Instant Pot Turkey Thighs with Thanksgiving Flavors. Dark meat turkey with a traditional Thanksgiving flavor profile, done in about an hour thanks to pressure cooking.
Could you cook the whole Thanksgiving turkey in a pressure cooker?
The gauntlet was thrown at the writing workshop. What could I do to make an entire Thanksgiving dinner in the pressure cooker? Could I do the whole turkey?
Well…no. Turkey breast is too lean, with a narrow window where it is cooked properly. Go a couple of degrees too high and you’re dealing with dry, stringy white meat.
The dark meat, now, that’s a different story. It stands up to pressure cooking. In fact, it’s better when it’s a little overdone, tenderizing the tougher, harder working legs. So, as usual, I’m going to the dark side…of the Turkey.
(If you are cooking a different part of the turkey, check out my Instant Pot Turkey Wings and Instant Pot Turkey Drumsticks recipes.)
What should you serve with this recipe? Try my Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes Recipe to soak up the juices.
Recipe: Instant Pot Turkey Thighs with Thanksgiving Flavors
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Instant Pot Turkey Thighs with Thanksgiving Flavors
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 thighs 1x
Description
Instant Pot Turkey Thighs with Thanksgiving Flavors. Dark meat turkey with a traditional Thanksgiving flavor profile, done in about an hour thanks to pressure cooking.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 4 turkey thighs, bone in and skin on (about 4 pounds)
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 large carrot, peeled and diced
- 1 stalk celery, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 sprig fresh sage (or ½ teaspoon dried sage)
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary (or ¼ teaspoon dried rosemary)
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme leaves (or ½ teaspoon dried thyme)
- ½ cup dry white wine
- 1 cup turkey broth (or chicken broth)
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt (If using homemade broth)
- ½ cup dried cranberries
Cornstarch Slurry (optional)
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Instructions
- Brown the skin side of the turkey thighs: Sprinkle the turkey thighs with 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper. Melt the butter in an Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker on Sauté mode. (Medium heat in a stovetop PC). As soon as the butter is melted, add 2 of the turkey thighs to the pot, skin side down, and sear until the skin is golden brown, about 3 minutes. Move the browned thighs to a bowl, then sear the skin side of the remaining 2 thighs, about 3 more minutes. Add them to the bowl of browned thighs.
- Sauté the aromatics: Add the onions, celery, carrot, and garlic to the pot, and sprinkle with ½ teaspoon of salt. Sauté until the onions soften, about 5 more minutes, stirring and scraping the pot with a flat-edged wooden spoon to loosen any browned turkey bits stuck to the bottom.
- Simmer the herbs and the wine, then put everything in the pot: Add the sprigs of sage, rosemary, and thyme, then pour in the wine. Bring the wine to a simmer and simmer for 1 minute to boil off some of the alcohol. Scrape the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon one last time, to make sure nothing is sticking. Pour in the turkey broth and sprinkle with ½ teaspoon of salt. Add the turkey thighs - I put them in sideways, so they are all slightly submerged in the liquid - and add any turkey juices in the bowl. Scatter the dried cranberries over the top.
- Pressure cook for 30 minutes with a natural release: Lock the pressure cooker lid. Pressure cook on high pressure for 30 minutes in an Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker (or for 25 minutes in a stovetop PC). Let the pressure come down naturally, about 20 minutes more. (If you’re in a hurry, you can quick release any remaining pressure after 15 minutes).
- Thicken the sauce and serve: Unlock the lid, opening it away from you to avoid any hot steam. Move the turkey thighs to a platter with tongs or a slotted spoon. (Be gentle - they will be fall-apart tender). Scoop out the cranberries and onions with a slotted spoon and add to the platter with the turkey thighs, discarding the herb stems when you find them. Whisk the water and cornstarch in a small bowl, making a slurry, and then stir the cornstarch slurry into the pot. Ladle some of the pot liquid over the thighs and pass the rest at the table as a gravy. Enjoy!
Notes
- Dry white wine: I like Gewürztraminer or a dry Riesling wine with turkey. That said, we're adding wine for the acid and a hint of fruit - if you have a different white wine, throw it in there, it will be fine.
- Don’t want to use wine? Use apple cider, or more turkey broth.
Tools
- 6 quart or larger pressure cooker (I love my Instant Pot 6-Quart Pressure Cooker)
- Flat edged wooden spoon
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Category: Sunday Dinner
- Method: Pressure Cooker
- Cuisine: American
What do you think?
Questions? Other ideas? Leave them in the comments section below.
Related Posts
Pressure Cooker State Fair Turkey Drumsticks
Pressure Cooker Day-After-Thanksgiving Turkey Carcass Soup
Instant Pot Day-After-Thanksgiving Turkey Soup with Mashed Potato Dumplings
My other Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Recipes
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Kerry Keller
So easy to follow and came out delicious. So juicy!
Mike Vrobel
Glad you enjoyed it!
Adrienne Weiss-Harrison, M.D.
Great recipe! I added some lemon juice and zest.
Adrienne Weiss-Harrison, M.D.
Planning to make this for dinner this evening. It looks great!
—> If I use 2 thighs, will the cooking time be the same? Thanks.
Mike Vrobel
Yes, cooking time is the same
Elizabeth Baglini
This came out fantastic, especially the gravy.
Mike Vrobel
I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Jacqueline Boller
Question: If I only have two turkey thighs, do I cut the cooking time in the pressure cooker? Thanks!
Mike Vrobel
No - the cooking time is the same. (It takes the same amount of time to cook each leg through, no matter how many there are.)
Jacqueline Boller
Oh, my goodness!! This was so delicious!! Definitely a keeper!!! Thank you!!
Jenifer O’Connor
FIVE STARS ⭐️. Truly excellent! I’m going to try it again with more readily available chicken thighs.
Kelli Z Ryan
This recipe is a game changer – hands down the best turkey I have ever had! This will be a new staple for Thanksgiving (and beyond!). Thank you Mike for this incredible recipe!
Mike Vrobel
You're welcome!
Katie C
I think I’m going to try this! First time turkey cooker and I’m just doing the thighs. What would be your suggestion if I also wanted to cook stuffing with the turkey as well? Is it possible?
Mike Vrobel
I don't think adding stuffing to this recipe is a good idea. The wet environment of a pressure cooker won't make good stuffing, at least in my opinion. I'm cooking my stuffing separately in the oven.
Razzy 7
This recipe looks wonderful assuming I can find turkey thighs. Of the majors: Dillons stores (owned by Kroger), Aldi's, Whole Foods, Target, Sprouts, Trader Joe's, Sam's, Costco as well as some local stores it's Ialmost impossible to find turkey thighs. The only place I've seen them is Sprouts and they don't always have them. I'm apparently the only person in my city with a metro area population of 579,000 who likes turkey thighs.
We prefer dark meat turkey so will hope I can find turkey thighs this year.
ed
I live in Florida..Publics has them in the Greenwise policy section..
Mary Disterhoft
I think I am going to try this for Thanksgiving this year.
I found turkeybthighs at HyVee in Cedar Rapids, Iowa last year.
Mike Vrobel
Good luck!
Rita
I ordered them ahead at Kroger (Atlanta)
Susan
Late reply, but turkey thighs are good anytime! Our farmers market has a "winter market" indoors through the cold months. they always have turkey thighs and other parts.
Eileen Mccarthy
My husband is in a nursing home and because of Covid I can’t see him but I can take him and 2 others meal.s. Just got an instant pot and this is the first thing I made. Absolutely delicious and easy.. Gravy was spectacular. I am sure they all enjoyed it. Thanks for the great recipe!
Mike Vrobel
You're welcome!
Janet
AWESOME! Love this recipe, it's so flavorful and yummy. Thank you for another fabulous recipe.
Taammi
Mike, this was FANTASTIC. I have a Ninja Foodi so did it a bit differently procedurally (pressure cooking then browning using the Air Crisp lid/function) but the ingredients were all the same and the results were spectacular. Served it with oven-roasted Brussel sprouts and mushrooms. Thanks for sharing this!
Mike Vrobel
Thanks, glad you enjoy it!
Jennifer Y
This was INCREDIBLE, AMAZING. The BEST turkey thigh recipe I have ever come across. A HUGE hit in our family. Thank you so much!
Mike Vrobel
You’re welcome!
Patty
Fantastic recipe! Thank you so much. My family just loved it and I will make it again, for sure. (PS. There’s a little turkey left over and I’m going to try to shred it, add BBQ sauce and have a “pulled bbq sandwich for lunch tomorrow)😃
Hope
This recipe is delicious! I have made it 4 or 5 times now. It has become a favorite. The flavors are as described: Thanksgiving in the Instant Pot! The recipe is easy to follow and simple. Thanks for sharing it, Mr. Vrobel!