How to Cook Chicken Thighs in the Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 6-8 chicken thighs
fresh thighs or individually frozen thighs, with or without bone, with or without skin
- Salt
- Pepper
- Water
- 1/2 small onion
optional
- 2 cloves peeled garlic
optional
Directions
- 1
Season thighs liberally with salt and pepper.
- 2
Measure 1-4 cups water into the bottom of your Instant Pot insert.*
- 3
Add onion and garlic to Instant Pot, if using.
- 4
Put the trivet or a steamer basket on top of the water/veggies. Put the thighs on top of the trivet in a single layer (it’s okay if they overlap a little bit but not much).
- 5
Seal the Instant Pot and set the valve to sealed. Set the Instant Pot to pressure cook on high for the times listed in notes.
- 6
Once the pressure cooker has counted down, let it do a natural release for 5 minutes before turning the valve to vent.
- 7
Once the pressure button moves down, remove lid. Remove chicken thighs. Strain liquid if desired for use as a stock.
How to Cook Chicken Thighs in the Instant Pot
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About this Recipe
Looking for the easiest way to cook perfectly tender chicken thighs every time? Your Instant Pot is the answer, delivering juicy, versatile chicken with minimal fuss and hands-on time.
Why This Instant Pot Method Works
Cooking chicken thighs in the Instant Pot is a game-changer for consistently moist results. The pressurized environment ensures even cooking and breaks down connective tissues, leading to incredibly fork-tender chicken without the risk of drying it out. It's a remarkably reliable method that takes the guesswork out of preparing this often-loved cut of poultry.
What to Expect
You'll achieve succulent chicken thighs that are flavorful and ready for countless culinary applications. The basic preparation, using just salt, pepper, and water, creates a foundational taste that can be easily adapted. Adding the optional half onion and two cloves of peeled garlic infuses a gentle aromatic depth, creating a savory base that is comforting and satisfying without being overpowering. This is a simple, straightforward way to get dinner on the table.
Customization & Variations
This recipe is incredibly flexible for whatever you have on hand or prefer. You can use fresh or individually frozen chicken thighs, whether they have the bone and skin or are boneless and skinless. The optional onion and garlic are easy ways to build foundational flavor, but you can certainly omit them for an even simpler chicken base. Feel free to adjust the amount of salt and pepper to your personal taste.
Serving & Context
These tender Instant Pot chicken thighs are incredibly versatile, perfect for shredding into tacos, slicing over salads, adding to casseroles, or serving simply alongside your favorite side dishes for a hearty family meal.