Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken

Short Description

Succulent chicken thighs are pressure-cooked in a fragrant honey-garlic sauce, yielding a glossy, sweet-savory entrée that tastes like Chinese take-out yet is table-ready in about 20 minutes.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Speed with quality: Five minutes of prep and fifteen minutes of cooking deliver tender, well-browned chicken in a rich glaze.

• One-pot convenience: Sauté, pressure-cook, and finish in the same Instant Pot—no extra pans to wash.

• Balanced flavour profile: Natural honey, fresh garlic, soy sauce, and a hint of cayenne create an addictive sweet-salty-mildly spicy combination.

• Adaptable: Works with boneless or bone-in thighs (or even breasts) and can be made gluten-free or keto with simple swaps.

• Freezer-friendly: Leftovers reheat beautifully, making it perfect for meal-prep lunches.

Ingredients

(Tip: You can find the complete list of ingredients and their measurements in the recipe card below.)

• Chicken thighs (about 1 ½ lb / 750 g; 4 pieces)

• Salt and ground black pepper, to taste

• Cooking oil (1 ½ Tbsp total)

• Garlic, minced (4 cloves)

• Fresh parsley, chopped (1 Tbsp, for garnish)

Honey Garlic Sauce

• Honey (3 Tbsp)

• Sugar or brown sugar (1 tsp)

• Soy sauce (2 Tbsp)

• Water or chicken broth (3 Tbsp)

• Cayenne pepper (3 dashes, or to taste)

Directions

1. Season & prepare – Pat the chicken dry and season both sides with salt and pepper.

2. Mix sauce – In a small bowl, whisk together all Honey Garlic Sauce ingredients until the honey and sugar dissolve.

3. Sear – Select Sauté on the Instant Pot. When hot, add 1 Tbsp oil. Lay the chicken skin-side down; sear 3 minutes per side until golden.

4. Deglaze & add aromatics – Push the chicken to one side, add the remaining ½ Tbsp oil and the minced garlic; sauté 30 seconds. Stir in a splash of the sauce while scraping up browned bits.

5. Pressure-cook – Pour in the remaining sauce. Lock the lid, set to Manual/Pressure Cook – High for 10 minutes.

6. Quick-release – When the cycle ends, immediately turn the valve to Venting. Once the pin drops, open the lid carefully.

7. Finish & serve – Spoon the glossy sauce over the chicken, scatter with parsley, and serve hot over steamed rice or vegetables.

Servings and Timing

Variations

• Keto-friendly: Replace honey and sugar with a monk-fruit sweetener; use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce.

• Extra heat: Substitute cayenne with ½ tsp crushed red-pepper flakes or 1 Tbsp sriracha.

• Citrus twist: Add 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice after pressure-cooking to brighten the sauce.

• Sticky wing version: Swap thighs for 2 lb chicken wings; reduce pressure-cook time to 5 minutes.

• Slow-cooker method: Sear the chicken in a skillet, then cook on Low 6–8 hours or High 3–4 hours.

Storage / Reheating

• Refrigerator: Cool, then store chicken and sauce in an airtight container up to 4 days.

• Freezer: Portion into freezer-safe bags; freeze up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.

• Reheat: Warm gently in a saucepan over medium-low heat or in the microwave (70 % power, stirring once) until the internal temperature reaches 74 °C / 165 °F. Add a splash of water to loosen the sauce if needed.

FAQs

How can I prevent the “Burn” warning on my Instant Pot?

Scrape up all browned bits after searing; this deglazes the pot and prevents scorching.

Can I use frozen chicken?

Yes. Increase the High-pressure cooking time to 15 minutes, ensuring pieces are separated; adjust seasoning afterward.

Is chicken breast an acceptable substitute?

Boneless breasts work; sear as directed, then pressure-cook 8 minutes to avoid dryness.

How do I thicken the sauce?

After cooking, select Sauté and simmer 2–3 minutes, or stir in a slurry of 1 tsp cornstarch with 1 Tbsp water.

What sides pair well with honey garlic chicken?

Steamed jasmine rice, broccoli, snap peas, or a simple cucumber salad balance the sweet-savory glaze.

Can I double the sauce?

Absolutely—double all sauce ingredients without changing the pressure-cook time; be sure not to fill past the Max line.

Is this recipe gluten-free?

Use certified gluten-free tamari in place of soy sauce and verify that your other ingredients are gluten-free.

How spicy is “three dashes” of cayenne?

It yields mild warmth; increase to ¼ tsp for moderate heat or omit for a kid-friendly version.

May I omit the sugar?

The teaspoon of sugar enhances caramelisation, but you may leave it out or replace it with additional honey.

What size Instant Pot is required?

A 6-quart or larger model accommodates 4 thighs easily; for a 3-quart Mini, halve the recipe.

Conclusion

Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken shows that speedy weeknight cooking need not sacrifice flavour. With minimal ingredients and one-pot convenience, you achieve restaurant-style sweetness, garlicky aroma, and succulent texture—ready to delight family or guests alike. Keep this versatile recipe in regular rotation for effortless, crowd-pleasing dinners year-round.