Instant Pot Lemon Butter Chicken

Juicy and tender chicken thighs cooked in the Instant Pot with the perfect sauce made from butter, lemon juice, plenty of garlic and herbs. This is outrageously delicious! Also, low-carb and keto-friendly.

Instant Pot Lemon Butter Chicken

Pals, say HI to your new favorite Instant Pot Chicken recipe! ? This Instant Pot Lemon Butter Chicken is prepared with tender chicken thighs packed with incredible flavors resulting from butter, garlic, and lemon juice. ?

This lemon chicken recipe is one of my personal favorites and I know so many people out there are going to love it, as well. It’s a one pot, keto-friendly, 25-minute dinner that pairs perfectly with weeknights… and white wine. ?

Instant Pot Lemon Butter Chicken

INSTANT POT CHICKEN THIGHS

Crispy and golden chicken on the outside, but tender and juicy on the inside, simmered in a lemon sauce with garlic and butter. WHAT could be better?!

For this recipe, I used juicy, bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, but you can also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs. I have prepared it with both, the only difference is in the cooking time:

Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs need to pressure cook for 10 minutes. When done, allow 10-minute natural pressure release, then do a quick release. IF browning (sautéing) the chicken beforehand, I cut about 2 minutes from the natural pressure release time. Also, expect your Instant Pot to take several minutes to reach pressure and begin the cooking program.
To cook frozen chicken thighs in the Instant Pot, you will need to adjust the cook time to 25 minutes. Also, you can’t brown frozen chicken thighs.
Boneless, skinless chick thighs need to pressure cook for 8 minutes. Then, do 8 minutes of natural pressure release, and a quick release at the end.

FYI: I remove the skin before eating. Saves me about 40 calories per chicken thigh.

HOW TO MAKE LEMON BUTTER CHICKEN IN THE INSTANT POT

We will start by seasoning the chicken thighs with some paprika, salt, and pepper.
Melt butter in the Instant Pot and add 3 chicken thighs at a time, skin side down; brown on both sides for about 2 minutes per side. Remove from pot; repeat the same with the remaining chicken thighs.

Instant Pot Chicken Thighs

Melt remaining butter in the Instant Pot and add garlic; cook for 1 minute.
Stir in chicken broth and scrape up the browned bits.
Stir in the lemon juice; add browned chicken thighs back to the pot, set the timer, close lid and cook.
When finished, remove chicken from the pot and serve with the sauce.

Optionally, but if you want to crisp up the chicken skin a bit more, set it under the broiler for 1 to 2 minutes, then serve.

CREAMY LEMON BUTTER SAUCE

If you want a creamy sauce, remove chicken from the Instant Pot and add 1/3 cup heavy cream to the lemon butter sauce; cook for a minute or two, or until creamy. Serve.
If you are looking for a thicker creamy sauce, in a small bowl mix 1 teaspoon cornstarch with 2 teaspoons cold water; add to the sauce and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until thickened.

Instant Pot Lemon Chicken

WHAT SIDE DISHES TO SERVE WITH CHICKEN THIGHS

For a lighter meal, serve over stir fry zucchini noodles or bright green veggies, like bacon wrapped asparagus. You can also serve chicken thighs with pasta, rice, or anything else you can think of. A salad, perhaps? My Creamy Cucumber Salad is da bomb.

MORE INSTANT POT CHICKEN RECIPES

MORE LEMON CHICKEN RECIPES

ENJOY!

Instant Pot Lemon Butter Chicken

Juicy and tender chicken thighs cooked in the Instant Pot with the perfect sauce made from butter, lemon juice, plenty of garlic and herbs.

Course:

Dinner

Cuisine:

American, Italian

Keyword:

chicken thighs recipe, instant pot chicken thighs recipe, instant pot dinner recipe

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 380 kcal

Ingredients

6
bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
salt and pepper, to taste
1
teaspoon
smoked or sweet paprika
1/2
teaspoon
dried thyme
1/2
teaspoon
dried basil
3
tablespoons
butter,
divided (if avoiding butter, you can use olive oil)
4
garlic cloves,
minced
1
whole lemon,
juiced
1
teaspoon
lemon zest
3/4
cup
low sodium chicken broth
chopped fresh parsley
for garnish
lemon wedges
for garnish

Instructions

Season chicken thighs with salt, pepper, paprika, thyme, and basil; set aside.
Press the sauté function on the Instant Pot (OR normal setting) and add 2 tablespoons butter to melt.
Place chicken thighs skin-side down (use 3 thighs at a time) in the Instant Pot and cook on each side for 2 minutes, or until golden brown.
Remove chicken from Instant Pot and set aside.
Melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter in the Instant Pot and stir in garlic.
Add chicken broth and scrape up the browned bits from the bottom; cook for 1 minute. Stir in lemon juice and lemon zest.
Arrange chicken thighs back in the Instant Pot.
Press “Manual” and set time to 10 minutes at HIGH PRESSURE; close lid and set the valve to seal.
After the time is up, allow 8 minutes of natural pressure release. Then, release remaining pressure.
Remove lid and use a thermometer to check that internal temperature of 170F degrees has been reached.
Transfer chicken thighs to a serving platter, garnish with fresh parsley and lemon wedges; serve with the lemon butter sauce.
SEE NOTES for how to make a CREAMY LEMON BUTTER SAUCE.

Recipe Notes

If you want a CREAMY lemon butter sauce, after removing the chicken from the Instant Pot, stir in 1/3 cup heavy cream and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until bubbly and slightly thickened.
If you like a thicker sauce, in a small bowl mix 1 teaspoon cornstarch with 2 teaspoons cold water; whisk into the sauce and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until thickened.

WW FREESTYLE POINTS: 15

WW FREESTYLE POINTS WITH BONELESS, SKINLESS CHICKEN BREASTS: 3

Nutrition Facts

Instant Pot Lemon Butter Chicken

Amount Per Serving (1 chicken thigh with sauce)

Calories 380
Calories from Fat 261

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 29g
45%

Saturated Fat 10g
50%

Cholesterol 156mg
52%

Sodium 171mg
7%

Potassium 362mg
10%