Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe

Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken is made with just five ingredients and makes a sticky honey garlic sauce that has tons of flavor!

This Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken recipe is a dream come true because not only is it done in under 30 minutes (you read that right — DONE IN 30 MINUTES!), it is also totally packed with delicious flavor.

If you prefer to keep your meals on the mild side, this chicken dinner can cater to that. And if you prefer a spicier meal then you can definitely go that route. Either way, the flavor will blow you away!

I am ALL about easy dinners. They save me so much time. I mean, there is definitely a time and a place for more complicated recipes, but not if you are a busy human preparing meals multiple times a week for your family.

We all have a lot going on and many things to accomplish on any given day, so simplifying dinner is a MUST on those busy nights.

HOW TO MAKE INSTANT POT HONEY GARLIC CHICKEN

STEP 1

Sprinkle salt and pepper generously over the surfaces of 4 bone-in chicken thighs. Set Instant Pot to saute. Heat olive oil and add the chicken to the pot. Cook the chicken for 3 minutes/side (cook with skin side down first).

Transfer the chicken to a cutting board. Add minced garlic to the pot and cook for 3 minutes or until fragrant.

STEP 2

Add the sauce ingredients to the pot: honey, broth, vinegar, soy sauce and red pepper flakes. Deglaze the pot (scrape the bottom with a spoon) and mix well. Add the chicken to the bottom of the pot in a single layer (skin side down).

Place the cover on the pot and set timer to 12 minutes cooked on high pressure (pressure cook setting). It will take the pot around 9 minutes to build up pressure before it begins cooking.

STEP 3

When cooking time is up, do a natural release 5 minutes, then do a quick release to get rid of the remaining pressure. Remove the lid and transfer the chicken breasts to a serving platter. Pour the sauce over top and top with parsley, if desired. Serve over rice!

RECIPE NOTES: INSTANT POT HONEY GARLIC CHICKEN

• For a thicker sauce, combine 1 tablespoon of corn starch with 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl and stir it into the sauce after removing the chicken from the pot. Press the saute button and bring to a boil and stir until it has thickened the sauce enough for your liking.

• If you would rather go the slow cooker route, consider trying this delicious version of Honey Garlic Chicken! It is a GREAT recipe, as well.

• Replace the thighs with boneless thighs or breasts, if desired, but change cook time to 8 minutes.

• Make this delicious dish as spicy or mild as you’d like! For a milder meal, omit the red pepper flakes entirely. For a spicy meal, use up to 1 teaspoon and then sprinkle over the tops just before serving.

• This chicken dinner is best when served over a bed of rice. The rice does a great job of absorbing all of the juices and the delicious flavor. Mashed potatoes, quinoa or pasta would be great options, as well.

• A bit of hoisin sauce would taste AMAZING in this recipe!

• Double the sauce for an extra saucy meal!

• If you love garlic, go crazy with it! Add up to 6 total cloves for a delicious, garlicky end result.

• This meal is gluten free, but be sure to read the label on your chicken broth to make sure it does not contain wheat.

• Replace the apple cider vinegar with another variety of vinegar in a pinch.

CAN I USE FROZEN CHICKEN FOR THIS INSTANT POT HONEY GARLIC CHICKEN RECIPE?

Yes! You can definitely replace thawed with frozen chicken in this recipe. If you go this route, skip cooking the chicken using the saute function add 3 minutes of cooking time to the recipe.

HOW MANY CALORIES IN A CHICKEN THIGH

One medium-sized chicken thigh with skin that has not been cooked in butter or oil contains 109 calories.

HOW MUCH PROTEIN IN CHICKEN THIGHS

One medium-sized cooked chicken thigh with skin contains 32 grams of protein.

ARE CHICKEN THIGHS DARK MEAT?

Meat from chicken thighs is dark in comparison to breast and wing meat, making it fattier but also juicier. If you are concerned with the fat content of your meat, opt for a leaner variety.

RICE COOKER VS. INSTANT POT FOR MAKING RICE

Consider the following information if you plan to serve this meal with rice!

Both rice cookers and electric pressure cookers cook rice in the same way. Both use steam inside the pot to cook the rice. The main difference is that a pressure cooker has a sealing ring inside the lid that prevents any steam from escaping during the cooking process.

This allows the appliance to maintain pressure levels inside the pot with greater accuracy, therefore cooking it more quickly.

Shortened cook time is an advantage when using an Instant Pot and typically it requires a bit less liquid than when using a rice cooker.

However, if you are planning to cook a variety of different types such as wild, black or basmati rice frequently, a rice cooker might be the better option for you. Plus, rice cookers are more affordable and will take up less valuable counter space.

IS RINSING RICE IMPORTANT?

I don’t always take the time to rinse the rice before cooking it, but it should definitely be a part of the rice-making process. Simply add the rice to a fine mesh strainer and run cold water over it, tossing it around a bit using your fingers to get a thorough rinse.

This process will ensure that there is no extra debris stuck to the rice. It also removes the starch, which will prevent your final product from being clumpy.

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