This spicy honey Instant Pot chicken takes just 4 minutes to cook and comes out moist and full of flavor! Sweet and spicy chicken bites smothered in delicious sauce which we love atop a bed of rice. A great healthy pressure cooker dinner our whole family enjoys.
Ever since I got my fancy pressure cooker I have been fiddling with new Instant Pot recipes and have come up with many that are so quick and my family loves! Sometimes it is hard to create something healthy that everyone enjoys (including my 3 kids). This spicy honey garlic chicken is one of them though! My littlest loves what she calls “sweet chicken” which is the chicken she gets at Chinese food restaurants so I aimed to create something similar to that but with a little bit of heat since we love Sriracha! This sweet and spicy honey Instant Pot chicken turned out great the first time around, we will definitely be making this one again! (affiliate link present, originally published 6/17)
- If you don’t have an Instant Pot yet and are busy like we are I highly recommend getting one!
It has made making dinners so much easier. I tend to cook healthier overall too. I can add chicken, whip up this sauce in a small bowl, close the lid and in less than 20 minutes it’s done. Seriously!
Don’t get intimidated to pressure cook. I was at first. It is really easy to use once you get the hang of it and I only create Instant Pot chicken recipes here on The Typical Mom.
I also include simple step by step directions for this spicy Instant Pot chicken as well as for every other recipe I create so everyone can make them. If I can include an instructional video as well. š
If you’re looking for a healthy Instant Pot recipe that tastes amazing for dinner or even serve this as an appetizer in a bowl with some toothpicks on the side to snack on without the rice! Use as much or as little Sriracha as you want to adjust the heat level, or leave it out entirely and make a sweet honey chicken, that would be amazing too.
I added 2 tbsp of Sriracha to this Instant Pot spicy honey chicken and it was a bit spicy, but not over the top.
If you really like heat just add more, or cut out entirely if it’s not your thing. I added large chunks of chicken to the pot knowing they would shrink a bit when cooking. If you cut them smaller I would decrease the cook time to 3 minutes to maintain it’s moisture. You still want to give it time to soak up all the yummy sauce juices.
- That is the great thing about the pressure cooker function.
You can use the same meat but create a different sauce and it is infused into the meat when it cooks. It does it so quickly too and allows us to eat dinner as a family much more often because I can make a complete meal in about 20 minutes.
Here’s what you’ll need to make this easy spicy honey Instant Pot chicken recipe
- Instant Pot or any other pressure cooker
- I HIGHLY suggest you get a non stick pot too!
- Chicken breasts – boneless skinless, could use chicken thigh meat if you preferred
- Brown sugar
- Honey
- Minced ginger & garlic
- Soy sauce
- Sriracha – can leave out if you don’t want any heat
- Onion
- Cornstarch
- Here’s how to make the perfect Instant Pot white rice
Once everything is in the pot (minus the cornstarch) you just lock lid and cook! Then do a quick pressure release once the beep goes off and enjoy the yumminess my friends. I start my rice before preparing this so everything is done at once. š
Looking for more easy Instant Pot recipes?
- We have a few more you have to try too like our Instant Pot Hawaiian chicken recipe that is so good
- Our pressure cooker apricot chicken is a family fave
- Instant Pot chicken noodle soup
- Try our Instant Pot spicy teriyaki chicken thighs
- Mushroom masala looks good too
This spicy chicken is great served with Instant Pot broccoli to. It only takes 1 minute on high pressure!
- Keep in mind the sauce thickens in the last step when adding cornstarch. BUT will continue to thicken as it sits so just add a bit.
Here’s the printable recipe to follow as well:
Spicy Honey Instant Pot Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts cut into bite size chunks
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 3 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp minced ginger
- 1.5 tbsp minced garlic
- 1/4 c soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Sriracha or more if you want it really spicy
- 1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 1/2 onion sliced or diced
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds optional to top
- 2 green onions optional to top
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
Instructions
- Cut chicken breasts into large bite size chunks and cut onion into chunks.
- Put chicken and onions into the Instant Pot or pressure cooker.
- Mix all other ingredients together (except the cornstarch) well with a fork and pour on top of chicken.
- Close the lid and steam valve and set Instant Pot to manual, pressure, high, 4 minutes.
- Do a quick release and carefully lift lid.
- Put some of the hot sauce in a small bowl with the cornstarch and whisk together, then add back into the pot and stir.
- Set Instant Pot to saute, normal and let bubble for a few minutes.
- Allow to sit for a few minutes so the sauce thickens.
- Serve spicy honey chicken over rice.
