Perfect Instant Pot Bone In Chicken Thighs

Unleash the full potential of your Instant Pot with this incredible recipe for Instant Pot chicken thighs bone in, bathed in a rich, creamy cream cheese sauce. This dish promises a dinner your entire family will adore, combining minimal effort with maximum flavor. Whether you’re working with fresh chicken or need tips for Instant Pot frozen chicken thighs, we’ve got you covered for a truly effortless pressure cooker meal.

Get ready to add another fantastic dish to your collection of easy Instant Pot recipes! This particular recipe highlights the succulent, flavorful qualities of bone-in chicken thighs, perfectly complemented by a luxurious creamy sauce. It’s a family favorite that pairs wonderfully with classic sides like fluffy mashed potatoes, making it a complete and satisfying meal.

For too long, chicken thighs, often considered “dark meat,” have been overlooked in favor of white meat cuts like chicken breasts. However, once you experience the deep, natural flavor and incredible tenderness of bone-in chicken thighs cooked in an Instant Pot, you’ll become a true convert. This cut of meat offers numerous advantages:

• Economical Choice: Chicken thighs are consistently more affordable than chicken breasts, making them a budget-friendly option for family meals.
• Superior Flavor Profile: Thanks to their slightly higher fat content, bone-in chicken thighs boast a richer, more robust flavor that white meat simply can’t match.
• Unmatched Tenderness: Pressure cooking transforms chicken thighs into exceptionally tender pieces of meat that literally fall off the bone.

Ninja Foodi and Air Fryer Compatibility

If you own a Ninja Foodi, you’re in luck! This recipe translates perfectly to your multi-cooker. You can follow the same pressure cooking instructions using the appropriate lid. For achieving that desirable crispy skin, utilize the air crisp function on your Ninja Foodi. This recipe primarily focuses on fresh or defrosted meat, but if you’re starting with frozen, be sure to consult our air fryer frozen chicken thighs guide for adjusted cooking times.

While boneless chicken thighs are an option, they often come with a higher price tag without significantly enhancing the dish in this particular preparation. The bone contributes to both flavor and moisture during cooking, and removing it isn’t usually worth the extra cost. However, feel free to use boneless if that’s your preference, simply adjust the cooking time as noted in the recipe card.

In this guide, our primary focus is on achieving perfectly tender, flavorful chicken thighs through a combination of sautéing and pressure cooking in your Instant Pot. But the versatility of chicken thighs doesn’t stop there. Once you’ve mastered this method, you’ll find they’re also fantastic in an air fryer, offering a different, often crispier, texture. However, for sheer tenderness where the meat effortlessly melts in your mouth, the Instant Pot reigns supreme.

This Instant Pot method guarantees the most tender chicken imaginable, allowing the meat to literally fall off the bone without any effort. The rich, creamy sauce, spooned generously over the top, elevates the dish to a gourmet level. Serve it as is, or alongside your favorite vegetables or potatoes for a complete and wonderful meal ready in no time at all.

For this recipe, you’ll utilize your Instant Pot’s primary pressure cooking lid. If you desire crispy skin, you can achieve this easily at the end using alternative methods like broiling or an air fryer lid. Before searing, remember to season your chicken thighs generously with your choice of spices. This step is crucial for building a deep flavor profile. Below, we’ll suggest some fantastic seasoning options. Here’s a detailed look at the ingredients you’ll need:

Key Ingredient Notes for Flavorful Success

• Chicken Thighs: Opt for medium-sized bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs for the best results and the cooking times provided. If using boneless, skinless thighs, reduce the pressure cooking time to 8 minutes. For another fantastic boneless option, try our Instant Pot honey mustard chicken recipe.
• Chicken Stock/Broth: Crucial for adding depth of flavor to your dish, unlike water which provides only liquid for pressure cooking. It forms the foundation of your creamy sauce.
• Cream Cheese: Softened cream cheese is vital for achieving a smooth, luxurious sauce. For dairy-free alternatives, ensure they melt smoothly.
• Fresh Spinach: An optional but highly recommended addition that introduces a lovely pop of color and a mild, earthy flavor, balancing the richness of the sauce.
• Sun-Dried Tomatoes: These offer a concentrated, sweet-tart flavor that complements the creamy sauce beautifully. They are optional but add a gourmet touch.
• Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan cheese will enrich the sauce, adding a savory, umami depth.
• Garlic Powder: A versatile seasoning that enhances the overall savory profile of the chicken and sauce.
• Olive Oil: Essential for sautéing the chicken thighs, helping to achieve a golden-brown sear and develop flavor.
• Salt and Pepper: Fundamental seasonings to taste, bringing out the natural flavors of the ingredients.

