How to cook perfect, juicy Instant Pot Chicken Thighs from fresh or frozen, bone-in or boneless. Serve as a main dish with simple homemade gravy using the extra liquid in the pot! Show
I’m convinced the Instant Pot is the easiest way to cook chicken breasts and thighs, especially when you can add them from frozen, and with the touch of a button they will cook perfectly! You can add basic seasonings to the chicken and use it in meal prep or recipes that call for cooked chicken, or serve as a main dish with gravy made from the sauce leftover in the pot. How to cook Chicken Thighs in the Instant Pot (Fresh or Frozen):Set instant pot to saute setting. (Skip this step if using frozen thighs.) Add oil. Season chicken with desired seasonings. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken, and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side, until skin is crispy brown. Remove the chicken from the pot and set aside. Add 1 cup of liquid (water, chicken broth, pineapple or apple juice) to the bottom of the instant pot, scraping up any browned bites that have stuck from searing the skin. Place trivet inside and add chicken thighs on top. Place lid on the instant pot and make sure the vent is set to “sealed”. Pressure cooking times for fresh and frozen thighs:
Allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes, then turn the valve to “venting” to release any remaining steam. If desired, test chicken with a thermometer; it should reach 165 degrees. (If it’s just shy, place the lid back no and allow it to rest for 5 minutes. If the chicken is not cooked to at least 160 degrees, secure the instant pot lid and cook for 1-3 minutes longer, on high pressure.) Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before serving. Store leftover cooked chicken in the fridge for 3-4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months. Tips and Tricks:
Do I need to sauté chicken thighs before cooking them?It’s not required, but definitely recommended for best flavor, especially if serving them as a main dish. If using frozen thighs with the skin on, the skin will be limp after cooking so you can remove it, or broil the chicken for a few minutes to make the skin crispy before serving. Should I use the poultry setting on the Instant Pot?Be wary of the poultry setting on the instant pot. This setting is based on an average chicken thigh, and doesn’t take into account whether the thighs are boneless or bone-in. It is best to set the manual pressure on the instant pot yourself. Do I need to use a trivet?If you have the trivet that the instant pot comes with it is best to cook the thighs in a layer on top of it. This will ensure the chicken is steamed and kept juicy instead of boiling in the liquid. If you are without a trivet, putting the chicken breasts directly into the liquid will work fine. You could also roll up a piece of aluminum foil and snake it around the bottom of the pot to create your own “rack” for the chicken to rest on. How to season chicken thighs:Chicken thighs are very flavorful and can benefit from a variety of different seasonings. Basic salt and pepper work great if you are doing meal prep to add chicken to salads or other meals. Add a sprinkle of paprika, garlic, and thyme if you are planning to serve your chicken thighs as a main dish. What size of instant pot should I use?You can cook chicken breasts in whatever size instant pot you have. Just make sure you add at least 1 cup of liquid, and ideally try to cook the chicken in a single layer, for even cooking. If you have a smaller instant pot you may want to cook the chicken in batches. Serve chicken thighs with:
Use leftover cooked chicken thighs to make:
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Frozen skin-on thighs: You wont be able to sear the chicken skin when frozen, so just remove and discard it after the chicken has
cooked. Calories: 266kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 35gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 172mgSodium: 629mgPotassium: 445mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 44IUCalcium: 16mgIron: 1mg Did You Make This Recipe? Tag @TastesBetterFromScratch on Instagram with #TastesBetterFromScratch! HAVE YOU TRIED THIS RECIPE?!RATE and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience. Photography by Nikole from The Travel Palate.
Original Post June 10, 2020 Updated August 11, 2022 Lauren Allen Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos. How long does it take to cook chicken thighs in Ninja Foodi?Set air fryer to 390 degrees and place chicken thighs into the Ninja Foodi air fryer basket spacing them out as much as space will allow. Set to 18 minutes cook time. After 9 minutes, open lid and use tongs to flip the chicken thighs over. Close lid and continue cooking for remaining 9 minutes.
Can you roast chicken thighs in Ninja Foodi?Yes you can use your Ninja Foodi pot as well to make these. It doesn't matter what brand you have, they all basically work the same. Chicken thigh recipes are cheap and so flavorful.
How long does it take to pressure cook chicken legs in the Ninja Foodi?Place the chicken into the pressure cooker then add in the chopped garlic, peppercorns, and bay leaves. Next pour in the vinegar-sugar mix in, then water, then the soy sauce. Put the lid on the pressure cooker, seal pressure release valve, and select high pressure for 15 minutes.
Can you overcook chicken in a pressure cooker?It is very easy to overcook chicken breast in pressure cooker, as we cannot check the temperature and level of doneness during the cooking process. Once upon a time, I overcooked a chicken breast in pressure cooker so badly that it registered at over 200°F on my food thermometer.
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