Tracie says
05/09/2019 at 4:16 pmIf I want to add frozen broccoli florets do you think it work? Should I change cooking time
The Typical Mom says
05/09/2019 at 4:17 pmBroccoli will turn to mush. It only takes 1 minute for that to cook so it would be in too long. Best to cook that separately. https://temeculablogs.com/instant-pot-broccoli/
Pat says
04/15/2019 at 12:14 pmI don’t see any liquid –with brown sugar and honey won’t it burn?
I am using chicken tenders
DOesnt it requre1 cup of water?
The Typical Mom says
04/15/2019 at 2:46 pmBelieve me if you follow the directions it comes out incredible.
Camlle Christian says
03/25/2019 at 8:27 amI substituted 4 tablespoons of Ultra Gel for the cornstarch (stirred it in before pressuring) and it turned out great with no extra cooking–it was ready to serve directly from the pan. SOOO EASY and SOOO GOOD! A keeper at our house!
The Typical Mom says
03/25/2019 at 8:48 amSo glad you loved it too.
Hayley says
02/26/2019 at 10:12 amDo you have a recommendation on how to modify for a crock pot instead of an instant pot?
Shyla says
02/22/2019 at 1:17 pmHi! My family loved this. Has anyone tried it with pork tenderloin pieces instead of chicken? Trying to use up some pork š
The Typical Mom says
02/23/2019 at 1:08 pmI believe that would taste incredible too, just dice them up like the chicken.
Alex says
02/26/2019 at 11:04 amFor the boneless chicken breast, do you have to cook them prior to putting them into the pot? Or do you jus let put them in raw with the sauce & cook
For 4 minutes and the chicken comes out completely cooked?
Amber says
01/26/2019 at 6:54 pmMade this tonight for dinner. Didn’t have onion, minced ginger or garlic so used ground ginger and 3 Tbs of granulated garlic instead. I thought it was a bit spicy, but the husband said this recipe is a keeper!
The Typical Mom says
01/27/2019 at 2:49 pmSo glad!
Ashley says
01/08/2019 at 9:23 amI am trying this recipe today, but want to leave the siracha out for my toddler….anything else that you recommend mixing with the cornstarch or should I just use water
The Typical Mom says
01/08/2019 at 9:24 amEither use water, chicken broth, or some of the hot liquid in the pot to whisk in a small bowl with cornstarch until smooth. Then dump in to thicken. š
Ashley says
01/08/2019 at 4:10 pmThank you! It was delicious, everyone loved it! Will definitely make again š
The Typical Mom says
01/09/2019 at 12:38 pmSo glad it was a hit.
Charlene Velsini says
04/04/2019 at 1:11 pmI used some sesame oil and a little bit of water. Really loved the heightened taste of the sesame.
Mary says
01/07/2019 at 2:23 pmLoved this. Next time I will steam some broccoli and add when finished.
Julie says
01/05/2019 at 2:29 pm4 Tablespoons.,85 grams or 3 oz.
Brandi says
01/02/2019 at 3:13 pmI just got my IP for Christmas and this was my first try at it. Family of 5 says… “Winner winner chicken dinner!” I’m the picky water of the group and man this is good! Thank you so much! I look forward to trying more of your recipes!
The Typical Mom says
01/02/2019 at 6:29 pmOH Yeah!!
Denise S says
12/28/2018 at 5:17 pmOk but kinda bland. I used 2 tbsp of sriracha and there was no heat at all. Need to double the sauce and add more sriracha.
jenni jacob says
12/05/2018 at 2:20 pmHow long do I keep in IP if chicken is frozen?
The Typical Mom says
12/06/2018 at 1:07 pmPieces would need to be precut into bite size pieces beforehand, I wouldn’t adjust time but of course check to ensure it is cooked thru when done.
Robin Hays says
12/15/2018 at 9:40 amCan I use boneless thighs for this recipe?.
Thanks
RH
Amelia says
12/02/2018 at 5:42 pmSuch a yummy dinner! My husband and family LOVED it! I added a cup of water to make sure there was enough liquid. I left out the Worcester sauce and sesame seeds and also used a Tbs onion powder and 1/4th tsp ground ginger as replacements for fresh onion and ginger. Next time Iām definitely doubling it! š SO yummy!!!
Karen says
10/30/2018 at 3:38 pmI made this tonight in a skillet with frozen grilled chicken strips! It was delicious! Only took about 4 minutes to cook the chicken since it was already cooked and it was very tender. Love this recipe and will definitely fix it again! I will use my new IP next time with fresh chicken as called for in recipe. Wasn’t sure how to adjust it for the frozen grilled chicken.
