Description
A forgiving, one-pot Instant Pot recipe for tender chicken thighs that can be cooked straight from frozen. This low-effort meal delivers restaurant-quality results with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 to 3 pounds chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on or boneless, skinless)
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- Splash of fresh lemon juice
- Coarse salt and freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
- If using thawed chicken, pat dry with paper towels. Season all sides generously with salt and pepper.
- Pour chicken broth into the Instant Pot inner liner. Add minced garlic, dried thyme, dried rosemary, and soy sauce. Stir gently.
- Nestle chicken thighs into the liquid, ensuring they are partially submerged.
- Secure the lid and set the valve to ‘Sealing’. Select ‘Manual’ or ‘Pressure Cook’ on High pressure.
- Set timer for 10 minutes for boneless thighs or 12 minutes for bone-in thighs.
- Allow the pot to come to pressure (approx. 10-15 minutes), then cook for the set time.
- Perform a 10-minute natural release, then carefully turn the valve to ‘Venting’ to release remaining steam.
- Remove chicken and set aside. Skim excess fat from the sauce if desired.
- Stir in butter and lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Serve chicken with sauce over rice, mashed potatoes, or vegetables.
Notes
Do not skip the natural release to ensure tender meat. If the sauce is too thin, mix 1 tsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp cold water and simmer on Sauté mode to thicken. Ensure there is enough liquid to prevent the ‘Burn’ error. Chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F to 175°F.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh with
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 2
- Protein: 35
Keywords: Instant Pot, chicken thighs, one pot meal, frozen chicken, easy dinner, pressure cooker, weeknight dinner, comfort food