This is not your traditional slow cooker chicken recipe. This Easy Instant Pot Honey Chicken is oh so much more. Butter, honey, curry and even lemon pepper make the flavor incredible!
Sometimes it seems like we are all for dinnertime. I’ve got my meals planned, grocery shopping is done and I totally slayed this whole dinner thing. Other days, (much like last night when we had popcorn and green smoothie protein shakes) dinner is nothing but a hassle. Unless you make our easy instant pot honey chicken that is…
Easy Instant Pot Honey Chicken
There’s something so good and easy about shredded chicken recipes, huh. Whether you’re a busy mom or dad or just trying to make it through college it’s a great way to make one thing into a billion others like, chicken burrito bowls, casseroles, soups, or anything else. We like to eat this easy instant pot honey chicken over rice or quinoa or as a burrito bowl with grilled or sautéed veggies.
Curry for Chicken
Now don’t panic. This recipe has curry in it, but even if you don’t like curry you’ll love this recipe. It has a little dijon mustard, honey and even lemon pepper so once everything is all combined it creates a whole new flavor that you’ll definitely love!
Where to Buy Curry Powder
You can buy curry powder at any local grocery store in the seasoning section. Don’t worry about buying any specialty curry powders, just stick with the original especially with a dish like this easy instant pot honey chicken.
Crock Pot Freezer Meal
When you’re looking to make freezer meals we think crock pot freezer meals (or slow cooker freezer meals if that’s what you say) as well as instant pot freezer meal recipes are best. You want something for convenience so a set and forget method will work out best.
Remember that whatever you put in the freezer bag needs to do well in a slow cooker so try to avoid things that need thickening or creams as those won’t do as well in the freezer, being defrosted and cooked in one pot. Chicken in an instant pot is one of our favorites for freezer meal prep which is why we love this easy instant pot honey chicken recipe.
How Many Freezer Meals Before a Baby
By our second I knew that I wanted a few things in the freezer so that once my mom went home and meals stopped coming in from our Relief Society (our women in our church are part of the largest organization of women where we watch over and care for one another) which is always a sad day, haha. In fact, how do I get those meals to come in this week as I’m not really in a cooking mood…
Anyway! While some people are going to say far more, I actually think 5-7 meals in the freezer is best. Getting back into a schedule and a routine is the best thing you can do for your family and your mental health as well as getting life back to normal which is what you want. Too many meals and you’re just making things harder. Too few and you are standing in the shower crying.
With 5-7 meals you can serve each one as leftovers the next night and nothing is taking up all the space in your freezer.
How to Make Chicken Freezer Meal
To make this honey chicken into an easy freezer meal, you’ll want to make sure that you make the sauce ahead of time and then set it aside to come to room temperature. When you cool the sauce in the fridge it become extra thick which makes it hard to cover all of the chicken when you pour it into the freezer bag. Just set it aside on the counter instead.
Once you’re ready to assemble, take the chicken and place it in a freezer bag, or we prefer to use a food saver bag. Pour the sauce into the bag, aiming to cover all of the chicken. Give the bag a couple of squishes to evenly coat the chicken.
Press out all of the air, or as stated above, we much prefer to use a food saver which will suck out all of the air and seal it so that you can keep it in the freezer for 4-6 months before using. I know you all think we are obsessed with that thing, and it’s true. It’s life changing.
How to Make Slow Cooker Honey Chicken
This is a really great recipe for the slow cooker. When you make slow cooker chicken you can just add the defrosted chicken breasts first, not frozen. I know many people like to use frozen but it adds extra liquid and changes the sauce in my opinion.
Next, dump in all of the sauce ingredients and every now and again open the lid and stir everything until well combined. Cook on low for 4-6 hours. If you have more then 4 chicken breasts I tend to go 6 hours. We don’t prefer chicken cooked on high in a crockpot but if you must, it’s about 3 hours.
How to Make Instant Pot Honey Chicken
To make this instant pot honey chicken recipe you’ll want to start opposite of a slow cooker or crock pot chicken recipe. Start by turning the instant pot to saute and add in the butter. Once it has melted down a bit, add the remaining ingredients, stirring until combined.
Turn the instant pot to meat and set the time to 8 minutes. You can also use high pressure on manual. Once it’s done, let a natural release occur for 10 minutes, remove the chicken and shred it on a cutting board. Place the chicken back in the sauce, stirring to coat.
