This Instant Pot Lemon Chicken is light, fresh, and healthy. Tender chicken is tossed in a sweet and spicy lemon sauce then served over brown rice!
Ingredients
- Chicken Broth, Lemon Juice, Soy Sauce, Honey, Garlic, Lemon Zest, Red Pepper Flakes, Ground Ginger, and Black Pepper – makes up a sweet, citrusy, spicy sauce for the chicken.
- Chicken Breasts – use boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
- Cornstarch and Lemon Juice – makes up a slurry which helps thicken the sauce.
How to make
- In a large bowl, whisk together broth, 1/2 cup lemon juice, soy sauce, honey, garlic, lemon zest, red pepper flakes, ground ginger, and black pepper.
- Pour half of the sauce into a greased instant pot, top with chicken breasts, then pour on remaining sauce. Cover and lock the lid then cook on HIGH for 10 minutes.
- Do a quick release then remove chicken and set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Stir that mixture into the instant pot.
- Hit SAUTE on the instant pot and bring the sauce to a simmer.
- Add the chicken back in and simmer until the sauce has thickened then shred or cube the chicken in the pot before serving.
Can you use frozen chicken?
I always use fresh chicken but if all you have is frozen chicken you can use that instead.
To do so, just follow the directions as listed but cook the chicken for 25 minutes at high pressure instead of 10. (*not tested)
Do you need an instant pot to make lemon chicken?
Nope! If you don’t have an instant pot, you can check out my crockpot lemon chicken or make it on the stove.
To make stovetop lemon chicken:
- Heat a nonstick skillet over medium/medium-high heat, add in oil, then sear chicken.
- In a bowl, whisk together chicken broth, lemon juice, soy sauce, honey, garlic, lemon zest, red pepper flakes, ground ginger, and black pepper.
- In. a separate bowl, whisk together cornstarch and lemon juice. This is your cornstarch slurry.
- Add the sauce into the skillet. Bring to a simmer then whisk in cornstarch slurry.
- Cover and cook until the chicken is cooked through then shred or dice, serve, and enjoy!
How to serve lemon chicken
I like to serve this lemon chicken over a bed of hearty brown rice. The chewy texture of the rice goes super well with the creaminess of the lemon sauce.
You can also serve it over white rice, pasta or couscous, egg noodles, or even mashed potatoes!
What to serve with instant pot lemon chicken
I like to serve my lemon chicken with a green veggie side or salad!
- Lemon Parmesan Roasted Asparagus
- Instant Pot Broccoli
- Pear, Blue Cheese, Candied Pecan Salad
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts
How to store
Store leftover lemon chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for 2-3 months.
To reheat, thaw in the fridge if frozen then microwave or warm on the stove until heated through.
– Jennifer
Instant Pot Lemon Chicken
Equipment for this recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ½ cup lemon juice
- ½ cup soy sauce or gluten free alternative
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 lemon zested
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes more or less to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 (8 oz) boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
Instructions
- Grease a 6 quart Instant Pot with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together broth, 1/2 cup lemon juice, soy sauce, honey, garlic, lemon zest, red pepper flakes, ground ginger, and black pepper.
- Pour half into the prepared Instant Pot, place chicken breasts on top, then pour remaining sauce over chicken.
- Cover and lock lid - be sure steam releasing handle is pointing toward SEALING.
- Cook on HIGH pressure for 10 minutes, then flip the valve to "VENTING" for a quick release.
- Remove chicken and set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch with 2 tablespoons lemon juice.
- Whisk that mixture into the Instant Pot.
- Hit SAUTE on the Instant Pot and bring the sauce to a simmer.
- Add chicken back in and simmer until the sauce has thickened, about 5 minutes.
- Shred or cube the chicken directly in the pot, taste and re-season, if necessary, then serve and enjoy!
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Nutrition Information
*Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on products used.
Felicia
Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy
Cindy
Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy
Cindy
Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy