Instant Pot Chicken Adobo

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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 delicious 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.

Instant Pot Adobo Chicken

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 Filipino adobo 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 Chicken Adobo 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 Make This Recipe

• 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.

Ingredient Notes

• Chicken – This recipe calls for chicken thighs, but you can use chicken drumsticks or chicken breasts although you would need to adjust cook time.
• Onions – Feel free to use white onions or red onions.
• Flavoring – garlic, bay leaves, salt and pepper and ground coriander make this recipe
• Vinegar – I used white wine vinegar but you can use apple cider vinegar, white vinegar or rice vinegar.
• Soy sauce – I used gluten free soy sauce, but feel free to use regular soy sauce or light soy sauce. If you want use a low sodium soy sauce tor educe the salt content.
• Sugar – brown sugar is great in this to balance the tang but you can use coconut aminos.
• Oil – use olive oil or vegetable oil to your preference.

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.

1. Sauté the onion in the insert of your Instant Pot with some olive oil. When they have softened, mix in the garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds.
2. Add in the vinegar and soy sauce and deglaze the bottom of the insert with a wooden spoon before adding the remaining ingredients. 
3. Cover the Instant Pot, seal, and set to manual pressure/ high pressure for 13 minutes.
4. Pressure cook till done, then allow for a 10-minute natural pressure release, then quick release the remaining pressure.
5. Open the lid, remove and transfer chicken pieces, skin side up in an oven-proof dish. Broil the chicken for 4-5 minutes, until the skin is crispy. 
6. While the chicken broils, select sauté on the Instant Pot and cook until the sauce thickens. 
7. Serve the chicken with rice and top with the adobo sauce and green onions if you can. 

Pro Recipe Cooking 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. 
• Pat the chicken dry before pressure cooking to reduce any excess moisture and to not dilute the adobo sauce
• If the thickened sauce is too sharp for your liking, add a bit of sugar or honey.
• To keep this dish low carb, serve with steamed cauliflower rice instead of rice. remaining sauce

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. 
• Add heat – use some red pepper flakes, chipotle or cayenne.

Storage 

• Store – Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. 
• Freeze – For up to 2 months.

FAQs

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.

Serving Suggestions

• I love making this a complete meal with garlic rice, jasmine rice or steamed rice like this Instant Pot Brown Rice and Instant Pot Rice.
• Serve with some greens like bok choy or pak choi.
• Cauliflower Salad.

Weight Watchers Points

There are 3 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.

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.

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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