
Do you visit your favorite local Filipino restaurant and always order the Chicken Adobo? If you’re anything like me, there’s just something about that perfect combination of tangy, sweet, and spicy sauce that keeps you coming back again and again. Seriously, I find it so deliciously addicting that I have to refrain from licking the plate clean.
Well folks, what if I told you it’s super easy to make this restaurant-quality dish at home? It’s true….thanks to the Instant Pot, it’s entirely possible to whip up delicious authentic adobo chicken in less than 30 minutes.
Instant Pot Chicken Adobo is one of the easiest dishes to make. You get all of that amazing slow-braised flavor without all the work. Yep, this dish is quick, fuss-free, and affordable since it’s made with ingredients you already have in your pantry. #instantpotforthewin

What is Adobo Chicken?
Traditional Filipino Adobo Chicken is made by slow braising chicken in a sauce made of vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, onions, and spices. The sauce is sweet and tangy with a hint of spice and loads of flavor. Cooking this dish in your pressure cooker gives you all the flavor and tenderness of slow cooking in a fraction of the time.
To give the chicken thighs that crispiness you’re used to when you order this in a restaurant I’ve added a reverse searing process at the end. AKA, quickly crisping the chicken under the broiler at the end. #somuchyum


Why You’ll ♡ This
- Easy and fast – Everything is cooked right in the instant pot in about 30 minutes.
- Authentic flavor – This tastes just like a dish you would order at your local Filipino restaurant.
- Pantry staples – Budget-friendly since it’s made with affordable, everyday pantry staples.
Tools You Need
- An awesome Instant Pot.
- A sharp knife.
- A cutting board.
- Measuring cups and measuring teaspoons.
- Handy mixing bowls.
- The best ever sea salt flakes
- Meal prep glass containers for storing your food.

Ready to make this pressure cooker chicken adobo? Gather your ingredients and I will show you…
How To Make Instant Pot Adobo Chicken
Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.
- Sauté the onion in the insert of your Instant Pot. When they have softened, mix in the garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds.
- Add in the vinegar and soy sauce and deglaze the bottom of the insert before adding the remaining ingredients.
- Cover the Instant Pot, seal, and set to manual pressure/ high pressure for 13 minutes.
- Once done, allow for a 10-minute natural pressure release, then perform a quick pressure release.
- Open the lid, remove the chicken, and place it skin side up in an oven-proof dish. Broil the chicken for 4-5 minutes, until the skin is crispy.
- While the chicken broils, select sauté on the Instant Pot and cook the sauce until it thickens.
- Serve the chicken with rice and top with the adobo sauce.

Pro Recipe Tips
- Use bone-in chicken thighs with the skin on for the best flavor and maximum crispness.
- Alternatively, you can use skinless thighs to reduce the calories in this chicken adobo instant pot recipe.
- If the sauce is too sharp for your liking, add a bit of sugar or honey.
- To keep this dish low carb, serve with steamed riced cauliflower instead of rice.
Delicious Variations
- Use Rice Wine Vinegar – Rice wine vinegar will be a little less tangy than white wine vinegar.
- Add Coconut Milk – make the sauce creamy and add a hint of coconut flavor.

Storage
- Store – Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
FAQs
Chicken drumsticks with the skin on are also excellent in this recipe. You could use a mix of thighs and drumsticks. Chicken breast tends to dry out so we don’t recommend it.Â

Serving Suggestions
More Recipes You May Like
- Instant Pot Hibachi Fried Rice.
- Instant Pot Ropa Vieja (Cuban Beef).
- Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice.
- Instant Pot Butter Chicken (Indian).
- Instant Pot Hibachi Chicken Dinner.
- 5 Minute Ginger Sauce.
- 5 Minute Yum Yum Sauce.
- 5 Minute Bang Bang Sauce.
Weight Watchers Points
There are 3 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.
Thank you for reading my chicken adobo Instant Pot recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.
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Instant Pot Adobo Chicken
Ingredients
- 6 chicken thighs bone-in and skin on
- 2 teaspoons oil
- 1 onion peeled and diced
- 5 cloves garlic peeled and minced
- â…“ cup (79ml) tamari soy sauce or regular soy sauce if not gluten free
- â…” cup (157ml) white wine vinegar
- 2 bay leaves
- salt
- black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground coriander optional
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar optional
Instructions
- Set the Instant Pot to sauté and add the oil. Once heated, add diced onion, sauté until softened. Then add garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds.
- Pour in the soy sauce and vinegar and deglaze the bottom of the insert. Then add the remaining ingredients.
- Cover the Instant Pot, seal, and set to manual pressure/ high pressure for 13 minutes.
- Once done, allow for a 10-minute natural pressure release, then perform a quick pressure release.
- Open the lid, remove the chicken, and place it skin side up in an oven-proof dish. Broil for 4-5 minutes, until the skin is crispy.
- While the chicken broils, select sauté on the Instant Pot and cook the sauce until it thickens.
Notes
Pro Recipe TipsÂ
- Use bone-in chicken thighs with the skin on for the best flavor and maximum crispness.
- Alternatively, you can use skinless thighs to reduce the calories in this chicken adobo instant pot recipe.Â
- If the sauce is too sharp for your liking, add a bit of sugar or honey.
- To keep this dish low carb, serve with steamed riced cauliflower instead of rice.Â
Loved how easy this was to make – I was able to get dinner on the table so quickly! Thank you!
I’m always on the lookout for new recipes for chicken thighs and this one ticks all the boxes. Pinning to make this week!
This chicken adobo was so delicious! Loved how easy it was to make in an instant pot.
I’ve been loving instant pot recipes so this instant pot chicken is perfect for me! It looks so simple, yet so delicious! I can’t wait to make this chicken this week, my husband will love it!
This is absolutely delicious. Chicken is my favorite type of protein and I just love the fact that you can make this dish with the ingredients I normally keep in my pantry.