I reach for this Instantpot Chicken Recipes sesame chicken when the day gets loud and I need dinner that feels calm and kind. Tender pieces sit in a glossy sauce that clings to the spoon and the rice. I keep the steps short so we can eat soon and smile sooner. The flavor leans warm and sweet with a gentle edge from ginger and garlic. We start with Boneless Skinless Chicken Thigh Recipes as the base. The meat stays juicy and takes on the sauce like it was made for it. If you love Baked Chicken you will like this pressure cooked path since it brings the same comfort with less waiting. The cooker hums and does the steady work while we set the table. I made this for a small weeknight crowd and the pot came back clean. I tag it under Asian Food Recipes and Instant Pot Recipes so it is easy to find later. Friends ask for this Sesame Chicken Recipe when they crave a takeout style plate at home. It nods to Cantonese Food with a sweet savory balance and a sprinkle of seeds. Steam lifts when you open the lid and the kitchen smells like supper is ready.
Table of Contents
- 1) Key Takeaways
- 2) Easy Instant Pot Sesame Chicken Recipe
- 3) Ingredients for Instant Pot Sesame Chicken
- 4) How to Make Instant Pot Sesame Chicken
- 5) Tips for Making Instant Pot Sesame Chicken
- 6) Making Instant Pot Sesame Chicken Ahead of Time
- 7) Storing Leftover Sesame Chicken
- 8) Try these pressure cooker recipes next
- 9) Instant Pot Sesame Chicken
- 10) Nutrition
1) Key Takeaways
- Fast weeknight plate with tender chicken in a sweet savory glaze
- Uses pantry sauces and boneless thighs for steady juicy results
- The Instant Pot does the heavy lift so cleanup stays light
- Pairs well with rice or steamed veg and scales for meal prep
2) Easy Instant Pot Sesame Chicken Recipe
I cook this for hectic evenings when the clock runs loud. Instantpot Chicken Recipes fits that mood since the pot warms fast and the food tastes like takeout at home. I grab my spoon and the sauce clings to the rice and it makes me grin. The kitchen smells like garlic and ginger and we all drift toward the table. Instantpot Chicken Recipes shows up as comfort and speed in one bowl.
My name is Lila and I share home style plates on Lila Cooks at https://www.lilacooks.com. I test this one often so I can promise steady texture and clean flavor. Two small bowls hold soy and honey. A third holds vinegar and a touch of ketchup. The mix turns glossy when heat meets starch and the chicken turns silky.
I use thighs since they stay tender. The pot hums and I set out small bowls for seeds and onion. We sit down soon after the beep. Instantpot Chicken Recipes appears in my notes four times since readers ask for it each season. For search help I place these phrases once each sesame chicken chicken thighs instant pot. For longer phrases I drop these once each easy instant pot sesame chicken pressure cooker chicken with rice weeknight instant pot chicken.
3) Ingredients for Instant Pot Sesame Chicken
Boneless skinless chicken thighs I cut the pieces small so they cook quick and soak up sauce. Thighs stay juicy and give a tender bite in every spoonful.
Neutral oil A small splash helps the sear start clean on saute. The edges turn pale and the pieces stop sticking.
Garlic Minced cloves hit the heat and soften. The scent lifts and wraps the pot and signals that supper moves along.
Fresh ginger A quick grate gives warm bite. It leans bright and keeps the sauce from tasting flat.
Low sodium soy sauce Salty body builds the base. It paints the chicken a deep color and seasons each grain of rice.
Honey A smooth sweet note that balances the soy. It helps the sauce shine on the spoon.
Ketchup A small squeeze gives gentle tang and round color. It keeps the glaze friendly for kids.
Rice vinegar A quick splash lifts the flavor so the plate feels bright not heavy.
Water Thins the mix for pressure cooking and makes room for the slurry to work later.
Cornstarch I stir it with cool water to make a smooth slurry. The sauce thickens fast once it bubbles.
Toasted sesame oil A drizzle at the end smells nutty and warm. A little goes a long way.
Sesame seeds They add crunch and a classic look. I save some for the top.
Green onions Thin slices bring fresh bite and a touch of color.
Cooked white rice The cozy partner for the glossy chicken. Brown rice works too if that is your plan.
4) How to Make Instant Pot Sesame Chicken
Step one set up Switch the cooker to saute and warm the oil. Add the chicken and stir until the edges change color. The goal is light browning and space between pieces.
