Recipe for chicken thighs in the instant pot

Learn how to make Instant Pot Chicken Thighs with few simple ingredients! Tender & juiciest chicken thighs with deliciously caramelized sweet-savory Honey Garlic sauce. Quick & Easy chicken dinner kids and adults will enjoy!

Many dear readers have requested more delicious yet quick and easy dinners they can throw together after long crazy days of work.

With busy nights, quick & easy dinner, kid-friendly in mind, we developed this versatile & super easy Instant Pot chicken thighs you can add to your dinner rotation.

3 Easy Steps to make this Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs in Instant Pot! You can easily swap the honey garlic sauce with your favorite sauces to make the most tender & juiciest chicken thighs.

How to Cook Instant Pot Chicken Thighs

1. Prepare tasty sauce for the chicken thighs
2. Pressure cook chicken thighs according to the size
3. Broil chicken thighs to caramelize the sauce

Prepare ingredients for cooking chicken thighs in Instant Pot.

*Pro Tip: Try to finely mince the garlic for this chicken thighs recipe.

Step 1

Make Honey Garlic Sauce

*Note: If you’re using store-bought sauces or other sauces, skip this step & jump to Step 2. 

First, heat up the Instant Pot using “Saute Normal” function.

The indicator will switch to “ON”. Wait until the indicator says “HOT” (takes roughly 8 minutes).

Melt 2 tbsp (28g) unsalted butter or add vegetable oil in the Instant Pot.

Add in minced garlic, then saute for 45 seconds to 1 minute.

Then, pour in 2 tbsp (30ml) regular soy sauce and ⅓ cup (113g) honey.

Stir to reduce & thicken the honey garlic sauce a bit for 2 – 3 minutes.

Add ¼ cup (60g) ketchup to a container, then mix in the honey garlic sauce.

Give the yummy honey garlic sauce a taste and adjust accordingly.

*Note: It’s important to taste & adjust because different brands & batches of ketchup, honey, or soy sauce can vary in taste. For reference, we added another 1 tbsp (15g) ketchup to the honey garlic sauce to fully balance the flavors. 

Set aside and let it cool to thicken a bit.

Step 2

Pressure Cook Chicken Thighs

First, season the chicken thighs with kosher salt and ground black pepper.

Add 1 cup (250ml) of cold water and a trivet in the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker.

Place 6 – 8 chicken thighs on the trivet.

*Note: Try not to overlap the chicken thighs in Instant Pot too much.

Close lid, then turn Venting Knob to Sealing position.

• For Smaller Bone-in Chicken Thighs (110g – 120g each): Pressure Cook at High Pressure for 7 minutes + Natural Release for 12 minutes
• For Larger Bone-in Chicken Thighs (~200g each): Pressure Cook at High Pressure for 9 minutes + Natural Release for 12 minutes 

After releasing the pressure naturally for 12 minutes, carefully turn the Venting Knob to Venting Position to release the remaining pressure.

Once the Floating Valve drops, open the lid carefully.

Step 3

Apply Sauce & Broil in Oven/Air Fryer

First, carefully set the chicken thighs on an oven tray, then generously apply the honey garlic sauce all over the chicken thighs on all sides.

*Note: You can use an oven, toaster oven, Instant Pot Duo Crisp‘s “Air Fry” function or Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid for this step.

Option 1 – Oven or Toaster Oven

Place the Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs on an oven tray under the “Broil” function (or the highest temperature setting) for a few minutes until the honey garlic sauce is beautifully caramelized.

Option 2 – Air Fryer Lid

Place the air fryer basket with the tray on the middle rack in the Instant Pot (as shown in the photo below).

Now, layer the chicken thighs on the air fryer tray in Instant Pot.

Then, place the air fryer lid on the Instant Pot.

• Air Frying Method: Press the “Air Fry or Broil” button, set the temperature to 400°F, and cooking time to 20 minutes.

*Pro Tip: It’ll take roughly 7 – 11 minutes + preheat time. You can open the lid to check the progress.

Step 4

Serve Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs

Garnish your delicious Honey Garlic Instant Pot Chicken Thighs with freshly chopped parsley.

Enjoy these tasty Instant Pot Chicken Thighs!

• ▢ 6 - 8 (693g) bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs

Honey Garlic Sauce

• ▢ 6 (27g) garlic cloves , minced
• ▢ 2 tablespoons (28g) unsalted butter or vegetable oil
• ▢ 2 tablespoons (30ml) regular soy sauce
• ▢ ⅓ cup (113g) honey
• ▢ ¼ cup (60g) ketchup (may need an additional 1 tbsp (15g) ketchup)

Optional Garnish

• ▢ Freshly chopped parsley

• ▢

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• Make Honey Garlic Sauce: Heat up Instant Pot using “Saute Normal” function. Wait until the indicator says “HOT”.

  Melt 2 tbsp (28g) unsalted butter or vegetable oil in Instant Pot. Add in minced garlic, then saute for 45 seconds to 1 minute. Pour in 2 tbsp (30ml) regular soy sauce and ⅓ cup (113g) honey. Stir to reduce & thicken the honey garlic sauce a bit for 2 - 3 minutes.

  Add ¼ cup (60g) ketchup to a container, then mix in the honey garlic sauce. Taste and adjust the sauce accordingly.

  *For Reference: we added another 1 tbsp (15g) ketchup to the honey garlic sauce to fully balance the flavors.

  Set aside and let it cool to thicken a bit.

• Pressure Cook Chicken Thighs: Season the chicken with kosher salt and ground black pepper.

  Add 1 cup (250ml) of cold water and a trivet in Instant Pot. Place 6 - 8 chicken thighs on the trivet. *Note: Try not to overlap the chicken thighs too much.

  Close lid, then turn Venting Knob to Sealing position.

  For Smaller Bone-in Chicken Thighs (110g - 120g each): Pressure Cook at High Pressure for 7 minutes + Natural Release for 12 minutes

  For Larger Bone-in Chicken Thighs (~200g each): Pressure Cook at High Pressure for 9 minutes + Natural Release for 12 minutes

  Open the lid carefully.

• Apply Sauce & Broil in Oven or Air Fryer: Carefully set the chicken on an oven tray, then generously apply the honey garlic sauce all over the chicken.

  Option 1 - Oven or Toaster Oven: Place the chicken thighs on an oven tray under the "Broil" function (or the highest temperature setting) for a few minutes until the honey garlic sauce is beautifully caramelized.

  Option 2 - Duo Crisp or Air Fryer Lid: Place the air fryer basket with the tray on the middle rack in the Instant Pot. Layer the chicken thighs on the air fryer tray in Instant Pot. Place the air fryer lid on the Instant Pot. Press the "Air Fry or Broil" button, set temperature to 400°F, and cooking time to 20 minutes. *Pro Tip: It'll take roughly 7 - 11 minutes + preheat time. You can open the lid to check the progress.

• Serve: Garnish your delicious Honey Garlic Chicken with freshly chopped parsley.

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Calories: 401kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 115mg | Sodium: 604mg | Potassium: 328mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 154IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg

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