Description
Tender, flavorful Instant Pot turkey thighs cooked in a rich tomato and herb sauce, enhanced with wine, fresh rosemary, and garlic. This easy one-pot meal is perfect for a comforting dinner served over rice or mashed potatoes.
Ingredients
Scale
Turkey Thighs and Seasoning
- 2 medium turkey thighs (about 2 pounds)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Sauté and Sauce Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 1-2 bay leaves (optional)
- 1-2 twigs fresh rosemary
- 1/4 cup red wine (or white wine)
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth (about 2 cups)
- 1 (13.5 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Turkey Thighs: Use a paper towel to pat the turkey thighs completely dry. Rub the Italian seasoning, salt, and ground black pepper evenly all over the thighs. Set them aside on a plate for at least 10 minutes to allow the flavors to penetrate.
- Sear the Thighs: Turn on the Instant Pot’s Sauté function on high. Add vegetable oil and heat until it sizzles, about 1 minute. Place the turkey thighs in the pot and sear them for about 5 minutes on each side until golden brown. They do not need to be fully cooked through at this stage.
- Sauté Aromatics: Add the thinly sliced onions, minced garlic, bay leaves, and fresh rosemary twigs to the pot. Sauté everything together until the onions become tender, about 2 minutes, enhancing the overall flavor of the dish.
- Add Liquids and Mix: Pour in the red or white wine, chicken broth, and tomato sauce. Stir well to combine all ingredients evenly in the pot, ensuring the turkey thighs are well coated and submerged in the flavorful liquid.
- Pressure Cook the Turkey: Switch the Instant Pot to pressure cooking mode on manual High. Seal the lid by turning the steam release valve to the sealed position. Cook the turkey thighs until tender, about 30 minutes.
- Release Pressure: After cooking, you may let the Instant Pot naturally release pressure for about 20 minutes or perform a quick release by carefully turning the steam release valve to venting.
- Finish and Serve: Open the lid, stir in the finely chopped fresh parsley, and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper to taste (recommended 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper). Serve the turkey thighs along with the rich sauce over rice or creamy mashed potatoes.
Notes
- Be sure to pat the turkey thighs dry before seasoning for a better sear and flavor absorption.
- Using the sauté function before pressure cooking helps develop a deeper flavor.
- For best results, allow natural pressure release to keep the meat moist and tender.
- This dish pairs wonderfully with fluffy rice or mashed potatoes to soak up the savory sauce.
- You can substitute red wine with white wine or additional chicken broth if preferred.
