Instant Pot Chicken Thighs
How to cook chicken thighs in an Instant Pot? This brown sugar garlic chicken is the perfect recipe to make chicken thighs in an Instant Pot.
The pressure cooking of Instant Pot ensures that the chicken thighs are perfectly cooked, stay juicy, moist and tender.
The combinations of garlic and brown sugar work like magic with chicken, making it one of the easiest instant pot chicken recipes you can make for the entire family.
Other Recipes You Might Like
- Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken
- Instant Pot Creamy Garlic Mushroom Chicken
- Instant Pot Honey Sesame Chicken
How Long Does It Take to Cook Instant Pot Chicken?
It takes about 5 -10 minutes to cook chicken in an Instant Pot, depending on the chicken parts used in the recipe.
Below are the general guidelines on the time for cooking chicken in an Instant Pot, based on my past experiences:
- Wingettes and drumettes – 5 minutes
- Whole chicken wings – 6 minutes
- Chicken drumsticks and chicken thighs – 8 minutes
- Chicken breasts – 10 minutes
Can you cook frozen chicken in an Instant Pot? Yes, you can cook frozen chicken thighs, chicken breasts, wings and legs in an Instant Pot.
Just add 2 minutes to the time above if you use frozen chicken from the refrigerator.
How Do You Pressure Cook Chicken in an Instant Pot?
You need at least 1/2 cup of liquid in an Instant Pot to pressure cook chicken. You may also use up to 1 cup of liquid but 1/2 cup is enough to cook chicken.
1 cup is too much liquid as the process of pressure cooking doesn’t vaporize the liquid, instead, it forces the moisture of the chicken out of the meat, creating more liquid in the Instant Pot.
How Many Calories per Serving?
This recipe is only 477 calories per serving.
What Dishes to Serve with This Recipe?
For a wholesome meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.
5 Secrets to 20 Min Dinners
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Instant Pot Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken
Juicy and fall-off-the-bone chicken thighs with brown sugar garlic sauce, pressure cooked in an Instant Pot for 8 mins. Instant Pot chicken dinner is so easy!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 - 2 lbs. bone-in skin-on chicken thighs
- salt
- ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 - 3/4 cup chicken broth
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 3 dashes cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt or more to taste
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
Directions
-
1
Season the chicken thighs with salt and ground black pepper on both sides of the chicken. Turn on the Saute mode on your Instant Pot. As soon as the pot is fully heated and hot, add the olive oil. Pan sear the chicken thighs (skin side down first) until both sides turn nicely brown.
-
2
You can also pan-sear the chicken in a skillet and then transfer them over to the Instant Pot. Add the minced garlic and saute until light brown. Add the chicken broth, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, cayenne pepper and salt.
-
3
Cover the pot and select Manual and set to High pressure for 8 minutes. When it beeps, turn to Quick Release. When the valve drops, remove the lid carefully and turn to Saute mode to reduce the sauce if it's too watery.
-
4
Add the chopped parsley and serve immediately.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Watch the cooking video on this page for step-by-step guide.
I used a 6-quart Instant Pot. If you don't have an Instant Pot, you can make this recipe in a slow cooker, or on your stove top. If you use a slow cooker, Use high heat and cook for 3 hours. For stove top, just pan-fry the chicken and then add in all the ingredients of the sauce. Simmer on low heat and cook until the chicken meat is tender.
I used organic chicken thighs, so they are very small. If you use regular chicken thighs, you can increase the pressure cooking time to 10 minutes for tender meat.
Yeh Ximin
Bonnie
Can I use frozen chicken?
Rasa Malaysia
Yes, you can! Just pressure cook for extra two minutes.
MrsGut3
This turned out so good. Thanks for sharing!
Sierra
Best chicken dish ever!!! I would say you can add a bit more garlic, but this recipe was a favorite! Make it.
Rasa Malaysia
Sure more garlic is better.
Sheri
If I double the chicken in the recipe, what else do I need to adjust? Liquid should stay the same? And cooking time?
Rasa Malaysia
You can add 1.5 x liquid and ingredients, or to taste.
Dara
Can you use chicken tenders? We are limited meat at the store and that’s all I could fine.
Rasa Malaysia
Yes, it would work, or you can try my chicken tenders recipe: https://rasamalaysia.com/chicken-tenders/. It’s very yummy!
Amy
Does the cook time change if I have boneless thighs?
Rasa Malaysia
Cut down 2 mins.
John
I made your recipe it was pretty good. I have a 8 quart pot and I think I need a little more spice to add to the flavor. Good base and simple
Rasa Malaysia
Sure.
Jacqui
Could you use water instead of chicken broth?
Rasa Malaysia
Yes you can use water.
Pam
Quite delicious. Definitely a keeper
Rasa Malaysia
Thanks Pam!
Amy Sagehorn
Can I use boneless chicken thighs? That’s all my grocery store had. If so, do I reduce the cook time? This sounds amazing and I want to make it tonight.
Rasa Malaysia
Yes, you can. Just cut down to 6 minutes if they are boneless.
Amy
AMAZING! Best chicken recipe I have tried so far! Thank you for sharing!
Rasa Malaysia
Hi Amy, thanks so much for trying my recipe. Please try more recipes on my site: https://rasamalaysia.com/recipe-index-gallery/
Karla Spires
I’m new to the instant pot scene and I’m wondering does the skin stay crispy or what?
Rasa Malaysia
No because it has the sauce.
Janice Bradsher
Hi! Regarding the Instant Pot Brown Sugar Galic Chicken Recipe, can you use your own pot for cooking this? I don’t have an Instant Pot so I was wondering if you could use a regular pot. It looks like a great recipe so I would like to try it. My email is janicebradsher@gmail.com. Please let me know. Thanks so much! Janice
Rasa Malaysia
Yes you can.
Janice Bradsher
Thank you! I will try the recipe soon.