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Easy 30-Minute Instant Pot Chicken Recipe for Quick Flavorful Meals

easy 30-minute instant pot chicken recipe - featured image

A quick and flavorful Instant Pot chicken recipe that delivers juicy, tender chicken in under 30 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights or last-minute meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 pounds (680 grams) boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 1 cup (240 ml) chicken broth, homemade or low-sodium store-bought
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt, or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
  • Juice from half a lemon (optional but highly recommended)
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken breasts or thighs dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and dried oregano. Let sit for about 5 minutes.
  2. Set the Instant Pot to the ‘Sauté’ function on medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Once hot, add minced garlic and chopped onion. Stir frequently for 2-3 minutes until soft and fragrant.
  3. Add the seasoned chicken pieces to the pot. Sear each side for about 2 minutes until lightly browned.
  4. Pour in 1 cup (240 ml) chicken broth and squeeze in juice from half a lemon. Scrape the bottom of the pot gently to loosen browned bits.
  5. Close the Instant Pot lid and set the valve to ‘Sealing.’ Select ‘Manual’ or ‘Pressure Cook’ on high pressure for 8 minutes. It takes about 10 minutes to come to pressure before the timer starts.
  6. When cooking time is up, let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes. Then switch the valve to ‘Venting’ to release remaining pressure. Open the lid once safe.
  7. Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning if needed. Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the chicken. Serve hot with your favorite sides.

Notes

If the sauce is too thin after cooking, use the ‘Sauté’ function to simmer and thicken while stirring frequently. Avoid quick pressure release to keep chicken tender. For frozen chicken, increase pressure cooking time by 5 minutes. Searing chicken before pressure cooking adds flavor and texture.

Nutrition

Keywords: Instant Pot chicken, quick chicken recipe, pressure cooker chicken, easy chicken dinner, 30-minute meals, healthy chicken recipe, gluten-free chicken