As mentioned, for that sought-after crispy skin, you can employ an Instant Pot air fryer lid if you have one, or even a standalone air fryer. We’ll dive into the different methods for crisping the exterior below, ensuring you get the perfect texture to complement your tender, saucy chicken.

Adapting for Frozen Chicken Thighs

If you’re cooking bone-in chicken thighs straight from the freezer, you’ll need to adjust the pressure cooking time. Instead of 10 minutes, set your Instant Pot for 15 minutes. This ensures the chicken is cooked through and achieves that desirable fall-off-the-bone tenderness. Typically, when cooking from frozen, I don’t bother with the crisping step at the end, as the primary goal is usually convenience and tenderness. If you do plan to crisp, you might slightly decrease the initial pressure cooking time by 2 minutes to prevent overcooking, as the crisping process will continue to heat the chicken.

How Long to Cook Pressure Cooker Bone-In Chicken Thighs

From start to finish, including a quick browning, the pressure cooking cycle, the time to reach pressure, and a brief natural release, you can expect this dish to be ready in approximately 30 minutes. This is remarkably fast for a meal that delivers such rich flavors and a creamy sauce, all cooked together in a single pot.

Preparing these delicious chicken thighs involves three key steps:

1. Browning the Chicken: First, you’ll use the Instant Pot’s “Saute” function to sear the chicken thighs. This step is crucial for developing deep flavor and a beautiful golden-brown exterior. You’ll cook them for about 10 minutes total, browning both sides.
2. Deglazing and Pressure Cooking: After browning, remove the chicken. It’s essential to deglaze your Instant Pot pot at this stage to scrape off any browned bits from the bottom. This prevents the dreaded “burn” notice. Once deglazed, return the chicken to the pot and utilize the pressure cooker function to cook them until perfectly tender.
3. Crisping the Skin (Optional but Recommended!): Once pressure cooking is complete, you have the option to crisp the skins. This can be done using an Instant Pot air fryer lid, by placing them under your oven’s broiler, or even in a standalone air fryer. This quick final step, usually just 5 minutes, makes a significant difference in texture and presentation, earning you those “oohs” and “ahhhs” at the dinner table.

Beyond this recipe, if you ever find yourself needing to cook a whole chicken from frozen, our frozen whole chicken in pressure cooker instructions are invaluable. And for those who enjoy outdoor cooking, our smoked chicken thighs are an absolute must-try if you own a Traeger grill.

Nobody wants rubbery skin on their perfectly tender chicken. While the Instant Pot excels at creating fork-tender meat, it doesn’t naturally produce crispy skin. But don’t worry, there are simple ways to achieve that delightful crunch. Many new Instant Pot models come with an air fryer lid, which is perfect for this. After pressure cooking, you can transfer the chicken to the air fryer basket (often included with the lid), ensuring it’s out of the sauce, and use the lid’s crisping function. Here are a few reliable methods:

You’ll find a complete, printable recipe card at the bottom of this post, including detailed notes for easy reference. Save it to your recipe box or bookmark this page for future cooking endeavors. For now, here’s a quick overview before you begin cooking:

