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Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken (20-Minute Dinner)

Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken (20-Minute Dinner)
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If you love Chinese takeout flavors but want something faster (and healthier) at home, this Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken is the perfect weeknight recipe. Tender boneless chicken thighs are lightly seared, then pressure-cooked in a sticky sweet-savory honey garlic sauce with a hint of heat. The result? Juicy chicken coated in glossy sauce—ready in about 20 minutes.

Ingredients

Chicken

  • 1½ lbs (750g) boneless chicken thighs (about 4 thighs)

  • Salt, to taste

  • Ground black pepper, to taste

  • 1½ tbsp cooking oil (vegetable/canola)

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 tbsp parsley, chopped (optional garnish)

Honey Garlic Sauce

  • 3 tbsp honey

  • 1 tsp sugar (or brown sugar)

  • 2 tbsp soy sauce

  • 3 tbsp water (or chicken broth — best flavor)

  • 3 dashes cayenne pepper (optional heat)

Instructions

1) Season

Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Set aside.

2) Make the Sauce

In a bowl, mix together:

  • honey

  • sugar

  • soy sauce

  • water (or broth)

  • cayenne pepper

Stir well until the honey and sugar dissolve completely.

3) Sear the Chicken (Sauté Mode)

Turn on Sauté on the Instant Pot.

Add 1 tbsp oil, then sear chicken thighs until both sides are nicely browned (about 2–3 minutes per side).
➡️ Browning adds huge flavor!

4) Add Garlic + Sauce

Keep chicken in the pot.

Add the remaining ½ tbsp oil, then sauté the garlic for 20–30 seconds (don’t burn it).

Pour in the honey garlic sauce.

5) Pressure Cook

Close the lid and set valve to Sealing.

Select Manual / Pressure Cook (High Pressure) for 10 minutes.

6) Quick Release + Finish

When it beeps, do Quick Release carefully.

Open the lid, sprinkle parsley, and serve immediately.

Notes

✅ Sear first: This makes it taste restaurant-quality.
✅ Use chicken broth instead of water for richer sauce.
✅ Want thicker sauce? After cooking, use Sauté for 2–3 minutes to reduce OR stir in a slurry:

  • 1 tsp cornstarch + 2 tsp water

✅ Prefer more heat? Add:

  • extra cayenne

  • chili flakes

  • a little sriracha

✅ Don’t overcook: Thighs stay juicy, but keep it at 10 minutes.

Find it online: https://biteseason.com/instant-pot-honey-garlic-chicken-20-minute-dinner/