Instant Pot Peanut Chicken that can also be made on the stove top – a simple, delicious one-pot meal that can be made in 25 minutes! Paleo and GF adaptable, this delicious Balinese-inspired meal can be prepped ahead, or cooked ahead for the busy work week!
Everything is soul and flowering. I open and fill with love, and what is not love evaporates. ~ Rumi
Make this simple Peanut Chicken in an Instant Pot or on the stovetop, either way, it’s a delicious weeknight meal that comes together quickly and easily. Chicken breast is simmered in a tasty, Balinese-style, peanut sauce then served over your choice of rice or a hearty bed of baby spinach and sprinkled with the optional but amaaaaaazing Peanut Chili Crunch.
The best part, this can be prepped ahead, stored in a ziplock, then cooked during the busy workweek. Or, cook it ahead on a Sunday and warm it up during the week. Either way, you will love it. Trust me.
How to Make Instant Pot Peanut Chicken!
If going the rice route, make sure to make the chili cucumber salad to go with it…..so fresh and flavorful!
This meal was inspired by our trip to Bali last year where the people are as kind and warm as the beautiful surroundings. The thing that struck me most while being in Bali was how two very different religious groups- Muslim and Hindu, lived so peacefully together, holding respect and understanding for each other. It was an honor to witness this beautiful interweaving of cultures, a good reminder that this is possible when we live from the heart. Our thoughts create fear and with it, separation, barriers and prejudice. But our hearts want to love and connect.
If serving with rice, up your veggies by adding the Chili Cucumber Salad and wilted spinach.
Or serve the warm peanut chicken directly over a bed of baby spinach, gently wilting it.
Sprinkle with the optional Peanut Chili Crunch, which you will fall head over heels in love with!
It adds the best texture and flavor to Asian style meals…..so tasty!
What I love about this Instant Pot Peanut Chicken Recipe is, it’s basically “dump and go”. A good one for those of you who are short on time, or have little ones running all around you. Just put everything in the pot and give it a stir and pressure cook it for 10 minutes. That’s it. So easy! But not lacking in flavor whatsoever!
And remember, you can always swap out Almond butter for the Peanut Butter!
So delicious, so easy….. an Instant Pot Chicken recipe that can be made on the stovetop too! A fast and easy meal, that can also be made ahead if meal prepping.
For more Instant Pot Recipes, be sure to visit the Instant Pot Category on the recipe page!
And this Instant Pot, Thai Curry Chicken recipe is especially tasty!
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Instant Pot Peanut Chicken
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 15
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4-6
- Category: chicken, main, gluten free, instant pot, paleo
- Method: instant pot, pressure cooker, stove top
- Cuisine: Balinese
Description
Instant Pot Peanut Chicken that can also be made on the Stove Top – a simple, delicious one pot meal that can be made in 30 minutes! Paleo and GF adaptable, this delicious meal can be prepped ahead, or cooked ahead for the busy workweek!
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs chicken breast, cut into 1 inch cubes, sprinkled with pinch of salt
- 3 fat cloves garlic, rough chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, chopped ( or use ginger paste)
- 1 teaspoon oil
- 13 ounce can coconut milk (liquid and solids) DIVIDED, (do not use light- too watery)
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce (or use GF liquid amino acids)
- 3 tablespoons honey (or coconut sugar or brown sugar)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, more to taste
- 1 tablespoon chili garlic paste (or sriracha, or sambal olek)
- —–
- ½ cup peanut butter (or sub almond butter)
- optional additions : 1 tablespoon lemongrass, 4-5 kefir lime leaves
Chili Cucumber Salad
- 3 Turkish cucumbers, cut into ½ inch thick, diagonal half-moons
- 2 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon chili garlic paste
- pinch salt and sugar (optional)
- optional – basil ribbons, scallions, or cilantro
Serve over rice or a bed of spinach (either raw or wilted) or both, with the optional Chili Cucumber Salad Sprinkle with the optional Peanut Chili Crunch, or even just roasted peanuts.
Instructions
Cut the chicken into 1 inch cubes, sprinkle with salt and set aside.
If using an Instant Pot, set it to the sauté function, and sauté the ginger and garlic in a teaspoon of oil for 1-2 minutes, until fragrant. Add lemongrass if using. Stir the can of coconut milk with a fork- then and add 1 cup of the coconut milk, (you’ll add the rest after). Stir in the soy sauce, honey, lime juice, chili paste and the chicken ( optional kafir lime leaves) everything except the peanut butter in the pot, and stir. Drop the peanut butter in spoonfuls over top of the chicken (don’t stir it in).
Set to HIGH Pressure, for 8 minutes. Naturally release. See notes. (If using thigh meat pressure cook for 12 minutes.)
Once chicken is done cooking, taste a spoonful of the sauce. Adjust salt, lime, sweetness and spice level according to your taste. Stir in the remaining coconut milk if you like. Some of you will want it sweeter. I usually add more chili paste and lime. Sauce will thicken slightly as it cools.
(Alternately, if cooking on the stove top, cook the lightly salted chicken cubes in a dutch oven or large skillet in a little oil, until golden. Toss in the garlic and ginger and sauté until fragrant, 1-2 minutes, then add the remaining ingredients, all except peanut butter, stirring to combine. Cover and let simmer very gently on low heat, 8-10 minutes or until chicken is cooked through, then stir in the peanut butter. )
If the sauce seems too thin, reduce a bit using the sauté function while constantly stirring, to prevent burning the bottom. See notes.
Serve over a bed of rice or baby spinach – or both and the Chili Cucumber Salad. Top with optional Peanut Chili Crunch
To make the refreshing Chili Cucumber Salad, just place everything in a medium bowl and toss. It only takes a few minutes and you can do this while the Peanut Chicken is cooking.
Notes
Stirring in the peanut butter after the chicken is cooked, or dropping it on the top of the chicken will prevent the sauce from getting too thick at the bottom of the instant pot which can cause a mild scorching. So drop it on top, or add it after you release the pressure.
The sauce will start off a bit watery, but will thicken as it cools.
This will become more and more delicious over the next couple days. When cooking chicken breast in a pressure cooker, the meat seems to “contract”. If you allow the pressure-cooked chicken time to “rest” (keeping in on the “warm” setting for a while) it will expand and absorb some of the sauce -the sauce will thicken and the chicken will relax a bit and become more tender and flavorful. That’s why dishes like this usually taste better the next day. A great one to make ahead!
If making or prepping ahead, I would just cook it ahead and refrigerate, allowing the flavors to meld.
To prep this ahead, and cook it later- blend all sauce ingredients (except peanut butter) in a blender. Pour over the raw chicken (in a ziplock bag) and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. Then pour it in the Instant Pot. Drop peanut butter on the top of the chicken or stir it in after it is cooked. Follow the rest of the directions above.
Chicken Breast cooking Times:
- 6-ounce chicken breasts- 6 minutes on high pressure for fresh ( 10 minutes on high pressure for frozen)
- 8 ounce chicken breasts -7 minutes on high pressure for fresh (11 minutes on high pressure for frozen)
- 10 ounce chicken breasts- 8 minutes on high pressure for fresh (12 minutes on high pressure for frozen)
Keywords: instant pot chicken recipes, thai peanut chicken, instant pot peanut chicken, instant pot peanut chicken, peanut butter chicken, thai peanut chicken, instant pot chicken recipes
Came out well – used skinless chicken thighs and cooked for 10 min, also added a couple carrots. My 10-year old loved it (my 6 year old, not so much!)
★★★★★
Do you think you could freeze this after you prep it? (Thinking of making a double batch and setting aside half for next week or later.)
If frozen, any ideas on if you’d follow the same recipe for the frozen version in the IP?
Yes, I think this would freeze well- just as is.
