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- My Juicy, Crispy Instant Pot Chicken Thighs Have An Irresistible Sauce
- Ingredients & Substitutions
- How To Make Chicken Thighs In The Instant Pot
- My Recipe Tips
- Instant Pot Chicken Thighs Recipe card
- Serving Ideas
- Recipe Reviews
My Juicy, Crispy Instant Pot Chicken Thighs Have An Irresistible Sauce
I’ve made chicken thighs in just about every way — from baked chicken thighs to air fryer chicken thighs — so it only felt natural to try Instant Pot chicken thighs next. I wasn’t sure they’d hold up to my usual crispy-skin standards, but the result completely surprised me. Here’s why this Instant Pot chicken thighs recipe checks all the boxes for an easy weeknight dinner:
- That buttery herb sauce – Hands-down my favorite part. I drizzle a warm blend of melted butter, garlic, rosemary, and thyme over the chicken before sealing the pot, and it soaks into every bite. The flavor is rich, cozy, and more intense than you’d expect, all without any marinating.
- Super juicy with actual crispy skin – Cooking chicken thighs in the Instant Pot gives you that tender, juicy texture like slow cooker chicken , but I also added a quick broil at the end to give the skin that golden, crispy finish.
- Fast, but feels like it cooked all day – Between the pressure cooking and that garlic herb butter, the flavor tastes like something you’d slow simmer for hours. But really, it’s on the table in just 30 minutes!
Once you try these Instant Pot chicken thighs, I think they’ll be a new go-to in your healthy dinner recipes rotation. Make them with me!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my Instant Pot chicken thighs recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .
- Chicken Thighs – I used bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs for the juiciest texture and crispy skin. Boneless skinless thighs work with a slightly reduced cook time. I included timing for both below.
- Chicken Broth – I always go with reduced sodium so I can control the salt, but any broth you like will do.
- Unsalted Butter – The base for that delicious garlic herb sauce. If you only have salted butter, just cut back on the added salt a little.
- Herbs – I use fresh rosemary and thyme , but dried can work. Just use 1 teaspoon of each instead.
- Lemon Juice – A splash of acidity balances out the richness of the butter. Bottled is fine here.
- Garlic – I used fresh cloves, but you can sub in 2 teaspoons of jarred minced garlic if that’s easier.
- Olive Oil – For searing the chicken. Avocado oil works, too.
- Spices – Just the basics here: paprika , sea salt , and black pepper . They add a nice layer of flavor under that herb butter.
- Arrowroot Powder – This thickens the sauce at the end. You can also swap in cornstarch or just 1/4 teaspoon of xanthan gum.
How To Make Chicken Thighs In The Instant Pot
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .
- Season the chicken. Pat the chicken thighs dry with a paper towel and season both sides with salt, pepper, and paprika.
- Sear in the Instant Pot . Heat a little oil using the Saute setting and sear the chicken on both sides until nicely browned. I always make sure there’s some good color before moving on.
- Mix the herb butter. In a small bowl, melt the butter, then whisk in lemon juice, garlic, thyme, and rosemary.
- Add liquid and herbs. Pour the broth into the bottom of the pot and place the trivet inside. Set the chicken on top, skin side up, then pour the melted buttery herb sauce on top of the chicken.
- Pressure cook. Secure the lid, set the valve to Sealing, and cook on High pressure. Let the Instant Pot chicken thighs sit for a bit after cooking (natural release), then flip to manual release for the rest.
- Broil to crisp. While the pressure releases, preheat the broiler. Once the chicken is done, move it to a baking sheet and broil briefly until the skin is golden and crispy. Serve with garlic butter sauce.
- Optional step for a thicker sauce: After cooking, remove the trivet and mix a little of the liquid with arrowroot powder (or cornstarch) in a separate bowl. Stir it back in, turn on Sauté, and let it simmer until the sauce thickens to your liking.
My Recipe Tips
- If all the chicken doesn’t fit in a single layer, brown it in batches. Crowding traps steam and keeps it from getting that nice color.
- Use the trivet for best texture. Elevating the chicken keeps it out of the liquid so the skin stays intact and doesn’t get soggy during pressure cooking. I pour the broth in the Instant Pot before I put the trivet in.
- The chicken and sauce are just slightly lemony as-is. For a bolder lemon butter taste, swap 1/4 cup of the broth with lemon juice in the pot — the steam during cooking will infuse into the chicken. Still keep the original tablespoon in the butter mixture, too.
