Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs Recipe
Jan 15, 2018, Updated May 01, 2021
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Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs are sweet, savory, tender and juicy chicken thighs prepared with the most amazing honey garlic sauce and cooked in an Instant Pot. Dinner, from start to finish, will be ready in 30 minutes!
My #1 recipe for Honey Garlic Chicken revisited AND updated with a new twist because, an Instant Pot is all the rage these days.
I know, it’s so hard to choose; crock pot honey garlic chicken or instant pot honey garlic chicken. I mean, one takes hours of cooking, and the other makes it all in minutes. But the instant pot is possibly my new favorite way to cook. I do really love my crock pot, but this pressure cooker/instant pot thingamajig is a game-changer. Or are you more into boneless skinless chicken thigh recipes?
INSTANT POT HONEY GARLIC CHICKEN
This easy recipe for honey garlic chicken thighs is packed with so much flavor and requires very little effort. With just a handful of ingredients, this dish continues to be one of my go-to’s because it’s low maintenance and it’s fall-off-the-bone amazing.
Clearly, I’m not talking about just any old chicken here. I’m referring to that special kind of garlic chicken that finds the perfect balance between sweet and savory, tender and juicy, similar to how the best bourbon chicken recipe masters that blend. Also, it can be made in about 20 minutes and that just makes my heart sing for joy! What’s more is that I always make extra so that I have at least some leftovers for tomorrow’s lunch.
Gosh… There is not one single thing I don’t love about this type of food.
HOW TO MAKE HONEY GARLIC CHICKEN IN THE INSTANT POT
Prepare the sauce – it will have you licking your fingers clean.
Honey Garlic Sauce
- honey
- garlic
- ketchup
- soy sauce
- oregano
- and parsley
No big deal – just a few ingredients you probably have sitting around. But once you put them all together? GIRRRL!! You’ll see. There’s nah.thing better.
Once you’ve prepared the sauce, you can move onto browning the chicken thighs right inside your instant pot. One pot = one meal, and less dishes to wash.
I chose to use bone-in chicken thighs thus could only fit 4 at a time inside my instant pot, but if you go with boneless thighs, you can definitely get 6 to 8 thighs in there at once.
And once them thighs are done browning-up, an introduction to their cooking liquid will follow:
If chicken breasts are all you’ve got, not to worry! Just use the same method, but cook on poultry setting for 10 minutes.
Whether you want to make this in the crock pot, as we have done up until now, or in the Instant Pot, trust me when I say that no matter what route you take, in the end you’ll just be super glad that you prepared it.
I also have a seafood option with the same wonderful flavors – Honey Garlic Sauce Salmon.
The flavors in this dish are so simple, yet when combined, they are SO GOOD and out-of-this-world fantastic. It’s one of those recipes that you make once, and then you make twice, and then suddenly you can’t wait to make it again.
WANT MORE DELICIOUS CHICKEN RECIPES?
- Spicy, Sweet and Sticky Chicken Thighs
- Crock Pot Citrus Soy Chicken Drumsticks
- Crock Pot Honey Lemon Chicken
ENJOY!
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WATCH HOW TO MAKE INSTANT POT HONEY GARLIC CHICKEN
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Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup honey
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce, (see notes for alternatives)
- 1/2 cup no salt ketchup
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon sesame seed oil
- 4 to 6 bone-in, skinless chicken thighs
- salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
- 1/2 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds, for garnish
- sliced green onions, for garnish
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl combine honey, minced garlic, soy sauce, ketchup, oregano and parsley; mix until well combined and set aside.
- Heat the Instant Pot in sauté mode. Add sesame oil to the pot.Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper; arrange in the instant pot and cook for about 2 to 3 minutes per side.
- Add the prepared honey garlic sauce to the pot; cover and lock the lid.
- Cook in poultry mode for 20 minutes.Turn off the pot and allow it to release the pressure, about 5 minutes.
- Transfer chicken to a serving plate and spoon the sauce over the chicken. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and green onions. Serve.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
What is poultry mode? My IP doesn’t have that. It just has 2 levels of pressure.
You can use the High Pressure setting.
thanks 🙂
This sauce is soo good! Will definitely make this again.
Thank you. I have about 10 of them. Is it ok to layer them in the pot?
I’ve used up to six pieces at once, but I think it should be okay to stack a few more.
I only have boneless skinless chicken thighs. How long is the cooking time for them?
For boneless chicken thighs, pressure cook on High for 8 minutes and then let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes.
This recipe was FIRE! It was so delicious. The chicken was very flavorful and tender! Thanks for sharing!
That’s great to hear! I’m very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
Yummy but more like a barbecue taste than honey and garlic. We’ll certainly add it to our list of keepers but will probably tone down the soy and ketchup on the next batch.
I’m very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
Where is the recipe??? This is ridiculous!!!
It looks like you passed it up because the recipe card is right above the comments section.
Making this today but have chicken leg quarters. What would the cooking be? So excited!!!
I’d keep it the same since it still is bone-in chicken.
I’m just learning to use the instant pot. Directions say you have to use some liquid or burn. I don’t see that much liquid in this recipe yet everyone seems to say it works. i’m confused.
If you’re worried about the liquid and getting the “burn” notice, add about 1/2-cup chicken broth or water to the rest of the ingredients.
I should’ve written a review a long time ago.. I’ve been making this recipe for about 2 years now and have made it 15+ times, it is SO good! The only change I make is doubling or tripling the sauce. Also sometimes I take the chicken out & add broccoli to the sauce then put the chicken back in & serve as suggested. I also add NO extra salt. My toddlers, husband, and MIL (who hates garlic) LOVE it.
I just realized I didn’t give it a star rating.. ooooopps!
I’m very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
I also throw in brocolli and carrot cut up and simmer quickly til tender and serve
I should have written this months ago. My family LOVES this recipe and begs me to make it often! I love salt but others in the house don’t so I use low sodium soy or ketchup and add no other salt until the end if needed. I also double or triple the sauce because the family will practically make this a soup with a side dish of rice! Love love love. Thank you for posting!!
That’s great to hear! I’m very glad everyone enjoys it! Thank YOU! 🙂