Really good for how simple it is! I didn’t have any fish sauce and it was still very tasty. I did add some red pepper and spinach, will make it again!
★★★★★
Do you have a recommendation for coconut milk substitutes in a recipe like this? I’m very allergic, which sadly makes me miss out on a lot of Thai coconut or curry dishes. I know I’ve seen plain yoghurt used, but I don’t know when that’s best and what the ratio is.
I think yogurt would be too tangy. Maybe something as simple as cream?
this looks lovely and thanks so much for sharing! very excited to try it for dinner tomorrow night! if i sear the cubed chicken first (planning to use thighs), should i reduce the cooking time a few minutes once everything is in the ip?
thank you so much!
Yes, I would. 🙂
This was one of the best instant pot recipes I’ve ever made. Seriously delicious and so easy to throw together. I served over sautéed cilantro lime cauliflower rice and topped with the cucumber salad. I will definitely be making this again. Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe!
★★★★★
I made this dish today on the stove top with all the ingredients (including the lemongrass and kefir lime leaves) and accompaniments you suggested in the recipe above ie. cucumber, spinach and the crunchy chilli peanut topping. It was fabulous and super tasty – everything just worked fabulously well together. This one is a keeper. Thanks for sharing!
★★★★★
Great to hear!
Can you use adapt this to a slow cooker?
★★★★★
I think so, but haven’t tried this personally.
Can this be made with chicken thigh?
★★★★★
yes!
The best
★★★★★
Do you use normal peanut butter or natural PB
I use natural -but either will work.
Loved it! I added a little more chili paste and lime juice at the end, but could still kick it up another notch on spice. I am DEFINITELY making the peanut crunch recipe for the top next time!! My husband couldn’t stop eating it 🙂
★★★★★
Awesome, great to hear!
I got the burn notice too, but finished it on the stove.
Oh shoot. Just curious- did you put the peanut butter in it?
I couldn’t get past the Instant Pot’s burn warning. I think a step to deglaze after sauteeing the garlic/ginger would be helpful.
Got it! That makes total sense. Thanks Kenny and sorry about that. I will adjust recipe!
I never got to actually try it… it kept burning in the IP. I’m not sure what I did wrong. But the Chili Cucumber Salad was amazing.
★★★
Oh no!!! Sorry about that. Did you put the Peanut butter in the Instant Pot? On the top?
Hands up, hands down… This is the best recipe that I have ever made in the Instant Pot! Thank you for this delicious recipe and easy to follow directions!
I was short on time so I did not make either the cucumber salad or the peanut chili crunch. Hopefully when I make this again I would love to try those too. It was absolutely delicious regardless. Thanx again!
★★★★★
Yay! I’m so glad you like this!
5/5 stars here! Really did nothing to tweak this recipe other than making it spicier with Sriracha. I also made the cucumber salad which was a great touch to the overall meal. Will definitely be making again!
★★★★★
5/5 stars here! I don’t normally comment on recipes, but this is so easy to make, yet it’s so flavorful. I used more sriracha to spice it up for our personal preferences, but otherwise it was perfect. Will make many times again!
★★★★★
Delicious! Served over riced cauliflower. I did my best with the Peanut Chili Crunch, but I couldn’t find the fried shallots, so I did my own. Pretty sure it wasn’t as good as store bought. But we loved the recipe for the chicken exactly as written. Had leftovers for lunch. Maybe even better! Thanks! We will be making this again!
★★★★★
Oh Awesome David!
Absolutely love love love this recipe!! I’m pregnant and craving Thai food, we’re making it tonight for the third Sunday in a row! I decided to add sesame oil to the salad for more of that delicious Thai flavour, yum!!
★★★★★
Wowowowowo!
★★★★★
I followed the instructions exactly for my instant pot, could not cook as constantly got a burn message 😩
I wonder if something was stuck on the bottom? sorry about that. That is the only thing I can think of.
Made this tonight – the sauce is absolutely fantastic!
★★★★★
Thanks so much!