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Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken
4.9 from 136 votes

Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken

Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken features bone-in chicken thighs marinated in a mix of Japanese soy sauce, mirin, sake, sesame oil, and sugar, pressure cooked to tender perfection with fragrant garlic and ginger. The recipe includes cooking calrose rice simultaneously, making a complete meal with flavorful poultry and fluffy rice.

Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
55 mins
Servings: 2 - 4
Calories: 469 kcal
Course: Main Course, Lunch, Dinner
Cuisine: Asian, Japanese

Ingredients

  • 6 chicken thighs (bone-in with skin)
  • 4 garlic crushed, cloves
  • 1 ginger very thin slice
Teriyaki Sauce:
  • 4 tablespoons (60ml) soy sauce Japanese
  • 4 tablespoons (60ml) mirin Japanese sweet cooking rice wine
  • 4 tablespoons (60ml) sake Japanese cooking
  • 1/4 teaspoon (1.25ml) sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoons (28g) white sugar
Rice:
  • 1 cup (250ml) water
  • 1 cup (230g) Calrose rice medium grain
Thickener:
  • 1 ½ tablespoon (12g) cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons (30ml) water

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Marinate Chicken with Teriyaki Sauce: Mix 4 tbsp (60ml) Japanese Soy Sauce, 4 tbsp (60ml) Mirin, 4 tbsp (60ml) Sake, ¼ tsp (1.25ml) Sesame Oil, and 2 tbsp (28g) Sugar together to create Teriyaki Sauce Mixture. Taste the mixture to make sure it is balanced. Marinate the chicken thighs with Teriyaki Sauce for 20 minutes.
  2. Vaporize Alcohol Content in Marinade: Pour the marinade (without chicken thighs) in Instant Pot Pressure Cooker (press Sauté button and click Adjust button to Sauté More function). Add 4 crushed garlic cloves + 1 very thin slice of ginger in pressure cooker. Let the teriyaki sauce mixture come to a boil, then let it boil for 30 seconds to allow the alcohol in sake to evaporate.
  3. Pressure Cook Teriyaki Chicken and Rice: Add the chicken thighs in Instant Pot with the skin side up. Then, place a steamer rack in Instant Pot and carefully place a bowl with 1 cup (230g) Calrose Rice on the rack. Pour 1 cup (250ml) cold water in the bowl of rice. Ensure all the rice are soaked with water. Immediately close the lid and pressure cook at High Pressure for 6 minutes. Turn off the heat and full Natural Release (roughly 10 minutes). Open the lid carefully.
  4. (Optional Flavor Enhancing Step) Preheat Oven: While the teriyaki chicken and rice are cooking in Instant Pot, preheat the oven to 450°F.
  5. Thicken Teriyaki Sauce: Fluff the rice and set aside. Set aside the chicken thighs. Remove the ginger slice and garlic cloves. Turn heat to medium (Instant Pot: Press Sauté button). Taste the seasoning one more time. Add more Japanese soy sauce or sugar if desired. Mix the cornstarch with water, then mix it into the teriyaki sauce one third at a time until desired thickness.
  6. (Optional Flavor Enhancing Step) Apply Teriyaki Sauce and Finish in Oven: Brush the teriyaki sauce all over the chicken on both sides. Place the chicken thighs on a rack with the baking tray in the oven for 5 – 8 minutes.
  7. Serve: Serve immediately with rice and other side dishes.

Notes

  • Do not include marinating time when timing total cooking.
  • Use medium grain calrose rice for this recipe rather than short grain sushi rice.
  • Rinse rice if preferred, but adjust rice-to-water ratio carefully to maintain cooking accuracy.
  • Always place chicken thighs skin side up in the Instant Pot for best texture.
  • Provide feedback by rating the recipe in the comments if tried.

Nutrition Information

Calories 469kcal (23%) Carbohydrates 19g (6%) Protein 29g (58%) Fat 28g (43%) Saturated Fat 7g (35%) Cholesterol 166mg (55%) Sodium 1270mg (53%) Potassium 397mg (8%) Sugar 10g (20%) Vitamin A 130IU (3%) Vitamin C 0.9mg (1%) Calcium 23mg (2%) Iron 1.6mg (9%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 2 - 4

Amount Per Serving

Calories 469

% Daily Value*

Calories 469kcal 23%
Carbohydrates 19g 6%
Protein 29g 58%
Fat 28g 43%
Saturated Fat 7g 35%
Cholesterol 166mg 55%
Sodium 1270mg 53%
Potassium 397mg 8%
Sugar 10g 20%
Vitamin A 130IU 3%
Vitamin C 0.9mg 1%
Calcium 23mg 2%
Iron 1.6mg 9%

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