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
-
Season & prepare – Pat the chicken dry and season both sides with salt and pepper.
-
Mix sauce – In a small bowl, whisk together all Honey Garlic Sauce ingredients until the honey and sugar dissolve.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Pressure-cook – Pour in the remaining sauce. Lock the lid, set to Manual/Pressure Cook – High for 10 minutes.
-
Quick-release – When the cycle ends, immediately turn the valve to Venting. Once the pin drops, open the lid carefully.
-
Finish & serve – Spoon the glossy sauce over the chicken, scatter with parsley, and serve hot over steamed rice or vegetables.
Servings and Timing
Yield | Prep Time | Cook Time | Total Time |
---|---|---|---|
4 servings | ~5 minutes | ~15 minutes | ~20 minutes |
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.
Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken
A refreshing and healthy salad made with sweet strawberries, crunchy pecans, and a light dressing, perfect for a summer meal or as a side dish.
- Author: sarra
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Total Time: 13 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Tossing and toasting
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 4 cups mixed greens
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
- 1/2 cup pecans, chopped
- 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon honey
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the mixed greens and sliced strawberries.
- In a small pan, toast the chopped pecans over medium heat until lightly browned and fragrant, about 2-3 minutes.
- In a separate small bowl, whisk together the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, honey, salt, and pepper to make the dressing.
- Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss to combine.
- Top with toasted pecans and crumbled feta cheese before serving.
Notes
- For extra sweetness, you can add more honey to the dressing.
- Use any greens of your choice, such as spinach, arugula, or romaine.
- To make this salad vegan, omit the feta cheese or substitute it with a plant-based cheese.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
Keywords: strawberry salad, pecan salad, summer salad, healthy salad, fresh salad