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5.0 from 108 votes

Instant Pot Three Cup Chicken (San Bei Ji) 三杯鷄

Have a taste of Taiwan with this Classic Instant Pot Three Cup Chicken Recipe (San Bei Ji) 三杯鷄 in a fragrant, savory-spiced & slightly sweet secret sauce.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
55 mins
Servings: 2 - 4
Calories: 304 kcal
Course: Main Course , Lunch , Dinner
Cuisine: Asian , Taiwanese

Ingredients

  • 8 (827g) chicken drumsticks , chopped (or whole)
  • ¼ cup (63ml) sesame oil
  • ¼ cup (63ml) rice cooking wine or Shaoxing rice wine
  • ¼ cup (63ml) Regular soy sauce
  • 15 grams (1 tbsp) rock sugar (raw cane sugar; Chinese: 黃冰糖)
  • 32 grams ginger , peeled & thinly sliced
  • 14 garlic cloves , peeled & crushed
  • 3 dried Chinese red chili
  • ½ tablespoon (7.5ml) dark soy sauce
  • 10 - 16 fresh Thai basil leaves
Optional Thickener:
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons cold water

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. 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).
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. Taste & Adjust Seasoning: Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning with more regular soy sauce if necessary. Stir in 10 – 16 fresh Thai basil leaves.
  7. Serve: Pour the sauce into the large serving bowl with chicken. Mix well. Serve immediately with your favorite side dish.

Notes

  • Rate Amy + Jacky's Recipe: If you've tried our recipe, rate the recipe in the Comments section. Thank you!

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 (10%) 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.