Step two build aroma Add garlic and ginger and stir for one minute. Keep the bits moving so they soften without burning.
Step three mix sauce Whisk soy honey ketchup vinegar and water in a bowl and pour it into the pot. Cancel saute and lock the lid.
Step four pressure time Cook on high pressure for five minutes. Use quick release when the timer ends and lift the lid away from you.
Step five thicken Turn saute back on. Stir cornstarch with cool water and stream it in while you stir. The sauce turns glossy and starts to coat the spoon.
Step six finish Turn the cooker off. Stir in sesame oil and most of the seeds. Taste and add a pinch of salt if you like. Spoon over rice and top with green onion and the rest of the seeds.
5) Tips for Making Instant Pot Sesame Chicken
Cut even pieces so they cook at the same pace. Small cubes soak up more sauce and feel tender. I keep a bowl for scraps so the board stays clear and fast to wipe.
Use low sodium soy so the glaze stays balanced. If you only have regular soy you can swap in a splash of water at the end. Taste first then add more salt only if needed.
Toast the seeds in a dry pan for a minute for deeper flavor. Keep them near the end so they stay crisp. For a change add a tiny pinch of red pepper flakes. This works well for fans of quick instant pot chicken meals which is a friendly phrase for our topic.
6) Making Instant Pot Sesame Chicken Ahead of Time
I make a batch on Sunday and chill it flat so it cools fast. The sauce firms as it sits and coats the chicken even better the next day. This is one of my favorite Instant pot chicken dishes for prep days.
Store rice and chicken in separate containers. Reheat the chicken with a spoon of water so the sauce loosens and shines again. Warm the rice in short bursts and fluff with a fork.
For lunches pack the chicken with steamed broccoli in one box and rice in another. The meal tastes fresh after a quick heat. Readers who track ideas under Instant pot chicken dishes love this method since the texture stays right.
7) Storing Leftover Sesame Chicken
Cool the food to room temp then pack in shallow containers with tight lids. The chicken keeps in the fridge for three days. It freezes well for up to two months.
Reheat on the stove over low heat with a splash of water. Stir as the glaze warms so it turns smooth again. Add a drizzle of sesame oil at the end for aroma.
If you plan rice for later cook a new pot the day you serve. Fresh grains stay fluffy and hold the sauce better. For folks who search pressure cooker chicken ideas this storage plan helps the meal taste like day one.
8) Try these pressure cooker recipes next
9) Instant Pot Sesame Chicken
Instantpot Chicken Recipes Sesame Chicken For Busy Nights
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs cut in bite size pieces
- 2 tablespoons neutral oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger minced
- 0.5 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 0.5 cup honey
- 0.25 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 0.5 cup water
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water for slurry
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
- 2 green onions sliced
- Cooked white rice for serving
Instructions
- Set the cooker to saute and heat the oil. Add the chicken and stir until the edges turn pale and no longer look raw.
- Stir in garlic and ginger and cook one minute while you move the pieces so nothing sticks.
- Whisk soy sauce honey ketchup vinegar and water in a bowl then pour it over the chicken. Cancel saute and lock the lid.
- Cook on high pressure for five minutes. Use quick release once the timer ends and open the lid.
- Turn saute back on. Stir cornstarch with the two tablespoons water to make a smooth slurry then pour it in while stirring.
- Let the sauce bubble until it looks thick and shiny and coats the chicken. Turn the cooker off.
- Stir in sesame oil and most of the sesame seeds. Taste and add a pinch of salt if you like.
- Serve the chicken over hot rice. Top with green onions and the rest of the sesame seeds.
10) Nutrition
One cup serving gives about three hundred sixty calories with a mix of protein carbs and fat. Protein lands near twenty eight grams so the bowl feels filling without heaviness. Sodium depends on the soy you use and drops when you pick low sodium. For fiber add steamed broccoli or snap peas on the side.
I log macros for readers who track. This helps plan rice portions and seed amounts. If you want a lighter bowl use cauliflower rice and add more green onion for fresh lift. The glaze still shines and the plate stays bright.
We keep nutrition practical on Lila Cooks. I share straight info so you can cook with calm. Instantpot Chicken Recipes appears here as a steady weeknight choice with clear numbers you can trust.
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