Instant Pot Lemon Chicken That’s Amazing!

This easy Instant Pot Lemon Chicken recipe is bursting with fresh flavors and can be made in 30 minutes! The perfect weeknight meal to make in your pressure cooker. The sauce is just amazing, and the chicken so tender!

We think we found a new favorite Instant Pot Recipe!! Hello, delicious Instant Pot Lemon Chicken! Families just adore this recipe because of the buttery lemon sauce that accompanies the tender chicken. If you’re a sauce person, definitely give this recipe a try. 

Wow, the flavor! And wow, the ease!

We love recipes like this and Instant Pot Butter Chicken because they have so much flavor and take little time to cook. Like, just 30 minutes!

The Instant Pot is made for recipes like this and busy weeknights!

If you want a baked lemon chicken recipe, we have that too!

Ingredients for Instant Pot Chicken

• Chicken Thighs – you can leave the skin on or off.
• Sea Salt – wonderful for cooking and adding just the right flavor.
• Garlic Powder – it sticks to the chicken nicely.
• Paprika – a delightful spice that adds a hint of flavor.
• Red Chili Flakes – optional if you like a little heat.
• Butter – to cook the onions and fresh garlic. 
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil – for sauteing the chicken in the Instant Pot. 
• Onions – chopped into pieces.
• Fresh Garlic Cloves – sliced or minced. 
• Italian Seasoning – the perfect seasoning for this dish.
• Lemon – you’ll use both the juice and zest to give the chicken a citrus kick.
• Low Sodium Chicken Broth – chicken stock is the base of your delicious sauce. 
• Fresh Parsley – optional for garnish

How to Make – Step By Step

Ok, it’s time to start making Instant Pot Lemon Chicken dinner and have it DONE in about 30 minutes!

Step 1 – Season

Grab your chicken and season it with salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and chili flakes on both sides.

Step 2 – Turn on Sauté Function

Now, put your Instant pot to the sauté function and add olive oil into the pot. Let it get nice and hot.

Step 3 – Brown the Chicken

Once it’s hot, place chicken in the instant pot and brown the chicken on both sides, approximately 2-3 minutes per side or until golden brown. You will likely have to work in batches depending on the amount of chicken you are making. We always do since we have so many mouths to feed!

Once browned, remove the chicken from Instant Pot and set it aside.

Step 4 -Sauté Remaining Ingredients

Add the butter to Instant Pot and melt. Now, stir in the savory onions and garlic. Add lemon juice to deglaze the pot. Make sure you get all the little bits so you don’t get the burn notice.

Cook for 1 minute, and then add Italian seasoning, lemon zest, and chicken broth.

Step 5 – Pressure Cook

Put chicken back into the Instant Pot with the other ingredients, lock the lid, and turn the valve to seal. Select the “pressure cook” button (on newer models) and set a timer to 7 minutes.

(Note: It takes 5-10 minutes to get to pressure and start counting down.)

Step 6 – Quick Release

When done, allow the chicken to release for 2-3 minutes naturally. Then, push the value for a quick release.

Step 7 – Thicken the Sauce (optional)

If you like a nice thick sauce, remove chicken from Instant Pot, take cornstarch, mix it in a small bowl with water, and add it to Instant Pot. Press sauté and allow the sauce to thicken and boil. Add chicken back into the pot to get coated with the yummy sauce and heat back up.

Serve chicken with sauce spooned over the top (lots of sauce) and garnished with parsley and sliced lemons if desired.

What Sides Can I Serve?

Enjoy this Instant Pot Lemon Garlic Chicken with Roasted Brussels Sprouts or steamed green beans. Soooo, good! It would also be great with roasted or steamed asparagus or cauliflower.

You may also like a side of quinoa or brown rice to go with your chicken. 

Tips & Tricks

• So, if you’re going a little healthy, leave the skin off the chicken. If you don’t mind the extra fat, leave the skin on to get a nice crisp exterior.
• If you can’t get enough lemon, double the amount of lemon zest listed in the recipe.
• You can put lemon slices in the instant pot when the chicken is cooking. The whole slice becomes soft and edible–and quite delicious. For presentation, add fresh lemon slices at the end. However, the flavor bonus is worth doing both if you’d like!
• You can substitute shallots for the onions for a different flavor.
• Most importantly, if you have issues with the “burn” error, make sure you scrape/deglaze really well after you sauté the chicken.

How to Store Lemon Chicken?

Store any leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eat within 4 days. 

You can freeze this Lemon Garlic Chicken Recipe.

1. Once cooked, let the chicken cool completely. 
2. Place in an airtight container. Label and date and then store in the freezer for up to two months. 

Follow our Tips for Preventing Freezer Burn, and you’ll always serve great-tasting food from the freezer. 

When it’s time to use your Instant Pot Chicken, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator or thaw slowly in the microwave, then place in an oven-safe dish and bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes; you can also reheat it in the microwave until the desired temperature. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Supplies Used

This post contains affiliate links. Disclosure policy here.

We like the 6-quart Instant Pot Ultra, but the 6-quart Instant Pot Duo is also an awesome choice. 

Other Delicious Instant Pot Recipes

Instant Pot Butter Chicken – our fav because it’s so flavorful!
Quick and Easy Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese – the kid’s fav!
Instant Pot Tortellini Soup – an all-around favorite.
Instant Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce – another simple but delicious meal.

Other Chicken Recipes You May Like

Sheet Pan Chicken and Vegetables – an easy way to cook dinner in one pan.
Crock Pot Honey Garlic Chicken – a simple dinner made from pantry staples.
Slow Cooker Chicken and Potatoes – a satisfying, easy weeknight dinner.
Crock Pot Crack Chicken – OMG, so good!

We Love to Hear From You!

If you try this Instant Pot Chicken Recipe or any other recipe on Suburban Simplicity, don’t forget to rate the recipe and let us know how it went in the comments below; we love hearing from you! Better yet, use the hashtag  #suburbansimplicity if you make the recipe.

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