Best Instant Pot Chicken Thigh Recipes

Instant Pot Chicken Thigh Recipes that are quick and easy! Chicken thighs are the perfect cut of chicken to cook in the Instant Pot. From chicken curries like Thai red curry and Indian chicken tikka masala to soups like chicken curry soup and African peanut stew, these easy Instant Pot Chicken thigh recipes are perfect meals for a busy weeknight or special occasions.

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Chicken thighs are my favorite cut of meat to cook in the Instant Pot! I always wonder why more people don’t appreciate how flavorful, juicy, and budget-friendly they are!

When cooked in an Instant Pot, chicken thighs become fall-off-the-bone tender in a fraction of the time. The Instant Pot locks in all that flavorful juice without drying them out. Their rich taste and texture stand up wonderfully to the intense heat of pressure cooking.

Over the past few years, I’ve shared many Instant Pot chicken thigh recipes. In this roundup, I share my favorite Instant Pot chicken thigh dishes that are perfect for busy weeknights or special occasions.

From Middle Eastern-inspired chicken shawarma to Thai chicken curries, these meals are full of big, bold flavors with little hands-on time.

I hope this recipe collection inspires you to give chicken thighs a try in your Instant Pot if you haven’t already and that they become part of your regular meal planning.

Rice Dishes

1

Instant Pot Arroz Con Pollo | Chicken and Rice

Instant Pot Arroz con Pollo is a Latin-inspired pressure cooker chicken and rice recipe that's a great weeknight option because it's an easy one-pot meal. The selection of spices in this recipe gives the rice a vibrant flavor and appetizing color.

ARROZ CON POLLO

2

Easy Instant Pot Jambalaya

This Instant Pot Jambalaya was adapted from an authentic Creole Jambalaya recipe and has andouille sausage, chicken and shrimp combined with rice, is flavored with Cajun spices and cooked to perfection.

JAMBALAYA

Soups and Stews

3

Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Chicken Stew

This Instant Pot chicken stew is a hearty, savory one-pot meal that comes together easily in your pressure cooker or on the stovetop. Loaded with tender chicken, potatoes, carrots and celery, and seasoned with fragrant herbs, this stew is the perfect easy dinner on a busy weeknight!

CHICKEN STEW

4

Coconut Chicken Curry Soup

Chicken Curry Soup is an Indian curry-flavored creamy chicken soup that’s going to have everyone going back for seconds.  Serve this curried chicken soup with crusty bread or over rice. If you're a fan of chicken mulligatawny soup, this soup is very similar. [Instant Pot and Stovetop instructions included.]

CHICKEN CURRY SOUP

5

Instant Pot Thai Coconut Soup (Tom Kha Gai)

This authentic Instant Pot Thai Coconut Soup with Chicken (Tom Kha Gai) is so easy, yet so flavorful. Galangal, lemongrass, and lime leaves combined with coconut milk and other spices give this soup a special flavor that's the perfect combination of sour, salty, sweet and spicy! A guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

THAI COCONUT SOUP

6

Instant Pot African Peanut Stew

Instant Pot African Peanut Stew is a hearty, comforting soup with rich, bold flavors. Tender bites of chicken and sweet potatoes are cooked in a vibrant sauce made with peanut butter and curry powder to give this soup a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors.

AFRICAN PEANUT STEW

7

Coq au Vin Blanc

This hearty Coq au Vin Blanc is a classic French recipe that's comfort food at its best. A twist on the traditional Coq au Vin, this dish pairs so well with heavenly Instant Pot mashed potatoes and parsnips. 

COQ AU VIN

8

Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Soup

Instant Pot Cream of Chicken Soup is such a simple recipe that you’ll never have to use the canned version again!  This creamy chicken soup recipe is great for using up leftover thanksgiving turkey or rotisserie chicken.   Add rice, pasta and/or more vegetables to make this a substantial meal.

CREAM OF CHICKEN SOUP

9

Delicious New Orleans Instant Pot Gumbo

This Delicious Instant Pot Louisiana Gumbo is a quintessential New Orleans dish that is hearty, satisfying, flavorful and perfect for a crowd.  Made with chicken, sausage and shrimp, it tastes amazing when served over rice. 

GUMBO

Curries

10

Instant Pot Thai Red Curry with Chicken

This Instant Pot Thai Red Curry with Chicken is delightful (and addicting!) It makes a perfect meal when paired with Jasmine Rice, and comes together so quickly in the Instant Pot. Perfect for a busy weeknight meal.

THAI RED CURRY

11

Instant Pot Thai Green Curry with Chicken

Instant Pot Thai Green Curry is a creamy coconut curry with the flavors of green chilies, Thai Basil, lime, coriander, cumin. This spicy curry will rival your favorite Thai takeout green curry but is so easy that it can be ready in less than 20 minutes.

GREEN CURRY

12

Thai Instant Pot Yellow Curry with Chicken

This Instant Pot Thai Yellow Curry with Chicken has the perfect combination of flavors: creamy coconut milk, Thai yellow curry paste, chicken, and vegetables. To top it off, curry powder gives this Thai yellow curry its unique taste.  This curry is soul-satisfying comfort food perfect for any time of year.

THAI YELLOW CURRY

13

Instant Pot Chicken Korma

Instant Pot Chicken Korma is a mildly spiced coconut chicken curry that's delicious enough to impress guests but easy enough to make on a weeknight. Put away the jar of store-bought korma sauce and make this curry from scratch with little effort.

GET RECIPE

14

Instant Pot Chicken Curry Recipe

This authentic Indian Instant Pot chicken curry is a delicious family recipe. Made with bone-in chicken thighs and/or drumsticks, the curry chicken is tender and bursting with flavor.  Skip takeout and make this easy Instant Pot chicken curry recipe at home. See tips to substitute boneless chicken thighs.

INDIAN CHICKEN CURRY

15

Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala

This Easy Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala recipe makes a restaurant-quality Indian curry that has succulent pieces of boneless chicken in a flavorful creamy sauce.  Ginger, garlic and Indian spices combine to give the curry a heavenly aroma and taste!  [Instant Pot and Stovetop Instructions]

TIKKA MASALA

16

Healthy Instant Pot Butter Chicken with Cashew Butter

Instant Pot Cashew Butter Chicken is an irresistible recipe inspired by butter chicken, but without the extra calories. The succulent pieces of chicken are spiced to perfection and cooked in a rich and vibrant tomato sauce. This is a quick and easy recipe that’s perfect for a weeknight!

HEALTHY BUTTER CHICKEN

17

Thai Instant Pot Panang Curry with Chicken

This Instant Pot Thai Panang Curry with Chicken tastes amazing!  It’s quick and easy enough to make on a weeknight and tastes like you got if from a Thai restaurant.  Creamy coconut milk, Panang curry paste, chicken, vegetables, and spices come together to make a delicious curry that tastes great with jasmine rice.

PANANG CURRY

Pastas and Noodles

18

Creamy Instant Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta with Sausage

Instant Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta is a delicious and easy one-pot meal that can be made in under 30 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights. This recipe combines Cajun spices, chicken, and pasta in a creamy tomato sauce, making it a family-friendly favorite.

CAJUN PASTA

19

Instant Pot Thai Peanut Noodles

Instant Pot Thai Peanut noodles is my take on a Thai restaurant favorite. In this flavorful dish, plain spaghetti is elevated to a different level with a vibrant peanut sauce. Rice wine vinegar, brown sugar, and chili garlic sauce give the dish its distinct tangy, sweet, spicy flavor.  This dish can be made vegetarian by omitting the chicken and substituting fish sauce with soy sauce.

THAI PEANUT NOODLES

Finish on the Grill

20

Thai Grilled Chicken Thighs

Thai Grilled Chicken (Gai Yang) is a popular Thai street food.  This Thai barbecue chicken recipe uses chicken thighs, which are meaty and perfect for cooking in the Instant Pot, because they stay moist.  Finishing on the grill and glazing with Thai sweet chili sauce gives the chicken a spicy-sweet barbecue flavor that’s irresistible! The Thai Chicken thighs are made in the Instant Pot and finished on the grill. [Grill-only instructions also included.]

THAI GRILLED CHICKEN

21

Peri Peri Chicken

Peri peri chicken is a South African recipe that's popular all over the world. The chicken a spicy-tangy barbecue flavor that’s amazing!

PERI PERI CHICKEN

22

Instant Pot Jamaican Jerk Chicken

Instant Pot Jamaican Jerk Chicken features succulent bone-in chicken with boldly spiced island flavors, beautifully finished on the grill.

JERK CHICKEN

23

Instant Pot Korean Chicken with Gochujang

In this crowd-pleasing flavor-packed recipe, bone-in chicken is marinated in a vibrant Korean-spiced sauce made with gochujang chile paste. Serve the chicken and sauce as part of a rice bowl with sauteed vegetables or grill the chicken and serve the sauce on the side, for dipping!  

KOREAN CHICKEN

Tacos and Wraps

24

Chicken Tinga

This chicken tinga recipe is perfect for tacos, tostadas, enchiladas, nachos, a rice bowl or taco salad. Packed with flavor, the recipe is adapted from an authentic Mexican recipe made in the slow cooker. Perfect for meal prepping, the chicken can be pressure cooked or made on the stovetop.

CHICKEN TINGA

25

Instant Pot Chicken Shawarma

Instant Pot Chicken Shawarma requires very little hands-on time and delivers a delicious punch of bold flavor. Serve in a pita or flatbread or as part of a rice bowl, with hummus, garlic or tahini sauce, hot sauce, pickled baby cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes. Recipe can be made on the stovetop also!

CHICKEN SHAWARMA

✅ Why Trust Neena at Paint the Kitchen Red?

I’m Neena, and I have a lifetime of experience working with pressure cookers. I know how to maximize the potential of a pressure cooker to consistently produce delicious and easy meals. With my Instant Pot expertise, I can provide valuable insights, troubleshooting advice, and innovative recipe ideas so you can trust me on all things Instant Pot!
➡ New to the Instant Pot? Get my Instant Pot instructions for beginners.

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