Wilhelmina Wessel says
10/22/2018 at 3:41 amThis yummy dinner is going on the menu!
Jennifer Banz says
10/21/2018 at 8:22 pmLove using my instant pot. This will be a great recipe!
Krystal says
10/18/2018 at 5:44 pmFirst time user and not sure if your calling for cubed cooked chicken or raw cubed chicken?
Sarah says
10/22/2018 at 6:30 pmIām pretty sure raw… it cooks fast!
Jackie says
10/18/2018 at 9:32 amIf you don’t have ginger you can use allspice. Awesome recipe
Michelle says
10/15/2018 at 2:02 pmI have everything but cornstarch. Trying not to go to the store. Is there something else to substitute for cornstarch? Thank you !
Heather says
10/15/2018 at 5:04 pmFlour would likely work too
Harry says
01/18/2019 at 6:17 pmBuild a simple Roux…. small pan…Medium heat… 2Tbs butter 2Tbs flour…work it together and treat as cornstarch in recipe.
Good luck!!
susan sendelbach says
10/13/2018 at 5:21 amHi Haven’t tried it yet, but will. Can I do the rice in the same pot?
Cindy A Hampton says
10/22/2018 at 4:36 pmyou would have to add equal amounts of water but yes you can then instead of QR then NPR ten minutes.
Cristina says
09/27/2018 at 6:48 amI really love the combination of sweet and spicy taste, especially when cooking chicken. I only have Tabasco at home so I might use it to replace Sriracha. I also love slightly toasted sesame seeds. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Ashley says
09/19/2018 at 8:46 amI have an 8 qt I am trying this with for the first time using it…. I plan to use a little less chicken. The liquid is enough? I though you need one cup of liquid for the instant pot no matter what?
The Typical Mom says
09/22/2018 at 7:29 pmI would use the same amount of liquid.
Michelle says
03/29/2019 at 4:05 pmSame amount of liquid as what? I am new to this and do I need to add chicken broth or water or not? The Instant Pot guide says all recipes should have 3 cups of liquid but I am not seeing this much liquid in any of the recipes. I have the Instant Pot 7 in 1 Duo 6 qt.
Faith says
09/17/2018 at 10:32 amThe only ingredient I am missing is an onion (trying to avoid going to the grocery store). Do you think it would alter the taste too much if I do not include?
The Typical Mom says
09/17/2018 at 10:33 amIt will be just fine without it.
Amy says
02/07/2019 at 3:18 pmI had the same question. Answer was not clear. I am sticking to recipe and hope it doesnāt blow up
The Typical Mom says
02/07/2019 at 3:24 pmHave never had even a near blow up experience so no worries about that….recipes are meant to be a base so if you don’t have onion then leave out. That isn’t a must but it is good.
Cathy says
08/06/2018 at 5:23 pmHad never used my instant pot before so decided this would be my first dinner in it. Loved it, didn’t put as much spice in it, boyfriend doesn’t like it too spicy. Will make again!! Thanks for the recipe!
The Typical Mom says
08/08/2018 at 10:47 amSo glad!
Danielle Shields says
07/24/2018 at 8:46 amFor Step 5 Am I taking some sauce from the pot and mixing cornstarch or was the hot sauce not suppose to be added until this step? Step 1 says mix everything but the cornstarch so I’m assuming the sriracha went it then?
The Typical Mom says
07/24/2018 at 5:14 pmYes everything other than the cornstarch.
Amy says
07/23/2018 at 5:18 pmIs there an adaptation for a slow cooker or stove top? I don’t have an IP yet (no room for it) and would like to try this recipe – it looks like something i can have without too much adaption for my allergies.
The Typical Mom says
07/23/2018 at 5:26 pmHmmmm, I haven’t done that but if I were to venture a guess I would half the breasts, add all the sauce, stir so all was coated and put on low for maybe 6 hours or until the chicken was cooked thru (depending on how thick they were). I am sure it would work great that way too.
Mary Jane Mitchell says
07/23/2018 at 4:51 pmThis was super good. I used 6 breasts and doubled the sauce. Also – subbed fish sauce for Worcestershire Sauce. Added one sliced up red pepper; next time I’ll add some carrots too. Also, instead of sesame seeds, I used Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel sesame seasoning blend – so good!
The Typical Mom says
07/23/2018 at 4:58 pmYeah!!!
