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Instant Pot Chicken Thighs with Gravy

Are you tired of dry boring chicken? These Instant Pot Chicken Thighs with Gravy will change your life!! Super easy to make and hard to mess up!

Serve it up with Instant Pot Risotto for a complete meal.

instant pot chicken thighs with gravy on plate with risotto and carrots

If you love chicken, have you ventured into making chicken thighs yet? It took me years before I would finally try them, but once I did I was hooked.  Don’t get me wrong, chicken breast has it’s place, but chicken thighs can be so much more flavorful and juicy and so much harder to mess up.  They are forgiving in many different cooking methods, and one of my favorite ways to make them is on the grill.  But there are times as well when I need a quick dinner using the Instant Pot, and chicken thighs are my go to.  These Instant Pot Chicken Thighs with Gravy are the perfect base recipe to serve up with a variety of sides for a simple, home cooked dinner.  The gravy is easy to make and while it’s not a must, it does taste delicious over rice or potatoes.

raw chicken thighs with seasoning

How to cook chicken thighs in the Instant Pot?

When it comes to chicken thighs in the Instant Pot, I’d recommend browning them first.  This is super easy because the pot comes with a built in sauté function.  It takes just a few minutes to heat up but it will not only give your chicken a little more flavor, but will make it look even more appetizing as well.  

If you want to make chicken that you are going to shred and use in other things, then you can skip the browning, otherwise, if chicken is the main star of your meal, I’d go with browning it first.

chicken thighs being browned in Instant Pot

adding chicken broth to chicken thighs in instant pot

Do you need to use the trivet when making chicken?

In this case, no.  I like adding the broth right to the chicken.  It keeps it juicy and flavorful and it’s perfect for using the leftover pan juices to make gravy. 

The main time I’m using a trivet with chicken is when I’m making chicken breasts that I basically want to keep plain and whole to use for chopping up to add to other recipes.

Can I cook frozen chicken in the Instant Pot?

Yes! That’s one of the things I love! You’ll need to skip the browning step, so it may not be ideal in this recipe, but it still works in a pinch.  You’ll need to add about 4 minutes to the recipe.  Make sure they are individually frozen and not in a clump.

You could also make bone-in chicken thighs.  If not frozen, add about 2 minutes to the recipe.

cornstarch slurry in blue bowl with fork

whisking cornstarch into broth in instant pot for gravy

How to make gravy in the Instant Pot:

  • remove chicken and set aside
  • turn pot to saute
  • whisk together cornstarch with water until smooth
  • add to pan juices/broth
  • stir while it comes to a simmer and thickens

Making gravy is so easy and my favorite way to serve up chicken dinners like this one!

instant pot chicken thighs on plate with corn and rice

instant pot chicken thighs with gravy on plate with risotto and carrots
5 from 6 votes

Instant Pot Chicken Thighs with Gravy

Print Recipe
Are you tired of dry boring chicken? These Instant Pot Chicken Thighs with Gravy will change your life!! Super easy to make and hard to mess up! 
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Prep Time:5 minutes
Cook Time:10 minutes
Pressure:20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • 2 teaspoons herb and garlic seasoning or any seasoning blend for chicken
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Instructions

  • Season both sides of chicken with seasoning blen
  • Heat butter and oil in Instant Pot on saute
  • Add chicken and cook for 4-5 minutes on each side until lighly browned
  • Turn off pot and add broth
  • Cover, seal and set to high pressure for 8 minutes
  • Allow a 10 minute natural pressure release then quick release remaining pressure
  • Remove chicken and set aside
  • Mix cornstarch with equal amount of water until smooth
  • Switch pot to saute and whisk in cornstarch
  • Continue whisking for 2-3 minutes until gravy has thickened
  • Serve chicken topped with gravy

Notes

  1. If using frozen chicken thighs, eliminate browning step and set pot to 12 minutes high pressure
  2. If using thawed bone-in chicken thighs set pressure to 10 minutes on high

Nutrition

Calories: 229kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 149mg | Sodium: 295mg | Potassium: 422mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 120IU | Vitamin C: 2.7mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 1.9mg
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6
Calories: 229kcal
Are you tired of dry boring chicken? These Instant Pot Chicken Thighs with Gravy will change your life!! Super easy to make and hard to mess up!  #instantpot #chickenthighs #chickenrecipe
Are you tired of dry boring chicken? These Instant Pot Chicken Thighs with Gravy will change your life!! Super easy to make and hard to mess up!  #instantpot #chickenthighs #chickenrecipe

14 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This is currently in my IP for the 2nd time in 2 weeks. It’s really tasty and I’m so happy to find comfort without packets or canned “cream of something”. I used arrowroot to thicken because that’s what I had and it worked perfectly as a 1:1 replacement for cornstarch. Thanks for a ln easy and delicious recipe.

        1. Rice typically cooks pretty quickly in the IP so I haven’t tested cooking it alongside chicken. I will look into this for a future recipe, but if you do decide to experiment let me know!

    1. 5 stars
      I’m with you Jen, when it comes to cooking as much from scratch as possible. This is just such a simple & delicious recipe that I make it ahead. Then I freeze it to have handy for a quick entree`. I even brought some to a cousin who was busy taking care of her terminally ill husband (my cousin) so that she wouldn’t have to cook so much. It was so genuinely appreciated.

  2. If I wanted to put whole sweet potatoes on top of the chicken on the trivet, would they be done with the chicken time or take longer?

  3. I loved the flavors and how easy it is to make!
    I was wondering if you could freeze it?
    Also, how about adding some veggies in it? Like carrot, potatoes, ect…
    Getting ready for a new baby to get here soon .

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