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Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe

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4.3 from 8 reviews

This Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken recipe is a quick and flavorful dish featuring tender bone-in chicken thighs cooked perfectly in a sweet and savory honey garlic sauce. Ready in just 25 minutes, it combines a delightful blend of honey, garlic, soy sauce, and herbs to create a comforting meal that’s easy to prepare and perfect for weeknight dinners.

Ingredients

Honey Garlic Sauce

  • ⅓ cup honey
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ cup low sodium soy sauce
  • ½ cup ketchup (no-salt preferred)
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano (or other dried herbs)
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Chicken

  • 1 tablespoon sesame seed oil (or vegetable oil or olive oil)
  • 4 to 6 bone-in skinless chicken thighs
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Garnish

  • ½ tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
  • Sliced green onions

Instructions

  1. Make the sauce: In a small mixing bowl, combine honey, minced garlic, low sodium soy sauce, ketchup, dried oregano, and chopped fresh parsley. Mix until the sauce is well combined and set it aside for later.
  2. Prep and cook the chicken: Turn the Instant Pot to sauté mode and heat the sesame seed oil. Season the chicken thighs with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Place them into the hot pot and brown each side for about 2 to 3 minutes until golden and seared, developing flavor.
  3. Add the sauce: Pour the prepared honey garlic sauce over the browned chicken thighs in the Instant Pot. Cover the pot and lock the lid securely to prepare for pressure cooking.
  4. Cook: Select the poultry mode or pressure cook mode on the Instant Pot and set the timer for 20 minutes to cook the chicken thoroughly. Once the cooking time completes, turn off the pot and allow for a natural pressure release for about 5 minutes to ensure tenderness.
  5. Serve: Transfer the cooked chicken thighs to a serving plate. Spoon the remaining honey garlic sauce from the pot over the chicken. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions to finish the dish with extra flavor and presentation.

Notes

  • You can substitute chicken thighs with boneless chicken thighs if preferred, adjusting the cooking time slightly.
  • For a spicier version, add red pepper flakes to the sauce mixture.
  • Use no-salt ketchup and low sodium soy sauce to control sodium levels better.
  • Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions right before serving to maintain their crunch and freshness.
  • Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.