Cherry says
07/22/2018 at 11:26 amJust made this for lunch in my new Instant Pot that I got during Prime Day. Wow! Like others, I used powdered ginger because this is what I had on hand. My husband and I both loved it other than he needed more salt. I told him it was most likely because I use a sweet soy instead of the salty soy. Has a better flavor and he can always add salt. Thank you so much. This was my first try at using my Instant Pot and the directions were fantastic and easy to follow. Thanks.
The Typical Mom says
07/23/2018 at 2:37 pmSo glad you loved it!
Ann says
07/18/2018 at 3:12 pmHow much soy sauce….it said 1/4 c….i am not familiar with that measurement
Jess says
07/21/2018 at 11:41 am1/4 cup.
The Typical Mom says
07/23/2018 at 2:44 pm1/4 of a cup
Wendy Lorenz says
06/15/2018 at 5:32 pmMy husband LOVED this, and so did I. I thought it was full of flavor and I also used 1 tsp of powdered ginger in place of the fresh. But other than that, I kept it the same, and added steamed broccoli. It’s a keeper. Thanks.
Magui Rodriguez says
06/12/2018 at 1:05 pmReally easy and quick. I substituted powdered ginger for fresh, added ground chiles instead of hot sauce and added a tbsp of rice vinegar for tang. Delicious!!
Jana says
04/25/2018 at 7:06 pmOur new favorite IP supper! I substituted Franks Hot Sauce for the sriracha sauce, and also doubled the sauce. Served over chow mein noodles, delicious!!!!!!!!! Iāve already shared this recipe with IP friends. Thank you posting! š
Andrea says
03/22/2018 at 5:12 pmIt can sometimes be a challenge to make a weeknight dinner thatās easy and quick for me, without defaulting to frozen pizza, that is also loved by adults and kids alike. I did leave out the spicy heat, but it was a huge success! The 8 year old wants it again soon, and the 7 year old was on board!
Shavonne says
03/04/2018 at 5:48 pmI made this tonight and my husband and I couldnāt get enough! I put some bell pepper and shredded carrots along with powdered ginger since I didnāt have fresh. Also I used chicken thighs instead of breasts. Came out fall apart tender! Will definitely make again
The Typical Mom says
03/05/2018 at 1:23 pmSo glad you loved it!!
Ashleigh says
06/21/2018 at 5:36 pmWhen sautĆ©ing do I put the lid back on or leave it off?? Iām new to the whole instapot thing .. lol
The Typical Mom says
06/26/2018 at 8:29 amNo you never put the lid on when you are using the saute feature.
Cindy Brooks says
02/28/2018 at 9:15 pmI made this for dinner tonight and everyone agreed it’s a keeper! I used thighs instead of breast, but I’m sure it’d be great with either. I didn’t have any ginger, so I just left it out and it wasn’t missed. Thanks for sharing your recipe!
PAULA WAVAK says
02/26/2018 at 9:31 amIm new to this pressure cooker phase (crock pot express multi cooker) So if I have whole boneless skinless chicken breasts that are frozen….should i pressure cook them first, cut them up into chunks, then start with your instructions???
Micki says
04/24/2018 at 1:33 pmI think your best bet would be to thaw the chicken first. If you have a microwave oven you can speed up the thawing process but use the lowest setting so the edges donāt get cooked.
krystal says
10/18/2018 at 5:52 pmSo you just cube the raw chicken then put it in?
Amanda says
02/25/2018 at 3:46 pmMade this tonight for dinner and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Only thoughts were how we could incorporate vegetables into the dish. My son came up with water chestnuts and carrots. I was thinking of green pepper and bamboo shoots. Since we did not make it spicy I just made a slurry of water and cornstarch to thicken up the sauce and served it over brown rice. Thank you for an easy and tasty meal!
Terry Zazzara says
03/19/2018 at 4:31 pmTry serving over riced cauliflower!
Ava says
02/22/2018 at 4:51 pmMy daughter wants it more saucy sweet and Spicer. How would I do that?
The Typical Mom says
02/22/2018 at 4:55 pmWell you can always double the recipe for the sauce to make more of it and increase the Sriracha for spice.
Ava says
02/22/2018 at 4:47 pmI made this tonight for my hubby and extremely finicky daughter. When I say she’s picky,… I’m talking the worst. So, I put it on her plate and to my surprise and my husband’s, SHE ATE EVERYTHING!!!!
Thank you ,thank you ,thank you…..
The Typical Mom says
02/22/2018 at 4:55 pmOH yeah!!! It’s one of our faves too!
Robin says
02/05/2018 at 9:08 pmOMGeee!! This is amazing! I only switched out the Sriracha for Red Chili Sauce (as someone else mentioned), added a half of green bell pepper to the onions and 1/2 tsp salt. This is a KEEPER!!
