Instant Pot Lemon Chicken
Instant Pot lemon chicken is a quick and easy main course featuring perfectly cooked chicken breasts with a delicious blend of bright lemon, garlic, and thyme. Pair it with rice and it's the perfect meal on a busy night!
Servings: 4
Calories: 233kcal
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tbsp canola oil
- 1 cup yellow onion peeled & diced
- 4 1/2 tsp minced garlic
- 3/4 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 - 1/3 cup lemon juice
- pinch ground thyme optional
- salt & pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp cornstarch + 3 tbsp cold water
Instructions
- Place the liner in your IP, then press the saute button. Once hot, add the oil. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, if desired. Then carefully add it to the hot oil. Cook for 3-4 minutes, then flip using tongs and cook another 3-4 minutes.1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, 2 tbsp canola oil, salt & pepper
- Transfer the chicken to a waiting plate.
- Add the onions to the pot and saute the onions, stirring often using a sturdy spoon, cooking until softened- roughly 3-4 minutes. Stir in the garlic, and cook for 60 seconds. Press the cancel button to stop the pot from cooking.1 cup yellow onion, 4 1/2 tsp minced garlic
- Add the broth, lemon juice, and thyme to the pot, stirring with a wooden spoon to deglaze the pan and scrape up any stuck on browned bits. Transfer the chicken back to the pot, arranging it in a single layer.3/4 cup chicken broth, 1/4 - 1/3 cup lemon juice, pinch ground thyme
- Close the lid, and turn the vent valve to the sealed position. Pressure cook for 8 minutes. Allow the pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes, then carefully open the vent valve to release the remaining trapped steam. Carefully transfer the chicken to a waiting plate.
- Add the cornstarch and water to a small bowl, whisking together until evenly combined. Stir the slurry into the juices in the bottom of the pot, and press the saute button to turn on. Cook, stirring frequently, just until the sauce has thickened.2 tbsp cornstarch
- Plate the chicken and spoon the sauce overtop. Serve & enjoy!
Notes
- Give the sauce a taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
- The amount of garlic may seem like it's too much but I have found that the Instant Pot tends to dilute the flavors a bit and the best way to fix it is add slightly more seasoning that you would initially think.
- Don't skip the natural release! This time lets the chicken get nice and tender!
Nutrition
Calories: 233kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 298mg | Potassium: 515mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 37IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg