These Instant Pot honey lemon chicken thighs are luscious and succulent, smothered with perfectly sweet and sour glaze. Serve with rice or a side of veggies for a perfect family dinner!
6-8chicken thighswith skin and some with bone, about 800 g / 1.8 lbs. meat
1teaspoonsea salt
½teaspoonpepper
1tablespoonbutter
1small lemonsliced into 5-6 thin slices
1garlic cloveroughly diced
1tablespoonlemon juice
1tablespoonhoney
½cupwater
1tablespooncoconut oilor olive oil for pan-frying later
For honey lemon glaze
¼cuplemon juice
2tablespoonshoney
1tablespoonsoy sauceor Tamari (wheat-free)
A pinch of pepper
1garlic cloveminced or finely grated
For garnish (optional but looks gorgeous)
4-5slicesof lemon
1teaspoonbutterto pan-fry the lemon
Chopped scallionsspring onions
Instructions
Turn the Instant Pot on and press the Sauté button. Add the butter and let it melt. Then, press Cancel to stop the Sauté function.
Add lemon slices on the bottom and sprinkle with garlic. Place the chicken over the top, skin side up. Drizzle with lemon juice and honey, and pour the water around the sides. Give the pot a little shake to spread the liquid under the chicken. Place and lock the lid, making sure the valve is set to Sealing. Set to Manual, HIGH, for 12 minutes. After 3 beeps, the Instant Pot will start to build the pressure.
Once the timer goes off, allow 3 minutes for natural pressure release and then use the quick release method to let out the rest of the steam and pressure. Remove the chicken pieces and reserve ⅓ cup of the cooking broth.
While the chicken is cooking, combine the honey lemon glaze ingredients in a bowl and whisk together. Set aside. Prepare any side dishes such as rice or vegetables.
Heat a large skillet with a tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat. Place the cooked chicken in the skillet, skin side down, and pan-fry for 4-5 minutes, until golden brown. Turn over and cook for 1-2 more minutes on the other side, then bring the heat up to high.
Pour in the reserved cooking broth and the honey lemon glaze mixture over the chicken. Swirl around allowing the liquids to combine. Cook over high heat for 2 minutes, stirring and turning the pieces around, basting them in the glaze. The liquid will reduce and when it thickens and starts to caramelise, remove the pan from the heat. Transfer the chicken pieces to a serving plate and pour over the glaze liquid.
For pan-fried lemon slices, place the pan back over high heat and melt in a teaspoon of butter or some oil. Pan-fry the lemon slices for a minute or so on each side, until golden brown.
Notes
You can use chicken thighs without skin if you're watching calories or fat intake.