celery , cut into thirds
  • 2 medium carrots , cut into large chunks
  • 1 dried bay leaf
  • 1 cup chicken broth

Instructions

  1. Season the outside and inside of the turkey with kosher salt and black pepper. Rub dried sage, rosemary and thyme (or preferred spices) on the outside skin of the turkey.

  2. Put half of the onion and one clove of garlic inside the cavity of the turkey.

  3. Add the remaining onion, garlic and vegetables to the bottom of the inner pot of an 8-quart Instant Pot. Place the trivet on top of the vegetables. Pour in the chicken broth.

  4. Tuck the wings under the turkey, then set the turkey on top of the trivet.

  5. Lock the lid and push the steam valve to the sealing position. Then, press the High Pressure or Manual button and set the time for 46 minutes (about 6 minutes per pound of turkey). Allow the turkey to naturally release for 10 minutes, then release the rest of the pressure by pushing the steam valve to venting.

  6. Carefully open the lid and allow to cool for 5 minutes before carefully transferring the turkey to a large baking sheet. Baste the skin with oil or drippings from the Instant Pot and top with more dried herbs, if desired.

  7. Broil the turkey for about 5 minutes, or until golden, watching closely to make sure the skin does not burn.

Recipe Notes

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

The best way to store your turkey is by slicing it and wrapping the slices in foil. Then, place the foil-wrapped turkey into a resealable plastic bag. Refrigerate your turkey as soon as you're ready to store it - if it sits out on the counter for too long, it'll start to dry out.

If you want to store your turkey whole, refrigerate it in a well-sealed container. To reheat a whole turkey, bake it in a foil-covered pan with the leftover juices from your Instant Pot at 325°F for about 20 minutes. Sliced turkey can be reheated in the microwave.

Can You Freeze Whole Roasted Turkey?

You can definitely store this turkey in the freezer, but I don't recommend freezing the entire bird. You should first remove the bones and slice up your turkey. Place your turkey slices in an airtight, freezer-safe container or storage bag and enjoy within 3 months. Be sure to thaw it overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Nutrition Facts
Instant Pot Whole Turkey
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 276 Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Fat 11g17%
Carbohydrates 2g1%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 41g82%
* Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy using the WPRM recipe calculator. It is best to make your own calculations to ensure accuracy. We expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.