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4.9 from 108 votes

Instant Pot Lemongrass Chicken

Learn how to cook Instant Pot Lemongrass Chicken (Pressure Cooker Lemongrass Chicken)! Your family will enjoy these super flavorful Vietnamese lemongrass chicken thighs packed with complex sweet-savory-umami-lemony flavors & aroma. Tasty yet super easy chicken recipe!

Additional Time
1 hr
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 462 kcal
Course: Main Course , Lunch , Dinner
Cuisine: Asian , Vietnamese

Ingredients

  • 5 - 6 (1106g) bone-in chicken thighs
  • 3 talks (55g) lemongrass , white part thinly sliced
  • 6 (23g) garlic cloves , chopped
  • 1 (23g) shallot , thinly sliced
  • 3 pieces (6g) ginger , thinly sliced
  • 3 tablespoons (45ml) fish sauce
  • 3 tablespoons (45ml) Regular soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons (30ml) lime juice from 1 fresh lime
  • 3 tablespoons (45ml) cold water
  • 2.5 tablespoons (32g) brown sugar
Garnish:
  • green onions , thinly sliced
Thickener
  • 1.5 tablespoons (22.5g) cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons (30ml) cold water

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Marinate Chicken Thighs: Place 6 chopped garlic cloves, thinly sliced shallot, thinly sliced ginger, thinly sliced lemongrass, and 2.5 tbsp (32g) brown sugar in Instant Pot. Add in 2 tbsp (30ml) lime juice, 3 tbsp (45ml) fish sauce, 3 tbsp (45ml) regular soy sauce, and 3 tbsp (45ml) cold water, then mix well. Add in 5 - 6 bone-in chicken thighs (with skin side down). Place Instant Pot’s Inner Pot in the fridge, then let it marinate for at least 1 to 3 hours.
  2. Pressure Cook Lemongrass Chicken: After marinating the chicken in Instant Pot, flip the chicken so the skin side is facing up. Close the lid and turn Venting Knob to Sealing Position. Pressure Cook at High Pressure for 7 minutes + 10 minutes Natural Release. After 10 minutes of Natural Release, release remaining pressure, and open the lid.
  3. Thicken & Season: Set aside the chicken thighs. Then, bring the liquid mixture back to a boil using the "Saute" button. Taste and season the lemongrass mixture if necessary (it should be salty enough). *Pro Tip: If you want a sweeter lemongrass sauce, add in more brown sugar. Mix 1.5 tbsp (22.5g) cornstarch with 2 tbsp (30ml) cold water in a small mixing bowl. Add the cornstarch mixture one third at a time to thicken the lemongrass sauce until desired thickness. *Note: The Lemongrass Chicken is fully cooked at this point.
  4. Optional Flavor-Boosting Step - Broil Chicken in Oven: In an oven tray, generously coat the chicken with the tasty lemongrass sauce. Place oven tray under the broiler for 5 – 7 minutes until the chicken skin is browned.
  5. Serve Lemongrass Chicken: Garnish Instant Pot Lemongrass Chicken with thinly sliced green onions, then serve. Enjoy!~ :)

Notes

  • Fish Sauce: The quality of your Fish Sauce makes a huge difference to the final dish. High quality Fish Sauce doesn’t taste fishy at all, yet they're extremely umami-filled. From our blind taste-test, our personal favorite is Red Boat 40N Fish Sauce.
  • Rate Amy + Jacky's Recipe: If you've tried our recipe, rate the recipe in the Comments section. Thank you!

Nutrition Information

Calories 462kcal (23%) Carbohydrates 5g (2%) Protein 39g (78%) Fat 20g (31%) Saturated Fat 6g (30%) Cholesterol 230mg (77%) Sodium 385mg (16%) Potassium 500mg (14%) Sugar 3g (6%) Vitamin A 185IU (4%) Vitamin C 1.5mg (2%) Calcium 19mg (2%) Iron 1.8mg (10%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 462

% Daily Value*

Calories 462kcal 23%
Carbohydrates 5g 2%
Protein 39g 78%
Fat 20g 31%
Saturated Fat 6g 30%
Cholesterol 230mg 77%
Sodium 385mg 16%
Potassium 500mg 11%
Sugar 3g 6%
Vitamin A 185IU 4%
Vitamin C 1.5mg 2%
Calcium 19mg 2%
Iron 1.8mg 10%

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