5 from 72 votes
Instant Pot Three Cup Chicken (San Bei Ji) 三杯鷄
Instant Pot Three Cup Chicken brings together chicken drumsticks cooked with sesame oil, rice cooking wine, soy sauces, ginger, garlic, dried chili, rock sugar, and fresh Thai basil. This recipe produces tender, flavorful chicken infused with a balanced savory, sweet, and aromatic profile. The pressure cooking method speeds up the traditional one-pot dish while intensifying its signature three-cup sauce flavors.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
Total Time
55 mins
Servings:
2
- 4
Calories:
304 kcal
Course:
Main Course, Lunch, Dinner
Cuisine:
Asian, Taiwanese
Ingredients
- 8 (827g) chicken drumstick chopped (or whole
- ¼ cup (63ml) sesame oil
- ¼ cup (63ml) rice cooking wine or Shaoxing rice wine
- ¼ cup (63ml) soy sauce regular
- 15 grams (1 tbsp) rock sugar raw cane sugar; Chinese: 黃冰糖
- 32 grams ginger , peeled & thinly sliced
- 14 garlic peeled & crushed, cloves
- 3 dried red chili Chinese
- ½ tablespoon (7.5ml) dark soy sauce
- 10 - 16 Thai basil fresh leaves
Optional Thickener:
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water cold
Instructions
- Prepare Pressure Cooker: Heat up your pressure cooker over medium heat (Instant Pot: press Sauté button). Make sure your pot is as hot as it can be (Instant Pot: wait until indicator says HOT).
- Sauté Ginger and Garlic: Add ¼ cup (63ml) sesame oil, 32g sliced ginger, and 14 garlic cloves in the pressure cooker. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Sauté Chicken Drumsticks: Add in the chopped or whole chicken drumsticks. Then, sauté for 3 minutes. Pour in ¼ cup (63ml) rice cooking wine and let it boil for a minute to evaporate some of the alcohol content.
- Pressure Cook Chicken: Add ¼ cup (63ml) regular soy sauce, 3 dried Chinese red chili, and 15g (1 tbsp) rock sugar. Close the lid and pressure cook at For Chopped Chicken Drumsticks: High Pressure for 5 minutes + 10 minutes Natural Release or For Whole Chicken Drumsticks: High Pressure for 8 minutes + 10 minutes Natural Release. Open the lid carefully.
- Thicken Sauce: Place chicken pieces in a large serving bowl. Heat up your pressure cooker (Instant Pot: press Sauté button), and bring the sauce back to a boil. Add in roughly 1/2 tbsp (7.5ml) dark soy sauce to give it some color and sweeten it a little. Optional: Mix 2 tbsp of cornstarch with 2 tbsp of water and stir the mixture into the sauce one third at a time until desired thickness.
- Taste & Adjust Seasoning: Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning with more regular soy sauce if necessary. Stir in 10 – 16 fresh Thai basil leaves.
- Serve: Pour the sauce into the large serving bowl with chicken. Mix well. Serve immediately with your favorite side dish.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- After cooking, rate the recipe in the comments to share your experience and improvements.
Nutrition Information
Calories
304kcal
(15%)
Carbohydrates
7g
(2%)
Protein
25g
(50%)
Fat
18g
(28%)
Saturated Fat
4g
(20%)
Cholesterol
127mg
(42%)
Sodium
491mg
(20%)
Potassium
358mg
(8%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
4g
(8%)
Vitamin A
105IU
(2%)
Vitamin C
2mg
(2%)
Calcium
23mg
(2%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 2 - 4
Amount Per Serving
Calories 304
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 304kcal | 15% |
| Carbohydrates | 7g | 2% |
| Protein | 25g | 50% |
| Fat | 18g | 28% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Cholesterol | 127mg | 42% |
| Sodium | 491mg | 20% |
| Potassium | 358mg | 8% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 105IU | 2% |
| Vitamin C | 2mg | 2% |
| Calcium | 23mg | 2% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.