This Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich is quick, flavorful and super easy to make. My Subway dupe tastes even better because you can customize the flavor to your liking.
Want some more warm and delicious sandwich ideas, try an addictive Crack Chicken Sandwiches and my Porketta Sandwich.
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Why this Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken Recipe is a Keeper
I love this instant pot recipe because it’s a quick and easy one pot dinner that’s super delicious. This chicken breast recipe is perfect to add to an easy dinner recipe stash.
- Quick Pressure Cooker Meal: The Instant Pot cooks the chicken quickly and keeps it tender. Teriyaki chicken is an easy recipe that doesn’t take much effort.
- Great for Sandwiches: Shredded chicken soaks up the teriyaki sauce in the pot for big flavor. You have to try this recipe.
- Family-Friendly Flavor: Sweet and savory sauce that everyone enjoys.
- Versatile: Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich works in sandwiches, rice bowls, or wraps.
How Do you Thicken Teriyaki Sauce in the Instant Pot?
One of the best ways to thicken sauces or soups is with a cornstarch slurry. Mix equal parts of cornstarch and water and slowly whisk into the sauce while it’s simmering in the instant pot.
What Reader’s Are Saying…
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“Thanks for sharing this incredible Instant Pot teriyaki chicken sandwich recipe! It was so easy to make, and the flavor was absolutely spot on—tender chicken with that sweet-savory glaze, fresh toppings, and a soft bun made it an instant favorite I’ll definitely be making again.”
~ Grace
Ingredient Notes for Instant Pot Chicken Teriyaki
You only need a few easy-to-find ingredients, many of which you can easily fand at the store.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Chicken: Use boneless skinless chicken thighs to make these sandwiches.
- Ginger Puree: Pick up some ginger paste or puree at the store, or make your own at home.
- Vinegar: The recipe calls for white vinegar, but you can also try this instant pot chicken teriyaki recipe with rice vinegar.
Variations and Substitutions for this Instant Pot Recipe
Feel free to use different ingredients to substitute or experiment with flavors for this Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich.
- Use Chicken Breast: Boneless skinless chicken breasts are a great substitute for thighs.
- Add Pineapple: Pineapple adds sweetness and a tropical flavor.
- Heat: A dash of sriracha or red pepper flakes adds spice.
- Make Rice Bowls: Serve the chicken over cauliflower rice instead of on buns.
- Soy Sauce: If you’d like, feel free to swap for low sodium soy sauce to make this chicken teriyaki recipe.
Special Equipment Needed to Make Instant Pot Chicken
This pressure cooker teriyaki chicken recipe can be made super quick if you have the right piece of kitchen equipment.
- Instant Pot: The pressure cooker cooks the chicken quickly while keeping it tender and juicy.
- Meat Shredding Claws: These tools make shredding cooked chicken fast and easy. You can also use a mixer or two forks to shred the chicken.
How to Make Easy Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken
This recipe comes together in 3 easy to follow steps. This Instant Pot chicken teriyaki recipe is so good, it’s a good one to make for lunches for the week.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Sear the Chicken: Set the Instant Pot to saute mode, and melt the butter. When butter has melted, add in the garlic and cubed chicken. Cook until the outside of the chicken has browned. Turn off the instant pot, and shred the chicken thighs if you’d like.
- Add the Sauce: Add the soy sauce, honey, ginger puree, white vinegar, salt and pepper. Turn the instant pot to cook on high pressure for 5 minutes, then release the pressure manually.
- Thicken Sauce and Serve: While the mixture is still simmering, mix together the cornstarch and water to make a slurry. Stir the slurry into the sauce to thicken. Serve over your favorite rolls and pour the sauce over the top.
Prep Ahead Suggestions to Make this Recipe
When I prepare steps ahead of time, it can help save me time and kitchen space when it comes to making everything for dinner.
- Prepare the Sauce Early: Mix the teriyaki sauce ingredients ahead of time and refrigerate until you’re ready to add it.
- Cook the Chicken Ahead: Prepare the chicken earlier in the day and add the chicken back to the pot when ready to serve.
Alternate Cooking Methods – Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken
This easy teriyaki chicken recipe is best in the Instant Pot, but here’s how to switch it up and make it in crockpot or on the stove.
