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Instant Pot Sesame Chicken Recipe

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4.4 from 10 reviews

A quick and delicious Chinese-American classic, Instant Pot sesame chicken features tender bite-sized chicken breasts cooked in a rich honey soy sauce with garlic, ginger, and a touch of heat. Perfect for a busy weeknight dinner, this recipe uses the Instant Pot to deliver flavorful, juicy chicken in just 20 minutes total.

  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

Chicken and Sauce

  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size or 1-inch pieces
  • ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 inch ginger, peeled and grated
  • ¼ cup ketchup
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce or sriracha

Sauce Enhancers and Thickener

  • ¼ cup honey or brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon water

Garnish

  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted
  • Chopped green onion

Instructions

  1. Add Ingredients to Instant Pot: Place the bite-sized chicken pieces into the Instant Pot. Add the soy sauce, minced garlic, grated ginger, ketchup, and hot sauce or sriracha. Stir everything together briefly to combine.
  2. Pressure Cook: Seal the Instant Pot lid and set the valve to the sealing position. Select the MANUAL or PRESSURE COOK setting and cook on high pressure for 3 minutes.
  3. Release Pressure: When cooking is done, allow the Instant Pot to come to pressure (about 10 minutes). Once it beeps, carefully perform a quick release by turning the valve to the release position—keep your face away from the steam.
  4. Thicken the Sauce: Remove the lid, then switch the Instant Pot to the SAUTE setting. Add the honey or brown sugar and toasted sesame oil. Prepare the cornstarch slurry by mixing 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water, then stir it into the sauce. Continue stirring until the sauce thickens. If the sauce is not thick enough, add an additional tablespoon of slurry and stir again.
  5. Serve and Garnish: Turn off the Instant Pot. Serve the sesame chicken over steamed rice. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and chopped green onions for extra flavor and texture.

Notes

  • Use low-sodium soy sauce to prevent the sauce from becoming too salty. If only regular soy sauce is available, reduce it to ¼ cup and add ¼ cup water instead.
  • Nutrition values are approximate per serving without rice. Adjust according to your dietary needs.
  • The cornstarch slurry is crucial for thickening the sauce; adding more can adjust texture to your preference.
  • Handle steam release carefully to avoid burns.
  • Author: Olivia
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes (plus 10 minutes pressure build time)
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Instant Pot
  • Cuisine: Chinese-American

Find it online: https://iamstarved.com/instant-pot-sesame-chicken-recipe/