Barbara Lerman says
01/30/2018 at 2:38 pmThis was my first dish made with my brand new instant pot and could not have been more pleased!! Cooking time of 3 minutes was perfect and my husband who is a fan of tasty food was well satisfied!
Pat says
01/27/2018 at 6:43 amI haven’t tried this yet, just wondering if that is enough liquid?
Carole says
06/25/2018 at 3:31 pmThatās what Iām wondering too but this has rave reviews so Iām trying it. If I have issues Iāll let you know
Carole says
06/25/2018 at 4:08 pmIt worked and was good!
The Typical Mom says
06/26/2018 at 8:26 amGlad you enjoyed it!
Roxanne says
01/18/2018 at 12:52 pmIf you’re not using siracha, can I mix the corn starch with rest if they wet ingredients?
Sydney says
01/12/2018 at 7:25 pmWhat is the weight of the chicken you’re using? Or the general size? I have two chicken breasts but they are HUGE. Not sure if I should pick up more at the store.
The Typical Mom says
01/13/2018 at 4:20 pmI would say they are medium sized generally. I suggest cubing the chicken into fork size pieces when you cook it so the breast size initially shouldn’t matter much.
Teri says
01/11/2018 at 9:03 amIs your carb count including the rice? This sounds amazing but I count carbs.
Sara says
01/09/2018 at 6:24 amI am new to the Instant Pot (have the Crockpot Express Cooker, largest size). Can you double this recipe (want to cook it for 8-9 people)?
The Typical Mom says
01/09/2018 at 8:16 amShould work without a problem, yes.
Amy says
01/08/2018 at 10:35 amThe ingredients doesn’t include an onion (other than green onions for garnish), but the instructions ask for a chopped onion. How much onion did you add to the chicken?
The Typical Mom says
01/08/2018 at 10:38 amYes it states 1/2 onion in ingredients, you can slice or dice whichever you prefer. Small or larger pieces
Charissa says
03/13/2018 at 5:15 pmDoes the onion go in the instant pot? Or is it added after the dish has completed cooking? Is this a white onion or green onion?
Tammi Fellows says
12/28/2017 at 9:37 pmHi Typical Mom,
I just made turkey noodle soup tonight, my first dish in my new IP. I want to try your recipe however I only have ground ginger and I’m not the best with spicy dishes. Do you think I’d be OK with the ground ginger instead of minced? Thank you
Ashlee says
12/05/2017 at 3:13 pmHow long do you think I would need to cook it if I used chicken tenders?
Pam says
10/31/2017 at 7:55 pmWe really liked this dish. Finally got a recipe that I didnāt get the āBurnā message on my Instant Pot. š
We arenāt fans of Siracha sauce so I used Sweet Chili Sauce and ground ginger. It was delicious!!
Lolo says
01/02/2018 at 4:20 pmTrying this tonight and have only had BURN messages on my instant pot thus far your comment has given me hope!
Margaret Bell says
10/30/2017 at 3:41 pmDid you use frozen or thawed chicken? I’m making this as my first instant pot go. I’m so excited!!!!!
The Typical Mom says
10/30/2017 at 4:31 pmI did not use frozen chicken. š
Lauren says
12/28/2017 at 4:09 pmHow would you modify if you used frozen chicken breasts?
The Typical Mom says
12/28/2017 at 4:29 pmIf you have whole frozen breasts instead of bite size pieces like I did frozen breasts at about 2 lbs. total take about 12 minutes to cook well, so depends if they’re whole or not.
B says
10/18/2017 at 2:13 pmEasy recipe- thumbs up! My family loved this. Iām usually not a fan of chicken dishes and I enjoyed it! I used fresh ginger. I imagine it wouldnāt taste as good with ground (powder) ginger. This was great because I reserved some without the hot sauce for my child and for the adults I mixed the hot sauce in our portion. Tasty both ways! I served it with white rice and Asian slaw. The next day I mixed all three leftovers into a bowl and that was delicious too.
The Typical Mom says
10/23/2017 at 8:48 pmOH good!!
Joan says
10/16/2017 at 9:25 pmMade it this evening for dinner. The only switch I made was powdered ginger because I didnāt have fresh. Otherwise, followed to the letter. Just meh. My husband, who will generally eat anything, didnāt like it. Not a keeper. Needs more flavor.
Pam says
02/14/2019 at 8:15 pmAdd 1 tbsp of fish sauce and 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice to the liquid ingredients before pressuring.
The Typical Mom says
02/15/2019 at 1:28 pmThat would be a good add in also.