Instant Pot Recipes with Chicken
Instant Pot is best for making chicken. The pressure cook time is usually very short, depending on the part of chicken used.
If you have a killer sauce recipe, dinner is guaranteed to be a success. Just like these tender, juicy, moist and soft Instant Pot chicken thighs swimming in the mouthwatering honey sesame sauce.
Other Instant Pot Chicken Recipes:
- Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken – Everyone’s Favorite!
- Instant Pot Creamy Garlic Mushroom Chicken – Amazing with pasta.
- Instant Pot Honey Mustard Chicken – Juicy and Tender Chicken Dinner.
- Instant Pot Butter Chicken – Just Like Indian Buffets.
Honey Sesame Sauce
One of my most popular Instant Pot recipes is Honey Garlic Chicken. This Honey Sesame Chicken recipe calls for similar and simple ingredients:
- Honey
- Toasted sesame oil
- Soy sauce
- Apple cider vinegar
- Chili garlic sauce
- Chicken broth
The flavor is savory, sweet, with a tint of tartness and heat. This Instant Pot chicken is now my #1 favorite dinner recipe.
Instant Pot Chicken Thighs
For the chicken, I used skinless and boneless chicken thighs and they are perfectly cooked in 8 minutes in the Instant Pot. You can also use bone-in chicken thighs.
The active prep time is only 5 minutes, so dinner is ready for the entire family in practically less than 20 minutes!
Serve the chicken over steamed rice, just like the picture above and you have the most amazing Asian chicken dinner ever!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use Chicken Breasts for This Recipe?
Yes, you sure can. Just pressure cook chicken breasts for 10 minutes. The instructions and methods are exactly the same. If you use frozen chicken breasts, please increase the pressure cooking time to 12 minutes.
How Many Calories per Serving?
This Instant Pot chicken recipe is only 392 calories per serving.
What to Serve with This Recipe?
This dish is best served with rice or simple pasta. For a healthy meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.
5 Secrets to 20 Min Dinners
Get tricks for quick & easy meals!
Instant Pot Honey Sesame Chicken
One of the best Instant Pot recipes with chicken thighs in a sweet and savory honey sesame sauce. This juicy and moist chicken will be an instant hit!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs. boneless and skinless chicken thighs
- salt
- ground black pepper
- 1 1/2 tablespoon oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon toasted white sesame
- 1 tablespoon chopped scallion
Honey Sesame Sauce
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 2 1/2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon dark soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Sriracha or chili garlic sauce Rooster brand, or most to taste
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon corn starch
Directions
-
1
Wash and rinse the chicken thighs with cold water. Pat dry with paper towels. Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Set aside. Mix all the ingredients in the Sauce together, stir to mix well. Make sure the honey and corn starch are completely dissolved. Set aside.
-
2
Turn on the Saute mode on your Instant Pot. As soon as the pot is fully heated (to make sure the chicken doesn’t stick to the pot), add the cooking oil. Pan sear the chicken thighs until they turn slightly brown (if they stick to the pot too much, you may use a non-stick skillet for pan-searing or skip this step.)
-
3
Add the the garlic and saute a little bit. Pour in the sauce and top with the white sesame. Cover the pot and select Manual and set to High pressure for 8 minutes.
-
4
When it beeps, turn to Quick Release. When the valve drops, remove the cover carefully, add the chopped scallion and serve immediately. Set the Instant Pot to Saute mode to reduce the sauce, for about 2 minutes or so, until the sauce slightly thickens.
-
5
If the sauce is lighter in color compared to the pictures, you might add some dark soy sauce to make the sauce darker in color. Different soy sauce has different color, some lighter and some darker. If you use a lighter color soy sauce, the sauce will look lighter, but the taste should be about the same.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
I used a 6-quart Instant Pot.
Dark soy sauce makes the sauce darker. If you don't have dark soy sauce at home, your sauce will be light brown in color. The taste will be the same nonetheless.
If you don’t have an Instant Pot, you can make this honey sesame chicken 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 the Sauce. Simmer on low heat and cook until the chicken meat is tender.
You can pan-fry the chicken on a non-stick skillet instead of using the Saute Mode. You can also skip the step.
If you use chicken breast, you can pressure cook for 10 minutes so the chicken is more tender.
Jim
Made it yesterday Wife loved it. Poured over some left over rice easy quick dinner.
Rasa Malaysia
Nice!?
Robyn
Pretty good, very quick and easy. I wish my sauce thickened up more, not sure why it was so runny.
Rasa Malaysia
Maybe your chicken has a lot of water. Pat dry with towels.
Luv2bmom
Can this be frozen after cooking?
Rasa Malaysia
Yes.
Elena
Just made this! It was so easy to put together and taste delicious!
Thanks for the recipe!
Admin
Thanks.
Autumn
If we only have access to kikkoman regular soy sauce what amount should be used? Unfortunately my local store don’t carry any other brands or a light version.
Rasa Malaysia
Same amount.
Jean
Made this tonight, was wonderful and will be making it again! Thanks for the recipe ❣️
Admin
Thanks!
Cheryl
How long should I cook thighs with bone in?
Rasa Malaysia
10-12 minutes.
GramsR
Very easy and quick. I set my cook time to 4 mins and let the thighs rest in the pot for two minutes then slowly released the steam. Added more corn starch. Good flavors! Thank you
Kori Pritchard
Made this tonight so easy so delicious. Thank you !!