Marianne Martinez
Italian marinated chicken is a quick, healthy, and simple dish to make in an Instant Pot. It can be altered to suit your preferences and time availability. You can use a thin marinade, which works well for pressure cooking. Marinate the chicken overnight for the best flavor, or for at least 2 hours. Then, add the chicken broth to the Instant Pot, along with the chicken, and sprinkle Italian dressing mix on top. Cover the pot and secure the lid, ensuring the valve is set to sealing. Set the pressure cook button to 12 minutes for fresh chicken or 15 minutes for frozen. Once cooked, you can thicken the sauce by removing the chicken and pressing the saute button. Serve the chicken and sauce over rice or mashed potatoes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time | 20 minutes |
| Ingredients | Chicken, Italian seasoning, Italian dressing, Italian salad dressing, Italian-style diced tomatoes, chicken broth, chicken stock, garlic, brown sugar, salt, pepper, mozzarella, parmesan, burrata cheese balls, capers, rice, pasta |
| Equipment | Instant Pot |
| Method | Marinate chicken, cook in Instant Pot, sauté sauce, serve with rice or pasta |
| Tips | Marinate chicken overnight for best flavor, use at least 1/2 cup liquid when pressure cooking, cook frozen chicken for 3 minutes longer |
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What You'll Learn
Marinade ingredients and preparation
Italian marinated chicken is a quick, healthy, and simple dish that can be made in an instant pot with almost no hands-on time or prep. The marinade can be as simple as Italian salad dressing, or you can mix your own with the following ingredients:
- Italian seasoning (with herbs like marjoram and parsley)
- Garlic powder
- Brown sugar
- Salt and pepper
You can also add diced Italian tomatoes for extra flavor. Mix all of the marinade ingredients together in a bowl. If you have time, marinate the chicken in the mixture overnight in the fridge for the best flavor. If you're short on time, you can still get good results by marinating the chicken for at least 2 hours. Place the chicken in a plastic bag or large bowl, pour over the marinade, and move the chicken around or gently squish the bag to ensure the chicken is evenly coated.
After marinating, drain and discard the excess marinade from the chicken. Place the chicken in a bowl and season with salt and pepper, ensuring the chicken is well coated.
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Cooking the chicken
To cook Italian marinated chicken in an Instant Pot, you can follow these steps:
First, prepare the marinade. Mix all the desired ingredients, such as Italian salad dressing, Italian seasoning, garlic, brown sugar, salt, and pepper, in a bowl. You can also use a store-bought Italian dressing. For the best flavour, marinate the chicken overnight in the refrigerator, ensuring that the chicken is evenly coated. If you're short on time, two hours is the minimum marinating time.
Next, take the marinated chicken out of the refrigerator. Drain and discard the excess marinade from the chicken. Place the chicken in a separate bowl and season it with salt and pepper, ensuring it's well coated. You can also add other seasonings, like garlic powder, at this stage.
Now, it's time to prepare the Instant Pot. Line the pot with a trivet insert and pour in some chicken broth or stock to provide liquid for pressure cooking and prevent a 'burn message'. You can also add diced tomatoes or tomato sauce for extra flavour. Place the chicken into the pot and secure the lid. Ensure the valve is set to sealing.
Set the Instant Pot to the 'manual' or 'pressure cook' setting. The cooking time will depend on the size and thickness of your chicken breasts and whether they are frozen or thawed. As a guide, cook for 10-16 minutes for fresh chicken and 12-15 minutes for frozen chicken. The Instant Pot site recommends 5-8 minutes per pound.
Once the cooking time is complete, allow the pressure to release naturally, or carefully release it manually in small bursts. Check the chicken's internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer; it should register 165° Fahrenheit.
Finally, remove the chicken from the pot and let it rest before serving. If you want to thicken the sauce, press the 'saute' button and let it cook for an additional 5-10 minutes. You can then spoon the sauce over the chicken and serve it with your choice of sides, such as rice, mashed potatoes, or pasta.
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Sauteing and thickening the sauce
Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pot and set it aside. Press the 'Saute' button on the Instant Pot and allow the sauce to cook for an additional 5 to 10 minutes. This step will help reduce the sauce and thicken it. You can also add some slurry to the pot at this stage to thicken the sauce.
If you prefer a thinner sauce, you can skip the saute step and serve the chicken with the sauce as is. However, if you want a thicker, more concentrated sauce, the saute function will help reduce it down.
It is important to note that the sauce will continue to thicken as it cools, so you may not need to reduce it as much as you think. Additionally, if you find that your sauce is too thick, you can always add a little more liquid to thin it out.
For a more flavourful sauce, you can add some of the leftover marinade to the pot while sauteing. This will add extra flavour to the dish and help to thicken the sauce. Just be mindful that the sauce may become too salty if you add too much marinade, so add it a little at a time and taste as you go.
