Sizzling Chicken Thighs: The Hot Pot Sensation

Chicken thighs are a versatile, flavourful, and juicy cut of meat that can be cooked in a variety of ways. One popular method is to cook them in a hot pot or instant pot, which is a great way to prepare a simple yet tasty meal with minimal effort.

Chicken thighs can be cooked from fresh or frozen, with or without the bone, and with or without the skin. The cooking time will vary depending on these factors, but generally, chicken thighs will take around 8-15 minutes to cook in an instant pot.

Before cooking, the chicken thighs can be seasoned with a variety of spices, such as salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. Some recipes also include a step for browning or searing the chicken thighs before pressure cooking, which adds flavour and colour to the dish.

For best results, it is recommended to use a trivet or steamer basket inside the instant pot, placing the chicken thighs on top to keep them out of the liquid during the cooking process. This helps to ensure the chicken remains juicy and tender.

After cooking, the liquid remaining in the instant pot can be used to make a simple and flavourful gravy to accompany the chicken thighs. This can be done by adding a slurry of flour or cornstarch and whisking until the gravy thickens.

Overall, cooking chicken thighs in a hot pot or instant pot is a convenient and tasty way to prepare a delicious meal with minimal effort.

Seasoning the chicken

Firstly, prepare a simple spice rub by combining dried spices such as salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, and dried thyme. You can also add other spices like oregano, parsley, or red pepper flakes to suit your taste preferences. Mix the spices in a small bowl before applying them to the chicken. This will ensure an even coating and save you time during the seasoning process.

Next, rub the spice mixture generously over the chicken thighs, making sure to cover both sides of each piece. If you're using skin-on chicken thighs, try to get some of the seasoning under the skin as well. You can use a paper towel to pat the chicken dry before seasoning to ensure the spices adhere better and the skin crisps up nicely during cooking.

For skin-on chicken thighs, you can also try a technique called "dry brining." This involves seasoning the chicken with salt and letting it rest for a few hours or even overnight before cooking. The salt will draw out some of the moisture from the skin, which will then be reabsorbed along with the salt, resulting in juicier meat and crispier skin.

If you're feeling adventurous, you can also try marinating the chicken thighs before cooking. Create a marinade by mixing ingredients like olive oil, lemon juice, soy sauce, garlic, herbs, or spices. Place the chicken thighs in a resealable bag or container, add the marinade, and let it sit in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight. This will infuse the chicken with flavor and make it even more juicy and tender.

Finally, if you're cooking frozen chicken thighs, you might find it challenging to get the spice rub to stick. In this case, you can try partially defrosting the chicken before seasoning, or drizzle a small amount of olive oil over the frozen thighs to help the spices adhere.

Remember, seasoning is a crucial step in ensuring your chicken thighs turn out flavorful and delicious. Don't be afraid to experiment with different spice combinations and techniques to find what works best for your taste preferences!

Browning the chicken

Preparing the Chicken

Firstly, bring the chicken to room temperature. Take the chicken out of the refrigerator and let it sit for 20-30 minutes. Trimming any excess fat with a sharp knife is the next step. Rinse the chicken thighs under cold water and pat them dry with paper towels. Ensure the chicken is dry before proceeding to the next step.

Heating the Hot Pot

Add 1-2 tablespoons of oil to the hot pot and heat it over medium-high heat. You can use olive oil, canola oil, corn oil, or butter. Heating the oil is crucial, as it prevents the chicken from sticking to the hot pot.

Cooking the Chicken

Season the chicken thighs with salt, pepper, or any other desired seasonings. Place the chicken thighs in the hot pot in a single layer, ensuring they don't overlap. Overlapping chicken thighs may cause them to steam instead of browning. If your hot pot isn't large enough, cook the chicken in batches.

Let the chicken cook on one side for 8-10 minutes without flipping or stirring. Then, use tongs to flip the chicken and cook the other side for another 8-10 minutes.

Finishing Up

Once the chicken is browned on both sides, remove it from the hot pot and set it aside. If you have more chicken to cook, add 1-2 teaspoons of fresh oil to the hot pot and repeat the browning process.

Finally, continue with your hot pot chicken thighs recipe. Ensure the chicken is fully cooked by checking that it's no longer pink in the middle and has an internal temperature of 165°F.

