This recipe for Instant Pot Chicken Thighs and Potatoes is a hearty one-pot meal. Serve this on busy weeknights or for a nice Sunday dinner. The leftovers are great for later in the week.

cooked chicken thighs and potatoes

Pressure cooker chicken thighs and potatoes is an easy and budget-friendly one-pot meal. Not only does this mean fewer dishes to wash (woot!), but it also means you can have it prepped and cooking in 15 minutes flat.

One thing I love about the Instant Pot electric pressure cooker is the ability to cook your entire meal at once. Combining foods in the instant pot imparts more flavor and simplifies dinner time 1000 percent.

See my other popular one-pot Instant Pot meals including my Instant Pot Chicken and Sweet Potato Dinner, Instant Pot Whole Chicken and Potatoes, or Instant Pot Pork Chops and Rice.

To keep this easy recipe simple, I just sauté the chicken thighs and then dump everything into the Instant Pot and let it do its magic.

Why You Need This Recipe

  • Chicken thighs are a budget-friendly option. They’re less expensive per pound than chicken breasts and ground beef plus they taste great.
  • Everything goes into one pot which means less cleanup and more relaxing.
  • Chicken thighs are harder to over-cook then chicken breasts. They’re higher in fat which means they stay moist and tender even if slightly overcooked. See my other chicken thigh recipes including Oven Baked Chicken Thighs, Keto Crockpot Chicken Thighs with Cabbage, or Air Fryer Chicken Thighs.

Key Ingredients

ingredients for instant pot chicken thighs

Boneless, skinless chicken thighs – Boneless, skinless are the way to go here. The skin won’t stay crispy when cooked in the Instant Pot anyhow and the thighs stay moist without the bone. If you can’t find boneless, skinless you can just remove the skin yourself and then follow the recipe as directed.

Red potatoes – Red potatoes hold up to the instant pot really nicely because they retain their shape. You can substitute yellow, gold, or white potatoes if prefer a creamier fleshed potato.

Chicken broth – Chicken broth or chicken stock adds instant flavor to the chicken and potatoes. I like to purchase reduced-sodium chicken broth since certain brands can be very high in sodium. Plus, you can always add salt to a recipe, but you can’t take it away!

Seasoning – Salt, pepper, and garlic powder are all you need for a flavorful dish. Feel free to throw in your favorite seasonings here if you prefer.

Lemon – A small amount of acidity really brightens up this cozy and comforting dish. Just squeeze it on at the end for a nice pop of flavor.

Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.

Recipe Steps

how to cook chicken thighs in the instant pot

Step One

Press the sauté button on your Instant Pot then add the oil and let it get hot. Brown the chicken thighs on both sides in the bottom of the pot, cooking about 2 to 3 minutes per side.

Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.

Step Two

Cancel the sauté mode and transfer the chicken to a plate. Use a spatula to scrape off any pieces of chicken that stuck to the bottom of the Instant Pot.

Step Three

Place the red potatoes, chicken broth, and seasonings into the pot. Place the chicken thighs on top of the potatoes but don’t stir them.

Step Four

Lock on the lid and set the time to 8 minutes at high pressure. When the cooking time is up, let the pressure come down naturally for 10 minutes.

Use the quick release to get rid of any remaining pressure. Transfer the cooked juicy chicken thighs and potatoes to a serving dish and squeeze lemon juice over the top. Enjoy!

chicken thighs and potatoes on a plate

Recipe Tips & Substitutions

  • You can leave the skin on the red potatoes.
  • Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat before serving.
  • The total cook time includes the prep time, cook time, natural release time, and the time for the pot to come up to pressure.
  • Don’t worry about cooking the chicken all the way during the sautéing process. This is just to brown the outsides and the instant pot will finish them during the cooking process.
  • To ensure the chicken is done you can use an instant read thermometer to check that its reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Just insert the thermometer into the thickest portion of the chicken thigh.

Recipe FAQs

Can you overcook chicken thighs in the Instant Pot?

Technically yes, but since chicken thighs are naturally high in fat they are very forgiving. You can overcook them a bit and they will still stay moist and juicy!

How long do the chicken thighs take to cook?

The chicken only needs to cook in the instant pot for 8 minutes! This will give you moist and tender chicken thighs with perfectly cooked potatoes.

Can I use sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes?

Yes, you can! Follow the recipe as written, but use chopped sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes.

cooked chicken and potatoes in a serving dish

More Instant Pot Chicken Recipes You Might Like

Or, check out my entire round-up of gluten-free Instant Pot chicken recipes.

I hope you make this recipe! If you do, please leave a comment and a starred review below.

And, consider following me on social media so we can stay connected. I’m on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube!

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chicken thighs with potatoes

Instant Pot Chicken Thighs and Potatoes

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5 from 1 review

This recipe for Instant Pot Chicken Thighs and Potatoes is a hearty one-pot meal. Serve this on busy weeknights or for a nice Sunday dinner. The leftovers are great for later in the week.

  • Total Time: 43 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1.25 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 6 pieces)
  • 6 red potatoes, washed and quartered (about 1 pound)
  • 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 lemon, juiced

Instructions

  1. Press the Sauté button on your Instant Pot. Add the oil and let it heat up for a few minutes.
  2. Then, using tongs, place the chicken inside the Instant Pot to brown on both sides. Let the chicken cook for 2-3 minutes per side, just so it starts to brown on both sides.
  3. Cancel the Sauté function and transfer the chicken to a platter. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to scrape off any pieces of chicken that may have stuck to the bottom of the Instant Pot.
  4. Then, place the quartered potatoes, broth, garlic powder, sea salt, and ground pepper in the pot. Place the chicken thighs on top of the potatoes. Don’t stir.
  5. Lock on the lid and set the time to 8 minutes at high pressure.
  6. When the cooking time is up, let the pressure come down naturally for 10 minutes.
  7. Then, use the quick release to get rid of any remaining pressure. Carefully remove the lid.
  8. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cooked chicken and potatoes to a serving plate. Squeeze the lemon over the top of the chicken and potatoes and serve hot.

Notes

  1. You can leave the skin on the red potatoes.
  2. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat before serving.
  3. The total cook time includes the prep time, cook time, natural release time, and the time for the pot to come up to pressure.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 309
  • Sugar: 3 g
  • Sodium: 414.5 mg
  • Fat: 8.9 g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.8 g
  • Carbohydrates: 34.8 g
  • Fiber: 3.7 g
  • Protein: 23.2 g
  • Cholesterol: 88.8 mg

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About the Author: Carrie Forrest is the author of the best-selling Instant Pot-authorized cookbook, The Healthy Meal Prep Instant Pot Cookbook. She has a master’s degree in public health with a specialty in nutrition and receives nearly 10 million annual visitors to her site. Send Carrie a message through her contact form.