4-Ingredient Instant Pot Barbecue Turkey Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can I use BBQ sauce instead of water in instant pot? ›

Can BBQ sauce count as the liquid in an Instant Pot? Unlike many slow cooker recipes, BBQ sauce will NOT work as the liquid in an Instant Pot. Due to the high sugar content in BBQ sauce, if you add it directly to the pot, it will burn. That's why this recipe first sears the thighs, then uses water to deglaze the pot.

Place the turkey directly on the grill grates, close the lid, and smoke the turkey. At 225 degrees F, you can plan on approximately 30 minutes per pound for your turkey to smoke. For example, this 15 pound turkey will take 7 and 1/2 hours at 225 degrees F. I always plan an extra 30 minutes, just in case.

Reheat Your Turkey the Next Day

You can bake it along with the stuffing (drizzle a little turkey broth over the stuffing before you bake it to add some turkey flavor) and side dishes, but watch the bird carefully, as you don't want to overcook it or dry out the meat by leaving it in the oven too long.

BBQ sauce is one of those ingredients that can trigger the Instant Pot Burn Message because of how thick it is…the sauce isn't thin enough to build the pressure properly and can burn at the bottom of the pot. One solution is to add water to BBQ Chicken recipes like this one.

In the case of this recipe, the tomatoes contain more than enough liquid to bring the pot to pressure because they will release their moisture as the pot heats up, without burning or sticking to the bottom. Be sure to closely follow the directions, though.

“Smoking is superior for turkey because it cooks the thighs first and leaves the breast super juicy and tender, not to mention the smoky flavor that saturates the meat,” says Emily Nienhaus, Test Kitchen culinary specialist. “It's an easy way to get a lot of flavor.”

SHOULD YOU WRAP TURKEY IN FOIL WHEN SMOKING? Unlike cooking a turkey in an oven, you won't want to wrap your turkey in aluminum foil for smoked turkey. If your turkey's wings are baking too quickly, you can cover them with foil, but otherwise, there's no need.

Throw away turkey, stuffing, and gravy left out at room temperature longer than 2 hours (1 hour in temperatures above 90 °F). Divide leftovers into small portions. Refrigerate or freeze in covered shallow containers for quicker cooling. Use refrigerated turkey and stuffing within 3 to 4 days.

Yes, I always buy a very large turkey that takes many hours to cook…so I stuff and slather it with butter and cover lightly with tin foil the night before and pop it in the oven early in the morning. Leave the foil on for the first 3/4 of roasting time…but BASTE c. every 1/2 hr… add more butter if you need to.

It's easy: Simply cook it a day or two in advance, let it cool completely, then carve the bird into large pieces—breasts, wings, thighs and drumsticks. Store in a container in the refrigerator until the big day. This method actually result in juicier meat—and an infinitely more relaxed host.

What to stuff a turkey with for flavor? ›

Alliums: Add quartered onions, shallots, leeks, or garlic cloves for a delicious, earthy aroma. Fruits: Insert quarters of apple, lemon, orange, lime, or even grapefruit to add moisture and brightness to the turkey. You can even go with dried fruit, like cranberries, to double down on the autumn vibes.

Stick with salt and pepper, put herbs like rosemary, thyme, and sage to work, or take spicy Cajun seasoning for a spin for some kick. Whatever blend you choose, spread it all over the turkey—on top, underneath, between the body and wings and legs, under the skin, and even in the cavity of the bird.

Roasting the bird slowly, at a lower temperature is the best way to achieve tender meat. You should still prep the bird with butter, salt, and pepper, as described above (or dry-brine it). To cook, set your oven to 325°F and roast for 3½ to 4 hours for a 12- to 14-pound bird.

It's important to understand that when you are pressure cooking, liquid means water or stock. Strained or puréed tomatoes or marinara sauce does NOT count as liquid. Salt and fat are somewhat optional (but not really).

Just as I recommend swapping out the water in a cornstarch slurry for something with a bit more oomph, you can replace the water in Instant Pot recipes with broth (or Better Than Bouillon, which has more flavor than true broth), soy sauce, fish sauce, wine, beer, or juice. (Do not add spirits; the fumes may ignite.)

It is important to never run a pressure cooker without water. It cannot cook your food properly without water, and the pressure will build to such an extent that the lid, pressure valve, plugs, and hot food could be thrown all over the kitchen.

Too much food or liquid in your Instant Pot while pressure cooking can lead to dangerous pressure levels. As a rule of thumb, don't let the total amount of precooked food and liquid in the inner pot go over the two-thirds line.