Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken

Tender chicken thighs simmered in a sweet-savory honey garlic sauce, made quickly in the Instant Pot.

Prep Time5

Cook Time15

Total Time20

Servings: 4 servings

1 1/2 lb chicken thighs about 4 thighs (750 g)
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste
1 1/2 tablespoons cooking oil divided (use 1 tbsp for searing, 1/2 tbsp for garlic)
4 cloves garlic minced
1 tablespoon parsley chopped
3 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon sugar or brown sugar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons water or chicken broth (preferred)
3 dashes cayenne pepper

Pat the chicken thighs dry and season both sides with salt and ground black pepper; set aside.
Combine honey, sugar, soy sauce, water (or chicken broth), and cayenne in a bowl; stir until the honey and sugar are dissolved and set the sauce aside.
Set the Instant Pot to Sauté and heat until hot. Add 1 tablespoon cooking oil, then sear the chicken thighs skin-side down first until browned on both sides; remove and leave in the pot if desired.
Add the remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil to the pot, stir in the minced garlic and sauté briefly until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Pour the prepared honey garlic sauce over the chicken in the Instant Pot, secure the lid, select Manual/High pressure, and cook for 10 minutes.
When the cook time ends, perform a quick release. When the valve drops, carefully remove the lid, stir in the chopped parsley, and serve immediately with the sauce.

Scrape browned bits from the bottom after searing to prevent a "Burn" warning.
The sauce equals about 8 tablespoons (1/2 cup), the minimum liquid recommended for a 6‑quart Instant Pot.
For a keto version, use a sugar-free sweetener and coconut aminos in place of honey and soy sauce.
If the sauce is too sweet, add a splash of rice vinegar or a squeeze of lemon juice to balance it.
This recipe can be adapted for oven, slow cooker, or stovetop cooking as noted.