Garlic Sesame Chicken {Instant Pot + Slow Cooker}

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!

Total Time: 35 minutes

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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!

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5 from 4 votes

Garlic Sesame Chicken for the Instant Pot or Slow Cooker

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!

Course Dinner

Cuisine Chinese

Keyword chicken thigh recipe, instant pot chicken recipe, Slow Cooker Chicken Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Servings 6 people

Calories 336kcal

Author Blair

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

There are a variety of ways that you can serve the cooked sesame chicken -- in wraps, over salad, on top of rice, on top of cauliflower rice, or in bowls with stir-fried Asian vegetables.

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.

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

Nutrition

Serving: 1/6 of the chicken and sauce | Calories: 336kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 179mg | Sodium: 882mg | Potassium: 558mg | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 45IU | Vitamin C: 1.8mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 2.1mg

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