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Honey Balsamic Instant Pot Chicken

Honey balsamic Instant Pot chicken with a glossy, caramelized glaze. Chicken thighs are seared until golden, pressure cooked, then finished with a quick cornstarch thickening for a clingy sauce.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 480
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken and seasonings
  • 1 boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
Balsamic honey sauce
  • 0.33 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 3 tbsp honey
  • 0.25 cup chicken broth
  • 3 garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
Thickener and garnish
  • 2 tsp cornstarch
  • 2 tbsp water
  • 1 fresh thyme for garnish

Equipment

  • 1 instant pot

Method
 

Season the chicken
  1. Season the chicken thighs with salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning.
Sear and deglaze
  1. Set the Instant Pot to Sauté and heat the olive oil; sear the chicken for 3 minutes per side until golden, then remove to a plate.
  2. Pour in the chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
Pressure cook with honey balsamic glaze
  1. Whisk balsamic vinegar, honey, minced garlic, and Dijon mustard, then pour the mixture over the chicken.
  2. Return the chicken to the Instant Pot, seal the lid, and pressure cook on High for 10 minutes.
  3. Use a quick release to remove the chicken and stop the cooking.
Thicken and serve
  1. Switch back to Sauté and stir the cornstarch mixed with water into the sauce, cooking 3-4 minutes until thickened.
  2. Return the chicken to the sauce, spoon it over the top, and garnish with fresh thyme.

Notes

For the best glaze, scrape all browned bits into the broth before adding the honey balsamic mixture—those flavors deepen the sauce. Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container up to 3 days; reheat gently in a skillet or microwave until warmed through. Freezing: no (the cornstarch thickening can break). If you want a lower-sugar option, use sugar-free honey-style syrup in the same amount.