Easy Instant Pot Chicken Thighs Recipe

This Easy Instant Pot Chicken Thighs Recipe is easy, delicious, juicy, tender, and flavorful and allows you to enjoy dinner fast! Learn how to customize the chicken seasoning and make a gravy to go with the chicken.

I love chicken thighs because they remain tender and juicy after cooking and don’t dry like like chicken breasts do sometimes. You  can tell I love them. Just check out a few of my other chicken thigh recipes, such as BBQ Chicken Thighs, Oven Baked Bacon Ranch Chicken Thighs, and Chicken Vesuvio. If you are looking for more dinner ideas, check out these chicken thigh recipes from FoodNetwork.com.

However, I love my Instant Pot Pressure Cooker as well, and have many Instant Pot Recipes. I have cooked chicken thighs in a skillet, in the oven, and on the grill, and knew it was time to cook them in the Instant Pot, and it was so easy!! The Instant Pot really makes the chicken thighs really moist and juicy, even more so than other cooking methods. And you can start with either fresh or frozen chicken thighs. For this recipe, my chicken thighs were thawed out, but if you find yourself short on time, or if you forgot to take the chicken thighs out of the freezer, it is good to know that you can cook them in the Instant Pot and they will still cook through and will be delicious.

How To Make Easy Instant Pot Chicken Thighs

1. Season the chicken with salt, pepper, and taco seasoning (or your favorite seasoning). See below for ideas of how to customize the seasoning.
2. Press the SAUTE function on the Instant Pot. Wait until it shows “Hot” and then add a tablespoon of olive oil or avocado oil and then add the chicken thighs. Cook about 3 minutes. Then turn the chicken and cook for about another 3 minutes on the other side.
3. Remove the chicken from the Instant Pot and pour in 1 cup water or chicken brother (either will work.)
4. Add the trivet into the Instant Pot and place the chicken thighs on the trivet.
5. Close the lid and move the seal into the sealing position. Press Pressure cook and change the time to 5 minutes. The Instant pot will take about 8 minutes to come up to pressure and then cook for 5 minutes.
6. Let the Instant Pot naturally release for 10 minutes, then do a quick release. After the pressure valve has dropped, open the lid, and carefully remove the chicken thighs.
7. Serve with your favorite side dish, such as fresh broccoli or rice.

How Long To Pressure Cook Chicken Thighs In An Instant Pot

1. Boneless chicken thighs cook up perfectly after being pressure cooked for 5 minutes in the Instant Pot.
2. If you use bone-in chicken thighs, then pressure cook for 10 minutes instead.

How To Pressure Cook Frozen Chicken Thighs In An Instant Pot

1. If cooking frozen chicken thighs, skip the step to sauté the chicken thighs. Instead just place the frozen thicken thighs on the trivet, with the 1 cup of water, and add 2 minutes to the times above.
2. Therefore, for frozen boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cook for 7 minutes and for the frozen bone-in chicken thighs, pressure cook for 12 minutes.

How To Customize The Seasoning For Instant Pot Chicken Thighs

You can make this recipe regularly and never get tired of it if you change up the seasoning every so often. Then it will seem like a new dinner each time. Be sure to keep them on hand to make it easy for you. Here are some of my favorite seasoning mixes to use on the chicken thighs.

1. Homemade Taco Seasoning – This seasoning is delicious, spicy, and healthier than store-bought taco seasoning. It uses ingredients you likely already have in the pantry. Keep it on hand all the time to use on your favorite dishes.
2. Rotisserie Chicken Seasoning – This makes absolutely the BEST, most flavorful roasted or rotisserie chicken! It is the most requested seasoning mix recipe I have.
3. Greek Seasoning Mix – A budget friendly option to add flavor to your food without having to buy expensive seasoning packages. This adds so much flavor that I use it all the time. Be sure to keep it on hand.
4. Cajun Blackening Seasoning Mix – This Cajun seasoning provides a zesty kick of Creole flavor for Mardi Gras without being overly salty.

How To Make Chicken Gravy In The Instant Pot

If you want to serve the chicken thighs with gravy, you can make the gravy in the Instant Pot from the chicken drippings.

1. Make the Easy Instant Pot Chicken Thighs recipe. 
2. After the chicken thighs are finished cooking in the Instant Pot, remove them and the trivet from the Instant Pot.
3. Press the SAUTE function on the Instant Pot.
4. Stir together 2 Tablespoons cold water with 2 Tablespoons cornstarch in a measuring cup.
5. Pour the cornstarch mixture into the Instant Pot.
6. Stir the liquid until it thickens into a gravy. Serve with the Easy Instant Pot Chicken Thighs.

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Recipe

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Easy Instant Pot Chicken Thighs

This Easy Instant Pot Chicken Thighs Recipe is easy, delicious, juicy, tender, and flavorful and fast! Includes chicken seasoning and gravy recipes too!

Course Main Dishes

Cuisine American, Mexican

Keyword Chicken, chicken thighs, Instant Pot Chicken Thighs

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Natural Release 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Calories 222kcal

Author Michele @ Flavor Mosaic

Equipment

• 6-Quart Instant Pot Duo60 from Amazon.com (affiliate link)

Ingredients

Instant Pot Chicken Thighs

• 4 each boneless, skinless chicken thighs (can use bone-in chicken thighs, just read notes below)
• 1 Tablespoon taco seasoning (Homemade or store bought)
• 1 cup chicken broth (Can use water instead)

Instant Pot Chicken Gravy

• Drippings from Instant Pot Chicken Thighs
• 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 Tablespoons cold water

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions 

Instant Pot Chicken Thighs

• Season the chicken with salt, pepper, and taco seasoning (or your favorite seasoning).
• Press the SAUTE function on the Instant Pot. Wait until it shows "Hot" and then add a tablespoon of olive oil or avocado oil.
• Add the chicken thighs. Cook about 3 minutes. Then turn the chicken and cook for about another 3 minutes on the other side.Remove the chicken from the Instant Pot.
• Pour in 1 cup water or chicken brother (either will work.) Add the trivet into the Instant Pot and place the chicken thighs on the trivet.
• Close the lid and move the seal into the sealing position. Press Pressure cook and change the time to 5 minutes. The Instant pot will take about 5 to 8 minutes to come up to pressure and then cook for 5 minutes.
• Let the Instant Pot naturally release for 10 minutes, then do a quick release. After the pressure valve has dropped, open the lid, and carefully remove the chicken thighs and trivet.Serve with your favorite side dish, such as fresh broccoli or rice.

Instant Pot Chicken Gravy

• Press cancel on the Instant Pot. Then press the SAUTE button and let the Instant Pot heat up.
• In a measuring cup, stir together 2 Tablespoons of cornstarch with 2 Tablespoons of COLD water. It is important that it is cold.
• Pour the cornstarch mixture into the Instant Pot with the chicken drippings.
• Stir the gravy occasionally for 2 or 3 minutes until thickened. Then press cancel on the Instant Pot and serve the chicken gravy with the Instant Pot Chicken Thighs.

Notes

For Bone-In Chicken Thighs:

1. Pressure Cook for 10 minutes.

To Cook Chicken from Frozen:

1. For Frozen boneless chicken thighs cook for 7 minutes.
2. For Frozen bone-in chicken thighs cook for 12 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 222kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 162mg | Sodium: 417mg | Potassium: 464mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 100IU | Vitamin C: 4.4mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1.5mg