Instant Pot Chicken and Broccoli
Ready in under 30 minutes, Instant Pot Chicken and Broccoli is a flavorful meal to make on busy weeknights! Let the Instant Pot do the hard work for you to make this dinner the whole family will love!
Take out is a favorite, but it's expensive and full of ingredients that aren't great for you. Instead of reaching for your phone, try making it at home!
We all love a one-pot meal, and this easy recipe is made entirely in the Instant Pot. Add all the ingredients to the Instant Pot and let it do its thing. It's a great recipe when time is limited, and you have lots of hungry family members begging for dinner!
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Ingredients To Gather
You only need a few simple ingredients to make this quick dinner!
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 Red bell peppers
- 1 pound of fresh broccoli florets
- 3 cloves of garlic. 1 teaspoon of garlic powder works great too!
- Sesame oil
- Olive oil or vegetable oil
- Soy Sauce
- Chicken Broth or a cup of water.
- Cornstarch
Equipment To Make Instant Pot Chicken and Broccoli
- Instant Pot. I have a 6 Quart Duo that I love!
- Cutting Boards
- Knives
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
How To Make Instant Pot Chicken and Broccoli
Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces. Turn on the saute function on the Instant Pot. Add the olive oil and sesame oil to the Instant Pot and add the chicken.
While the chicken cooks, cut the peppers into strips and mince the garlic.
Sauté for 2 minutes so the chicken can start to brown. Add the minced garlic and mix well. Cancel saute mode.
Add the chicken broth and soy sauce and mix well. Try to get any of the brown bits off the bottom of the pot.
Close the pressure cooker lid and make sure the lid is set to the sealing position. Set the cooking time to 10 minutes on high pressure.
While the chicken cooks, make a cornstarch slurry in a small bowl. Add one tablespoon of cornstarch to a bowl with one tablespoon of water. The perfect consistency of the cornstarch slurry is when there are no lumps and looks like a creamy sauce.
When the cook time is completed, quick release the pressure. Open the Instant Pot and add the cornstarch slurry. Mix well.
Press the saute setting one more time. Add the broccoli florets and the red pepper strips to the Instant Pot and cover the Instant Pot making sure to lock lid. Sauté for 3 minutes with the lid closed. This will steam the broccoli and keep it crisp, instead of mushy.
After 3 minutes, check the broccoli. The broccoli should be al dente, or with just a little crunch left. If you like your broccoli softer, add an extra minute to the timer. When the broccoli is cooked, mix everything together and serve over rice.
Tips and Tricks
- The Instant Pot will take 5-10 minutes to come up to pressure before it begins cooking.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, use 2 tablespoons of cornstarch. This sauce is thin, but it coats the tender chicken and steamed broccoli perfectly!
- Frozen broccoli can be used instead of fresh broccoli. The steam time would remain the same.
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs can be used instead of chicken breasts.
- If you like to make your own take out, you'll love these drunken noodles too!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! This is very freezer friendly! Add the cooked chicken and broccoli to an airtight container or a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. To defrost, place the chicken and broccoli in the refrigerator until defrosted. You can reheat it on the stove top or in the Instant Pot on saute mode.
To make this more of a chicken stir fry, feel free to add zucchini, yellow peppers, green beans, sugar snap peas, carrots, and onions.
This is one of those meals that is better the next day! Add any leftovers to an airtight container and keep the leftovers in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To reheat, place the chicken and broccoli in a microwave safe bowl and reheat for 2-3 minutes.
That happened because something stuck to the bottom of the pot. To make sure this does not happen, make sure there is enough liquid in the pot and that there is nothing stuck to the bottom of the pot. If it does happen, simply open the lid and add a little more chicken broth to the pot.
How To Serve Instant Pot Chicken and Broccoli
- Topped with sesame seeds and chopped green onions
- With Instant Pot Long Grain Rice
- Alongside Instant Pot Couscous
- With Tofu Noodles
- Over zucchini noodles
- With cauliflower rice for a low carb option
- Over your favorite white rice or brown rice
Other Recipes To Try!
Did you love this Instant Pot Chicken and Broccoli Recipe? If you did, don't forget to tag me on social media on Instagram or Facebook and share this recipe on Pinterest! Thanks for sharing this journey with me and enjoy these delicious recipes!
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Chicken and Broccoli
Ingredients
- 1 lb Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
- 1 lb Broccoli Florets
- 2 Red Peppers
- 1 teaspoon Sesame Oil
- 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 3 Garlic Cloves
- ½ cup Soy Sauce
- ½ cup Chicken Broth
- 1 tablespoon Cornstarch
Instructions
- Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Turn on the saute function on the Instant Pot. Add the olive oil and sesame oil to the Instant Pot and add the chicken.
- While the chicken cooks, cut the peppers into strips and mince the garlic.
- Sauté for 2 minutes so the chicken can start to brown. Add the minced garlic and mix well. Cancel saute mode.
- Add the chicken broth and soy sauce and mix well. Try to get any of the brown bits off the bottom of the pot.
- Close the pressure cooker lid and make sure the lid is set to the sealing position. Set the cooking time to 10 minutes on high pressure.
- While the chicken cooks, make a cornstarch slurry. Add one tablespoon of cornstarch to a bowl with one tablespoon of water. The perfect consistency of the cornstarch slurry is when there are no lumps and looks like a creamy sauce.
- When the cook time is completed, quick release the pressure. Open the Instant Pot and add the cornstarch slurry. Mix well.
- Press the saute setting one more time. Add the broccoli florets and the red pepper strips to the Instant Pot and cover. Sauté for 3 minutes with the lid closed. This will steam the broccoli and keep it crisp, instead of mushy.
- After 3 minutes, check the broccoli. The broccoli should be al dente, or with just a little crunch left. If you like your broccoli softer, add an extra minute to the timer. When the broccoli is cooked, mix everything together and serve over rice.
Notes
- The Instant Pot will take 5-10 minutes to come up to pressure before it begins cooking.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, use 2 tablespoons of cornstarch. This sauce is thin, but it coats the tender chicken and steamed broccoli perfectly!
- Frozen broccoli can be used instead of fresh broccoli. The steam time would remain the same.
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs can be used instead of chicken breasts.
