When it comes to quick weeknight dinners, it doesn’t get much better than a one-pot meal and when that one pot is a pressure cooker, it’s even better! With the help of this hearty recipe for Instant Pot chicken and potatoes, you can cook a protein and side dish all in one. Since you can use your pressure cooker to prepare the meal, it’s a hands-off dinner idea that’s perfect for a busy weeknight.

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When it comes to quick weeknight dinners, it doesn't get much better than a one-pot meal and when that one pot is a pressure cooker, it's even better! With the help of this hearty recipe for Instant Pot chicken and potatoes, you can cook a protein and side dish all in one. Since you can use your pressure cooker to prepare the meal, it's a hands-off dinner idea that's perfect for a busy weeknight.

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What Do I Need to Make Instant Pot Chicken Thighs and Potatoes?

The best part about this quick and easy Instant Pot chicken recipe is that you only need a handful of ingredients to put it together. Gather up these simple ingredients to prepare this flavorful recipe for dinner tonight:

Boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Olive oil
Chicken broth
Red and russet potatoes
Lemon
Dijon mustard
Minced garlic
Grated parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper

Looking for more delicious Instant Pot Recipes? Give these reader favorites a try:

Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup | Instant Pot Fried Rice with Vegetables | Easy Instant Pot Artichokes with Butter Sauce

How Do I Make Instant Pot Chicken Thighs and Potatoes?

Once you have your ingredients ready to go, it's time to start cooking. With the help of your Instant Pot, you can prepare this dinner in just a few minutes and let the pressure cooker do all the hard work for you! Follow these simple steps to prepare this recipe for Instant Pot Dijon chicken and potatoes:

Step One: Brown the Chicken

Set the Instant Pot to the saute setting. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then add olive oil the pot when it is hot. Place the chicken thighs in the pot and brown on both sides. Remove the chicken from the pan.

Step Two: Deglaze the Pot

Add the chicken broth to the pot and use a wooden spoon to deglaze the pot. Scrape the spoon along the bottom of the pot while it's still hot to remove browned, stuck-on pieces of chicken. Turn off the pressure cooker.

Step Three: Prepare the potatoes

Cut the potatoes into large, even chunks and place them in a large bowl. Toss the potatoes with olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper.

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Step Four: Add Ingredients to Instant Pot

Return the browned chicken thighs to the pot and top with the potatoes. Place the lid on the Instant Pot and set the valve to sealing. Set the Instant Pot to pressure cook for 15 minutes, then do a quick release by carefully moving the valve to venting.

Step Five: Serve the Chicken and Potatoes

When the pressure has been completely removed from the pot, remove the lid and transfer the chicken and potatoes to a plate. Top with grated parmesan cheese before serving.

Can You Put Raw Chicken in the Instant Pot?

Using your Instant Pot to cook chicken is one of the quickest and easiest ways to make dinner. That's because you can simply place the raw chicken in the pot and cook! While it's possible to put raw chicken in the instant pot, chicken thighs cook best if they're browned first. Taking the time to sauté your chicken thighs in oil before pressure cooking them helps draw out the fat and flavor from the meat, ensuring your thighs stay tender and juicy as they cook.

Can You Put Frozen Chicken in the Instant Pot?

On top of having the option to cook your chicken raw, you can also cook frozen chicken in your pressure cooker. There's no need to thaw your chicken before placing it in the Instant Pot. If you plan on using frozen chicken thighs to make this recipe, skip the sauté step and add the chicken directly to the instant pot. After that, just place the potatoes on top and cook according to the recipe instructions.

Why Is My Instant Pot Chicken Tough?

Cooking chicken in the Instant Pot takes a little bit of trial and error sometimes. There are a few reasons your chicken may be tough after you cook it in the Instant Pot, but the most common issue is that it wasn't cooked long enough. You can increase the cook time on your recipe to help soften the meat. You can also do a natural release instead of a quick release to give the chicken more time in the pressure cooker before you eat it.

Can You Stack Chicken Thighs in the Instant Pot?

Thanks to its even cooking, using a pressure cooker is a great option for cooking large meals. You can easily stack your chicken thighs on top of each other to help speed up the cooking for a big meal. Just make sure you season each chicken thigh before stacking to ensure all your chicken is flavorful when it comes out of the pressure cooker/

How Many Chicken Thighs Can You Cook in an Instant Pot?

The number of thighs you can cook in your pot will depend on the size of your pressure cooker. Look at the inside of your pressure cooker's pot to see its maximum capacity. There will be a line along the inside of the pot showing you where you should stop adding ingredients. Keep in mind that this max capacity includes your chicken thighs, as well as other ingredients (like potatoes) and liquids that your recipe requires.

Instant Pot Chicken and Potatoes

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 25

Servings:

Calories: 448kcal

Equipment

Instant Pot

Ingredients

3 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on can also be used but increase the cooking time)
2 tablespoons olive oil divided
1 cup chicken broth
2 pounds potatoes cut into large equal pieces (I used red and russet.)
1 lemon zested and juiced
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
2 cloves garlic minced (or 1 teaspoon garlic powder)
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Sprinkle chicken thighs with salt and pepper on both sides.
Heat electric pressure cooker on the saute setting until “hot.” Add one tablespoon of olive oil. Carefully place the chicken in the pot and brown on both sides. There is no need to cook the chicken through. Remove the chicken and keep warm.
Deglaze the bottom of the electric pressure cooker using the chicken stock and a wooden spoon, scraping to remove any browned pieces.
Return the chicken to the pot, placing around the edges.
In a large bowl, toss the potatoes with remaining olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Transfer potatoes to the electric pressure cooker and place over chicken.
Seal the pressure cooker lid and set the valve to sealing. Program the pressure cooker on “manual” or “pressure cook” for 15 minutes. Switch the valve to venting for a quick pressure release.
Serve the chicken and potatoes topped with parmesan cheese.