• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Kicking Carbs

  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About
    • Contact Me

Home » Instant Pot Italian Chicken

Instant Pot Italian Chicken

Published: Nov 4, 2020 by Wendy Polisi Modified: Dec 28, 2020 · 915 words. · About 5 minutes to read this article.

  • 48
  • 1
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Collage of three photos of Italian Chicken with the text "Instant Pot Italian Chicken - Low Car, So Easy"

I have a soft spot for Italian flavors, and this Instant Pot Italian Chicken is one of my favorite go-to weeknight meals. The creamy cheese sauce adds a touch of indulgence without making the dish too heavy. This is one of those dishes I make on auto-pilot throughout the year.

Close up photo of Instant Pot Italian Chicken garnished with tomato, fresh basil, and olives sitting on palimi noodles.

Italian flavors have always been a hit at my house, but I typically think of things like Chicken Parmesan, Pizza, or Meatball Casserole when I think of Italian food.

(Obviously, I am talking Americanized Italian food here!)

This Instant Pot Italian Chicken has the flavor profile I love, but it a dish that can be as light or as decadent as you like. Feeling like a light meal? Use just a portion of the sauce and save the rest for another meal later in the week.

Looking for rich and creamy chicken? Have at it - go crazy with the sauce.

Either way, I think you will agree that this one is a winner.

Contents hide
1 Tools Needed
2 Serving Suggestions
3 Italian Chicken Instant Pot Variation
4 Frequently Asked Questions
5 How to Make Instant Pot Italian Chicken
6 More Keto Instant Pot Recipes to Try
7 Subscribe and Get My Best Comfort Food Recipes!

Tools Needed

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualified sales.

  • Instant Pot
  • Instant-Read Thermometer

Serving Suggestions

  • My favorite way to serve this recipe is with Keto Roasted Vegetables (recipe coming soon) and Palmini Noodles. Toss the noodles with the sauce and serve with the vegetables on the side.
  • A simple green salad with Keto Ranch Dressing makes a great side.
  • This is great served over cauliflower rice or Keto Mashed Cauliflower.
  • Use Almond Flour Tortillas and turn the leftovers - including the olive, tomato, and basil garnishes - into quesadillas.
  • Keto Roasted Cauliflower is another great easy to make side dish.
Photo of Instant Pot Italian Chicken garnished with tomato, fresh basil, and olives with roasted vegetables and keto noodles and a gravy boat of sauce sitting behind it.

Italian Chicken Instant Pot Variation

If you would like, you can add sautéed mushrooms or broccoli on top of the chicken. (Cook them just enough to get the veggies to release most of their liquid so it doesn’t water down your dish.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use either breasts or thighs?


Absolutely! I often use a mixture since half of our family loves chicken breast meat, while the other half loves thighs.

Can I make this in my slow cooker?

You can, but you will need to finish the sauce up on the stovetop unless you have a slow cooker with a saute function. To make in the slow cooker, cook on low for about 3 hours.

Do I need to saute the chicken first?

Nope - this is an optional step. If you are looking for a simple dinner, this recipe works just fine if you skip that step

Can I freeze Instant Pot Italian Chicken?

Yes! Leftovers will keep in the freezer for about two months. Although cream sauces often don’t freeze well, the high content will help this hold up better in the freezer.

How to Make Instant Pot Italian Chicken

Start by patting the chicken thighs dry and seasoning. I prefer to do this a day ahead of time, but last minutes works as well.

Seasoned Italian Chicken on a white plate ready to cook.

If your family prefers browned chicken, you can do this using the saute function. Just make sure to deglaze the brown bits after adding the broth - leaving them on the bottom of the pan can cause the burn signal.

Broth and brown bits from browning chicken in an Instant Pot.

If you aren't browning the chicken, just but the broth in the bottom of the pot and then add the chicken. Place the lid on the Instant Pot and make sure that it is set to seal.

Cook on high pressure for 8 minutes if you are browning the chicken or 10 if you did not.

