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instant pot orange chicken | orange chicken instant pot
4.95 from 34 votes

Instant Pot Orange Chicken

Recipe by Amy + Jacky | PressureCookRecipes.com
Easy to make Instant Pot Orange Chicken! Not the ordinary Classic Chinese takeout orange chicken recipe, but with our easy, healthy, and tasty twists. Tender juicy chicken with a caramelized honey garlic glaze. Quick and easy chicken dinner your family will enjoy!
Servings 4
Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 - 6 (2lbs) bone-in chicken thighs
  • 1 orange , juiced (70ml - 90ml) and zested (7g)
  • 6 (21g) garlic cloves , chopped
  • 1 tablespoon ginger , crushed and sliced
  • 1 (170g) onion , sliced
  • ¼ cup (63ml) regular soy sauce
  • ½ teaspoon (2.5ml) sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoons (30g) ketchup
  • Optional: 1 tablespoon (15ml) Shaoxing wine
  • ½ cup (125ml) unsalted chicken stock
  • 1 - 3 tablespoons (30g) honey or sugar to sweeten
  • Salt to taste

Thickener

  • 2½ tablespoons (22.5g) cornstarch
  • 3 tablespoons (45ml) cold water

Optional Garnish

  • 1 - 2 stalks green onion , finely sliced
  • Orange slices, orange zest
  • Toasted white and black sesame seeds

Equipment

Instructions

  • Marinate Chicken in Instant Pot: Add garlic, ginger, onion, ¼ cup (63ml) regular soy sauce, ½ tsp (2.5ml) sesame oil, 2 tbsp (30g) ketchup, orange zest, 70ml - 90ml orange juice, 1 tbsp (15ml) Shaoxing wine, and ½ cup (125ml) unsalted chicken stock in Instant Pot. Mix well.
    Add chicken in Instant Pot skin side down.
    Marinate chicken in the inner pot for at least 30 minutes to up to 2 hours in the fridge.
    Amy + Jacky's Tip! Dip the chicken thighs' meat in the marinade first before flipping it over for better coverage.
  • Pressure Cook Orange Chicken: Place the inner pot back in Instant Pot. Flip the chicken over so the chicken skins are facing up.
    Close the lid. Turn Venting Knob to Sealing Position. Pressure Cook at High Pressure for 6 minutes, then Natural Release for 10 minutes. Release the remaining pressure by turning Venting Knob to Venting Position. When the Floating Valve drops, open the lid carefully.
  • Sweeten and Thicken: Set aside the chicken on a serving plate. Bring the orange sauce to a simmer with "Saute" function.
    Add in 1 to 3 tbsp honey to sweeten the sauce.
    Amy + Jacky's Tips - Sweetness: Make sure to taste and adjust the sweetness as you add the honey because the amount you need depends on your orange juice's sweetness, honey, and your preferences. For reference, we used 2 tbsp (30ml) honey.
    In a small mixing bowl, mix 2.5 tbsp (22.5g) cornstarch with 3 tbsp (45ml) cold water. Mix it into the orange sauce one-third at a time until desired thickness.
    Taste the orange sauce, then season with salt or regular soy sauce if necessary. For reference, we added 3 large pinches of salt to season it properly.
    Place the chicken back in the orange sauce.
  • Optional Flavor-Boosting Step: Broil Chicken
    Option 1 - Oven or Toaster Oven: Place the Orange Chicken on an oven tray under the "Broil" function (or the highest temperature setting) for a few minutes until the tasty orange sauce is caramelized.
    Option 2 - Air Fryer or Air Fryer Lid: Place air fryer basket with the tray on the middle rack in Instant Pot. Layer chicken on the air fryer tray in Instant Pot. Place the Air Fryer Lid on Instant Pot. Press "Airfry" button, set Temperature to 400°F and Cooking Time to 15 minutes. Then, air fry the second batch of orange chicken in Instant Pot.
    Amy + Jacky's Tip: it'll take roughly 7 to 11 minutes + preheat time to caramelize with Air Fryer Lid. You can open the lid to check the progress.
  • Garnish and Serve: Garnish your caramelized orange chicken with finely sliced green onions, orange zest, orange slices, and toasted sesame seeds. Serve and enjoy~

Notes

1. Cooking Time: The total cooking time doesn't include the chicken marinating time (30 minutes to up to 2 hours).
2. Orange Quality: Orange is one of the key ingredients of this recipe, so try to use a fresh, juicy, sweet, vibrant, and intensely-flavored orange for best results.
3. Orange Substitute: You can substitute the fresh orange with orange juice. The flavor profile will differ and the final result will depend on your orange juice’s quality and flavors. Make sure to taste and adjust accordingly.
4. Chicken Thigh Substitutes: We developed this recipe with bone-in skin-on chicken thighs because the results will be better using dark meat. If you prefer, you can use chicken drumsticks or chicken breasts. Adjust the cooking time accordingly.
Rate Amy + Jacky's Recipe: If you've tried our recipe, rate the recipe in the Comments section. Thank you!
Author: Amy + Jacky
Calories: 583kcal

Nutrition

Calories: 583kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 222mg | Sodium: 542mg | Potassium: 660mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 314IU | Vitamin C: 26mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 2mg