Easy Instant Pot Chicken Thighs Recipes

Chicken is an easy meat to cook, though chicken thighs are the better option. People usually reach for chicken breasts instead, missing flavor and nutrients. Instant Pot chicken thighs recipes can make it easier to use thighs more often.

Easy Instant Pot chicken thighs recipes are packed with flavor and simple to make even on a busy weeknight. Chicken breast is one of the most common cuts of chicken we eat. The only other cut we eat more is chicken wings.

However, chicken thighs are the better option. Boneless chicken thighs can be used in the same recipes as chicken breasts. Bone-in chicken thighs can as well, though the cooking time may differ.

There are reasons chicken thighs are the superior choice, but the cooking method makes a difference as well. Instant Pots use high pressure, heat, and steam to cook food. Combining cooking methods means you will get juicy chicken thighs every single time.

The most significant benefit of using an Instant Pot is the time it saves. An Instant Pot chicken thighs recipe can usually cook in under half an hour. The flavor will be fantastic; the family may be scraping the bottom of the pot.

You can even use these recipes for meal prep. Pressure cooking means shorter cooking times so that you can cook more quickly. Meal prepping means cooking more than you need and enjoying leftovers throughout the week.

Chicken thighs pack so much flavor that the leftovers will taste as good as they did when fresh. Reach for chicken thighs and some easy Instant Pot chicken thighs recipes the next time you want chicken for dinner.

Easy Instant Pot Chicken Thighs Recipes

Did you know that chicken thighs may be healthier than chicken breasts? Not every cut of meat from chicken contains the same nutrients. Chicken breasts contain more protein and less fat. People often turn to chicken breasts when trying to lose weight.

Of course, any cut of chicken fits perfectly well into a low-carb diet plan. Chicken thighs are different. You can make any type of chicken thigh recipe, like Instant Pot honey garlic chicken thighs, and get more nutrients than you would from chicken breasts.

Boneless skinless chicken thighs and all chicken thighs consist of dark meat. Dark meat has more vitamins and minerals than chicken breasts, which leads to more flavor. Instant Pot chicken and rice is an easy weeknight dinner; make it with chicken thighs, and it will be a healthier, more leisurely weeknight dinner.

What Cooking Method is Best for Chicken Thighs?

Chicken is a versatile meat. You can cook chicken on a grill, in a pan, in the oven, in a crockpot, or in an Instant Pot. All methods work well and produce delicious, golden brown chicken. One method has to be better than the other, right?

The answer depends on what your goal is. For example, chicken thighs do very well in high-heat scenarios, so the grill gives you the kind of chicken thighs with crispy skin and juicy meat.

Making saucy chicken thighs might be best in a crockpot or in a pan, as it will cook the meat and the sauce at the right pace. Easy Instant Pot chicken thighs recipes are best when we are short on time.

This is not to say you can’t get delicious Instant Pot teriyaki chicken; it’s just that every cooking method has its use. Tender Instant Pot chicken thighs make garlic parmesan chicken thighs even better.

Instant Pot cooked chicken thighs come out just as well as any other cooking method. You may even have a poultry setting on your electric pressure cooker that can help get the job done in a pinch.

Why Chefs Prefer Chicken Thighs Over Breasts

We already know that easy Instant Pot chicken thighs recipes are better than chicken breasts thanks to flavor and nutrients. However, chefs agree that thighs are the better choice; why? The flavor is enough for chefs to make a decision.

A chicken fricassee recipe is ten times better with thighs instead of breasts.  The cook time is quicker in an Instant Pot, but chefs probably aren’t using those. Instead, they pick chicken thighs first because of the fat content.

The fat renders down as it cooks, dripping flavor from the inside and keeping things juicy and tender. Some chefs even believe overcooking chicken thighs is too difficult, even in an Instant Pot Tuscan chicken recipe.

And don’t let the name fool you; that one is truly an easy recipe for anyone to make. Just be sure to get familiar with the saute function. Chicken thighs are good for us all if they are the favorite way to make a chicken main dish.

How do You Tenderize Chicken Thighs?

There aren’t many chicken thigh recipes that will ask you to tenderize them first. Cooking chicken thighs means fat rendering, which will do the heavy lifting for you. However, some people still prefer to tenderize their chicken.

Unfortunately, there is no way to tenderize chicken thighs with the bone in, not properly, anyway. Instead, we will need to stick to boneless or remove the bone. You will pound the meat with a meat tenderizer like chicken breasts.

Of course, there is no need to tenderize the chicken thighs, even in an Instant Pot chicken adobo recipe. Any chicken thigh recipe is essentially a great recipe because of the tender results you get out of the complete meal.

Just toss some chicken thighs in an Instant Pot with seasoning and brown rice, and you’re set. You could also try something completely different, like Thai chicken thighs in an Instant Pot.

The high heat from the Instant Pot will help that fat render even faster, providing you with the most tender of chicken without checking the internal temperature. 

How Many Chicken Thighs Should You Eat?

One problem with cooking chicken thighs is deciding how many to cook for a meal. Bone chicken thighs will have a little less meat for the money, but boneless are perfect for cutting into chicken pieces.

One chicken thigh, on average, yields 3 ounces of meat. That means two or three thighs per person should be enough, especially with a recipe like Instant Pot chicken and potatoes recipe. Kids will most likely only need one chicken thigh to fill up.

It really comes down to the recipe you plan to use for dinner. Are you going with a dish like Instant Pot honey sesame chicken, or will the chicken be diced or shredded like in an Instant Pot butter chicken recipe?

Either of these easy Instant Pot recipes will require you to determine how many thighs you need to add to the simple ingredients to get a full meal your first time. 

More Instant Pot Recipes

How to Make Instant Pot Chicken Broth | You will want a bone broth recipe to get the most out of your chicken thighs.

Beanless Instant Pot Ketogenic Chili Recipe | Instant Pots make some of the best chili out there with a flavor that is hard to beat.

Healthy Instant Pot Vegetable Beef Soup | You can serve yourself a healthy bowl of soup that didn’t come from a can with your Instant Pot.

Instant Pot Pork Chops Recipe | Pork chops come out cooked perfectly every time with a pressure cooker.

Instant Pot Goulash Recipe with Beef | Goulash may not sound like a delicious meal, but this recipe is amazing!