Instant Pot Sesame Chicken Recipe

Introduction

Instant Pot sesame chicken is a quick and flavorful dish that’s perfect for busy weeknights. Tender chicken pieces simmer in a savory, slightly sweet sauce with a hint of spice, all cooked effortlessly in your Instant Pot.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds chicken breasts (boneless and skinless, cut into bite-size or 1-inch pieces)
• ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 inch ginger (peeled and grated)
• ¼ cup ketchup
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce or sriracha
• ¼ cup honey (or brown sugar)
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch (and 1 tablespoon water for slurry)
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (to garnish)
• Chopped green onion (to garnish)

Instructions

1. Step 1: Add the chicken to the Instant Pot, then pour in soy sauce, garlic, ginger, ketchup, and hot sauce or sriracha. Stir everything lightly to combine.
2. Step 2: Secure the lid and ensure the valve is set to sealing. Select MANUAL or PRESSURE COOK on high and set the timer for 3 minutes.
3. Step 3: Let the Instant Pot come to pressure and cook. When the timer beeps, carefully turn the vent to RELEASE to quickly release steam, keeping your face away from the steam.
4. Step 4: Remove the lid and press the SAUTE setting. Add honey (or brown sugar) and toasted sesame oil to the pot.
5. Step 5: Make the cornstarch slurry by mixing 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water. Stir this into the sauce, cooking until it thickens, then turn off the saute function.
6. Step 6: If the sauce needs to be thicker, prepare and add another tablespoon of cornstarch slurry and stir until desired consistency is reached.
7. Step 7: Serve the sesame chicken over rice and garnish with chopped green onions and toasted sesame seeds.

Tips & Variations

• For extra crunch, toss cooked chicken with lightly toasted cashews or chopped peanuts before serving.
• Substitute chicken thighs for a juicier, more flavorful result.
• Adjust the heat by adding more or less hot sauce based on your preference.

Storage

Store leftover sesame chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a skillet over medium heat or in the microwave until warmed through, adding a splash of water if the sauce thickens too much.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use frozen chicken for this recipe?

Yes, you can use frozen chicken breasts, but increase the pressure cooking time to 8 minutes to ensure they cook through.

Is there a substitute for cornstarch to thicken the sauce?

Yes, you can use arrowroot powder or tapioca starch in the same ratio as cornstarch to make the slurry.

Instant Pot Sesame Chicken Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 138 reviews

This Instant Pot Sesame Chicken recipe is a quick and flavorful dish featuring tender chicken breasts cooked under pressure and coated in a savory, slightly sweet sesame sauce. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner, it combines soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and honey with a hint of heat from sriracha, all thickened to perfection with cornstarch. Garnished with toasted sesame seeds and green onions, it pairs beautifully with steamed rice for a satisfying meal.

• Author: Marco
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Category: Main Course
• Method: Instant Pot
• Cuisine: Asian

Ingredients

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Chicken and Marinade

• 2 pounds chicken breasts (boneless and skinless, cut into bite-size or 1-inch pieces)
• ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 inch ginger (peeled and grated)
• ¼ cup ketchup
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce or sriracha

Sauce and Garnish

• ¼ cup honey (or brown sugar)
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch (plus 1 tablespoon water for slurry)
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (to garnish)
• Chopped green onion (to garnish)

Instructions

1. Combine Ingredients in Instant Pot: Add the chicken pieces to the Instant Pot followed by soy sauce, minced garlic, grated ginger, ketchup, and hot sauce or sriracha. Stir everything quickly to combine well.
2. Pressure Cook: Secure the Instant Pot lid and ensure the valve is set to the sealing position. Select the MANUAL or PRESSURE COOK setting based on your model, and cook on high pressure for 3 minutes.
3. Release Pressure: Once cooking is complete and the Instant Pot beeps, carefully switch the vent to the RELEASE position to quickly release steam. Keep your face away from the vent as the steam will be hot.
4. Saute and Add Honey: Open the lid carefully. Switch the Instant Pot to the SAUTE setting and add honey (or brown sugar) and toasted sesame oil.
5. Make Cornstarch Slurry and Thicken Sauce: In a small bowl, combine 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water to make a slurry. Add the slurry to the pot and stir continuously with a wooden spoon until the sauce thickens. Turn off the SAUTE function once thickened.
6. Adjust Thickness if Needed: If the sauce is not thick enough, prepare and add another tablespoon of cornstarch slurry and stir until desired consistency is reached.
7. Serve and Garnish: Serve the sesame chicken over cooked rice, then garnish with chopped green onions and toasted sesame seeds for added flavor and texture.

Notes

• Using low-sodium soy sauce helps control the salt content in this dish.
• Adjust the amount of hot sauce or sriracha according to your preferred spice level.
• Make sure to cut chicken into uniform pieces for even cooking under pressure.
• Honey can be substituted with brown sugar for a slightly different sweetness and flavor.
• To make it gluten-free, use gluten-free soy sauce.
• Be cautious when releasing steam from the Instant Pot to avoid burns.
• Serve with steamed rice or noodles for a complete meal.

Keywords: Instant Pot, sesame chicken, pressure cooker chicken, easy dinner, quick chicken recipe, honey chicken, Asian chicken recipe