4.7 from 63 votes
Instant Pot Orange Chicken Recipe
Instant Pot orange chicken is a delicious Asian-inspired meal you can make at home.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Reach/Release Pressure
20 mins
Total Time
40 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 243 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs cut into cubes
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger root minced or 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 4 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon vinegar rice vinegar, white vinegar, or apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar
- 3 tablespoon tomato ketchup optional
- 1 tablespoon grated orange zest optional
- 1 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Chop chicken into bite-size chunks. Juice the oranges if you are using fresh orange juice. Grate the orange zest.
- Set the instant pot on the SAUTE function let it heat up. Add 1 tablespoon of oil.
- Add the chicken pieces and cook until they brown.
- Turn the Instant Pot off and add a small amount of orange juice to deglaze. Stir and scrape the bottom of the Instant Pot to make sure no bits of browned meat are stuck. This will reduce the likelihood of getting a Burn error.
- Add orange juice, followed by minced ginger, chopped garlic, rice vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar, tomato ketchup, and orange zest. Do not add the water and cornstarch!
- Stir until all ingredients are combined, and chicken is well coated in the sauce.
- Close the lid and pressure valve. Select the PRESSURE COOK button on HIGH PRESSURE and cook for 7 minutes.
- Once the pressure-cooking cycle is over, do a 10-minute natural release. Chicken breast can get rubbery if you do a manual release, so wait the 10 minutes, before using a quick pressure release to remove any remaining pressure.
- Combine the cornstarch and water in a small bowl and stir to make a cornstarch slurry. Make sure there are no lumps.
- Turn the Instant Pot on SAUTE. Slowly pour in the cornstarch mixture while stirring. Continue to stir until the mixture starts to bubble and thicken. This should take 2-3 minutes.
- Turn the Instant pot off and garnish the dish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Serve in a bowl with steamed white or brown rice or noodles and green beans, broccoli, or asparagus.
- Stir in some cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, or hot sauce if you want your orange chicken to be sweet and spicy.
- Deglaze the Instant Pot to reduce the chances of getting a burn error.
- Use a natural pressure release, not a quick release, so the chicken doesn't get rubbery.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1g
Calories
243kcal
(12%)
Carbohydrates
19g
(6%)
Protein
26g
(52%)
Fat
7g
(11%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
3g
Trans Fat
0.03g
Cholesterol
73mg
(24%)
Sodium
740mg
(31%)
Potassium
625mg
(18%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
14g
(28%)
Vitamin A
222IU
(4%)
Vitamin C
36mg
(40%)
Calcium
30mg
(3%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 243
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1g | |
| Calories | 243kcal | 12% |
| Carbohydrates | 19g | 6% |
| Protein | 26g | 52% |
| Fat | 7g | 11% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Trans Fat | 0.03g | 2% |
| Cholesterol | 73mg | 24% |
| Sodium | 740mg | 31% |
| Potassium | 625mg | 13% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 14g | 28% |
| Vitamin A | 222IU | 4% |
| Vitamin C | 36mg | 40% |
| Calcium | 30mg | 3% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.