Description
This Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken recipe is a quick and flavorful dish perfect for busy weeknights. Tender chicken breasts are sautéed, then pressure-cooked in a sweet and tangy honey garlic sauce that thickens beautifully with a cornstarch slurry. Served best over rice and garnished with fresh herbs, this meal brings comforting and vibrant flavors with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Sauce
- 3 chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Garnish (Optional)
- Fresh chives or scallions, chopped
- Fresh parsley, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the honey garlic sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, water, lemon juice, and minced garlic until well combined.
- Start rice if desired: If serving with rice, begin cooking about 2 cups of uncooked rice at this time to coordinate with the chicken’s preparation.
- Sauté the chicken: Press the “sauté” button on your Instant Pot. Add olive oil and the chicken pieces, cooking for 3 minutes while stirring frequently to brown the chicken slightly.
- Add the sauce and pressure cook: Pour the prepared honey garlic mixture into the Instant Pot with the chicken. Stir well, close the lid, set the valve to “sealing,” and cook on high pressure for 5 minutes. Allow the Instant Pot to come to pressure before timing begins.
- Release pressure: When the cooking time finishes, carefully perform a quick release of the pressure by switching the valve to “venting.” Open the lid once the pressure is fully released.
- Thicken the sauce: Turn the Instant Pot back to “sauté” mode. In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water to form a slurry, then stir it into the pot. Cook and stir for a few minutes until the sauce thickens. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve: Spoon the honey garlic chicken over cooked rice. Garnish with chopped fresh chives, scallions, or parsley if desired for added freshness and color.
Notes
- To prevent overcooking, cut chicken into uniform 1-inch pieces for even cooking.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, increase the cornstarch to 1.5 tablespoons.
- Using boneless, skinless chicken breasts ensures quick and tender results in the Instant Pot.
- This recipe pairs perfectly with steamed white or brown rice.
- You can substitute soy sauce with tamari for a gluten-free option.
- Adjust garlic amount according to your taste preference.
