The Ultimate Guide to Cooking Juicy, Fall-Off-the-Bone Turkey Legs in an Instant Pot

Turkey legs are a classic appetizer or main dish that can be found at state fairs, theme parks, and medieval times-style dinner theaters across the country. Their popularity comes from their finger-licking, fall-off-the-bone tenderness and rich, meaty flavor when properly cooked. But achieving that perfect texture and taste at home can be difficult using traditional oven roasting methods.

That’s where the instant pot comes in! The instant pot’s pressure cooking function allows you to cook turkey legs to perfection in a fraction of the usual time, all while infusing them with delicious flavor. After trying numerous different instant pot turkey leg recipes, I’ve put together this comprehensive guide to cooking the juiciest, most tender turkey legs you’ve ever tasted using an instant pot.

Benefits of Cooking Turkey Legs in an Instant Pot

There are several advantages to cooking turkey legs in an instant pot rather than oven roasting them

• Speed – Pressure cooking turkey legs takes only 30-45 minutes compared to roasting which can take 2+ hours This allows you to cook them any night of the week instead of having to devote half of Sunday to roasting,

• Tenderness – The high pressure steam forces moisture deep into the meat, literally pushing the muscle fibers apart and resulting in super tender turkey that wants to fall right off the bone.

• Flavor – Pressure cooking infuses the turkey with spices and seasonings, resulting in deeply flavored meat, not just surface seasoning.

• Convenience – Being able to cook turkey legs from frozen and the shortened cook time makes weeknight dinners a breeze. And there’s only 1 pot to wash at the end!

Picking the Right Turkey Legs

To end up with the perfect instant pot turkey legs, you have to start with the right raw ingredients:

• Size – Look for legs that are roughly 1-1.5 lbs each. Legs smaller than that won’t have as much meat and larger legs may not cook fully.

• Bone-in – You want legs with the drumstick bone still in for the most flavor and juiciness. Boneless legs tend to dry out.

• Skin-on or off – This is personal preference. Skin-on gives you crispy skin if you broil or grill the legs after pressure cooking. But skinless is healthier.

• Fresh or frozen – Fresh is best for maximum juiciness, but frozen legs work too with a slight time adjustment. Always thaw completely before cooking.

Step-By-Step Instant Pot Turkey Legs Recipe

Without further ado, here is a simple, fool-proof instant pot turkey legs recipe to make this bar-food classic at home:

Ingredients:

• 6 turkey legs, 1 – 1.5 lbs each
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp salt
• 2 tsp poultry seasoning
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1⁄2 tsp black pepper
• 1⁄2 tsp garlic powder
• 1⁄2 tsp onion powder
• 1 cup chicken broth or water

Instructions:

1. Pat turkey legs dry with paper towels and rub evenly with olive oil. Season all over with salt, poultry seasoning, paprika, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.

2. Pour chicken broth or water into instant pot inner pot. Place steamer rack inside if desired.

3. Arrange turkey legs in a single layer on the rack or directly in the inner pot if not using a rack.

4. Secure the lid on the instant pot, making sure the pressure release valve is in the sealed position. Select the Manual/Pressure Cook setting at high pressure and set the time to 35 minutes.

5. Once cooking is complete, use natural pressure release for 10 minutes then quick release any remaining pressure.

6. Carefully remove lid. Transfer turkey legs to a platter and serve warm.

And that’s it – perfectly cooked instant pot turkey legs ready in under an hour!

Tips for Maximizing Flavor

Beyond using a basic poultry seasoning, there are a number of ways to amp up the flavor of your instant pot turkey legs:

• Cook them in chicken broth, beef broth, or turkey broth instead of water. This infuses the meat with extra richness.

• Rub them with a spice blend like cajun seasoning, jerk seasoning, or taco seasoning before cooking.

• Glaze them with your favorite bbq sauce or make a flavorful gravy from the cooking juices.

• Stuff fresh herb sprigs like rosemary, thyme, or sage under the skin before cooking.

• Marinate legs overnight in a Ziploc bag with olive oil, citrus juice, garlic, and herbs.

• Season the meat generously just before serving for an extra punch of flavor.

Making Crispy, Caramelized Skin

While the pressure cooking renders the meat fall-off-the-bone tender, it also leaves the skin a bit rubbery and pale.

If you want crispy, deeply golden skin, you need to broil or grill the legs after pressure cooking:

Broiling Method:

1. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and coat with oil.

2. Arrange pressure cooked legs skin-side up on the sheet and broil 6 inches from the heating element for 5-10 minutes until skin is crispy and browned.

Grilling Method:

1. Heat your grill to medium-high. Oil the grates.

2. Grill legs skin-side down for 3-5 minutes until skin crisps and browns.

3. Flip legs and grill 2-3 minutes more to caramelize the other side.

Serving Suggestions

Instant pot turkey legs pair deliciously with:

• Mashed or roasted garlic potatoes
• Coleslaw, potato salad, or macaroni salad
• Corn on the cob
• Baked beans or other hearty bean salads
• Roasted root vegetables like carrots and parsnips
• Skillet cornbread or buttermilk biscuits
• Fresh cranberry sauce

They also make amazing sandwiches piled high on soft rolls or wrapped in tortillas or pita bread. Get creative with your favorite toppings!

Leftover Instant Pot Turkey Legs

Like wings, leftover instant pot turkey legs make amazing additions to soups, chilis, casseroles, pasta dishes, and rice bowls. The possibilities are endless!

Some tasty ways to use up leftovers:

• Dice or shred meat and mix into fried rice or stir fries

• Toss with barbecue sauce and pile on buns for bbq turkey sandwiches

• Simmer in tomato sauce and cream for a turkey leg bolognese

• Add to bean chili, minestrone, or chicken noodle soup

• Make turkey pot pie by simmering legs in gravy and vegetables then topping with biscuits

• Mix with mayo, celery, onion for an easy turkey salad

• Stuff in tacos or burritos along with typical taco fillings

Common Questions

How long does it take to cook turkey legs in an instant pot?

Most 1-1.5 lb turkey legs will be perfectly cooked through after 35 minutes at high pressure. Thicker legs may take closer to 40-45 minutes. Always check internal temperature with a meat thermometer to be sure they are fully cooked.

Can you cook frozen turkey legs in an instant pot?

Yes, frozen turkey legs can go straight into the instant pot, no thawing required. Simply add 5 extra minutes to the cook time. The frozen legs may take a little longer to come up to pressure.

Do you need to add liquid to the instant pot to cook turkey legs?

Yes, at least 1 cup of broth, water, or wine is required to create steam and properly pressure cook. The liquid also collects into a flavorful gravy or sauce.

Should turkey legs be cooked in a steamer basket or directly in the pot?

Either method works fine. The steamer basket helps keep the legs out of the liquid if you want a more concentrated sauce. But cooking directly in the pot infuses them with more flavor.

Do you need to broil or grill turkey legs after pressure cooking?

Broiling or grilling after pressure cooking is only needed if you want crispy, caramelized skin. If you don’t mind softer skin, they can be served straight from the pot.

What’s the best way to reheat leftover instant pot turkey legs?

Slice leg meat off the bone and reheat in the microwave, in a pan with sauce or gravy, or arrange on a sheet pan and reheat in a 300F oven until warmed through.

So there you have it – everything you need to know to make insanely delicious instant pot turkey legs at home. With the simple recipe and tips above, you’ll be all set to enjoy this addictive appetizer any night of the week. Dig in to juicy, fall-off-the-bone turkey and impress your family with your latest instant pot mastery!