I stole this recipe for Instant Pot Chinese Sesame Chicken from aspicyperspective.com. This Instant Pot recipe is perfect for anyone that got an Instant Pot for a present. Chopped onion, garlic and grated ginger are cooked using the sauté function. Then chopped chicken is added and cooked until the chicken is golden. Next brown sugar, soy sauce, sherry, chili sauce and water are added to the pot. The pot is sealed on cooked on high pressure for 3 minutes. Finally sesame seeds and chopped scallions are stirred in before serving the chicken and sauce over rice.
The ingredients for this recipe are: 2 to 2.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, 2 tbsp cornstarch, 3 tbsp sesame oil, ¼ diced onion, 2 cloves garlic, 2 tsp fresh grated ginger, ½ cup brown sugar, ⅓ cup low sodium soy sauce, ¼ cup dry sherry, 3 tbsp chili garlic sauce, 3 tbsp chopped scallions and 1 tbsp sesame seeds.
Cut the chicken into 1 inch cubes and toss with cornstarch to coat. Prepare the herbs and vegetables.
Set the instant pot to sauté. Pour in the sesame oil. Then add the onion, garlic and ginger.
Sauté for 2 minutes, then add the chicken pieces. Stir and brown for 3-5 minutes, until the chicken pieces are golden on most sides. Scrape the bottom of the pot with a metal spatula to make sure nothing is stuck to the bottom.
Next in a small bowl stir the brown sugar, soy sauce, sherry, chili sauce and 2 tbsp water together.
Then add the soy sauce mixture to the pot. Stir well to coat the chicken.
Cover and seal the pot. Then set the pressure cooker on HIGH for 3 minutes. Once the steam valve bottom drops, and it is safe to open, remove the lid. Stir the chicken and sprinkle with sesame seeds and scallions.
Serve warm with rice, quinoa or steamed vegetables.
If you liked this recipe for Instant Pot Chinese Sesame Chicken you can try other pressure cooker recipes like Chicken Piccata with Spaghetti, Traditional Goulash, Easy Instant Pot Beef Stroganoff, Instant Pot Beef Stew, Instant Pot Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta or Orange Glazed Chicken.
Instant Pot Chinese Sesame Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 to 2.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 3 tbsp sesame oil
- ¼ diced onion
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tsp fresh grated ginger
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ⅓ cup low sodium soy sauce
- ¼ cup dry sherry or 2 tbsp rice wine vinegar
- 3 tbsp chili garlic sauce
- 3 tbsp chopped scallions
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
Instructions
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Cut the chicken into 1 inch cubes and toss with cornstarch to coat. Prepare the herbs and vegetables.
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Set the instant pot to sauté. Pour in the sesame oil. Add the onion, garlic and ginger. Sauté for 2 minutes, then add the chicken pieces. Stir and brown for 3-5 minutes, until the chicken pieces are golden on most sides. Scrape the bottom of the pot with a metal spatula to make sure nothing is stuck to the bottom. (If this step is not done, you may get “burn notice” on pot)
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Add the brown sugar, soy sauce, sherry, chili sauce and 2 tbsp water to the pot. Stir well to coat the chicken.
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Cover and seal the pot. Set the pressure cooker on HIGH for 3 minutes. Turn off the pressure cooker and perform a quick release. Once the steam valve bottom drops, and it is safe to open, remove the lid. Stir the chicken and sprinkle with sesame seeds and scallions. Serve warm with rice, quinoa or steamed vegetables.
Recipe Notes
I substitute the sherry for 2 tbsp rice wine vinegar.