Detailed Steps: How to Cook Bone-In Chicken Thighs in Instant Pot

1. Prepare Chicken: Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels. In a small bowl, combine basil, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to create a dry rub. Generously coat all sides of the chicken thighs with this seasoning.
2. Sauté Chicken: Set your Instant Pot to the “Saute” function. Add olive oil and allow it to heat. Place chicken thighs in the pot, skin-side down, in batches if necessary, to avoid overcrowding. Brown the skins on both sides until golden, about 3-5 minutes per side.
3. Deglaze the Pot: Turn the Instant Pot OFF. This is a critical step to allow the pot to cool slightly and prevent the “burn” notice. Remove the browned chicken thighs from the pot. Pour a small amount of chicken stock into the pot and use a wooden spoon to scrape up all the browned bits from the bottom. This process, called deglazing, is essential for both flavor and safety.
4. Pressure Cook: Return the chicken thighs to the Instant Pot, arranging them in a single layer or in a circle around the edges if possible. Pour the remaining chicken stock/broth into the middle of the pot, ensuring it doesn’t completely submerge the chicken skin (if you want to crisp it later). Close the lid, set the valve to “Sealing,” and select “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” on High pressure for 10 minutes for fresh, bone-in thighs (15 minutes for frozen).
5. Release Pressure: Once cooking is complete, allow a Natural Pressure Release (NPR) for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, perform a Quick Release (QR) by carefully turning the valve to “Venting” until all steam is released and the float valve drops.
6. Crisp the Skin (Optional): Carefully remove the chicken thighs from the Instant Pot. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or prepared with non-stick cooking spray. Broil in the oven for 3-5 minutes, watching closely, until the skin is beautifully crispy. Alternatively, use an air fryer or Ninja Foodi’s air crisp function (see section below).

Crafting and Thickening the Creamy Sauce

While your chicken thighs are crisping, you’ll create the luscious cream cheese sauce right in your Instant Pot. Switch the Instant Pot back to “Saute” mode. Heat the remaining juices in the pot to a simmer. Add the softened, cubed cream cheese, whisking continuously until it has completely melted into a smooth, creamy consistency. (Ensuring the cream cheese is at room temperature is key for a lump-free sauce.)

Next, stir in the Parmesan cheese and the remaining garlic powder. Allow the sauce to simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until it reduces to your desired thickness. For an even thicker sauce, prepare a cornstarch slurry: In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water until smooth. Pour this mixture into the simmering sauce and stir constantly. The sauce will begin to thicken as it bubbles on the “Saute” setting. Finally, fold in the sun-dried tomatoes and fresh spinach. Stir until the spinach wilts slightly and everything is well combined.

Once the sauce is ready and the chicken is crisped, pour the rich cream cheese sauce right over the chicken thighs and serve immediately! This dish is exceptionally delicious served with a bed of fluffy rice, creamy mashed potatoes, or steamed vegetables for a wholesome and balanced meal.

Tips for Achieving Perfectly Crispy Chicken Skin

As discussed, the pressure cooker excels at tenderizing, but for crispy skin, you’ll need a different method. Here are the most effective ways to achieve that satisfying crunch:

1. Oven Broiler Method: This is a simple and effective technique. After pressure cooking, transfer the chicken thighs to a baking pan. Place them under your oven’s broiler for 3-5 minutes, or until the skin reaches your desired crispiness. Keep a close eye on them to prevent burning.
2. Ninja Foodi Air Crisp Function: If you have a Ninja Foodi, this is a fantastic option. Once the chicken is cooked and removed from the sauce, place it in the air fryer basket (ensuring pieces aren’t overlapping). Attach the air crisp lid and set it to 400 degrees F for 4-8 minutes, or until the skin is golden and crispy.
3. Standalone Air Fryer: Similar to the Ninja Foodi, a separate air fryer works wonders. Transfer the cooked chicken thighs to the air fryer basket, ensuring good air circulation. Lightly spray with olive oil for extra crispness. Cook at 400 degrees F for a few minutes until beautifully crisp.

A light spray of olive oil on the skin before crisping will always enhance the results. Remember, for proper crisping, the chicken needs to be removed from the creamy sauce. Hot air cannot effectively circulate and crisp through a thick layer of cream cheese!

More Irresistible Chicken Thigh Recipes to Explore

If you’ve loved this creamy Instant Pot chicken thighs recipe, you’re in for a treat with these other fantastic chicken creations. Our Instant Pot crack chicken casserole is a definite crowd-pleaser, right alongside Instant Pot chicken and potatoes for a complete meal. For a resourceful dish using leftover chicken, try our easy Pressure cooker cheesy chicken spaghetti. And if you’re looking to cook a whole chicken, our Pressure cooker beer can chicken is a fun and flavorful option that doesn’t require chopping.

In conclusion, this Instant Pot bone-in chicken thighs recipe with a creamy cream cheese sauce is more than just a meal; it’s a testament to how simple yet profoundly satisfying home cooking can be with the right tools and techniques. Enjoy the journey to creating tender, flavorful chicken that will quickly become a cherished recipe in your kitchen!