- Slow Cooker Method: Transform this pressure cooker recipe into a crockpot recipe. Cook the chicken on low in a crock pot for several hours until tender enough to shred.
- Stovetop Method: Simmer chicken in teriyaki sauce until fully cooked.
How to Store this Easy Recipe and Use Leftovers
- Storing: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Double the recipe and freeze the other half as meal prep for up to 3 months.
- Reheating: Warm the chicken in the microwave or in a skillet with extra homemade teriyaki sauce.
- Using Leftovers: Use the chicken in rice bowls, wraps, salads, or lettuce cups.
Questions About Teriyaki Chicken in the Instant Pot
It’s better to use thawed chicken, but in a pinch you can use frozen chicken breasts or frozen chicken thighs. Just be aware the cook time will increase.
You can use anything including Hawaiian rolls, sesame seed buns or even two pieces of your favorite bread
Red onion, lettuce, tomato, spinach, pineapple, cheese, pickles and sliced peppers are some of the most popular toppings.
Expert Tips to Make Teriyaki Chicken Thighs
- Don’t Skip the Slurry: Thickening the sauce gives the cooked chicken thighs better coating.
- Double: This recipe is amazing. So I will double the recipe next time and freeze for later.
- Shred While Warm: When chicken is done, shred shortly after you remove the chicken from the pot. Warm chicken shred more easily.
- Toast the Buns: Lightly toasted buns help prevent soggy sandwiches.
- Serve this Recipe: Serve this chicken and sauce recipe with Broccoli Coleslaw, Perfect Brown Rice or Cucumber Edamame Salad.
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Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich
Equipment
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Ingredients
- 7-8 Chicken thighs, Boneless and Skinless
- 1 cup Soy sauce
- ½ cup Honey
- 1 Tablespoon Garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Ginger purée
- ¼ cup White vinegar
- 3 Tablespoons Cornstarch , 3 tablespoons water mixed
- 2 Tablespoons Butter
Instructions
- Place the instant pot on sauté mode and melt the butter. When butter is melted, add cubes chicken and garlic. Cook for 4 minutes to brown the outside.
- Cancel sauté mode, add spices, honey, and soy sauce. Cook on high pressure for 5 minutes. When finished, release pressure manually
- While simmering, whisk in the cornstarch mixture slowly.
- Place over your roll of choice.
Christina’s Notes
- Recipe Can be Doubled: Simply make more and serve it for dinner over rice and then use the remaining portion for sandwiches.
- Add Heat A dash of a little red pepper flake or spicy pepper sauce.
- Short cut tip: Feel free to use precooked chicken from the supermarket.
- Bread: Use gluten free rolls or bread to make a sandwich for people that have issues with gluten.
- Alternate cooking method tip: A slow cooker or stove top versions can be made.
- Dietary consideration tip: Low sodium soy sauce, amino sauce or salt alternatives can be used.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided are estimates. It is recommended that you verify this information with your own trusted resource.
We love honest feedback, but to keep reviews helpful for everyone, we reserve the right to remove star ratings if it is clear the recipe has not been made, if the comment does not provide meaningful input, or if significant substitutions or alterations were made. Please note that ratings should reflect the original recipe as written to avoid confusing other readers.
This recipe is my personal adaption of an ethnic-inspired recipe. It is not intended to be an authentic recipe. I’ve recreated this recipe because I enjoy the flavors and I want to encourage my readers to expand their tastes and try new flavor combinations. The recipe, ingredients, and processes may have been adapted to make the recipe accessible to the average American. I have provided links to authentic versions of the recipe in the post above. I encourage you to visit these pages and learn more about the traditional version(s) of this recipe.
Thanks for sharing this incredible Instant Pot teriyaki chicken sandwich recipe! It was so easy to make, and the flavor was absolutely spot on—tender chicken with that sweet-savory glaze, fresh toppings, and a soft bun made it an instant favorite I’ll definitely be making again.
What about the 1/4 cup of vinegar? The instructions don’t tell us where to add that in.
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing instant pot teriyaki chicken sandwich recipe! Will surely have this again! It’s really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!