Paleo Instant Pot Sesame Chicken

Total time50 min

Prep time15 min

Cook time25 min

Tender chicken thighs go straight into the Instant Pot with a bold glaze built from honey, garlic, fresh ginger, rice vinegar, and toasted sesame oil, plus a kick of red pepper flakes for heat. Pressure-cooking keeps the chicken juicy while it soaks up all that sweet-savory flavor, and a quick sauté at the end brings the sauce to a glossy, spoon-coating finish. Once the chicken goes back in and gets fully coated, it's finished with a scatter of toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions for crunch and brightness. This one comes together fast with minimal hands-on work, making it an easy weeknight win. It's a solid pick for a Paleo dinner rotation, delivering all the sticky, takeout-style flavor without any fuss.

About Fig

Fig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.

Learn more →

Ingredients

4 servings

For the chicken

2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1 ½-inch pieces
Kroger Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs Simple Truth Boneless & Skinless Chicken Thighs Signature Farms Bone-In Chicken Thigh Value Pack - 4.5 Lb Simple Truth Organic® Air-Chilled Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs Tyson All Natural Fresh Chicken Thighs
See all
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper

For the sauce

⅓ cup soy sauce
Chef's tip
Coconut aminos are sweeter and less salty; taste and adjust the seasoning.
3 tbsp honey
2 tbsp rice vinegar
2 tbsp toasted sesame oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
¼ tsp red pepper flakes
¼ cup water

For the slurry

2 tbsp cornstarch
Chef's tip
For thickening, use about 1 1/3 times as much tapioca flour, stirred into a spoonful of cold water first; take the pan off the heat soon after it thickens.
2 tbsp cold water

For serving

2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
3 green onions, thinly sliced
cooked white rice, for serving (optional)
Omit this
This ingredient likely doesn’t work for the diet.

Instructions

1
Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper and place them in the Instant Pot insert.
2
In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes, and 1/4 cup water until combined. Pour the sauce over the chicken and stir to coat.

Want the full recipe?

Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!