Instant Pot Smoky Honey Chicken

The best thing to ever come out of my pressure cooker, this Instant Pot smoky honey chicken is tender, flavorful, and perfect for salads, enchiladas, tacos – you name it! {Slow cooker instructions included as well!}

This smoky honey chicken is the best thing to ever come out of my Instant Pot.

I hate to be dramatic and all, but it IS a Monday. And I’m a firm believer that a little dramatic energy on a Monday can help propel you through the week.

Truth.

So I stick with my not-even-exaggerated opening sentence: this is the best Instant Pot meal ever.

Begun as a throw a bunch of stuff in the IP and see how it turns out kinda meal, I haven’t stopped making this Instant Pot smoky honey chicken!

Seriously, we’ve had it, oh, probably five or six times in the last month, and the dreamy part is no one is complaining about repeated meals because this tender, flavorful, juicy chicken is so versatile!

Tacos! Enchiladas! Burritos! Quesadillas! Salad!

Honestly the options are limitless…helped out in part because the flavor is out of this world delicious.

Because I know not everyone on the planet has an Instant Pot (yet!), I’ve also added slow cooker directions, too.

And let me just say a word, like I always do, about smoked paprika.

It’s what makes this recipe extra specially special.

Will I banish you from my life if you use regular paprika? Prolly not.

But I’ll be super sad that you are missing out on the crazy flavor explosion smoked paprika brings to the table.

I have a couple brands of smoked paprika in my cupboard right now (yes, I have issues, and yes, I’m totally ok with it). They are all delicious: Spice Islands, Trader Joe’s and Penzey’s.

Just for fun, here are a few other recipes I have that use smoked paprika:

Smoky Grilled Pork Tenderloin
Southwest Grilled Chicken Cobb Salad
Smoky Lentil and Potato Soup (Instant Pot)
Chili Lime Tacos with Mango Salsa
Roasted Maple-Glazed Pork Tenderloin

Honestly, this Instant Pot smoky honey chicken couldn’t be easier…or any tastier. It’s become a staple around here! I hope you love it, too.

Taco toppings (tortillas, cheese, avocados, sour cream, tomatoes, etc.)
The Best Cornbread
Honey Lime Fruit Salad

One Year Ago: Double Chocolate Chunk Muffins
Two Years Ago: Pumpkin Oreo Cheesecake Bars
Three Years Ago: Blueberry and Almond Baked Steel Cut Oats
Four Years Ago: White Chicken and Spinach Lasagna
Five Years Ago: Creamy Swiss Cheese Chicken Bake

Yield: 6-8 servings

Instant Pot Smoky Honey Cilantro Chicken

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:12 mins

Ingredients:

• 1 cup salsa verde (tomatillo salsa)
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 tablespoon liquid smoke (optional, but delicious)
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder or 2-3 cloves, finely minced
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 2-3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 3-4 chicken breasts, more if using thin cut)

Directions:

1. Whisk together the salsa verde, honey, liquid smoke, chili powder, salt, dried oregano, cumin, garlic powder (or fresh garlic), smoked paprika, and black pepper.
2. For the Instant Pot: Add the salsa verde mixture to the insert of the Instant Pot. Nestle the chicken into the sauce. Secure the lid and cook on high pressure for 12 minutes. Let the pressure naturally release for 10 minutes before manually releasing the rest of the pressure. Shred the chicken with two forks (right in the Instant Pot). Stir in the fresh cilantro and add additional salt and pepper to taste, if needed.
3. For the Slow Cooker: Add the salsa verde mixture to the insert of a 5- or 6-quart slow cooker. Nestle the chicken into the sauce. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-7 hours. If the mixture starts to look dry during cooking, add 1/2 cup or so chicken broth to the slow cooker and continue cooking. Shred the chicken with two forks (right in the slow cooker). Stir in the fresh cilantro and add additional salt and pepper to taste, if needed.
4. Serve the chicken as desired: tacos, enchiladas, burritos, over salad, etc.

Notes:

My preferred brand of salsa verde is Trader Joe’s, but I’ve also used Herdez with good results. 

All images and text ©Mel’s Kitchen Cafe.

Recipe Source: from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe