Easy Instant Pot Honey Sesame Chicken
A quick and easy honey sesame chicken recipe made in the Instant Pot, featuring a sweet and savory sauce with tender, juicy chicken and a glossy sesame coating.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1/4 cup (85 g) honey
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) soy sauce (low-sodium recommended)
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) rice vinegar
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) sesame oil
- 1 tbsp (6 g) freshly grated ginger
- 2 tbsp (16 g) cornstarch
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) water or chicken broth
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 2 stalks green onions, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Pat 1.5 lbs (680 g) of boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs dry with paper towels. Cut into bite-sized pieces, about 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 4 cm).
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup (85 g) honey, 1/3 cup (80 ml) soy sauce, 2 tbsp (30 ml) rice vinegar, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 tbsp (15 ml) sesame oil, and 1 tbsp (6 g) freshly grated ginger.
- Using the Instant Pot’s sauté function, add a small drizzle of oil and briefly cook the garlic and ginger for about 1 minute until fragrant, stirring constantly (optional).
- Add the chicken pieces to the pot and pour the sauce mixture over them. Pour in 1/2 cup (120 ml) water or chicken broth. Stir gently to combine, then close the lid and set to pressure cook on high for 7 minutes. Allow 10 minutes natural release.
- Once pressure releases naturally, open the lid carefully. In a small bowl, mix 2 tbsp (16 g) cornstarch with 2 tbsp (30 ml) cold water to form a slurry. Turn on sauté mode again, stir in the slurry, and cook for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy.
- Sprinkle with 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds and thinly sliced green onions. Serve immediately over steamed rice or your favorite noodles.
Notes
Do not skip the natural pressure release to keep chicken juicy. Use fresh garlic and ginger for best flavor. If sauce is too thin, add cornstarch slurry slowly to avoid lumps. For gluten-free, substitute tamari for soy sauce and arrowroot powder for cornstarch. Frozen chicken can be used by increasing pressure cooking time to 10 minutes with natural release.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 cup (200 gra
- Calories: 280
- Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Protein: 28
Keywords: Instant Pot, honey sesame chicken, easy dinner, quick recipe, pressure cooker, weeknight meal, sweet and savory chicken