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Instant Pot Chicken Thighs with Honey Garlic Sauce Recipe

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4.2 from 13 reviews

  • Author: Lea
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings

Description

This Instant Pot Chicken Thighs recipe features juicy, tender chicken thighs cooked to perfection in a sweet and savory honey garlic sauce. With a quick 30-minute cook time, it's an easy and flavorful meal perfect for busy weeknights. The sauce is enhanced with soy, chili garlic sauce, and optional sesame seeds, making it a deliciously balanced dish served best with your favorite grains and vegetables.

Ingredients

Chicken

  • 2 lbs. chicken thighs (skin-on)
  • 1.5 tablespoons olive oil

Honey Garlic Sauce

  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce (or tamari)
  • 1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce

Optional Thickening

  • 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon warm water
  • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds

Instructions

  1. Dry the Chicken: Use paper towels to thoroughly pat the chicken thighs dry, removing as much moisture as possible to help achieve a good sear.
  2. Sear the Chicken: Turn on the Instant Pot's sauté function. Add olive oil, then sear the chicken thighs on both sides for 2-3 minutes each until nicely browned.
  3. Prepare the Sauce: While the chicken sears, mix together minced garlic, honey, soy sauce, and chili garlic sauce to create the honey garlic sauce.
  4. Add Sauce and Seal: Turn off the sauté mode once chicken is browned. Pour the honey garlic sauce over the chicken thighs. If concerned about burn notices, place chicken on the Instant Pot trivet before adding sauce.
  5. Pressure Cook: Close the Instant Pot lid and seal the valve. Set to manual high pressure for 5 minutes. It will take about 10 minutes to build pressure before the countdown starts.
  6. Release Pressure: When the timer finishes, perform a quick release by carefully opening the valve to release steam.
  7. Check Doneness: Remove lid, check that the internal temperature of the chicken is between 160ºF - 165ºF. If not fully cooked, reseal and cook for an additional 1-3 minutes under pressure.
  8. Thicken Sauce (Optional): Turn Instant Pot to sauté mode. Whisk together cornstarch and warm water to make a slurry. Stir the slurry into the sauce and cook until thickened, whisking continuously.
  9. Serve: Pour the thickened sauce over the chicken thighs. Garnish with sesame seeds if desired, and serve alongside your favorite grains and vegetables.

Notes

  • Using skin-on chicken thighs helps keep the meat juicy and flavorful.
  • Drying the chicken before searing helps achieve a better browning.
  • If your Instant Pot frequently shows 'burn' notices, use the included trivet to keep chicken off the bottom.
  • The cornstarch slurry is optional but recommended if you prefer a thicker sauce.
  • Always check the internal temperature of poultry to ensure safety; 165ºF is fully cooked.
  • This recipe works well with rice, quinoa, or steamed vegetables as sides.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Instant Pot
  • Cuisine: American Asian Fusion

Find it online: https://recipesbylea.com/instant-pot-chicken-thighs-with-honey-garlic-sauce-recipe/