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Sesame Chicken on rice in a black bowl with chopsticks

Instant Pot Sesame Chicken

Instant Pot Sesame Chicken made in 15 mins with the best ever honey sesame sauce that's incredibly good & much better than take-out. You'll not miss the Asian Take-out flavor at all with this healthy Sesame Chicken.
5 from 3 votes
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Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American-Chinese
Keyword: Healthy Sesame Chicken, Instant Pot Sesame Chicken, Sesame Chicken Instant Pot
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 2 people
Calories: 865kcal
Author: Meghna
Cost: $3

Ingredients

For Flash Marinating the Chicken (optional)

For the Sesame sauce

For garnish

Sauce Thickener

Liquid

  • cup Water

Instructions

Flash Marinate the Chicken

  • Dice the boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs into ½ inch cubes and rub them well with sesame oil and light soy sauce. This adds so much flavor to the dish. You can opt out but I'll greatly recommend this extra step.

How to make Sesame Chicken in Instant Pot?

  • Set the Instant Pot on SAUTE function and set it on NORMAL. Add oil. When the oil becomes moderately hot add the minced garlic and saute for just 30 seconds.
  • Now, add the flash marinated chicken and saute until lightly golden around the edges. Also add crushed black pepper according to your preference. This step boosts the flavors & helps mimic that restaurant quality wok flavors in a pressure cooker to some extent.
  • Now CANCEL the SAUTE function. Add water and de-glaze the pot very well so that there are absolutely no bits and crumbs stuck at the side and the bottom of the steel pot of the Instant Pot. This is so important to prevent the BURN error.
  • Now, close the lid of the Instant Pot and SEAL the valve. PRESSURE COOK on HIGH for just 1 minute.
  • Once, the pressure cooking cycle is over do a QUICK PRESSURE RELEASE (QPR) manually turning the valve from the SEALING to the VENTING position. When the metal pin drops open the lid carefully.
  • Now, CANCEL the pressure cook option and switch on the SAUTE function and set it on LOW.
  • Add all the sauce ingredients mentioned above in the "For the Sauce" section along with the cornstarch slurry. Give everything a good mix. Simmer the sauce until it thickens and reaches the consistency that you prefer. Stir frequently while thickening the sauce. We love a thick sauce that clings beautifully to the chicken cubes.
  • Once, the sauce has reached to the right consistency turn off the Instant Pot and drizzle the toasted sesame seeds and the sesame oil give a gentle mix and serve hot with rice or noodles. So yum! Enjoy!

Video

Notes

  1. Measuring Units used, 1 cup = 240 ml & 1 teaspoon = 5 ml.
  2. The sauce consistency: We love a thick sauce that beautifully coats each chicken piece but if you prefer a thinner sauce do decrease the amount of cornstarch (1.5 tbsp) and also simmer and cook down the sauce for little less time.
  3. Spicy Sesame Sauce: Up the amount of Sriracha and also add dashes of red pepper flakes.
  4. Sweeter Sauce: Up the amount of either honey or sugar or both. Totally upto you.
  5. White Sesame Seeds: For excellent flavors do lightly toast them in a skillet stirring frequently until lightly golden on the stove top. You cannot just believe how much flavor they create - PHENOMENAL! Add more seeds if you love sesame or add less - it totally depends upon what you love.
 
Calorific details are provided by a third party application & are to be usde as indicative figures only!
Nutrition Facts
Instant Pot Sesame Chicken
Amount Per Serving
Calories 865 Calories from Fat 486
% Daily Value*
Fat 54g83%
Saturated Fat 8g50%
Cholesterol 145mg48%
Sodium 3651mg159%
Potassium 1039mg30%
Carbohydrates 41g14%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 29g32%
Protein 55g110%
Vitamin A 177IU4%
Vitamin C 10mg12%
Calcium 65mg7%
Iron 3mg17%
* Read our privacy policy - Calorie information is provided as a courtesy only and should be leveraged as an estimate rather than a guarantee.Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
 
 

Nutrition

Calories: 865kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 55g | Fat: 54g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 3651mg | Potassium: 1039mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 177IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 3mg