Go Back Email Link
–+ servings
QR Code

NEED MORE INFO? Scan the QR code to go to the online recipe.

Recipe compliments of www.ITISAKEEPER.com

A bowl of the instant pot orange chicken in a green bowl.

Instant Pot Orange Chicken

5 from 16 votes
Instant Pot Orange Chicken is sticky and sweet perfection. It's better than your favorite take out and made in just 25 minutes in the comfort of your own home.
Prep Time : 5 minutes
Cook Time : 18 minutes
Total Time : 23 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Calories: 508kcal
Author: Christina Hitchcock

Equipment

Ingredients
 

  • 1 ½ cups Water
  • 2 pounds Chicken breast
  • ¼ teaspoon Salt, to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon Pepper, to taste
  • ⅔ cup Orange marmalade
  • 2 tablespoons Soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Chili oil, or red pepper flakes
  • ⅔ cup BBQ sauce

Instructions
 

  • Add your trivet to the inner part of your instant pot. Add one and a half cup water.
  • Place your chicken breast on top of the trivet. Season with salt and pepper on both sides.
  • Set your instant pot to high-pressure for 13 minutes. Close the sealing valve. Once the cooking has completed, open the valve to release pressure manually.
  • Open the lid. Use a thermometer to make sure that your chicken has reached the temperature of 165°F at the thickest part of the breast.
  • Remove the chicken from the instant pot, and transfer to a cutting board. Cut your chicken breasts into small cubes.
  • Remove the trivet from the instant pot. Remove the water from your instant pot.
  • Place your diced chicken back into the instant pot. Add in the remaining ingredients.
  • Turn your instant pot on to sauté mode (you might need to press cancel on your instant pot prior to selecting Sauté mode.) and mix all of your ingredients together so that the chicken is fully coated.
  • Sauté your chicken until you start to see the sauce bubbling, and thickening. They should take about 3 to 5 minutes.

Christina's Notes

  • Sear the Chicken: Searing the chicken before pressure cooking adds flavor and texture.
  • Deglaze the Pot: After searing, deglaze the pot with a splash of chicken broth or orange juice to capture any browned bits.
  • Natural Pressure Release (NPR) or Quick Release (QR) Correctly: NPR will result in more tender chicken. QR is faster.
  • Zest an Orange: Use fresh orange zest at the end. Zesting an orange peel gives much orange flavor.
  • Don't Overcook: Overcooking the chicken will make it tough. Use a thermometer to make sure that your chicken has reached the temperature of 165°F at the thickest part of the breast.
  • Serve With: Serve this tasty orange chicken dinner recipe with Fluffy White Rice. Instant Pot Chicken Fried Rice is also a great option to serve with orange chicken.

MY NOTES