Description
This Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken recipe delivers tender, flavorful chicken thighs simmered in a sweet and savory bourbon sauce. Ready in just 35 minutes, this easy one-pot dish features a balance of brown sugar sweetness, tangy ketchup, and a hint of heat from crushed red pepper flakes, all perfectly melded with bourbon and soy sauce. Garnished with green onions, it’s a comforting meal served best over steamed rice for a satisfying dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Cooking Base
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Sauce
- 1/3 cup bourbon
- 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Thickener
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water
Garnish
- 2 green onions, sliced
Instructions
- Sauté chicken: Set the Instant Pot to sauté mode. Add the olive oil and chicken pieces. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 3-4 minutes until the chicken is lightly browned on all sides.
- Add aromatics: Add the minced garlic and grated fresh ginger to the pot. Continue sautéing for about 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Add sauce ingredients: Pour in the bourbon, low-sodium soy sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir well to combine and use a wooden spoon to scrape and deglaze the bottom of the pot to avoid burning.
- Pressure cook: Secure the Instant Pot lid and set it to high pressure for 8 minutes. Once the cooking cycle completes, allow a natural pressure release for 5 minutes, then perform a quick release to release any remaining pressure safely.
- Thicken sauce: Set the Instant Pot back to sauté mode. Stir in the cornstarch slurry and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken beautifully.
- Serve and garnish: Serve the bourbon chicken hot over steamed rice. Garnish with sliced green onions for a fresh contrast and added flavor.
Notes
- For best results, use boneless, skinless chicken thighs as they stay tender and juicy during pressure cooking.
- If you prefer a milder dish, reduce or omit the crushed red pepper flakes.
- Make sure to properly deglaze the pot before pressure cooking to prevent the burn notice on the Instant Pot.
- The bourbon helps add depth and aroma but will cook off during pressure cooking, leaving just the flavor.
- This dish pairs wonderfully with steamed white or brown rice and steamed vegetables.
