Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken

The tantalizing aroma of sweet honey mingling with fragrant garlic fills your kitchen as this Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken cooks to tender perfection. This irresistible dish transforms ordinary chicken into a caramelized, sticky delight that’s ready in a fraction of the time traditional methods require. The magical combination of honey’s natural sweetness and garlic’s savory depth creates a sauce so good you’ll be tempted to lick your plate clean. You’ll learn how to create this restaurant-quality meal with minimal effort using your trusty Instant Pot, impressing family and friends with flavors that taste like they took hours to develop.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken recipe will quickly become a family favorite for multiple reasons. First, the convenience factor is unbeatable – your Instant Pot does all the heavy lifting, reducing cooking time by 75% compared to traditional methods while infusing deeper flavors. The contrast between the tender, juicy chicken thighs and the sticky, caramelized exterior creates a texture paradise that’s impossible to resist.

The sauce achieves that perfect balance between sweet and savory with a hint of umami depth, creating a flavor profile that appeals to both adults and picky eaters alike. Plus, the ingredients are pantry staples you likely already have on hand, making this an excellent last-minute dinner solution when time is tight.

Clean-up is also a breeze since everything cooks in one pot, eliminating the usual dinner preparation mess. The versatility of this honey garlic pressure cooker chicken means it pairs beautifully with rice, noodles, or vegetables for a complete meal that feels both comforting and sophisticated.

Ingredients

For this delicious Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken, you’ll need:

• 2 lbs (900g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 1/2 cup (170g) honey, preferably local for the best flavor
• 6 cloves garlic, minced (about 2 tablespoons)
• 1/3 cup (80ml) low-sodium soy sauce
• 1/4 cup (60ml) chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust according to heat preference)
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons cold water
• 2 green onions, sliced (for garnish)
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (for garnish)

The honey provides natural sweetness while the garlic delivers aromatic depth. Low-sodium soy sauce adds umami without making the dish too salty, and the tomato paste gives the sauce body and richness that coats the chicken perfectly.

Pro Tips

Marinate for Maximum Flavor: While the Instant Pot infuses flavor quickly, taking 15 minutes to marinate your chicken in a portion of the sauce mixture before cooking can elevate the taste profile substantially. Simply combine the garlic, soy sauce, and a touch of honey, coat the chicken, and let it rest while you prepare other ingredients.

Thicken with Precision: The perfect honey garlic sauce needs the right consistency – not too runny, not too thick. After pressure cooking, when thickening with cornstarch, add the slurry gradually while stirring constantly. This prevents lumps and allows you to control exactly how thick your sauce becomes. Remember that the sauce will continue to thicken slightly as it cools.

Brown for Depth: For an extra layer of flavor complexity in your Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken, use the sauté function before pressure cooking to brown the chicken pieces for 1-2 minutes per side. This creates caramelization that adds richness to the final dish and helps the sauce cling better to the meat. Don’t overcrowd the pot – work in batches if necessary for optimal browning.

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Honey Garlic Sauce

In a medium bowl, whisk together the honey, minced garlic, soy sauce, chicken broth, tomato paste, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes until well combined. The sauce should be smooth with the honey fully incorporated – no need to heat it as the Instant Pot will do the work for you.

Step 2: Prepare the Chicken

Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels to ensure proper browning. This removes excess moisture that would otherwise steam the meat rather than sear it. Season lightly with salt and pepper (go easy on the salt since the soy sauce adds saltiness).

Step 3: Brown the Chicken (Optional but Recommended)

Set your Instant Pot to ‘Sauté’ function and add 1 tablespoon of oil. When hot, add chicken thighs in a single layer (work in batches if necessary) and brown for 2 minutes per side until golden. This step creates a flavor foundation that makes your Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken extra delicious.

Step 4: Pressure Cook the Chicken

Cancel the ‘Sauté’ function. Return all chicken to the pot and pour the honey garlic sauce over it. Close the lid, set the valve to ‘Sealing’ position, and pressure cook on ‘High’ for 8 minutes (for thighs) or 6 minutes (for breasts). The pressure cooking environment forces the flavors deep into the meat while keeping it juicy.