Cooking the chicken

Next, heat a tablespoon of olive oil in your Instant Pot or a large cast iron skillet using the sauté function. Place the chicken pieces skin side down in the hot oil and brown the chicken pieces for about 4 minutes per side. Try not to move the chicken around too much. The meat should release from the bottom of the pot easily once it has a good sear.

Remove the chicken to a clean plate. Pour 1 cup of chicken broth or water into the pot and use a spatula to scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pot. This step will ensure you don’t get a burn message during the pressure cooking process. You’ll leave the chicken broth in the pot, as it will create the steam that is needed for pressure cooking.

Set the metal trivet that came with your Instant Pot inside the pot and put the chicken on top of the trivet. This keeps the chicken out of the liquid during the cooking process. Close the lid, set the steam release valve to the sealing position, and pressure cook according to the cook times below. When it’s done cooking, let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes and then quick-release any remaining pressure in the pot.

For fresh boneless, skinless chicken thighs, pressure cook on high pressure for 8 minutes. Once the cooking cycle ends, let the pressure naturally release for 5 minutes by leaving the pot alone. The chicken will continue to cook during this time. The natural release ensures that the chicken comes out tender and juicy. Then quick-release any remaining pressure.

Fresh bone-in chicken thighs are also perfect for cooking in your Instant Pot! Follow the same method as for boneless chicken thighs but increase the pressure-cook time to 10 minutes at high pressure. Let the pressure naturally release for 5 minutes after cooking.

For food safety, chicken should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165° F. The best way to check that the chicken is cooked through is to use an instant-read thermometer. If it’s not done, you can turn on sauté to bring the broth to a boil, then turn off the pot and put the lid back on for a few minutes to finish cooking the thighs from the residual heat.

To cook frozen chicken thighs in your Instant Pot, first make sure that the chicken thigh pieces are separate and not frozen together. This will ensure that the chicken cooks evenly. Skip the step of browning the chicken. Add the chicken broth to the pot and place the metal trivet in the pot. Put the chicken thighs on top of the trivet. Since the spice rub won’t stick well to frozen chicken, sprinkle half of it on the top of the chicken thighs after you place them on the trivet. After cooking, you can add a little more seasoning and then brown the meat if you wish.

Cook frozen bone-in chicken thighs on high pressure for 15 minutes and then do 5 minutes of natural pressure release. Frozen boneless thighs will take 13 minutes to cook. You may want to brown the cooked chicken thighs under the broiler in the oven for a few minutes. Or, you can remove the liquid from the pot and brown the cooked chicken thighs on sauté mode for a few minutes.

You can make a simple gravy from the liquid in the pot after cooking the chicken. It’s so good served with the chicken and makes it especially moist and flavorful. To make gravy, first stir a tablespoon of butter into the cooking liquid in the pot. Then stir in a cornstarch slurry and bring the gravy to a simmer using the sauté function, cooking until the gravy thickens.

Making a sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 ½ tablespoons water
• 1 cup leftover liquid from the pot
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Firstly, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Next, add the leftover liquid from the pot and bring to a simmer. In a small bowl, mix together the cornstarch and water until smooth. Stir this mixture into the simmering liquid and continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens. Taste the sauce and season with salt and pepper as needed.

You can also add other ingredients to your sauce to enhance the flavour, such as garlic, herbs, or spices. For a creamy sauce, you could add milk or cream to the mixture. Alternatively, you could use a store-bought sauce as a base and add your own twist to it with various herbs and spices.

Finally, serve your chicken thighs with the sauce and enjoy!

Serving suggestions

Chicken thighs are a versatile dish that can be served in a variety of ways. Here are some ideas for serving chicken thighs cooked in a hot pot:

• As a Main Dish: Chicken thighs can be served as a main course with a simple homemade gravy made from the extra liquid in the pot. You can also serve them with mashed potatoes and a side of vegetables, such as roasted broccoli, kale salad, or roasted vegetables.
• In a Salad: Shredded chicken thighs can be added to a salad, such as a kale salad.
• In a Sandwich: Leftover chicken thighs can be used as a filling for sandwiches.
• With Rice: Chicken thighs can be served with rice, such as brown rice, white rice, or chicken and rice cooked together.
• With Noodles: Chicken thighs can be served with noodles, such as in chicken Alfredo pizza or chicken taquitos.
• With Tortillas: Chicken thighs can be used as a filling for tortillas, such as in chicken tacos.
• With Other Proteins: Chicken thighs can be served alongside other proteins, such as pork chops or butter chicken.

Frequently asked questions