- Pour the herb butter directly over the chicken, not into the pot. This helps all that garlicky, herby flavor soak into the meat instead of disappearing into the broth below.
- I always use my instant-read thermometer to check doneness. Instant Pot chicken thighs should hit at least 170 degrees F (that’s when they get juicy!), but you can go as high as 180 or even 190.
- Keep a close eye when broiling. The skin can go from golden to burnt fast, so only broil for a couple minutes and don’t walk away. I usually check after the first minute.
Ingredients
Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.
- 2 lb Bone-in skin-on chicken thighs (or boneless chicken thighs if you prefer) ▢
- 1 tsp Sea salt ▢
- 1/4 tsp Black pepper ▢
- 1/2 tsp Paprika ▢
- 1 tbsp Olive oil ▢
- 1 cup Chicken broth (reduced sodium) ▢
- 3 tbsp Unsalted butter (melted) ▢
- 1 tbsp Lemon juice ▢
- 4 cloves Garlic (minced) ▢
- 1 tbsp Fresh thyme leaves ▢
- 1 tbsp Fresh rosemary (chopped) ▢
- 1 tbsp Arrowroot powder (or cornstarch, or 1/4 tsp xanthan gum) ▢
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
- Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel. Season both sides with salt, pepper, and paprika.
- Heat the olive oil in the Instant Pot on the Saute setting, until shimmering. Add the chicken thighs in a single layer and sear for 3-4 minutes per side, until browned on both sides. (You may need to cook in batches if you have more than 4-5 pieces.) Remove, turn off the heat, and set aside.
- Pour the chicken broth into the bottom of the Instant Pot. Place the trivet inside. Arrange the chicken thighs on the trivet, skin side up.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, lemon juice, minced garlic, thyme, and rosemary. Pour the mixture evenly over the chicken. Try to keep most of it on the chicken rather than falling to the bottom.
- Cover with the lid and move the knob to Sealing. Pressure cook on High pressure for 10 minutes for bone-in thighs or 8 minutes for boneless. (The Instant Pot will take 7-8 minutes to come to pressure, than start counting down.) Let natural release for 5 minutes , then manual release the rest of the pressure.
- While the Instant Pot is doing its natural release, preheat the oven to Broil. When it’s done, transfer the chicken thighs to a baking sheet , skin side up. Broil for 2-3 minutes to crisp up the skin.
- Optional step if you want a thicker sauce: Remove the trivet. Scoop a couple tablespoons of liquid from the pot and mix with the arrowroot powder (or cornstarch or other thickener) in a small bowl. Return the mixture to the Instant Pot and turn on the Saute setting. Simmer for about 5 minutes , until thickened.
- Serve the Instant Pot chicken thighs with garlic butter sauce from the pot.
LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 bone-in chicken thigh with gravy
- Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get crispy skin, juicy meat, and an option for extra lemon flavor.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days. I keep the sauce with the chicken so it stays juicy.
- Meal prep: Mix the herb butter ahead of time to save a few steps later.
- Reheat: Warm the chicken in a hot skillet to keep the skin crispy. If you use the microwave, the texture will be softer.
- Freeze: This chicken freezes well for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .
Add Your NotesYour Notes
© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.
Instant Pot Chicken Thighs
Serving Ideas
If you’re wondering what to serve with this Instant Pot chicken thighs recipe, here are a few easy ideas to turn it into a complete meal:
- Starchy Base – I like to serve a chicken thigh over cauliflower mash and spoon that herby butter sauce on top, as shown above. Mashed potatoes, rice, or crispy air fried potatoes work great, too.
- Vegetables – While the chicken thighs cook in the Instant Pot, make my honey roasted carrots or roasted broccoli . It’s an easy win since the oven is already hot for the broiling step.
Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List
- Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
- The Basic Keto Meal Formula
- Understanding Macros
- Keto Food Swaps
- Keto Food List
- Electrolyte Basics
- Keto Diet Types
- Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
- Recipe Reviews
Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.
You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).
Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:
- Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
- Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
- Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
- Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
- Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
- Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
- Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
- Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
- FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.
Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System + EBooks (Only $37)
The Basic Keto Meal Formula
Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.
Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.
Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.
| Pick A Protein | Pick A Veggie | Add Fat |
|---|---|---|
| Beef Chicken Pork Eggs Lamb Turkey Fish Shellfish Protein powder Venison | Cauliflower Broccoli Zucchini Leafy Greens Cucumbers Brussels Sprouts Cabbage Asparagus Radishes Bell Peppers Jicama Celery | Butter Avocado Oil Cheese Bacon Avocado Lard Ghee Mayo Nuts MCT Oil |
Understanding Macros
Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.
You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.
Carbs Are A Limit.
Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.
A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.
“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.
A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.
Protein Is A Goal.
Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].
“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.
Fat Is A Lever.
Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.
A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).
Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.
Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.
“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.
Keto Food Swaps
One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.
So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .
Keto Swaps For Breakfast
| Instead Of This… | Eat This |
|---|---|
| Pancakes | Almond flour pancakes or coconut flour pancakes |
| Oatmeal | Keto oatmeal with hemp seeds |
| Cinnamon rolls | Fathead cinnamon rolls |
| Cereal | Keto nut granola |
| Muffins | Almond flour muffins or coconut flour muffins |
| Donuts | Almond flour donuts |
| Scones | Almond flour scones |
| High-sugar smoothies | Smoothie with berries or avocado |
| Hash browns | Cauliflower hash browns |
| Breakfast casserole | Breakfast casserole with no potatoes |
| Egg whites | Whole eggs |
| Turkey bacon | Bacon |
| Waffles | Chaffles |
Keto Swaps For Bread
| Instead Of This… | Eat This |
|---|---|
| Bagels | Fathead bagels |
| English muffin | Almond flour English muffin |
| White bread | Keto white bread |
| Multigrain bread | Coconut flour bread with seeds |
| Tortillas for wraps | Coconut flour tortillas |
| Corn taco shells | Cheddar cheese taco shells |
| Burger buns | Oopsie rolls , portobello mushroom caps |
| Breadsticks | Cauliflower breadsticks |
| Biscuits | Almond flour biscuits |
| Cornbread | Almond flour cornbread |
| Croutons | Parmesan crisps |
| Rice | Cauliflower rice , konjac rice |
Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes
| Instead Of This… | Eat This |
|---|---|
| Breaded wings | Crispy air fryer wings (unbreaded) |
| Low-fat meat & poultry | High-fat cuts, or cook low-fat cuts with fat |
| Mashed potatoes | Mashed cauliflower |
| Roasted potatoes | Roasted or fried radishes |
| Tacos | Taco salad |
| Pizza | Fathead crust , chicken crust , or cauliflower crust pizza |
| Lasagna | Eggplant lasagna |
| Potato salad | Cauliflower “potato” salad |
| French fries | Jicama , rutabaga , or zucchini fries |
| Tater tots | Cauliflower tots |
| Wraps | Lettuce wraps , almond flour tortillas |
| Sushi | Naruto-style or homemade rice-free sushi |
| Breaded chicken or fish | Breaded cuts with almond flour or pork rinds |
| Spaghetti | Zoodles , spaghetti squash , shirataki noodles, kelp noodles |
Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces
| Instead Of This… | Eat This |
|---|---|
| Nachos | Cheese crisps |
| High-sugar fruit | Berries & other keto fruits |
| Crackers | Almond flour crackers |
| Hummus | Cauliflower hummus |
| Soft pretzels | Fathead pretzels |
| Popcorn | Puffed cheese |
| Granola bars | Grain-free granola bars |
| Jam | Sugar-free berry chia jam |
| Sweet fruity yogurt | Full-fat plain Greek yogurt with berries |
| Sweet salad dressing | Ranch , blue cheese , or plain vinaigrette |
| Ketchup | Mustard and/or sugar-free ketchup |
| BBQ sauce | Sugar-free BBQ sauce |
| Sweetened peanut butter | Natural, sugar-free nut butters |
| Light mayo | Avocado oil mayo |
| Maple syrup | Sugar-free, maple flavored syrup |
| Potato chips | Zucchini chips , pepperoni chips , pork rinds |
Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking
| Instead Of This… | Eat This |
|---|---|
| Sugar | Monk fruit or allulose |
| Powdered sugar | Powdered monk fruit or allulose |
| White flour | Almond or Coconut flour (use in tested recipes) |
| Making baked goods soft/chewy | Xanthan gum, flax seed meal, psyllium husk powder |
| Breadcrumbs | Pork rinds or almond flour |
| Margarine | Butter, coconut oil, or ghee |
| Vegetable oil | Olive or avocado oil |
| Bananas | Banana extract |
| Chocolate chips | Sugar-free chocolate chips |
| Cornstarch or flour roux | Xanthan gum or gelatin powder (used at the end) |
| Simple syrup | Dissolve monk fruit allulose blend in water over heat |
Keto Swaps For Drinks
| Instead Of This… | Eat This |
|---|---|
| Lemonade | Water with lemon |
| Soda | Flavored sparkling water |
| Milk | Almond milk, coconut milk, heavy cream |
| Latte | Butter coffee |
| Coffee creamer | Heavy cream |
| Sweet wine | Dry wine |
| Beer | Ultra light beer |
| Mixed drinks | Hard liquor with soda + lemon |
If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .
Keto Food List
When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.
The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!
Foods To Eat On Keto
- Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
- Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
- Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
- Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
- Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
- Avocados
- Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
- Almond flour and coconut flour
- Eggs
- Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.
Foods To Avoid On Keto
- White flour & sugar
- Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
- Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
- Cereal
- Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
- Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
- Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
- Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
- Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
- Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.
That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:
Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)
Electrolyte Basics
Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.
For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .
The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.
Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:
| Sodium | Magnesium | Potassium |
|---|---|---|
| Bone broth Boullion cubes Bacon Salted nuts Pickles | Seaweed Seeds Nuts Avocado Leafy greens | Potassium chloride Avocado Bone broth Spinach Broccoli Mushrooms Beef Pork |
Keto Diet Types
People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.
Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.
Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!
- Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
- Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
- Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
- Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.
For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!
Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:
- Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
- Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
- Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
- Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
- Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
- Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
- Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
- Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
- FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.
Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)
Instant Pot Chicken Thighs
My Instant Pot chicken thighs recipe is so juicy and tender, with crispy skin and a garlic lemon butter sauce that brings it all together.
Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera for the full recipe, including tips, step-by-step photos, and storage, or to save it to your account. You can also find it at: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/instant-pot-chicken-thighs/
Ingredients
- 2 lb Bone-in skin-on chicken thighs (or boneless chicken thighs if you prefer)
- 1 tsp Sea salt
- 1/4 tsp Black pepper
- 1/2 tsp Paprika
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 cup Chicken broth (reduced sodium)
- 3 tbsp Unsalted butter (melted)
- 1 tbsp Lemon juice
- 4 cloves Garlic (minced)
- 1 tbsp Fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tbsp Fresh rosemary (chopped)
- 1 tbsp Arrowroot powder (or cornstarch, or 1/4 tsp xanthan gum)
Instructions
- Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel. Season both sides with salt, pepper, and paprika.
- Heat the olive oil in the Instant Pot on the Saute setting, until shimmering. Add the chicken thighs in a single layer and sear for 3-4 minutes per side, until browned on both sides. (You may need to cook in batches if you have more than 4-5 pieces.) Remove, turn off the heat, and set aside.
- Pour the chicken broth into the bottom of the Instant Pot. Place the trivet inside. Arrange the chicken thighs on the trivet, skin side up.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, lemon juice, minced garlic, thyme, and rosemary. Pour the mixture evenly over the chicken. Try to keep most of it on the chicken rather than falling to the bottom.
- Cover with the lid and move the knob to Sealing. Pressure cook on High pressure for 10 minutes for bone-in thighs or 8 minutes for boneless. (The Instant Pot will take 7-8 minutes to come to pressure, than start counting down.) Let natural release for 5 minutes , then manual release the rest of the pressure.
- While the Instant Pot is doing its natural release, preheat the oven to Broil. When it’s done, transfer the chicken thighs to a baking sheet , skin side up. Broil for 2-3 minutes to crisp up the skin.
- Optional step if you want a thicker sauce: Remove the trivet. Scoop a couple tablespoons of liquid from the pot and mix with the arrowroot powder (or cornstarch or other thickener) in a small bowl. Return the mixture to the Instant Pot and turn on the Saute setting. Simmer for about 5 minutes , until thickened.
- Serve the Instant Pot chicken thighs with garlic butter sauce from the pot.
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 bone-in chicken thigh with gravy
- Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get crispy skin, juicy meat, and an option for extra lemon flavor.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days. I keep the sauce with the chicken so it stays juicy.
- Meal prep: Mix the herb butter ahead of time to save a few steps later.
- Reheat: Warm the chicken in a hot skillet to keep the skin crispy. If you use the microwave, the texture will be softer.
- Freeze: This chicken freezes well for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .
© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. :)
