Published 7/16/2023 • Updated 8/16/2024 First, sear the chicken thighs in the Instant Pot to crisp them up. Then, slather them with a homemade honey garlic sauce, and pressure-cook them for just 5-7 minutes! This is one of our most popular Instant Pot Chicken Thigh recipes! So many of you have made this recipe and rated it 5 stars and rightfully so. The honey garlic sauce is incredibly flavorful and easy to make and your chicken comes out perfect every time. Whenever I’m in need of a quick weeknight dinner, I like to make chicken thighs in the instant pot and serve them next to white rice and steamed broccoli. PS: check out our Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken for a similar recipe made in the Crockpot!
What kind of chicken thighs do you need for Instant Pot chicken thighs?
The good news for you is that we tested this recipe many times with all different kinds of chicken thighs. Love skin-on chicken thighs? Or boneless chicken thighs? Both work! So feel free to use around 2 lbs. of the following:
Bone-In Boneless Skin-On Skinless
If you’re wondering what kind of thighs we prefer, it’s hands-down bone-in with the skin on. However, boneless skinless chicken thighs are also pretty dang delish.
How long do you cook chicken thighs in the Instant Pot?
From frozen: cook frozen chicken thighs and sauce (or water) for 15 minutes on high pressure with a quick release. From thawed: sear chicken thighs for 2-3 minutes on both sides. Then, cook chicken thighs with sauce in your pressure cooker on high for 5-7 minutes.
Best Honey Garlic Sauce
If you’ve ever had our Crock Pot Honey Garlic Chicken, you know how delicious our honey garlic sauce is. This is a slightly modified version of that sauce, but equally as delicious. Plus, it will actually help preheat your Instant Pot, cutting the pressurizing time almost in half. Whatever you do, do not skip this step. Thermoworks Thermapen Here’s what you need: honey, minced garlic, soy sauce, chili garlic sauce, and cornstarch.
How long do cooked chicken thighs last in the fridge?
Let chicken thighs cool completely. Then, store IP chicken thighs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days.
Chicken Thigh Recipes
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Baked Chicken Thighs Smoked Chicken Thighs Grilled Chicken Thighs Sous Vide Chicken Thighs Dutch Oven Chicken Thighs
Freezer Instructions
After Cooked: Let Instant Pot Chicken Thighs cool completely. Then, transfer them to a freezer-safe gallon-size bag and remove as much air as possible. Seal and freeze for up to 3 months. Before Cooked: Place all raw ingredients (minus the cornstarch and sesame seeds) into a freezer-safe gallon-size bag. Remove as much air as possible and seal. Freeze for up to 3 months. When you are ready for cooking, transfer the frozen contents of the bag directly into your Instant Pot. Then, seal Instant Pot and cook on high pressure for 15 minutes with a quick release. Thicken sauce as directed in recipe card.
Serving Suggestions
Make your honey garlic chicken Instant Pot recipe a complete meal by serving it with a grain and your favorite veggie. Here are some ideas: shrimp fried rice, coconut rice, quinoa, roasted broccoli, or sauteed green beans.
Instant Pot Chicken Thigh Recipes
This is seriously one of the best Instant Pot Chicken Thigh recipes and we know you’ll love it. Here are a few more for you to try:
Moroccan-Style Instant Pot Chicken Thighs Basic Instant Pot Chicken Breast (swap for thighs) Instant Pot Cashew Chicken (swap for thighs) Instant Pot Shredded Chicken (swap for thighs)
PS: try any of our 6 chicken marinades in place of the honey garlic sauce!
