If you’re in need of a quick, effortless dinner, try making instant pot chicken leg quarters! This recipe is super straightforward to prepare and guarantees tender, juicy chicken every single time.
These chicken leg quarters are so delicious, even picky eaters will eat them! Try serving them with crack potatoes, rice, roasted vegetables or more for a truly memorable dinner.
1. Instant Pot Chicken Drumsticks
When you need an easy meal or snack on the go, Instant Pot chicken drumsticks is the ideal solution. These tender and juicy drumsticks have crisp skin and can be used as the main dish or taken off the bone and added to many other dishes for extra protein!
For a kick of flavor, add some green jalapenos or paprika. Garnish them with fresh herbs for extra flair!
Serve these drumsticks with rice and vegetables or add them to a nutritious salad, soup, or sandwich. Or why not mix them up in with pasta for an effortless dinner that is packed with protein and veggies!
These drumsticks are so simple to make and guaranteed a hit with your family. You can even prepare them ahead of time and store them in the freezer until you need them for a last-minute meal.
Begin by roasting the drumsticks on saute mode before pressure cooking them in the Instant Pot. This step will help them brown evenly and add an incredible flavor to the finished dish.
Once the drumsticks have finished roasting in the Instant Pot, they can be taken out and placed on a serving dish. After the pressure has been released from the pot, pour any drippings into a saucepan on high saute mode to evaporate any extra water until you have achieved an even consistency.
Once your drumsticks are cooked, you can serve them in your favorite BBQ sauce. For even crispier bites, brush on more sauce and place under the broiler for several minutes.
For optimal results, opt for fresh or organic chicken drumsticks. These are more flavorful and tender than frozen drumsticks; if you are using frozen, please note that cooking time may take an additional few minutes.
2. Instant Pot Chicken Thighs
Cooking chicken thighs in an instant pot is an efficient and delicious way to have tender and flavorful meat on the table without much effort. It’s easy to shred and freezes well for future use. Not only does the meat taste delicious on its own, but you can also use any leftover liquid from cooking to create delicious sauces or soups.
When making this recipe, I like to season the chicken with various spices and flavors. Simple salt and pepper work well as well, as does garlic powder and Italian seasoning. If you want a stronger taste, add herbs such as paprika, cumin or thyme.
Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the instant pot and serve with sides such as steamed rice or sauteed vegetables. You may also reheat any leftover chicken in the instant pot over low heat to warm through.
This simple recipe for lemon-garlic chicken thighs uses a pressure cooker to produce tender, juicy chicken. It’s the ideal quick family-friendly meal that you can whip up in no time on busy weeknights!
These tender chicken thighs are then topped with a zesty cilantro-based sauce and served alongside steamed or roasted vegetables. If you’re trying to watch your carb intake, pair this dish with cauliflower mash or an easy salad for some variety.
You can freeze this dish to save yourself time and energy on busy work or school days! Shredded chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to three months.
If you want to use frozen chicken thighs in this recipe, the cook time needs to be increased. Bone-in skin-on thighs require two more minutes of pressure cooking than boneless thighs – 10-12 total minutes.
To cook frozen thighs, set your instant pot to high pressure for 14 minutes (vs 12 for fresh). Alternatively, you can also microwave on “defrost” setting; however, please note that cook time will be much shorter than if you thawed them in the fridge first.
Once the chicken thighs have cooled, you have two options: remove them from the Instant Pot and place on a baking sheet to broil for several minutes to crisp up their skin; or take them out of the Instant Pot, add them to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap.
3. Instant Pot Chicken Breasts
This delicious pressure cooker chicken breast recipe is perfectly seasoned, juicy and tender. Finished off with a delectable gravy sauce, it makes the ideal Instant Pot meal!
Making leftovers for quick meal prep is a breeze! Once cooled, you can shred or dice the meat to use in other recipes throughout the week.
Shredded meat can be used in salads, enchiladas, casseroles and sandwiches – it pairs especially well with pasta, rice and veggies.
You can make this recipe with fresh or frozen chicken breasts with ease. Just add an additional 5 minutes for frozen poultry, and be sure to separate the breasts before cooking.
First, pat dry the chicken breasts. Then, season them with salt and rub it into each one for a good coating. Feel free to add any other spices you wish to the seasoning mixture as well.
Next, sear the chicken breasts both sides in a bit of oil (or fat) until they are nicely browned and a crust forms. This helps to enhance the texture of the breasts as well as give them more flavor.
Place the seasoned chicken breasts on a trivet inside the Instant Pot. Cover and cook at high pressure for 10 minutes for 200-250 grams (8oz) of chicken breasts.
After that, allow the instant pot to naturally release pressure for 10 minutes or until your chicken reaches 165oF in its thickest part of the breasts. Carefully remove from the pot and allow to rest for five minutes before slicing.
When serving these Instant Pot chicken breasts to your family for dinner, consider serving them with rice or another starch and some vegetables. You could even use any leftover broth to create a rich, hearty gravy to accompany the chicken.
This pressure cooker chicken breasts recipe yields a generous amount of meat, making it ideal for meal prep. Simply make a large batch at the beginning of the week, divide into individual containers, and enjoy throughout the week!
4. Instant Pot Chicken Wings
Are you searching for a delicious, savory snack that’s ideal for game day or any party? These Instant Pot chicken wings are the ideal choice. Not only are they tender and juicy, but also incredibly easy to make with less fat than fried chicken wings!
This recipe is ideal for busy people since it takes only 30 minutes from start to finish – an enormous timesaver!
To get started, fill your Instant Pot with water and place a wire trivet (or steamer basket) at the bottom. Season chicken wings with salt and pepper before setting the timer for 8 minutes.
Once the timer goes off, allow the pressure to naturally release for at least 10 minutes. This step is essential in keeping the meat tender and juicy.
Once the timer has expired, take out the trivet and wings from your Instant Pot and transfer them to a baking pan lined with foil or parchment paper. Bake for 15 minutes at 450degF to create an irresistibly crisp exterior.
Once they’re cooked, top them off with your favorite wing sauce and serve immediately! You can either make your own buffalo sauce from scratch or purchase pre-made options in any grocery store.
I like to mix my wings with more than a tablespoon of my Homemade Buffalo Sauce, but you can adjust this amount according to taste. You could also experiment with adding lemon pepper seasoning or parmesan and garlic seasoning for an interesting flavor profile.
For even more flavor, add some hot sauce to your sauce mixture! The combination of sweet and fiery tastes is sure to please everyone’s palette!
For even crispier fries, simply place them under the broiler for a few minutes. They’ll be extra golden brown and packed with delicious BBQ or buffalo flavor! It’s so simple – and totally worth it!