Gluten Free Instant Pot Orange Chicken

Total time50 min

Prep time15 min

Cook time25 min

Juicy seared chicken thighs simmer in a bright, tangy sauce built from fresh orange juice, orange zest, honey, rice vinegar, garlic, and fresh ginger, with a little heat from red pepper flakes. The Instant Pot does the heavy lifting here, searing the chicken for color first, then pressure-cooking it until it's tender and cooked through in a matter of minutes. A quick cornstarch slurry pulls the sauce together at the end, thickening it into that glossy, clingy coating everyone wants over a bowl of rice. It's finished with green onions and sesame seeds for crunch and color, and the whole thing comes together faster than takeout. This is a solid pick for a gluten free dinner rotation, delivering that sweet-savory orange chicken flavor without any special equipment beyond your Instant Pot.

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Ingredients

4 servings

For the chicken

2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
1 tbsp vegetable oil

For the sauce

¾ cup fresh orange juice (from about 3 medium oranges)
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1 tbsp orange zest (from about 1 large orange)
3 tbsp soy sauce
3 tbsp honey
2 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tbsp tomato paste
2 tsp sesame oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
½ tsp red pepper flakes

For the slurry

2 tbsp cornstarch
2 tbsp cold water

For serving

2 cups cooked white rice, for serving
2 green onions, thinly sliced (optional)
1 tsp sesame seeds (optional)

Instructions

1
Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Select the Sauté function on the Instant Pot and heat the vegetable oil until shimmering. Add the chicken in a single layer (work in two batches if needed to avoid crowding) and sear for 2–3 minutes per side, until golden on the outside — the chicken will not be cooked through at this stage. Transfer the seared chicken to a plate and set aside.
2
Add the garlic and ginger to the pot and cook, stirring constantly, for about 30 seconds, until fragrant. Watch closely, as they can burn quickly.

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