Why does my Instant Pot chicken come out rubbery?

Oddly enough, it can be really challenging to get the right texture when cooking boneless chicken breasts. They cook quickly in the Instant Pot, but if you don't cook them long enough they get a weird, rubber-like texture that's nearly impossible to chew , and if you cook them too long, their texture gets dry.

Does chicken get more tender the longer you cook it in an Instant Pot?

Instant Pot Chicken Wings The 5 minutes did get them to the safe 165F after the resting period BUT they were far from fall-off the bone. Just like for the whole legs or just thighs and drumsticks longer cooking equals more tender and fall-off the bone meat.

Do chicken thighs get more tender the longer you cook them?

Unlike chicken breasts, chicken thighs and drumsticks actually become more tender the longer they cook . That's because of their makeup. Dark meat has an abundant amount of connective tissue, which dissolves into gelatin as the meat cooks, rendering it juicy and tender.

How to make chicken thighs taste better?

12 Ways To Add More Flavor To Chicken Thighs Buy thighs with the skin on. ... Salt or brine thighs before cooking. ... Use a splash of spirits in your marinade. ... Use leftover pickle juice for an easy marinade. ... Give the thighs a poke before marinating. ... Cook them low and slow. ... Use dairy as a marinade. ... Don't shy away from sweetness. More items... Jan 29, 2023

Is woody chicken safe to eat?

While there isn't a known risk to human health from eating chicken meat with woody breast or while striping, these muscle diseases do lower the quality of the meat . Affected meat has been described in online discussions as tough, rubbery, dense, and stringy.

Can you overcook chicken in a Instapot?

Chicken can get a rubbery texture in the instant pot when over cooked. To avoid this, try not to over cook your chicken.

Why is my chicken tough after pressure cooking?

Overcooking or cooking at too high a temperature can result in tough, dry chicken. Undercooking can leave chicken undercooked and chewy.

Do you cover meat with liquid in pressure cooker?

While you may cover meat almost completely for a conventional braise, use just enough liquid for the cooker to reach pressure – during pressure cooking the meat will release it's own juice and braise in that flavorful liquid, instead.

How to cook chicken thighs Jamie Oliver?

Spread out in a single layer in the roasting tray, and bake for 40 minutes in the preheated oven until golden . Lovely served with a rocket salad dressed with some lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil, and a nice glass of white wine.

Why do chefs prefer chicken thighs?

While the breast is very low in fat, chicken thighs are higher in fat, and in cooking, fat equals flavor. It also means the thighs are more tender and less likely to dry out than chicken breasts —in other words, they are very easy to cook and very difficult to ruin.

Should you sear chicken thighs before baking?

Tips and Tricks for Oven Baked Chicken Thigh Success We love searing the thighs before pouring the sauce over them and baking . This will render some of the fat as well as help the skin get nice and crispy.

Delicious Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs Recipe! (2024)

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By: KaterinaPosted: Jan 15, 2018Updated: May 2, 2021

4.77 from 226 votes

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Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs – Sweet, savory, tender and juicy chicken thighs prepared with the most amazing honey garlic sauce and cooked in an Instant Pot. Dinner, from start to finish, will be ready in 30 minutes!

My #1 recipe for Honey Garlic Chicken revisited AND updated with a new twist because, an Instant Pot is all the rage these days.

I know, it’s so hard to choose; crock pot honey garlic chicken or instant pot honey garlic chicken. I mean, one takes hours of cooking, and the other makes it all in minutes. But the instant pot is possibly my new favorite way to cook. I do really love my crock pot, but this pressure cooker/instant pot thingamajig is a game-changer.

INSTANT POT HONEY GARLIC CHICKEN

This easy recipe for Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken is packed with so much flavor and requires very little effort. With just a handful of ingredients, this dish continues to be one of my go-to’s because it’s low maintenance and it’s fall-off-the-bone amazing.

Clearly, I’m not talking about just any old chicken here. I’m referring to that special kind of garlic chicken that finds the perfect balance between sweet and savory, tender and juicy, similar to how the best bourbon chicken recipe masters that blend. Also, it can be made in about 20 minutes and that just makes my heart sing for joy! What’s more is that I always make extra so that I have at least some leftovers for tomorrow’s lunch.

HOW TO MAKE HONEY GARLIC CHICKEN IN THE INSTANT POT

Prepare the sauce – it will have you licking your fingers clean.

Honey Garlic Sauce

honey
garlic
ketchup
soy sauce
oregano
and parsley

No big deal – just a few ingredients you probably have sitting around. But once you put them all together? GIRRRL!! You’ll see. There’s nah.thing better.

Once you’ve prepared the sauce, you can move onto browning the chicken thighs right inside your instant pot. One pot = one meal, and less dishes to wash.

I chose to use bone-in chicken thighs thus could only fit 4 at a time inside my instant pot, but if you go with boneless thighs, you can definitely get 6 to 8 thighs in there at once.
And once them thighs are done browning-up, an introduction to their cooking liquid will follow:

If chicken breasts are all you’ve got, not to worry! Just use the same method, but cook on poultry setting for 10 minutes.

Whether you want to make this in the crock pot, as we have done up until now, or in the Instant Pot, trust me when I say that no matter what route you take, in the end you’ll just be super glad that you prepared it.

I also have a seafood option with the same wonderful flavors – Honey Garlic Sauce Salmon.

The flavors in this dish are so simple, yet when combined, they are SO GOOD and out-of-this-world fantastic. It’s one of those recipes that you make once, and then you make twice, and then suddenly you can’t wait to make it again.

WANT MORE DELICIOUS CHICKEN RECIPES?

Spicy, Sweet and Sticky Chicken Thighs
Crock Pot Citrus Soy Chicken Drumsticks
Crock Pot Honey Lemon Chicken

ENJOY!

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WATCH HOW TO MAKE INSTANT POT HONEY GARLIC CHICKEN

Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken

Katerina | Diethood

Sweet, savory, tender and OH SO juicy chicken thighs prepared with the most amazing honey garlic sauce and cooked in an Instant Pot.

4.77 from 226 votes

Rate this Recipe!

Servings : 6 servings

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Ingredients

▢ 1/3 cup honey
▢ 4 cloves garlic, minced
▢ 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce (see notes for alternatives)
▢ 1/2 cup no salt ketchup
▢ 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
▢ 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
▢ 1 tablespoon sesame seed oil
▢ 4 to 6 bone-in, skinless chicken thighs
▢ salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
▢ 1/2 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds, for garnish
▢ sliced green onions, for garnish

Instructions

In a small mixing bowl combine honey, minced garlic, soy sauce, ketchup, oregano and parsley; mix until well combined and set aside.
Heat the Instant Pot in sauté mode. Add sesame oil to the pot.
Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper; arrange in the instant pot and cook for about 2 to 3 minutes per side.
Add the prepared honey garlic sauce to the pot; cover and lock the lid.
Cook in poultry mode for 20 minutes.
Turn off the pot and allow it to release the pressure, about 5 minutes.
Transfer chicken to a serving plate and spoon the sauce over the chicken. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and green onions. Serve.

Video

Notes

*IF you are allergic to soy sauce or can't have soy for other reasons, feel free to use coconut aminos which issoy-free, gluten-free, and vegan.

Nutrition

Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Asian

Keyword: how to cook chicken thighs, instant pot chicken recipes, instant pot chicken thighs recipe

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