Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken

Introduction

Few dishes strike the perfect balance between sweet, savory, and tangy like Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken. With tender chicken coated in a sticky, aromatic sauce, this recipe is a surefire crowd-pleaser that’s big on flavor but minimal in effort. Thanks to the magic of the Instant Pot, you can have a mouthwatering centerpiece ready in less than 30 minutes—perfect for busy weeknights or casual entertaining.

Why You’ll Love This Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken

What sets this dish apart is how easily it achieves restaurant-quality results at home. The pressure cooker ensures the chicken stays juicy and absorbs the bold flavors of garlic, honey, and soy sauce quickly. Paired with a fluffy side of rice or fresh veggies, every bite delivers a perfect medley of sweetness, umami, and gentle heat—without the fuss or long marinating times.

Gathering and Prepping Your Ingredients

For optimal results, start with boneless, skinless chicken thighs, which remain succulent throughout cooking. Mince the garlic and finely chop any aromatics using the Mueller Pro-Series 10-in-1, 8 Blade Vegetable Chopper for even cuts and reduced prep time. Measure your ingredients precisely for a balanced sauce—if accuracy is important in your kitchen, an Amazon Basics Digital Kitchen Scale with LCD Display comes in handy here.

Feel free to add chopped bell peppers or snap peas for color and crunch—this is easily done with a quality Bamboo Cutting Board set.

Cooking the Chicken to Perfection

Set your Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, 6 Quart to sauté mode and sear the chicken for extra flavor before pressure cooking. Once the honey garlic sauce is added, lock the lid, set the timer, and let the Instant Pot do its work. For safely checking doneness, a ThermoPro TP19H Digital Meat Thermometer for Cooking ensures perfectly cooked chicken every time.

After releasing the pressure, reduce the sauce to your desired thickness using the sauté function.

Serving and Storing Suggestions

Serve this delectable honey garlic chicken over fresh steamed rice, in lettuce wraps, or alongside stir-fried vegetables. For perfectly portioned leftovers or easy meal prep, store your chicken in Rubbermaid Brilliance Food Storage Containers, Set of 5 (3.2 Cup) to keep it fresh and leak-free.

Nutrition and Serving Information

This recipe serves 4, with approximately 370 calories per serving (without rice). The chicken is rich in protein and flavorful but remains light enough for an everyday meal. Customize it with veggies or a garnish of sesame seeds and chopped green onion for an extra healthful touch.

Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken: The Quick, Flavorful Fix

Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken offers bold, comforting flavor with minimal hands-on time, making it the perfect centerpiece for any meal. Fast, versatile, and incredibly satisfying, it’s bound to become a staple in your dinner rotation.

Ingredients
2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
1/2 cup honey
1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup ketchup
5 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
1 tablespoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
2 tablespoons cornstarch + 2 tablespoons water (for slurry)
1 tablespoon olive oil or vegetable oil
Green onions and sesame seeds, for garnish
Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Set your Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, 6 Quart to “Sauté.” Add the oil and brown the chicken thighs on both sides (about 2-3 minutes per side). Remove and set aside.
2. In the same pot, add minced garlic and ginger. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
3. Stir in honey, soy sauce, ketchup, and vinegar. Mix until well blended.
4. Return the chicken to the pot, coat with sauce, and season with salt and pepper. Secure the lid, set to “Sealing,” and cook on high pressure for 8 minutes (using “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” mode).
5. Quick release the pressure. Remove chicken and set aside. Set pot to “Sauté” again and stir in a cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce, about 1-2 minutes.
6. Slice or shred the chicken (a Chicken Shredder Tool Twist for Kitchen can make this step faster), then return to the sauce and toss to coat evenly.
7. Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds. Serve hot over rice, in lettuce wraps, or with your favorite vegetables.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 18 minutes

Total Time: 28 minutes

Enjoy a meal that’s as simple as it is delicious—with all the convenience of modern kitchen tools!