Description
This Instant Pot Sesame Chicken recipe delivers tender, flavorful chicken pieces cooked quickly under pressure and coated in a savory, slightly spicy sesame sauce. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, it combines soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and honey with a subtle kick from hot sauce, finished with a glossy sesame glaze and garnished with sesame seeds and green onions.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Sauce
- 2 pounds chicken breasts, boneless and skinless, 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 Enhancements
- 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
- Add Ingredients to Instant Pot: Place the chicken pieces into the Instant Pot. Add soy sauce, minced garlic, grated ginger, ketchup, and hot sauce or sriracha. Stir everything quickly to combine the flavors.
- Pressure Cook the Chicken: Secure the lid on the Instant Pot and ensure the valve is set to sealing. Select the MANUAL or PRESSURE COOK setting, depending on your model, and set the cooking time to 3 minutes on high pressure.
- Quick Release the Pressure: After cooking, let the Instant Pot build pressure and cook. When the timer beeps, carefully turn the pressure valve to RELEASE to quickly release the steam. Keep your face clear of the vent to avoid hot steam burns.
- Activate Saute Mode: Remove the lid cautiously and turn on the SAUTE mode on the Instant Pot. Add honey or brown sugar and toasted sesame oil to the pot to build the sauce flavors.
- Make and Add Cornstarch Slurry: In a small bowl, mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water to create a slurry. Stir this into the pot and keep stirring with a wooden spoon until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy. Turn off SAUTE mode once desired thickness is reached.
- Adjust Sauce Thickness: If the sauce needs to be thicker, prepare an additional tablespoon of cornstarch slurry and stir it into the sauce until it reaches the preferred consistency.
- Serve and Garnish: Plate the sesame chicken over cooked rice. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and chopped green onions for added flavor and texture.
Notes
- To avoid overcooking, cut chicken into uniform pieces so they cook evenly.
- Adjust the amount of hot sauce or sriracha to your preferred spice level.
- You can substitute brown sugar for honey if you prefer a deeper sweetness.
- Make sure to toast the sesame seeds beforehand to enhance their nutty flavor.
- This dish pairs well with steamed rice or noodles for a complete meal.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: Asian
Keywords: Instant Pot sesame chicken, sesame chicken recipe, pressure cooker chicken, quick Asian chicken, healthy sesame chicken, easy dinner recipe
