The Easiest Teriyaki Chicken in the Instant Pot

Teriyaki Chicken is a popular meal that can be really simple and easy to make with the Instant Pot! At its most basic, you just pressure cook some chicken thighs in teriyaki sauce, and serve it over rice with a creamy salad or pineapple. So simple, easy, and quick!

I’ve been on a rice bowl kick lately with these posts, but they are really just so much fun to make that I have to share with you guys all of my ideas! But I think this will be my last rice bowl for a while.

With Teriyaki Chicken in the Instant Pot, there is very little prep time and a whole lot of flavor! Anytime you are short on time or energy, you can whip this recipe out and make a tasty dinner. When I make this recipe, it takes me about 5 minutes actual work time, and the rest is just waiting for the Instant Pot to do its thing and the rice to cook on the stove. I don’t think it could get much easier than that!

This mama is all about simple, tasty recipes, and this teriyaki chicken recipe is a great one to have in your back pocket. I use store-bought teriyaki sauce and chicken broth just to help me save time (I usually keep teriyaki sauce on hand, just in case). You could also make your teriyaki sauce from scratch if you wanted to!

Now, I will say that the teriyaki sauce that you choose to pressure cook your chicken in will make a huge difference in flavor. Certain brands are sweeter than others, and some pair better with pineapple or veggies. My suggestion is to start with a brand or recipe that you love, such as Kikkoman, and try it out in this recipe with your favorite toppings. We love to mix it up and try out different brands, but whatever you have or want to use will work great!

Also, I really loved using boneless, skinless chicken thighs for this recipe as the darker meat was very tender and worked perfectly for flavor and serving. You could easily use chicken breasts, or even tenders, as well if that is what you have on hand, just add a few extra minutes to the cooking time. I’ve used chicken breasts really often, and I find that it works best for serving if you shred the chicken up after cooking. Plus, it really allows you to get some extra sauce when you dish it up!

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Are teriyaki chicken bowls healthy?

Yes, as long as you portion your carbs and veggies or fruit along with it! Most fast-food or restaurant versions serve this meal up with lots of protein and carbs, but with almost no fruits or veggies. Teriyaki chicken is a great meal to include steamed or sautéd veggies, a creamy salad, or even some fresh pineapple. As long as you include a balance with your intake, these rice bowls can be healthy meal, but please check with your doctor if you have more questions about your dietary needs.

Which rice for teriyaki chicken is best?

My family prefers white rice to go with our teriyaki chicken bowls, but we have also really enjoyed using brown rice with them as well. Really, this chicken can be served over whatever type of rice is your favorite! Any rice or alternative that will soak up the teriyaki sauce goodness will work.

Is teriyaki chicken gluten free?

Most teriyaki sauces have soy sauce as a base, many of which contain wheat. You should be able to get a gluten-free teriyaki sauce though, or you can make a gluten-free version as well! Also, be sure to check the labels for the rice or rice alternative you choose to use, since some may be processed in places that also process wheat.

Should you marinate teriyaki chicken overnight?

You definitely could! Marinating chicken just allows the flavors of your sauce or marinade to really penetrate into the meat and tenderize it. While this is really beneficial when grilling or baking chicken, I have not seen a big difference when pressure cooking. So, while you absolutely could marinate your chicken overnight, it isn’t necessary.

What should I serve with teriyaki chicken?

Some favorites to serve with teriyaki chicken are:

-pineapple

-mac salad

-coleslaw

-stir fried cabbage or other veggies

-steamed broccoli or other veggies

-green salad

-cucumber salad.

These are all great ways to balance out the strong flavors of the teriyaki chicken, and you could come up with your own favorite combinations as well!

Tips & Notes:

• Make sure to add the chicken broth to the Instant Pot. Certain brands of teriyaki sauce are really thick and will make it difficult for the Instant Pot to get up to pressure unless you thin them out.
• You can use chicken breasts or tenders instead of chicken thighs for this recipe. You may need to add a few extra minutes if your chicken breasts are thick though!
• You can shred the chicken in the Instant Pot, or serve it up in the pre-portioned pieces!
• New to the Instant Pot? Check out my Instant Pot Basics post.

What do you need to make Teriyaki Chicken in Instant Pot:

-Chicken Thighs

-Teriyaki Sauce

-Chicken Broth

-Rice

-Sides of your choice

How to make teriyaki chicken in the Instant Pot:

Layer the chicken thighs on the bottom of the Instant Pot.

Pour 1 cup of teriyaki sauce and all the chicken broth over the chicken thighs. Reserve the rest of the sauce for serving.

Using the manual function on high pressure, set the timer for 8-10 minutes, depending on amount of chicken.

While the chicken pressure cooks, cook the rice according to package directions, and prepare the sides for serving.

Allow the chicken to naturally release for at least 10 minutes. Then you can open the Instant Pot. Shred the chicken if you choose.

Serve the teriyaki chicken over rice, add your sides, and eat up!

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Thanks for reading and cooking with me!

-Chelsey