4-Ingredient Instant Pot Barbecue Turkey Recipe (2024)

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4-Ingredient Instant Pot Barbecue Turkey Recipe (1)

Yeah, you got an Instant Pot for the holidays!

Everyone was raving about this amazing small kitchen appliance!! So you got on the band wagon, bought it when it was on sale, and are now wondering whatin the world you are goingto do with it, right?

I will admit to feeling the same way. I remembered the first time I used my Instant Pot…I was convinced I was going to blow up my house. But after having it for almost a year now, I can honestly say it has become one of our most used small kitchen appliances and has saved us a bundle on “last-minute” dining out thanks to its speedy cooking.

One of our favorite pressure cooker recipes is BBQ Turkey Breast. In the past, turkey wasn’t something that I would normally put into meal plan rotation. It always seemed like a “holiday meal” kind of meat. But after doing a little research I realized you don’t have to purchase the whole turkey anymore…turkey comes fresh in breasts, tenderloin, or ground. Plus, turkey has more protein, fewer calories, and less total fat and cholesterol than chicken.

4-Ingredient Instant Pot Barbecue Turkey Recipe (2)

When I make BBQ Turkey Breast, I purchase Honeysuckle White Fresh Split Turkey Breasts. (They are located in the poultry section ofthe fresh-meat department.)

I’m brand loyal to Honeysuckle White for a couple of reasons. First, Honeysuckle White turkeys are raised without growth-promoting antibiotics, hormones and steroids. Second, Honeysuckle White turkeys are raised by independent family farmers.

I was able to meet one of the farmers, Glenn Rhodes, last October and spend time with him and his family at Riverhill Farms. So I truly feel Honeysuckle White is“farm-to-table” to me … and that gives me peace of mind about the quality of my food.

I can fit up to two breasts in my 6-Quart Instant Pot without problem, although it is a tighter squeeze than just one bone-in breast. Make sure to brine your turkey for at least 3 to 4 hours (but it can goes as long as overnight) to ensure your turkey is flavorful and doesn’t dry out.

When you are ready to cook, remove from brine, remove the skin (or keep it depending on your preference), add apple cider and chicken bullion to the cooker, and place the steaming rack inside (that is the little rack that came with the cooker – make sure to place the handles facing up). Season the turkey breast generously with salt and pepper or your favorite rub and place on the steaming rack.

Lock your Instant Pot up, press the meat button on the front, and adjust the timer to 45 minutes.

While the turkey breasts are cooking, line a cookie sheet with foil, and get out a small brush and your favorite barbecue sauce. This one is our favorite, but I’d love to hear what everyone else likes too.

After the Instant Pot beeps, do a quick release on the valve at the top.

(This means that you move the valve from Sealed to Venting and let all the steam leave the Instant pot. Warning…once you move the valve, get out of the way because there will be a bunch of super hot steam coming out over the next minute or so.)

Remove the lid and carefully take out the turkey breasts with tongs and place them on your lined cookie sheet. The turkey meat will be very tender, so you don’t want to hold it too long with the tongs. Next, generously cover the meat side of the breast with barbecue sauce.

Turn on your oven’s broiler and slide the turkey breast in for 5 to 6 minutes, watching it carefully so they don’t burn.

4-Ingredient Instant Pot Barbecue Turkey Recipe (3)

Finish by placing the turkey breast on a platter and serve with your choice of side dishes. In the Snyder House, we like it with two-olive pasta salad or rice and steamed broccoli.

Besides being a hit in our house, this 4-Ingredient Instant Pot Barbecue Turkey Recipe is done in under an hour. (And that is from the time you pull the turkey breasts out of the refrigerator till you put it on the table.) Plus, leftovers make great sandwiches or protein in a BBQ Salad.

I know the Instant Pot, can be scary the first few times you use it, but as you gain practice and confidence, you’ll realize what an asset it can be for speedy home-cooked (and healthy) dinners.

4-Ingredient Instant Pot Barbecue Turkey Recipe (4)

Easy family-approved meal in under an hour! This 4-Ingredient Instant Pot Barbecue Turkey Recipe can be prepared with your favorite sauce and is sure to become a family favorite.

Ingredients

1 or 2 Fresh Honeysuckle White Split Turkey Breasts
1 cup apple cider
1 teaspoon or cube of chicken bullion
Barbecue Sauce

Instructions

1. Brine turkey breast in cool water and kosher salt for 4 – 6 hours (can also go as long as overnight). To brine, place thawed turkey breast in a large bowl. Set aside. Mix eight cups of cool water with 1/4 cup kosher salt. Stir till dissolved. Pour salt/water mixture over turkey breast until turkey breast is covered. (You may need to make more salt water.) Cover. Place in refrigerator until ready to cook.

2. When ready to cook, take turkey breast out of the brine. Discard brine. Pat turkey dry with paper towels and remove and discard skin. Season generously with salt and pepper.

Note – if you prefer to add a rub to the turkey, this is when you would do that.

3. Pour apple cider and bullion in the bottom of Instant Pot, place steaming rack inside, and put season turkey breast on top.

4. Lock lid, select the Meat function, and set timer for 45 minutes.

5. Quick release value after the timer beeps and remove the turkey breast from the cooker. Place on a foil-lined cookie sheet and brush barbecue sauce on the meat side of the breast.

6. Broil turkey breast for 5 – 6 minutes (watching carefully to prevent charring). Either shred breast after cooking of place on platter and serve with additional barbecue sauce.

Want more information about all the new cuts of turkey available at your local grocery store, plus quick meal time recipes? Follow Honeysuckle White Turkey on Pinterest, Instagram, or Facebook.

LOVE this recipe? Make sure to check out all of our tried and true recipes in the Redefined Mom Recipe Index or follow us on Pinterest where we share meals like this everyday.

Disclosure: I’m THRILLED to be partnering with Honeysuckle Whitein a sponsored capacity on this post. With that being said, the written remarks and opinions, areentirely my own.Want more information – check out myfull disclosure statement.

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4-Ingredient Instant Pot Barbecue Turkey Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long does it take to barbecue a turkey? ›

Approximate Timetable for Barbecuing a Whole Turkey (at medium heat)
WeightUnstuffed
10 – 12 lbs (4.5 – 5.5 kg)1 ½ – 2 ¼ hours
12 – 16 lbs (5.5 – 7.0 kg)2 – 2 ¾ hours
16 – 20 lbs (7.0 – 9.0 kg)2 ½ – 3 ¼ hours
20 – 24 lbs (9.0 – 10.9 kg)3 ¾ – 4 ½ hours
2 more rows

How to cook turkey in advance and reheat? ›

Reheat the Turkey
  1. Set the oven temperature no lower than 325°F.
  2. To keep the turkey moist, add a little broth or water and cover.
  3. Reheat turkey to an internal temperature of 165°F. Use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature.

How to smoke a turkey on a barbecue grill? ›

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.

What is the internal temperature for wild turkey breast? ›

Smoke until the internal temperature reaches 160℉, 5-8 hours. Remove the turkey from the grill and let rest for 10 minutes. The turkey will continue to cook once removed from the grill to reach a final temperature of 165℉. Slice and serve with your favorite sides.

What temperature should you BBQ turkey at? ›

Cover the grill and leave the vents open. Every 60 minutes, check on your turkey and add eight to nine briquettes to the burning charcoal to maintain a grill temperature of 325°F. A 10 to 18-pound bird should take about two to three hours to cook.

How many minutes per pound do you BBQ a turkey? ›

Arrange turkey breast side up, in center of cooking grate. Place lid on grill. Cook 11 to 13 minutes per pound or until an instant read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh not touching bone registers 180 degrees and the juices run clear.

How do you reheat turkey and keep it juicy? ›

Place the turkey pieces in a baking dish and drizzle with a few tablespoons of stock and/or butter. Cover the dish with foil and heat in the oven at 350°F for about 30 minutes. Alternatively, you can microwave the sliced turkey (cover with a damp paper towel) in a microwave-safe dish at 50% power in 1-minute intervals.

How do you reheat turkey and keep it moist? ›

Splash the turkey with a bit of leftover broth or stock and cover the baking dish with aluminum foil. Bake for 20 minutes. The aluminum foil will prevent moisture from evaporating too quickly and the low temperature will help prevent the turkey from losing flavor.

Can you cook a turkey the night before and carve it the next day? ›

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.

How to get smoky flavor turkey? ›

Directions
  1. Combine curing mixture and liquid smoke together in a bowl; mix into a paste. Pat paste on inside and outside of turkey. ...
  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  3. Wash turkey inside and out with cold water; dry. Pat with cooking oil. ...
  4. Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour.
May 19, 2022

What kind of charcoal do you use for turkey? ›

There are two options for charcoal cooking: lump charcoal or charcoal briquettes. Both fuel types offer more than enough heat to cook a delicious turkey, and each have their own advantages and disadvantages.

How long to barbecue 22 lb turkey? ›

Regular Oven 325°
WeightCook Time (Unstuffed)Cook Time (Stuffed)
10-18 lbs.3-3½ hrs.3¾-4½ hrs.
18-22 lbs.3½-4 hrs.4½-5 hrs.
22-24 lbs.4-4½ hrs.5-5½ hrs.
24-30 lbs.4½-5 hrs.5½-6¼ hrs.
2 more rows

How can you tell if a turkey is down without a thermometer? ›

To find out if your turkey is done without a thermometer, pierce the mid-thigh muscle with a fork, explains Johnson. "When the juices run clear, and no longer reddish or pink in color, it's a good indication that your turkey is done." In most cases, the deep thigh is the last part of the turkey to be done.

How can you tell if turkey breast is done without a thermometer? ›

you test by inserting a very sharp knife or skewer in the thickest part of the leg (drumstick) and if it runs clear it should be cooked. Twist the leg bone and prick the breast with a fork. If the leg bone rotates easily and if juices from the breast run clear, the bird is almost certainly done.

How long does it take to grill a 20 lb turkey? ›

How long do you grill a turkey?
WeightCook Time
20 to 24 lbs.4 to 4-3/4 hrs.
4 to 6 lbs.3/4 to 1-1/4 hrs.
6 to 8 lbs.1-1/4 to 1-3/4 hrs.
8 to 10 lbs.1-3/4 to 2 hrs.
4 more rows
Dec 6, 2023

How long does it take to grill a 15 lb turkey? ›

Grill: Place on top of grill grates, centered as much as possible. Close Grill: Close grill lid and let cook for a total of 11-13 minutes per pound or until the turkey reaches an internal temp of 165 degrees F. at the thickest part of the bird and juices run clear.

Do you cover turkey with foil when grilling? ›

We've found that covering a turkey in foil yields much moister results than roasting it without foil, and we favor simply covering up the breast to even out cooking time. Some people swear that roasting a turkey breast-side down and flipping it halfway through achieves the same results as a foil covered breast.

How long does it take to rotisserie a 20 pound turkey? ›

Total cooking time should be around 12 to 4 minutes per pound. To test for doneness, the temperature of the thigh, away from the bone, should be 170°F and the breast should be between 155° to 160°F.

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