Easy Instant Pot Orange Chicken Recipe with Tangy Sauce

Easy Instant Pot orange chicken with tangy sauce and tender chicken—perfect for a quick, flavorful dinner!

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If you’re looking for a quick and easy dinner that tastes like your favorite Chinese take-out, this Instant Pot orange chicken recipe is a must-try. Using wholesome ingredients and the magic of an electric pressure cooker, this dish comes together with tender bites of chicken in a tangy orange sauce that’s bursting with orange flavor.

For Christmas this past year, I received an Instant Pot from my parents. I’ve still been working on learning how to use it, and have made a few recipes so far.

I also wanted to work on recipes using my essential oils. So I decided to put these together and make orange chicken in the Instant Pot.

This recipe is simple to make and lets you use a few of the options on the Instant Pot. You start by pressure cooking the chicken, then saute everything together.

Since the Instant Pot can do both of these, you only have to use one device. This means only one thing to clean, and that’s my favorite type of meal! We did make some rice to go with this, which I used my rice steamer for. But still a simple cleanup.

Why This Is One of the Most Popular Instant Pot Recipes

This pressure cooker orange chicken is a great recipe because it’s simple, flavorful, and fast. Using boneless chicken thighs or chicken breast, you get tender pieces of chicken coated in a sticky, slightly sweet sauce made with fresh orange juice, brown sugar, and soy sauce. The orange zest and fresh ginger add brightness and depth, making this dish a family favorite.

Serving Suggestions: Rice and Vegetables

Serve this orange chicken over white rice, brown rice, or jasmine rice for a complete meal. For a low-carb option, try cauliflower rice. Add steamed green beans or your favorite veggies for added nutrition.

Tips for Success and Variations

• Use fresh orange marmalade to intensify the orange flavor.
• For a bit of heat, sprinkle in some red pepper flakes.
• Avoid the dreaded burn notice by making sure there’s enough liquid in the pot and scraping up any browned bits before sealing the lid.
• This recipe adapts well as a slow cooker recipe if you prefer that cooking method.

Why You’ll Love This Easy Instant Pot Chicken Recipe

This recipe is an excellent choice for those who want to enjoy a homemade pressure cooker orange chicken without the hassle of deep-frying. It’s flavorful, juicy, and ready in less time than ordering take-out from Panda Express.

Garnish Ideas to Elevate Your Instant Pot Orange Chicken

Adding simple garnishes can take your orange chicken from delicious to restaurant-quality in seconds. Here are some of my favorite toppings to sprinkle on just before serving:

• Chopped green onions – for a fresh, mild onion flavor and vibrant color
• Toasted sesame seeds – add a nutty crunch and classic Asian touch
• Fresh orange zest – intensifies the bright citrus aroma and flavor
• Red pepper flakes – a little heat to balance the sweetness of the sauce
• Thinly sliced fresh ginger – for extra zing and a fragrant finish
• Chopped cilantro – adds freshness and a pop of green (optional)

These garnishes complement the tangy orange sauce and tender chicken bites perfectly, making your meal both visually appealing and flavor-packed.

Orange Chicken Step by Step

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 2/3 cup soy sauce
• 2 tbsp chili sauce
• 1/4 cup honey
• 4 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1 lb chicken breasts (boneless, skinless, cut into bite-sized chunks)
• 15 drops orange essential oil
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 2 tbsp water
• 1 cup rice (cooked)

Preparation

Combine the coconut oil, soy sauce, chili sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, chicken broth, pepper, and pepper flakes in the stainless steel insert of the Instant Pot.

Add the chicken to the pot and mix it into the sauce.

Place the lid on the Instant Pot and close the vent. Set it to manual cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. When it finishes cooking, immediately release the pressure.

If you are making rice with your orange chicken, get that started while the Instant Pot is getting up to pressure.

Switch the Instant Pot over to the saute setting and bring the sauce to a simmer.

Add the orange essential oil and stir. I used 15 drops of oil and it was very orange. We liked it, but it could be a lot for some people.

In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and water. Add the cornstarch slurry to the sauce and stir until it thickens.

Stir in the sesame seeds and serve over rice. Garnish with a few more sesame seeds and sliced green onion.

Instant Pot Orange Chicken Leftovers

Storage: Store any leftover orange chicken in an airtight container and refrigerate within two hours of cooking. Properly stored, it will stay fresh for up to 3-4 days. Make sure to keep the sauce and chicken together to preserve that delicious, tangy orange flavor and keep the chicken tender.

Reheating: To reheat, gently warm the leftovers in a skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally until heated through. You can also reheat in the microwave by covering the container loosely to retain moisture and prevent drying out. Adding a splash of water or a drizzle of soy sauce helps keep the sauce from thickening too much during reheating.

Freezing: This Instant Pot orange chicken freezes well, making it perfect for meal prep. Let the chicken cool completely, then transfer to a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag. It can be frozen for up to 2 months. To enjoy, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, stirring occasionally for even heating.

Recipe

Orange Chicken in the Instant Pot

Easy Instant Pot orange chicken with tangy sauce and tender chicken—perfect for a quick, flavorful dinner!

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Pressurizing Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 35 minutes minutes

Course:

Main Dish

Cuisine:

American

Keyword:

chicken

|

essential oils

|

instant pot

|

orange

Dietary Needs:

Dairy-Free

|

Egg-Free

|

Nut-Free

Meat:

Chicken/Turkey

Cooking Method:

Instant Pot

Servings: 4

5 from 7 votes

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 2/3 cup soy sauce
• 2 tbsp chili sauce
• 1/4 cup honey
• 4 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1 lb chicken breasts (boneless, skinless, cut into bite-sized chunks)
• 15 drops orange essential oil
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 2 tbsp water
• 1 cup rice (cooked)

Recommended Equipment

• Instant Pot
• Kitchen Shears
• Rice Steamer
• Garlic Press

Instructions

• Combine the coconut oil, soy sauce, chili sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, chicken broth, pepper, and pepper flakes in the stainless steel insert of the Instant Pot
• Add the chicken to the pot and mix it into the sauce
• Place the lid on the Instant Pot and close the vent
• Set it to manual cook for 10 minutes and when it finished cooking, immediately release the pressure
• If you are making rice with your orange chicken, get that started while the Instant Pot is getting up to pressure
• Switch the Instant Pot over to the saute setting and bring the sauce to a simmer
• Add the orange essential oil and stir
• In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and water and add that to the sauce and stir until it thickens
• Stir in the sesame seeds and serve over rice
• Garnish with a few more sesame seeds and sliced green onion

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Nutrition Facts

Orange Chicken in the Instant Pot

Amount Per Serving (1 g)

Calories 307 Calories from Fat 90

% Daily Value*

Fat 10g15%

Saturated Fat 7g35%

Cholesterol 73mg24%

Sodium 2503mg104%

Potassium 576mg16%

Carbohydrates 26g9%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 19g21%

Protein 29g58%

Vitamin A 104IU2%

Vitamin C 6mg7%

Calcium 19mg2%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

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