Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken and Rice

You’ll love this sweet and savory Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken recipe. It’s better than takeout and you’ll have it on your plate in an instant – well, less than 30 minutes.

An Easy Chicken Breast Dinner Idea

If quick and easy is your goal, then girl, get yourself an Instant Pot. The instant Pot is like a dream; quick and delicious meals with minimal clean up. If you’re a busy mom with kids and energy abounding in your house, the Instant Pot is perfect for you. Once you set it, you can walk away and handle all the other excitement going on. No need to stand over a pot and stir. You’ve got yourself some freedom!

One of my favorite meals to make in my Instant Pot is my Honey Garlic Chicken and Rice. The flavors work so well together, especially if you crave that sweet and savory combo. I love this flavor profile so much, I also make a similar dish with chicken thighs. Since this recipe uses chicken breasts, it cooks even quicker!

Recipe Ingredients:

This recipe makes it simple to have a just-as-good-as-takeout meal without having to hunt down exotic ingredients at a specialty market. Here’s what you’ll need:

• olive oil
• chicken breasts
• pepper
• honey
• chicken broth
• soy sauce
• ketchup
• garlic
• oregano
• parsley
• rice
• water
• cornstarch
• sesame seeds

How to Make Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken and Rice

• Start by setting your Instant Pot to “Sauté” mode. Add olive oil and heat it up.
• While the oil is heating, season your chicken with salt and pepper, then transfer it to the Instant Pot and cook for about 2 minutes per side. Remove the chicken and set aside.

• In a mixing bowl combine your honey, chicken broth, soy sauce, ketchup, garlic, oregano, and parsley. Mix it all together until it is smooth. Slowly pour the honey mixture into the Instant Pot and, using a wooden spoon, scrape up all the browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
• Return the chicken to the Instant Pot.
• Rinse your rice really well and then add it to an oven safe dish that will fit inside your Instant Pot on top of the trivet. I always use my pyrex glass mixing bowls.
• Add 2 1/4 cups water into the dish with the rice and cover the dish with foil. Place the dish on top of your trivet (the one that comes with the Instant Pot). Carefully place the trivet down into the pot on top of the chicken.

• Lock the lid of the Instant Pot and set valve to “sealing”. Press the manual button and set the timer for 15 minutes on High Pressure.
• When the timer beeps let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes. Once all the pressure is released, remove the lid and carefully remove the rice bowl using oven mitts or hot pads. Then remove the chicken and set it on a cutting board. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes.
• Return the Instant Pot to “Saute” mode.
• In a small bowl stir together 1/4 cup cornstarch and 1/4 cup water until smooth. Stir this slurry mixture into the pot and let it cook for a couple minutes while you stir.
• In the meantime, shred the chicken.
• Turn your Instant Pot off and stir the shredded chicken back into the sauce.

I like to serve the chicken over rice and garnish it with toasted sesame seeds or green onions. Steam some broccoli to serve on the side and you’ve got a well balanced meal.

Can I Make this Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe If I Don’t Have an Instant Pot?

Yes, you can make Honey Garlic Chicken if you don’t have an Instant Pot, but it definitely won’t be nearly as quick or in one single pot. Before I had my Instant Pot, I often made various shredded chicken recipes in my slow cooker. But, this will take you a few hours and you’ll need to cook your rice separately on the stove top or in a rice cooker. You could also do the shredded chicken stove top in a dutch oven, but again – it won’t be nearly as quick. 

How to Store Honey Garlic Chicken

Your leftover Honey Garlic Chicken can be stored in your fridge in an airtight container for 4-5 days. You can also freeze it. Just, let it cool completely to avoid extra condensation and freeze it in a freezer bag. It will stay for up to 3 months. 

How to Reheat Honey Garlic Chicken

Reheating shredded chicken is super easy. Simply bring it to room temperature on your counter, then heat on your stove top on low. It should only take about 10 minutes to heat through. Serve it with rice and veggies, or use the leftovers to make Honey Garlic Chicken tacos!