Instant Pot Lemon Chicken
User Reviews
5
Instant Pot Lemon Chicken
Description
Instant Pot Lemon Chicken combines chicken thighs with garlic, lemon, Shaoxing wine, and honey to produce a moist, flavorful dish. Cooking the thighs under pressure ensures a tender texture while the lemon slices placed under the meat infuse a gentle citrus aroma. The sauce thickens after cooking using a mixture of cornstarch and cold water, creating a glossy finish that clings to the chicken.
The flavor profile balances the savory depth of soy sauce and chicken stock with the brightness of lemon juice and the subtle sweetness of honey. Rosemary adds a mild herbaceous note, enhancing the overall complexity.
This dish pairs well with plain or fried rice to soak up the sauce, and the lemon accent makes it refreshing for dinner or lunch meals. For best results, use bone-in skin-on thighs and adjust cooking times if substituting other chicken cuts.
To avoid bitterness, zest the lemon and juice it instead of using slices if the lemon pith is thick. Using unsalted chicken stock and carefully adjusting salt ensures balanced flavor. Rolling the lemon before slicing can increase juice release. Shaoxing wine can be substituted with unsalted chicken stock or dry sherry if unavailable.
Ingredients
- 4 - 8 (1⅓ - 2⅔ lbs, 600g - 1200g) chicken thighs bone-in or boneless, skin on
- 1 (120g) lemon , slice half & juice the other half (~1 tbsp or 15ml)
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) peanut oil (substitute: olive oil or vegetable oil)
- 3 (10g) garlic minced, cloves
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) Shaoxing wine (substitute: unsalted chicken stock)
- ¾ cup (188ml) chicken stock unsalted
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) soy sauce regular
- ¼ teaspoon (0.25g) rosemary dried
- 3 tablespoons (63g) honey
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Thickener
- 2½ tablespoons (22.5g) cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons (45ml) water cold
Optional Garnish
- rosemary fresh
- parsley
- cilantro
- green onion
- lemon sliced, zest
Instructions
- Saute Garlic in Instant Pot: Use "Sauté More" to heat up Instant Pot. Wait until it says "HOT" on the screen. Add 1 tbsp (15ml) peanut oil in Instant Pot. Make sure you cover the whole bottom with oil. Add minced garlic, then sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Deglaze Instant Pot: Add 2 tbsp (30ml) Shaoxing wine in Instant Pot, then deglaze by scrubbing the flavorful brown bits off the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon.
- Pressure Cook Lemon Chicken: Add ¾ cup (188ml) unsalted chicken stock, 1 tbsp (15ml) regular soy sauce, 1 tbsp (15ml) lemon juice, lemon slices, and ¼ tsp (0.25g) rosemary. Give it a quick stir, then place 4 to 8 chicken thighs on top of the lemon slices.With Venting Knob in Venting Position, close the lid, then turn Venting Knob to Sealing Position. Pressure Cook at High Pressure for 5 minutes, then Natural Release for 10 minutes. Remove the lid.
- Thicken Chicken Gravy: Set aside chicken in a large mixing bowl. Press "Cancel" button, then "Sauté" button to heat up the gravy in Instant Pot. Stir 3 tbsp (63g) honey into the gravy. In a small mixing bowl, mix 2½ tbsp (22.5g) cornstarch with 3 tbsp (45ml) cold water. Mix it into the gravy one third at a time until desired thickness. Taste the gravy, then season it with more honey, salt, and black pepper if necessary.
- Optional Flavor-Boosting Step: Broil ChickenIf you like, you can brush more lemon sauce on the chicken before you broil. And continue to brush some sauce on the chicken during the caramelizing process.Option 1 - Oven or Toaster Oven: Place lemon chicken on an oven tray under "Broil" function (or highest temperature setting) for a few minutes until the lemon sauce is caramelized.Option 2 - Air Fryer or Air Fryer Lid: Place air fryer basket with tray on the middle rack in Instant Pot. Layer chicken on air fryer tray in Instant Pot. Place Air Fryer Lid on Instant Pot. Press "Airfry" button, set Temperature to 400°F and Cooking Time to 15 minutes. Then, air fry the second batch of lemon chicken in Instant Pot.Amy + Jacky's Tip: It takes roughly 7 to 11 minutes + preheat time to caramelize with Air Fryer Lid. You can open the lid to check the progress.
- Garnish and Serve: Drizzle some more honey lemon garlic sauce on the chicken. Garnish the juicy tender chicken with lemon slices, fresh rosemary, lemon zest, or finely sliced green onions. Enjoy~
Notes
- Bone-in skin-on chicken thighs give better results, but breasts or other cuts can be used with adjusted cooking time.
- Use unsalted chicken stock to control salt; adjust if using salted stock.
- Peanut oil can be substituted with vegetable, olive, grapeseed, or avocado oil.
- Shaoxing wine should have little or no salt or can be replaced with unsalted stock or dry cooking sherry.
- Choose quality honey; adjust sweetness to taste. Maple syrup can be used instead.
- To avoid lemon bitterness, grate zest and juice thick-pith lemons rather than using slices.
- Rolling lemons before slicing releases more juice for better flavor.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4- 6
Amount Per Serving
Calories 358 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 358kcal | 18% |
| Carbohydrates | 9g | 3% |
| Protein | 24g | 48% |
| Fat | 25g | 38% |
| Saturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 5g | 29% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 10g | 50% |
| Trans Fat | 0.1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol | 142mg | 47% |
| Sodium | 211mg | 9% |
| Potassium | 359mg | 8% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 6g | 12% |
| Vitamin A | 119IU | 2% |
| Vitamin C | 11mg | 12% |
| Calcium | 22mg | 2% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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