Finally, once the sauce has thickened to your desired consistency, turn off the Instant Pot and serve the chicken with the sauce. You can serve it over rice, mashed potatoes, or even pasta for a delicious Italian-inspired meal.
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Chicken cooking times
The cooking time for chicken in an Instant Pot varies depending on the type of chicken and the desired texture. Here are the recommended cooking times for different cuts of chicken:
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
For boneless skinless chicken breasts, the cooking time in the Instant Pot can range from 8 to 12 minutes for fresh chicken and 10 to 12 minutes for frozen chicken. The time depends on the thickness of the breasts. It is recommended to set the vent to "sealed" and pressure cook on high. After cooking, let the pressure release naturally for about 5 minutes before releasing any remaining steam by turning the valve to "venting."
Bone-In Chicken Breasts
Bone-in chicken breasts have a higher risk of drying out compared to other cuts, so it is essential not to overcook them. The recommended cooking time for bone-in chicken breasts is about 18 minutes to reach a safe internal temperature of 165°F.
Chicken Thighs and Drumsticks
Chicken thighs and drumsticks are more forgiving than breasts and benefit from longer cooking times. For chicken thighs, cook for 10 minutes at high pressure, followed by a natural pressure release, resulting in an internal temperature of 165°F. For a more tender result, increase the cooking time to 15-22 minutes at high pressure. Chicken drumsticks follow a similar cooking time, with a minimum of 15 minutes to start softening.
Whole Chicken
For a whole chicken, the recommended cooking time is calculated as 20 minutes plus 1 minute per pound, cooked at high pressure with a natural pressure release. This ensures that the chicken is cooked to a safe temperature while maintaining a desirable texture.
Chicken Cutlets or Smaller Pieces
When cooking chicken cutlets or smaller pieces, the cooking time can be as short as 4 to 6 minutes at high pressure, followed by a natural pressure release. This results in tender and juicy chicken that is perfect for shredding.
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Serving suggestions
Instant Pot Italian marinated chicken is a versatile dish that can be served in a variety of ways. Here are some serving suggestions to get you started:
Over a Bed of Polenta
For a comforting and soul-soothing option, serve the chicken over a bed of polenta. To prepare the polenta, whisk it into the sauce, reduce the heat to medium, and cook until it is tender and has absorbed all the liquid. This should take around 15 minutes. Then, shred the chicken thighs in the sauce and serve them over the polenta. For added flavour, sprinkle with parsley.
With Pasta or Noodles
Another option is to serve the Italian marinated chicken over pasta or noodles. You can cook the pasta or noodles while the chicken is cooking to save time. For an extra saucy dish, leave the sauce in the Instant Pot after removing the chicken and simmer it until it reaches your desired consistency. Then, simply spoon the sauce over the chicken and serve it over your chosen pasta or noodles.
With Rice
Italian marinated chicken also pairs well with rice, such as cilantro rice or Mexican rice. Similar to the previous suggestion, you can cook the rice while the chicken is cooking to save time. If you want a saucier dish, leave the sauce in the Instant Pot after removing the chicken and simmer it until it reaches your desired consistency. Then, serve the chicken and sauce over the rice, which will soak up all the delicious flavours.
As a Sandwich Filling
For a more casual option, you can also serve the Italian marinated chicken as a sandwich filling. Simply shred the chicken and sauce and pile it onto your favourite sandwich bread or roll. You can even add some melted cheese on top for an extra indulgent touch.
With Sides
If you prefer a simpler approach, serve the Italian marinated chicken with a variety of sides. This could include roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, a fresh salad, or any other sides that suit your taste preferences. This option is great for catering to various dietary needs and preferences, as you can offer a range of side dish options.
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Frequently asked questions
First, mix your choice of marinade ingredients in a bowl. Then, add Italian dressing and garlic to a plastic bag and place the chicken inside. Seal the bag and move the chicken around to coat it evenly in the marinade. Refrigerate for at least two hours, but preferably overnight. After marinating, drain and discard the marinade from the chicken. Add the chicken breasts to a bowl of seasoning and coat them well on all sides. Next, pour chicken broth into the Instapot, followed by the chicken. Cover the Instapot, secure the lid, and set the valve to sealing. Set the pressure cook button to 12 minutes for fresh chicken or 15 minutes for frozen. Once cooked, allow the pressure to release naturally. Then, carefully remove the lid and remove the chicken. Press the saute button and allow the sauce to cook for an additional 5-10 minutes. Finally, spoon the sauce over the chicken and serve.
It is recommended to marinate the chicken for at least two hours, but for the best flavour, it is best to leave it overnight.
You can use any mix of dried herbs that you like. Italian seasoning is a good option, as it contains herbs like marjoram and parsley. You can also add garlic powder, brown sugar, salt, and pepper.
