The best dinner to come out of my Instant Pot yet!!! This Garlic Sesame Chicken for the pressure cooker or slow cooker is tender, juicy, sweet, savory and full of delicious flavors -- and it only requires about 10 minutes of prep. Even my pickiest little eater went back for seconds!
I don't like to play favorites when it comes to my recipes (they're all good, and different moods call for different meals)...BUT. This right here? I'm calling it my favorite pressure cooker recipe to date!
The whole family loved this dinner, and I know that you're going to appreciate how quickly it comes together. Whether you prefer the Instant Pot or the slow cooker, it's a hands-off supper that suits your busy life.
My family actually enjoys this Chinese Sesame Chicken more than the carry-out version from the local Chinese restaurant. Considering that this is lighter, cheaper, easier, and not fried, that's a HUGE compliment!
SESAME CHICKEN SAUCE:
I'm not kidding when I say that this healthy sesame chicken recipe is so easy -- and the sauce is the best part! You need just three ingredients: soy sauce, brown sugar, and water.
With the sweet and savory combination of soy sauce and brown sugar, you know it's bound to be good!
So what gives the chicken that classic sesame flavor? The sesame oil!
Please don't try to substitute a different oil for the sesame oil. The dinner just will NOT taste the same. Plus, you can find tiny little bottles of sesame oil in just about any grocery store these days, and you'll plow through it quickly with recipes like my Peanut Sesame Noodles, my Dump-and-Bake Kung Pao Chicken, and my One Skillet Egg Roll in a Bowl!
My kids love the Garlic Sesame Chicken when it's served over sticky white rice from my rice cooker, but I've also enjoyed it on top of cauliflower rice, on top of salads as leftovers, and on top of stir-fry veggies. Like I said, it's one of those meals that makes everyone happy!
This sesame chicken recipe calls for chicken thighs, which are definitely my preference in the Instant Pot or slow cooker. The meat just stays so moist!
But if you're not a fan of dark meat, that's fine too. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts will also work nicely, and I've included those cooking instructions below.
Enjoy, my friends!
Garlic Sesame Chicken for the Instant Pot or Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 8 boneless skinless chicken thighs (about 2.5 lbs.) or substitute with an equal amount of chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- Salt
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup less sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos
- 2 tablespoons water
- Optional garnish: sliced green onions, sesame seeds, red pepper flakes
- Optional for serving: rice or cauliflower rice
Instructions
FOR THE INSTANT POT:
- Season chicken with about ¾ teaspoon salt. Set aside.
- Whisk together brown sugar, soy sauce, and water. Set aside.
- Press the “sauté” button and add oil. When oil is shimmering, add onions and ¼ teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, until soft (about 3-5 minutes).
- Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 more seconds.
- Add chicken to the pot and pour soy sauce mixture over top. Turn off the sauté function and close the Instant Pot (locking the lid).
- Press the “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” button and set the cooking time to 10 minutes for chicken thighs or 7 minutes for chicken breasts (if your chicken pieces are bigger than 8 ounces each, you can cut them in half or increase the cooking time to 9 minutes).
- When the chicken is finished cooking, release the steam and open the lid right away to prevent over-cooking.
- Slice chicken or shred with forks; return to the pot and stir with sauce. Serve over rice or cauliflower rice. Garnish with sliced green onion, sesame seeds, and red pepper flakes, if desired.
FOR THE SLOW COOKER:
- Season chicken with about ¾ teaspoon salt. Set aside.
- Whisk together brown sugar, soy sauce, and water. Set aside.
- Spread oil in the bottom of a large slow cooker.
- Place onion and garlic in the slow cooker and season with about ¼ teaspoon salt.
- Place chicken on top of onions and pour sauce over everything.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours, or until chicken is tender but not dry.
- Slice chicken or shred with forks; return to the pot and stir with sauce. Serve with sauce over rice or cauliflower rice. Garnish with sliced green onion, sesame seeds, and red pepper flakes, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
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sheenam | thetwincookingproject.net
Oh this chicken looks absolutely delicious!!!!
Blair
Thank you so much! I hope that you get to try it soon! 🙂
Kelly
This recipe is a "go-to" for us! I like to add red pepper flakes to the sauce before cooking, makes it super spicy!
Blair
That's awesome, Kelly! I bet the spicy kick is perfect!
Kristy from Southern In Law
Yummm! Sesame is one of my favourite flavours in savory dishes so I have to try this!
Blair
Me too! The sesame flavor is so unique and delicious. 🙂
Debra
We love this recipe! Fast and delicious. The only thing is we are trying to cut our sugar intake and it’s just so hard with asian cooking. Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Blair
Thanks so much, Debra! I'm really glad to know that you enjoy this dinner! It's one of my kids' favorites, too. 🙂
Samantha
We are doing the Standard Process diet (an elimination diet similar to Whole30 that cuts out sugar). I made it without brown sugar and added red pepper flakes and a couple extra cloves of garlic. We added the chicken to an Asian salad for one meal, and mixed it with avocado and served over quinoa for the next! It was so delicious!
Blair
Oh, wow -- that's good to know that you enjoyed it without the sugar, Samantha. I'm sure that will help a lot of other folks as well. Thanks for your note!
Jacinthe
My husband and I really like this recipe! We omit the sugar in the sauce since we're trying to limit our sugar consumption and it's still very tasty!
Blair
Awesome! Good to know. Thank you, Jacinthe!
Jen
Can this be cooked with frozen chicken?
Jen
(Using the Instant Pot)
Blair
Yes! You can definitely put it in the instant pot frozen -- you'll likely just need to increase the cooking time a little bit. 🙂
Joann Somes
So very yummy!!!
Blair
Thanks, Joann!
Rachel Riley
What pressure level should the instant pot be at? High? Thanks so much! I’m cooking it now with frozen breast!
Blair
Hi, Rachel! When it's on "manual" mode, you just set a time -- not a level (at least on my model). If your model requires a level setting, I would go with high. 🙂
Steph
Can I use shrimp in this instead?
Blair
Hi, Steph! I've never tried cooking shrimp in the slow cooker or instant pot. It cooks so quickly that I worry it would be easily overdone in no time. Feel free to experiment and let me know if you give it a shot! 🙂