Instant Pot Orange Chicken – this delicious instant pot chicken recipe is ready in 15 minutes or less and is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner idea.
Instant Pot Orange Chicken
Ever since I got my instant pot a few months ago, I haven’t been able to put it down. It now sits on my counter constantly. This sweet and tangy Instant Pot Orange Chicken whips up in 15 minutes or less and is loved by kids and adults alike.
I serve my chicken with white rice and colorful veggies, it makes for a very festive plate without spending hours in the kitchen.
The greatest joy of instant pot cooking is the freedom it gives me to do other things. Not only does it cook fast, it cooks it all by itself. I just throw everything in there and leave. For a busy mom like me is a life saver.
This particular chicken has a very flavorful thick sauce that hugs the white rice when served together. It’s super easy to prepare up since it doesn’t need any special ingredients.
Last week I made a yummy Asian sesame chicken, this recipe has the same technique but with very different flavors. I still haven’t decided which one I like better. Surely they will become weekly staples in my household.
My husband suggested that next time we add some cashews or peanuts before serving. It’s certainly a great idea that I will try in the future.
The weather has finally been decent the last few days and I am looking forward to spending more time outside with the family. The girls are super happy with their soccer classes and now want to practice some more as soon as they get home.
I am looking forward to Halloween so I can raid their baskets and steal all the Mike&Ike’s, Jelly Beans, Snickers, and more. 🙂
Finally, I hope you can try this delicious Instant Pot Orange Chicken at home. If you do, please upload a pic on Instagram and tag me @Livingsweetmoments or use the hashtag #LivingSweet. I promise to repost it.
- 3-4 Boneless skinless chicken breasts cubed
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 3-4 tablespoons water
- Green onions
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In a bowl, mix the water, orange juice, soy sauce, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger together
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Place chicken in the instant pot. Add sauce and mix together with a spoon
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Close the lid and pressure cook for 5 minutes
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Release the pressure and press the saute button
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To thicken sauce
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In a small bowl mix water and cornstarch together
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Add to the chicken
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Cook for 1-2 minutes or until sauce thickens
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Remove from pot and serve
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OPTIONAL: Garnish with green onions
Other Instant Pot Recipes to try:
Instant Pot Honey Balsamic Drumsticks
I subbed Hoisin for ketchup and rice vinegar for apple cider vinegar and it turned out DELISH! Cooked perfectly in my pressure cooker which is the main thing I need with an Instant Pot recipe.
Yummm love your substitutions!
I’ve noticed a lot of your photos are dishes served over rice. The i Nstant Pot has a rice cooker setting. Do you use this option and if so do you prepare the rice first before the main dish? Or do use a separate rice cooker, if so, can you recommend a brand, I’ve had difficulty finding one that I like. Or do you just go with Uncle Ben’s in the microwave or on this cooktop? Thanks. Just got my pressure cooker today and am so excited. This will likely be the first recipe I try and will rate than. Look stylish.
Hi Sparty, I usually make a large batch of long grain white rice in the stovetop and leave it in a the fridge to use all week. You can also cook the rice using the instant pot. Some people place a trivet on top of the chicken and use a bowl to cook the rice at the same time the chicken is cooking. Hope that helps!
Can’t wait to make this dish 🙂 What type of release for step four? Natural or Quick?
It’s quick release Danielle. Let me know how it comes out!
We just got our Instant Pot yesterday, so our maiden voyage was this orange chicken. First we made the rice in the Instant Pot. This Orange Chicken is delicious! The flavors are wonderful and the chicken is done perfectly. Thanks for making our first recipe a success!
Hi Luann! Welcome to the Instant Pot World! Glad you liked the recipe. Thanks for the feedback!
My husband bought bone chicken by mistake same method would work with bone chicken?
No problem Michelle! just cook it for 3-4 more minutes
We just got our instant pot and I am going to make this tonight. Will it really be done in 5 minutes before opening the lid? That seems so fast for cooking chicken all the way through
Hi Scott! I know it sounds super fast but that’s the magic of the instant pot. Let me know how it turns out!
Is this powdered ginger or fresh?
fresh ginger Sheri. If you don’t have any just use powder
Ok I bought a bulb of ginger! Now what do I do with it!?!?
