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March 2, 2018

Instant Pot Balsamic Chicken

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Instant Pot balsamic chicken the whole family will love. This recipe yields tender pieces of meat with crispy skin. A balsamic vinegar and tomato reduction is drizzled on top for a savory sweet sauce.

Instant Pot Balsamic chicken thighs with crispy skin in a large bowl

Instant Pot balsamic chicken is quickly tenderized under pressure for succulent pieces of meat with a flavorful sauce to drizzle on top. The multi-cooker allows for searing the skin of the chicken thighs to create a crispy surface while finishing the cooking in just 10 minutes.

The chicken is braised in a tomato and balsamic vinegar sauce, transferring the flavors into each bite. The sauce gets reduced in the same pot to concentrate the naturally sweet, tangy and savory flavors of the ingredients. This recipe will be a new Instant Pot favorite with fresh Italian flavors that everyone will enjoy!

Instant Pot cooking chicken thighs

The saute function on the Instant Pot has been a game changer. It enables the cooker to add new textures and create flavors from Maillard browning, all in one vessel. I wouldn’t say that it’s better than a stainless steel pan for the color development and crunch on the chicken skin, but it’s an excellent alternative when you want to minimize cookware.

When cooking chicken thighs it’s important to sear the surface for not only taste, but it also helps to render the extra fat from that particular cut of meat. The drippings then melt into the pan, flavoring the braising liquid.

Instant Pot filled with balsamic vinegar braising liquid

Have you ever experienced the skin on the chicken sticking to the bottom of the pot? Just like using stainless steel pans, make sure that the Instant Pot is hot before adding the oil. Do not overcrowd and allow the skin to sear without moving until it releases from the surface on its own.

It may require a little nudging at the end, however, if you let it be, it should not overly stick. If there’s too much chicken added to the pot at one time, it’s prone to sticking because it’s not hot enough to create a crust to harden and be easily removed.

Closeup photo of balsamic chicken thighs

Once the chicken is seared, onions, tomatoes, and garlic are sauteed in the drippings. The onions lightly caramelize, the tomatoes cook down, and the garlic adds its aromatics. Chicken broth, balsamic vinegar, and fresh thyme are added to the pot to create a braising liquid for the chicken.

After the balsamic chicken is cooked under pressure for 10 minutes, the sauce gets reduced down until its thick enough to cling to the meat. This step also helps mellow out the acidic vinegar notes, accentuating the sweetness of the fermented and matured grapes which adds depth to the sauce.

White bowl on a table filled with a family-style chicken dinner

I like to take one extra step after the chicken has pressure cooked and the sauce is reducing. After braising in the hot and steamy environment, the skin loses its crispiness. You can leave it be, or if you like to eat crispy skin like my family, quickly turn on the broiler in the oven and let the skin dry up a bit and get it’s crunchy texture back. I promise, broiling is worth the time and adds a nice contrast to the juicy meat.

This Instant Pot balsamic chicken recipe is a tasty main dish, perfect for those cool evenings when you want a cozy and satisfying hot meal. It’s also great for Paleo and the Whole30 diet. Break out the multi-cooker and get ready for a mealtime hit!

More Chicken recipes

  • Baked Honey Mustard Chicken
  • Roasted Lemon and Herb Chicken
  • Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs

View all Chicken recipes

If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #jessicagavin on Instagram. I’d love to see what you come up with. Cheers, friends!

Sear In Batches

One limitation to the Instant Pot is that the circumference of the pot insert is not that large, so it’s best to work in batches for searing pieces of protein. The meat should not overlap. Otherwise, the food will steam instead of brown limiting the amount color on the surface and extra flavor. Simply remove the seared food, allow the pot to heat up, add more oil if needed and continue to cook the next batch.