Looking for a quick and easy guide for preparing all the basics in the Instant Pot? Check out our Instant Pot Cheat Sheet!
What to Serve with Honey Chicken
We really like to serve rice or mashed potatoes under the honey chicken but it’s also good with pasta, in casseroles with veggies, over quinoa or even served in tacos!
Easy Instant Pot Honey Chicken
Easy Instant Pot Honey Chicken
Description
Ingredients
- 4-6 chicken breasts
- 1/2 Cup butter
- 1/2 Cup honey
- 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 Teaspoon curry powder
- 1 Teaspoon chicken seasoning, like montreal chicken
- 1/2 Teaspoon lemon pepper
- 1/2 Teaspoon salt
Instructions
For the Slow Cooker
- Place all of the sauce ingredients into a small pan over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally until combined. Or place everything in the slow cooker at once.
- Place the chicken in a slow cooker and pour the sauce over the top. Cook on low for 4-6 hours, see note in post. If you didn't pre-make the sauce, be sure to stir it occasionally.
For the Instant Pot
- Turn the instant pot on to saute and add the butter. As the butter melts, add the remaining sauce ingredients, stirring to combine. Add the chicken and turn the instant pot to manual, pressure on high and place the lid on with the valve set to seal. Set the time for 8 minutes. Once it's done cooking allow a natural pressure release for 10 minutes and then remove the meat and shred it on a cutting board.
- Place the meat back in the pot and stir with the sauce.
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
Recommended Products
Easy Honey Baked Chicken
Check out our easy honey baked chicken if you don’t have an instant pot or just want to bake the chicken.
Jordan
Love this recipe! SO easy and super flavorful. Fun to serve with Indian styled veggies and warm naan 💜
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much Jordan!
Kim
This did not work at all in the Ninja Foodi on the Pressure Cook setting. The chicken and sauce burned to the bottom of the pot.
Sweet Basil
Thanks for the feedback Kim! I haven’t ever tried a Ninja Foodi so I’m not sure how it compares to instant pots. You would think it would be the same though. I’m so sorry for the frustration!
Sarah
Thank you for including directions to make this in a crock pot. I see so many amazing Instant Pot recipes, but since I don’t have one, I’m often frustrated by the idea of trying to convert the recipe to using a crock pot or oven. I’m going to try this one soon.
Sweet Basil
You are so welcome Sarah! We try to include crock pot instructions with all our instant pot recipes for that very reason. We would love to hear what you think of this recipe!
half-pint
If you haven’t already done so, you really should get an electronic pressure cooker! So much faster and mostly better than the slow cooker and even more versatile. You can cook pasta recipes in ONE POT. “Saute” function allows you to heat up, cook or sear meat. Then you generally add DRY, UNCOOKED pasta, broth/water, etc and cook. Follow instruction for whatever recipe you are cooking, and it will turn out great. NO pre-cooking pasta, draining, etc.
AlFredo recipes are great, as are spaghetti. You just need to try it.
Sweet Basil
Thank you for the feedback! We love ours!
Working Mama
Delicious!
Sweet Basil
Thank you!
Cheryl Stout
This was a HUGE hit in our home! My pickiest 3 yr old absolutely Luved!! It…. we are so thankful we’ve found your tasty recipes and thank you do very much for sharing! A million plus stars👍♥️
Sweet Basil
Yahoo!! This is what we love to hear! Thanks for the feedback!
Maggie
Absolutely delicious!
Yesterday I made this fabulous dish, my family and I were so pleasantly surprised. Very simple steps and almost no time from prepping to enjoying. The very precious, almost nonexistent leftovers created a “first come, first served” dynamic today.
10 stars! Give it a try, you won’t regret it.
** cant wait to try new recipes:)**
Thank you so much!
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much for the feedback Maggie! So glad it was a hit for your family!
Scott Fellows
Does this recipe need water or anything to get the Instant Pot to pressurize?
Sweet Basil
Hey Scott! Just the sauce ingredients should be enough liquid to cook everything. Enjoy!!
Alison
Ohhhhhouuu beatiful meal , I looove chicken Carrian and so convenient for throwing it in my slo cooker, Thank you guys for making this Sunday so easy for me since I have so many things to catch up always. Take care guys and have a nice week.Your middle child is so pretty so is your older one! Anyways ciao 🙂