Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Thighs

Three chicken thighs made in the instant pot are on a plate.

5 from 7 votes

Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Thighs

Forget to defrost the chicken for dinner? No problem! You can easily make frozen chicken thighs in the Instant Pot! In 30 minutes, you'll have tender, juicy chicken thighs for dinner without having the headache of defrosting chicken!

Prep Time5

Cook Time30

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings: Thighs

Calories: 280kcal

Author: Lynn Polito

Equipment

Ingredients

5 Chicken Thighs Frozen
1 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Black Pepper
1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
1 teaspoon Onion Powder
2 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
1 tablespoon Olive Oil

Instructions

In a large bowl, mix together the salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian Seasoning, and smoked paprika. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the bowl. Mix to combine.
Add the frozen chicken thighs to the bowl and mix to coat the chicken thighs.
Place the trivet insert or steamer basket insert into the bottom of the Instant Pot.
Add one cup of water to the bottom of the pot. This will create steam for the chicken to cook in.
Add the chicken thighs to the top of the trivet insert or steamer basket. Try to keep the chicken thighs in a single layer, but if they overlap a bit that's ok. Pour any remaining seasoning mixture onto the top of the chicken.
Close the lid of the Instant Pot and set the cooking time to 25 minutes on high pressure. Make sure the vent is set to sealing position.
After 25 minutes of cook time, quick release the steam to release any remaining pressure.
Set your broiler to high. Carefully open the lid of the Instant Pot and place the chicken thighs on a baking sheet. Broil the chicken thighs for 5 minutes or until the skins are golden browned and crispy. Serve immediately.

Notes

The internal temperature of chicken should be 165 degrees per food safety guidelines. If you are ever concerned about whether your chicken is cooked, use an internal meat thermometer and make sure it hits 165 degrees.
It's ok if the chicken thighs are slightly on top of one another. Try not to pile them in, but if they overlap slightly, that is ok. We are steaming the chicken in the Instant Pot then we will crisp up the skin in the broiler.
You'll need a 6-quart or 8-quart Instant Pot for this recipe. Anything smaller and you will not be able to close the Instant Pot lid or you will need to make this recipe in batches.

Nutrition