Print Recipe
4.16 from 53 votes

Instant Pot Balsamic Chicken

Instant pot balsamic chicken yields tender pieces of meat and crispy skin. A balsamic vinegar and tomato reduction is drizzled on each piece of chicken for a savory sweet sauce.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time40 mins
Total Time1 hr 10 mins
Course: Entree
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 277kcal
Author: Jessica Gavin

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds bone-in chicken thighs, (680g, 4 pieces)
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for seasoning
  • black pepper, as needed for seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil, (15ml)
  • 1/2 cup yellow onion, (66g) 1/4-inch dice
  • 1 cup diced tomatoes, (114g) seeded and 1/2-inch dice
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic, (3g)
  • 1/2 cup unsalted chicken broth, (120ml)
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, (60ml)
  • 2 teaspoons chopped thyme, (2g)
  • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley, (5g)

Instructions

  • Trim any excess fat and skin from the chicken thighs. Dry with paper towels and season on both sides with salt and pepper.
  • Press the "Saute" button on the Instant Pot. Press "Adjust" and select "More" setting. Once the display says "Hot", add the olive oil and allow to heat.
  • Once the oil is hot add the chicken skin side down. Saute without moving the chicken until it is golden in color, 7 minutes. Flip chicken over and cook 2 minutes. Transfer to a clean plate.
  • Add onions and tomatoes, saute until tender, 3 minutes. Add garlic and saute for 30 seconds.
  • Add chicken broth, balsamic vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon salt and thyme, stir to combine.
  • Add chicken to the pot. Place lid on Instant Pot and close. Make sure the steam release handle is positioned to "sealing". Press the "Keep Warm/ Cancel" button.
  • Select the "manual" setting on "high pressure". Use the "- or +" button to adjust the time to 10 minutes.
  • It will take some time (about 10 minutes) for the pot to gather steam and pressurize. You may see some traces of steam exit from the float valve as it is pressurizing.
  • Once the display indicates "On" and begins the countdown at "10", and beeps when the cycle is complete.
  • Cover your hand with an oven mitt or towel to carefully quick release the pressure from the pot, sliding the steam release handle to the "Venting" position, releasing all of the steam until the float valve drops down.
  • Carefully open the lid. Press the "Keep Warm/ Cancel" button.
  • Transfer chicken skin side up to a foil-lined sheet tray. Broil the chicken on high about 12-inches from the top of the oven to crisp the skin, about 3 to 5 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, press "saute" on the "more" setting. Simmer and stir until sauce is reduced and thickened, 8 to 9 minutes. The sauce should be reduced to about 3/4 cup.
  • Taste sauce and season with salt and pepper as desired. Serve sauce with chicken and garnish with parsley.

Notes

MAKE IT WHOLE30 AND PALEO: Use extra virgin olive oil and sea salt.
Nutrition Facts
Instant Pot Balsamic Chicken
Amount Per Serving
Calories 277 Calories from Fat 90
% Daily Value*
Fat 10g15%
Saturated Fat 2g10%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 2g
Cholesterol 159mg53%
Sodium 321mg13%
Potassium 140mg4%
Carbohydrates 7g2%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 34g68%
Vitamin A 100IU2%
Vitamin C 8.3mg10%
Calcium 20mg2%
Iron 1.6mg9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Instant Pot balsamic chicken the whole family will love. This recipe yields tender pieces of meat with crispy skin. A balsamic vinegar and tomato reduction is drizzled on top for a savory sweet sauce. #instantpot #balsamicchicken #chickenrecipes

Filed Under: Dairy Free, Family Friendly, Gluten Free, Instant Pot, Italian, Low Carb, Meats and Chicken, One Pot, Paleo, Whole30 Tagged With: balsamic vinegar, chicken, olive oil, onion, parsley, pepper, salt, thyme, tomato

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Jessica Gavin (Author)
Hi, I'm Jessica Gavin, a certified culinary scientist and author. I enjoy making family friendly recipes while sharing cooking tips and knowledge of food science. (More About Me)

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