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Instant Pot Chicken Thighs are an easy way to get juicy and tender chicken! Thighs are browned in the Instant Pot and then pressure cooked until juicy and tender.
Once cooked, I put them under the broiler for a few minutes to crisp up the skin for a perfect meal.
This luscious chicken recipe goes great with roasted vegetables and potatoes or simply on its own paired with a light salad and a dinner roll.
This chicken is so tender that it makes a great base for a savory chicken salad filling too!
Frozen Chicken Thighs in the Instant Pot
This recipe can use fresh chicken thighs or you can cook frozen chicken thighs in the IP! The instant pot will quickly bring frozen foods up to a safe temperature, (unlike a slow cooker where frozen food may remain in the ‘danger zone’ too long).
If using frozen chicken, skip the browning of the skin and instead place them under the broiler once cooked.
How to Cook Chicken Thighs in Instant Pot
These instant pot chicken thighs are ready in just 3 simple steps!
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- Season chicken and brown skin on saute setting (per recipe below).
- Add broth and scrape any brown bits in the bottom (Important, this will help you avoid the burn notice.
- Place chicken on the trivet and cook according to the recipe below.
To get a nice crisp skin as you would on baked chicken thighs, place the chicken under the broiler for a few minutes once cooked. While broiling, I like to make the juices into a gravy.
To Make Gravy: This is similar to a regular gravy recipe. Remove onions from the broth and bring the broth to a boil using the saute function on the IP. Mix equal parts cornstarch and cold water (called a ‘slurry’) and whisk into the boiling broth until it reaches desired consistency.
What to Serve with Instant Pot Chicken Thighs
Anything that goes with chicken will go perfectly with this particular chicken recipe.
The combination of savory spices and instant pot pressure cooking magic results in juicy, flavorful pieces of chicken that are paired perfectly with so many sides.
- Rice: white, long-grain, brown, arborio, jasmine
- Pasta: egg noodles, capellini, rotini, penne
- Veggies: zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, brussels sprouts, potatoes, spinach, peas, asparagus
How to Store Instant Pot Chicken Thighs
Cool the chicken thighs overnight in the refrigerator and place it in a zippered bag or another airtight freezer container.
Easy Instant Pot Chicken Recipes
- Instant Pot Whole Chicken – simple and easy to prep
- Instant Pot Chicken and Rice – ultimate one-pot meal!
- Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup – easy comfort food
- Instant Pot Chicken Tacos – just 4 ingredients!
Instant Pot Chicken Thighs (Fresh or Frozen)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds bone-in skin-on chicken thighs about 6 thighs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 ¼ cup chicken broth
- ½ onion thickly sliced
Instructions
- Combine spices in a small bowl. Season chicken with spice mixture.
- Turn a 6QT Instant Pot onto saute. Add olive oil and heat 1 minute.
- Place ½ of the chicken skin side down in the instant pot and cook 3 to 4 minutes or until crisp and it releases easily from the pan. Repeat with remaining chicken, adding more oil if needed. Turn Instant Pot off. *see note for frozen thighs
- Add chicken broth to the bottom of the pot and scrape any brown bits. Add onion slices.
- Place the trivet in the Instant Pot and place thighs skin side up on the trivet.
- Select manual and cook on high pressure for 9 minutes. Allow to naturally release for 5 minutes. Release any remaining pressure.
- Optional: Place chicken on a foil-lined pan and place under the broiler for 3-4 minutes to crisp skin. Serve with juices from the Instant Pot.
Notes
- Place onion and broth in the bottom of the IP.
- Add the trivet and place the chicken on the trivet.
- Sprinkle with seasonings. Set the IP to high pressure for 15 minutes. Naturally release 5 minutes. Release remaining pressure. Broil as directed above.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Chicken, Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
i love this holly i love chiken sooo! much
I loved the easy recipe. I didn’t have lemon pepper so squeezed fresh lemon juice on the chicken thighs after the rub was put on. I had small pieces (11) so I only pressure cooked for 8 min. instead of 9 min. and followed the rest. I did try to crisp the skin in the broiler for 3 min. but maybe being on the middle rack wasn’t the right level. I added 2 cups of broth since I had 11 pieces, maybe I didn’t have to, but I didn’t want to burn the bottom and have it shut down on me. I have a 8 Qt. instant pot.
The chicken was tender and not over done, but not much flavor. Is there a reason why you don’t have any salt in the spice rub?
But I loved the easy recipe and for just having googled it right before I started prepping was so convenient.
So the reason I didn’t have 5 stars was for the taste and no crispy skin. But the pieces looked great.
The lemon pepper is quite salty and provides the salt for this rub, if you skipped the lemon pepper, the recipe would need extra salt. When using the broiler to crisp, I would recommend the top rack (or close to the top). I hope that helps.
Can you make this recipe in an 8 quart instant pot?
We have only tried this recipe in a 6QT Instant Pot. While it should work, it will take longer to pressurize. Let us know how it turns out Joanne!
Might want to review and correct the recipe. Read No. 4. I believe you left out the “broth”.
Thank you Lisa!
i would never make chicken as frozen because I always thaw and go over it for stubles and guck, (I call it cleaning the chicken to get all of the ugly stuff off before even eating it.
Can these be made in a crockpot,I don’t have an instant pot.
Hi Arlen, we have a crock pot chicken thighs recipe that you could follow for cook times and such!