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Instant Pot Chinese Sesame Chicken
5 from 15 votes

Instant Pot Chinese Sesame Chicken

This Instant Pot Chinese Sesame Chicken features bite-sized chicken pieces cooked in a sweet and tangy sauce made with tamari, honey, sesame oil, ketchup, hot sauce, garlic, and ginger. The sauce is thickened with cornstarch slurry and garnished with sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds. It delivers a balanced texture of tender chicken and glossy sauce.

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 6
Calories: 295 kcal
Course: Main Course, Dinner
Cuisine: Chinese

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs chicken thigh or breast, boneless skinless, cut into 1-2 inch pieces
  • 1/2 cup tamari soy sauce low sodium
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup water 60 ml
  • 1 Tbsp sesame oil
  • 1 Tbsp ketchup
  • 1 Tbsp hot sauce
  • 1 Tbsp rice vinegar
  • 2 tsp garlic minced
  • 2 tsp ginger minced
Cornstarch Slurry:
  • 2 Tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp water
Toppings:
  • 3 green onions sliced
  • 1 Tbsp sesame seeds toasted

Instructions

Instant Pot Instructions:
    Cup of Yum
  1. Add the chicken through to the minced ginger from the ingredients list into the Instant Pot insert.
  2. Mix everything, close lid, seal, pressure cook on high pressure/manual for 4 mins.
  3. When done perform a Quick Pressure Release and open lid.
  4. Remove the chicken and leave the sauce behind (or you can leave chicken in).
  5. Select the Sauté mode.
  6. Make the Cornstarch Slurry by combining the cornstarch and water in a mixing bowl until smooth.
  7. Add mixture to the Instant Pot and combine. Cook, making sure to mix regularly until the sauce thickens, anywhere from about 2-4 mins (or done to your preference).
  8. Switch Instant Pot off, add chicken back in, let stand for a few mins then serve over rice topped with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
Slow Cooker Instructions:
  1. Start by browning your chicken.
  2. Add low sodium Tamari soy sauce through to the minced garlic from the ingredients list into the slow cooker. Mix everything.
  3. Cover the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 4 hrs.
  4. Make cornstarch slurry, mix it in and cook for another 30 mins or until done.

Notes

  • Remove chicken from Instant Pot while thickening sauce to avoid overcooking; alternatively, keep chicken in but monitor carefully.
  • Use cornstarch, not flour, to thicken the sauce; add extra slurry if a thicker sauce is desired.
  • The recipe can be prepared as a dump-and-start method if sauce thickening is skipped, though thickening improves taste.
  • Cooking times do not include pressure build-up or release time.
  • Each serving contains 8 Blue Plan SmartPoints.

Nutrition Information

Calories 295kcal (15%) Carbohydrates 21g (7%) Protein 32g (64%) Fat 9g (14%) Saturated Fat 2g (10%) Cholesterol 144mg (48%) Sodium 1298mg (54%) Potassium 452mg (10%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 17g (34%) Vitamin A 109IU (2%) Vitamin C 3mg (3%) Calcium 36mg (4%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6 Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 295

% Daily Value*

Calories 295kcal 15%
Carbohydrates 21g 7%
Protein 32g 64%
Fat 9g 14%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 144mg 48%
Sodium 1298mg 54%
Potassium 452mg 10%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 17g 34%
Vitamin A 109IU 2%
Vitamin C 3mg 3%
Calcium 36mg 4%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.