Step 5: Create the Perfect Sauce

After cooking completes, perform a quick pressure release by carefully turning the valve to ‘Venting.’ Remove the chicken pieces to a plate. Switch to ‘Sauté’ function again. In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and cold water to create a slurry, then slowly pour into the simmering sauce while stirring constantly. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens to a glossy consistency that coats the back of a spoon.

Step 6: Finish and Serve

Return the chicken to the pot and toss gently to coat with the thickened sauce. Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds for presentation and added texture. Your Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken is ready to serve over rice, noodles, or alongside steamed vegetables for a complete meal that tastes like it took hours instead of minutes.

Variations

Spicy Honey Garlic Chicken: Transform this Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken into a fiery delight by doubling the red pepper flakes and adding 1-2 tablespoons of sriracha or gochujang paste to the sauce. The heat beautifully balances the sweetness of the honey for those who enjoy a spicy kick with their meal.

Pineapple Honey Garlic Chicken: Add a tropical twist by incorporating 1 cup of fresh pineapple chunks before pressure cooking and reducing the honey to 1/3 cup. The natural sweetness and acidity of the pineapple creates a delightful Hawaiian-inspired variation that’s perfect for summer dinners.

Vegetarian/Vegan Option: Replace the chicken with 2 blocks of extra-firm tofu (pressed and cubed) or 3 cups of cauliflower florets for a plant-based alternative. Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth and substitute maple syrup for honey if making it vegan. The pressure cooking time should be reduced to 3 minutes for tofu and 1 minute for cauliflower, with natural release.

Storage and Serving

This Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken keeps beautifully in the refrigerator for up to 4 days in an airtight container, making it perfect for meal prep. The flavors actually deepen overnight, creating an even more delicious next-day experience. For longer storage, freeze portions for up to 3 months – the sauce helps prevent the chicken from drying out during reheating.

For serving, this versatile dish pairs wonderfully with jasmine rice or brown rice to soak up the incredible sauce. For a lower-carb option, serve over cauliflower rice or alongside a fresh Asian-inspired slaw with sesame dressing. My favorite weeknight presentation is to create a bowl with steamed broccoli, quick-pickled cucumbers, and the honey garlic chicken served over rice, finished with extra sauce drizzled on top and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds for crunch.

For an impressive dinner party presentation, serve family-style on a large platter surrounded by steamed vegetables and garnished generously with sliced green onions, sesame seeds, and lime wedges.

FAQs

Can I use chicken breasts instead of thighs?
Yes, boneless skinless chicken breasts work well in this Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken recipe. Reduce the pressure cooking time to 6 minutes for whole breasts or 4 minutes if cut into chunks to prevent them from becoming dry.

Is this recipe gluten-free?
The recipe can easily be made gluten-free by substituting regular soy sauce with tamari or certified gluten-free soy sauce. All other ingredients are naturally gluten-free.

Can I double the recipe?
Yes, this recipe doubles well as long as you don’t exceed the maximum fill line of your Instant Pot. The cooking time remains the same, but your pot will take longer to come to pressure.

My sauce is too thin. How can I fix it?
If your sauce needs additional thickening, make another small batch of cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon cold water) and add it gradually while the sauce simmers on the Sauté function until you reach your desired consistency.

Can I make this without an Instant Pot?
Absolutely! You can adapt this recipe for a slow cooker (4 hours on low) or stovetop (simmer covered for about 25-30 minutes), though the Instant Pot version develops flavor most efficiently.

Conclusion

This Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken is comfort food at its finest — succulent, tender chicken enveloped in a sweet-savory sauce that strikes the perfect balance between sticky indulgence and wholesome satisfaction. It’s the kind of dish that transforms an ordinary weeknight into a special dinner experience without demanding hours in the kitchen. The combination of convenience and incredible flavor makes this recipe a true kitchen hero that you’ll find yourself returning to again and again. Whether you’re feeding a hungry family or impressing dinner guests, this honey garlic masterpiece delivers restaurant-quality results with minimal effort.

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