The bulb goes great for this recipe and here a few more:
– https://livingsweetmoments.com/instant-pot-ginger-garlic-drumsticks/
– https://livingsweetmoments.com/ginger-soy-salmon-recipe-easy/
– https://livingsweetmoments.com/easy-15-minute-shrimp-lo-mein/
– https://livingsweetmoments.com/quick-chicken-teriyaki-rice-bowls/
Hi Tiffany, i have a instant pressure cooker (it is a instant counter top pressure cooker), which i believe is the same thing. People don’t need to go buy an insta-pot if they already have a Power Pressure Cooker. Only mentioning this so we all don’t fall into the “i need a special appliance for each thing i cook.” These cookers are amazing! I really are enjoying your recipes, because you never get enough with the little booklet they give you! Thank you for what all you do! Great recipes!
Hi Pamela! You are absolutely right! If you already have a pressure cooker, you need an additional appliance. Glad you liked the recipe. Thanks for your comment and have a wonderful Sunday.
This a was great!
Do you have the nutritional info?
Thanks.
Glad you liked the chicken Peg! I just added the Nutritional info underneath the recipe card. Have a great day!
can you use frozen chicken? if so does it change the cook time?
Yes Shelley! no need to increase time, it’ll just simply take the IP longer to get to pressure
Hello!! Do you think I could add some veggies to cook with the chicken? Or possibly even pineapple??
Hi Megan! I’m afraid if you add veggies they will turn mushy. Maybe, you can cook the chicken for one minute less.. Do quick release, add the veggies and do manual for 1 minute.
I need to increase this recipe to feed 6-8. When I add more meat, do I need to increase the cooking time? Can’t wait to try this recipe to feed my grandkids!
Not at all Susan! it’ll simply take longer for the ip to come to pressure. Hope your grandkids like it!
Could you please mention the boneless chicken by weight in lbs or grams. Thanks
About 2 lbs or 1 kilogram Alf
Do you need more liquid if it is an 8 qt pot. They recommend at least 18 ounces of liquid
Yes Michelle! My pot only requires a cup, so you might have to double the recipe.
Hi Tiffany! I’m excited to try this recipe! Do you use the poultry setting on your instant pot, or do you use the manual timer? If so, what level pressure do you use?
Thanks!
Hi Alyson! I use the MANUAL setting on the IP. In fact, it’s the only button I use to pressure cook any kind of food lol! And use HIGH pressure. Hope that helps!
Ok, thank ya ma’am!! Helps a bunch!
you’re welcome! Let me know if how it comes out
Hi Tiffany! I don’t think my original post saved. Did you use the poultry setting or manual button for this recipe? If you used manual, which level pressure did you use? I can’t wait to try this out!
Thanks!
I got my electric pressure cooker today and made the Orange chicken tonight as it’s my granddaughter’s favorite food. The taste was wonderful. I doubled the sauce and used about 3 lbs. of chicken and when I vented the cooker it spit sauce all over, it was about half full and I don’t know if it was too much sauce or something else that caused this – I don’t think it’s supposed to spit food with the steam. Help please, thanks –
Hi Susan! Glad you liked the recipe. When using a lot of sauce, just wait 10-15 minutes after the IP beeps before releasing the vent (15 Natural pressure release) – so the contents of the sauce settles and doesn’t spill all over.
I made this tonight and my Instant Pot went from “on” to “burn” in about 20 minutes. It never switched to the 5 minute timer. This was the first time I’ve made a meat dish. I cancelled the program immediately. It was still edible, just a little dry. Never got to the thickening of the sauce step. I have absolutely no idea what went wrong. Maybe I need to add more liquid (I have a 6 quart pot)..
Oh no! sorry that happened to you Andrea. My pot has never displayed that
Your Orange Chicken sounds yummy! Your picture shows mixed veggies but no mention of them in recipe. Are they just added extras–maybe stovetop?
Hi Linda! The veggies were a side dish as a suggestion to the chicken! I used frozen veggies and steamed them for 2-3 minutes
We made this tonight and I will be making it again! Even the 3 year old approved!!It was a little too sweet for our liking, so I think next time I’ll reduce the brown sugar and maybe throw in some orange zest or squeeze in a fresh orange Just before serving.
Thanks for your feedback Michelle! 3 year olds are the best judges! 🙂 Adding some orange zest sounds like a great idea or even rice wine vinegar
Do you cook in sauté mode for step 8?
Correct Kristen!
My 5-year old son loves this recipe and I make it all the time for us. My husband adds red pepper flakes to give it a little kick. Thanks!
Yum!! that little kick must make a big difference! Happy New Year and thanks for your feedback
Thank you so much for the step by step video, used it for my first try with the instapot and it was very helpful.
Glad you enjoyed the recipe Shayne!