Instant Pot Lemon Garlic Chicken is a simple, easy recipe for chicken thighs or chicken breasts that is packed full of flavor. Ready in less than 30 minutes, the chicken cooks up to tender perfection in a delicious lemon garlic sauce.
When you are looking for an easy recipe for chicken breasts or chicken thighs, this Instant Pot Lemon Chicken fits the bill! Serve the chicken and the thickened lemon sauce over Instant Pot Brown Rice with a side of Green Beans Almondine for an easy, wholesome meal perfect for busy weeknights.
Why You Will Love this Recipe
This recipe for Instant Pot Lemon Garlic Chicken is a favorite at my house, and I bet it will become one at yours as well! It is fast, flavorful, versatile, and inexpensive!
In less than 30 minutes, using just a handful of ingredients, you can make tender chicken coated in a lemon garlic sauce that is swoon-worthy!
The sauce is light, yet rich in flavor, and the chicken becomes nearly fall apart-tender while absorbing notes of garlic and lemon.
Instant Pot Lemon Chicken proves flavorful does not need to be complicated or time-consuming.
Ingredients Needed
- Chicken: Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts, or chicken thighs for this recipe. Both work equally well without the need to change the cooking time.
- Lemon: Be sure to use FRESH lemons. The zest and the juice of the lemon are key to adding flavor to this recipe.
- Mustard: A bit of mustard adds incredible flavor to the sauce. Use Dijon or Brown mustard, not yellow mustard.
- White Wine: The wine is optional, but adds depth to the sauce. If using, opt for a dry white wine, like Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio.
How to Make Instant Pot Lemon Chicken
- Begin this recipe by preparing the sauce by whisking chicken stock, lemon juice, lemon zest, Dijon, garlic, and a pinch of salt together in a mixing bowl. Keep in mind it is best to zest the lemon before cutting the lemon open and juicing it.
- Now that the sauce is prepared, turn the Instant Pot to Saute and add in a bit of oil and let heat up.
- While the Instant Pot is heating, season the chicken generously on both sides with salt and pepper.
- Add the seasoned chicken to the heated oil in the inner pot and sear for 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden. You may need to do this in batches, depending on how many chicken thighs or breasts you are cooking.
- Once the chicken is seared remove the chicken to a plate and then turn the saute function off.
- Add the wine, or additional stock to the inner pot and scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the inner pot. This step is called deglazing the inner pot, and not only does it add flavor to the sauce, but it also helps prevent a burn notice from happening.
- Return the seared chicken to the inner pot, pour the lemon sauce over the chicken, and add a pinch of dried thyme leaves if desired.
- Seal the lid on the Instant Pot and set the cooking time to 7 minutes on HIGH pressure.
- Once cook time has elapsed, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes--this will help keep the chicken tender! Do not be tempted to do a quick release of pressure.
- At this point, you can opt to serve the chicken immediately, or thicken the sauce--which I HIGHLY recommend.
- To thicken the sauce, remove the chicken to a clean plate and turn the Instant Pot Back to saute, allowing the mixture to come to a boil.
- Whisk together the cornstarch with the water and whisk into the sauce. Cook for 2-3 minutes, whisking contantly until the sauce is thickened.
- If desired, whisk in butter to the sauce to give it a rich finish.
- Serve the chicken with the thickened sauce.
Recipe FAQS
Taking the additional step of searing the chicken adds a bit of flavor and texture to the final result, but it is completely optional. If you skip searing the chicken, omit the oil from the recipe and cook for 8 minutes on high pressure instead of 7 minutes.
Yes! This recipe can be made using frozen chicken breasts or frozen chicken thighs. Skip searing the chicken and cook for 11 minutes on high pressure.
NO! While thickening the sauce with cornstarch makes a delicious sauce to serve with the chicken, this is an optional step. The chicken will have a great lemon flavor even without serving with the sauce.
Adding butter to the thickened sauce is completely optional. Omit for a dairy-free recipe or for a lighter version.
Yes! Just omit the garlic. You will be left with a delicious lemon-flavored chicken.
Adding dried thyme leaves to the recipe is completely optional, but the subtle floral notes are a beautiful match with the lemon.
More Instant Pot Chicken Recipes
- Instant Pot Chicken Marsala
- Instant Pot Chicken Tacos
- Instant Pot Chicken Breast
- Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings
- Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken
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If you enjoyed this recipe for Instant Pot Lemon Garlic Chicken, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.
Instant Pot Lemon Chicken
Ingredients
- 6-8 boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ cup dry white wine or additional chicken stock
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- Zest of one lemon
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice the typical amount from 1 lemon
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves optional
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine the chicken stock, lemon juice, lemon zest, Dijon, and garlic together. Add a pinch of salt and whisk until well combined. Set aside.
- Season chicken with salt and pepper.
- Turn the Saute function on and allow it to heat. Add in the oil and place chicken in the Instant Pot and allow to sear on each side for 2 minutes, or until golden brown. Once browned, remove the chicken from the pan and place on a plate. Turn the saute function OFF.
- Pour in the white wine, or chicken stock, and scrape up the browned bits off the bottom of the inner pot.
- Place the chicken back into the Instant Pot and pour the lemon sauce over the chicken. If desired sprinkle with the dried thyme.
- Place the lid on the Instant Pot and be sure to turn the valve to SEAL. Select the Manual/Pressure Cook and adjust the timer to 7 minutes.
- When done, allow to naturally release for 10 minutes, then do a quick release of any remaining pressure if needed.
- Remove the chicken from the pan to a clean plate.
- Turn the Instant Pot off and then hit the saute function. Allow the cooking liquid to come to a bubble, while you whisk together the cornstarch and water until dissolved.
- Pour in the cornstarch slurry into the inner pot of the Instant Pot while whisking the sauce. Allow to cook for two to three minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thickened. Hit Cancel on the SAUTE function.
- Serve the chicken with the thickened sauce.
Equipment Needed
Notes
- This recipe works with both boneless skinless chicken breasts and chicken thighs. The directions will remain the same regardless.
- For frozen chicken breasts or thighs, skip searing the meat and simply place frozen chicken directly into the inner pot and cover with the sauce. Cook on HIGH for 11 minutes and allow the pressure to release for 10 minutes.
- If using bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, adjust the cooking time to 9 minutes on high pressure.
- If desired, omit the garlic from the sauce.
- Adding dried thyme leaves to the recipe is completely optional, but the subtle floral notes are a beautiful match with the lemon.
- Adding butter to the thickened sauce is completely optional. Omit for a dairy-free recipe or for a lighter version.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in a sealed container.
Angela
I used only 2 breasts that were mostly frozen so I didn't sear them. Still good, although the larger breast was not done so I had to slice it up and finish the cooking in a pan. I also used potato starch instead of corn starch to thicken and it worked wonderfully.
Peggy
Good lemony flavour, easy to prepare.
Erika
I made this last night using a bag of individually frozen thighs from Trader Joe's and it was phenomenal! I don't usually like lemon based recipes because they're often lemon pepper, but this was so good. I did add butter to the sauce because BUTTER! 😁 I served it over rice and the sauce made the rice so creamy.
Kristen Chidsey
YAY! SO glad you enjoyed Erika! And butter is NEVER a bad thing!
Shelley
Oh, Kristen - it's been much, much too long since I visited your wonderful site, but this recipe was the perfect reason to pop back! It's basically got everything my family loves in a dinner ... lemon flavor (for my son), chicken (which my daughter is always happy to see heading for the table) ... and super easy prep in a jiffy (yay, me)! Thank you so much! I hope you and your family are well! Sending hugs from Ohio!
Kristen Chidsey
So happy you found your way back to my site Shelley and so glad your family enjoyed. Sending you love and hugs as well.
Helen Gedzelman
Thank you for a delicous easy peasy recpe. Yum. Looking forward to more recipes
Kristen Chidsey
You are very welcome, Helen! I hope you find many more recipes here to enjoy!
Beth
This looks so delicious! My family is going to love this! So excited!
Toni
Such a perfect meal any night of the week!
Natalie
Instant pot recipes are my favorite all week long & this recipe is so good!! The lemon garlic sauce is my favorite!
Reginia Sam
Sounds so good. Plan to make