Photo of Italian Chicken in the Instant Pot.

Allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes, and then do a quick release.

Remove the chicken from the pot and turn to medium saute. Add the heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Reduce to low saute and add the cheese. Cook over low until the cheese melts.

Drizzle the chicken with the sauce and serve.

More Keto Instant Pot Recipes to Try

  • Instant Pot Chicken Tinga is super-easy to make and perfect for busy weeknights. I like to serve the chicken in an Almond Flour Tortilla!
  • Instant Pot Chicken and Mushrooms is surprisingly full of flavor for a dish so simple.
  • Still need more inspiration? Browse my complete collection of Keto Instant Pot Recipes.
Close up photo of Instant Pot Italian Chicken garnished with tomato, fresh basil, and olives.

Subscribe and Get My Best Comfort Food Recipes!

    We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at anytime.
    Powered By ConvertKit
    If you like this recipe don't forget to leave a 5 star rating and let me know how it went in the below comments, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see all my delicious recipes.
    Close up square photo of Instant Pot Italian Chicken garnished with tomato, fresh basil, and olives.
    Print Recipe

    Instant Pot Italian Chicken

    When you need a simple dinner that always delights, this pressure cooker Italian Chicken is always a hit!
    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time15 mins
    Total Time30 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American, Italian
    Keyword: chicken
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 261.71kcal
    Author: Wendy Polisi
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualified sales.

    Equipment

    • Instant-Read Thermometer
    • Instant Pot

    Ingredients

    • 2 1/2 pounds chicken breast or thighs
    • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • Salt and pepper to taste
    • 1 cup chicken broth
    • 1/4 cup heavy cream
    • 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
    • For garnish: fresh basil olives, fresh or roasted grape tomatoes

    Instructions

    • Pat the chicken thighs dry and sprinkle with the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
    • Optional: If you like, you can brown the chicken using the saute function. If you do this, make sure you deglaze the brown bits after you add the broth and before you set the pot to pressure. (Leaving them can cause a burn signal.)
    • Place the broth in the bottom of the instant pot and top with the chicken. Place the lid on the Instant Pot and make sure that the valve is set to seal. Set to manual high pressure for 8 minutes if you browned the chicken or 10 if you did not.
    • When the time is up, set allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes, and then do a quick release.
    • Remove the chicken from the pot and allow it to rest.
    • Turn the pot to saute, medium, and add the heavy cream. Bring to a simmer, whisking often. Add the mozzarella cheese and cook over low heat until the cheese melts.
    • Drizzle the chicken with the sauce and serve.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 261.71kcal | Carbohydrates: 1.5g | Protein: 32.35g | Fat: 13.36g | Saturated Fat: 5.96g | Cholesterol: 161.44mg | Sodium: 368.54mg | Potassium: 404.67mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 0.26g | Vitamin A: 295.94IU | Vitamin C: 2.06mg | Calcium: 135.38mg | Iron: 1.52mg
    • 48
    • 1
    Previous Post: « Keto Roasted Chicken
    Next Post: Sugar-Free Peppermint Bark - Low Carb, Keto »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Welcome

    I'm Wendy and I'm here to show you just how delicious a low carb, gluten free and keto diet can be! You are just as likely to find me obsessing over all things cheesy as you are getting excited by a full produce drawer. I'm a mom to three, obsessive planner and roller coasters are my happy place. Let's dig deeper →

    Favorites

    Overhead photo of Keto Cheeseburger Casserole in a light blue casserole dish.
    Overhead photo of Keto Biscuits in a cloth lined basket garnished with parsley.
    Photo of a piece of creamy Keto Lemon Chicken drizzled with lemon sauce and served over a bed of arugula.
    Overhead photo of Keto Chicken Broccoli Casserole in a white casserole dish with a wooden spoon on one side and plates on the other side.
    Square close-up photo of Keto Chicken Cordon Bleu that has been cut and has cheese pouring out of it.
    Overhead photo of Keto Fried Pickles on parchment paper garnished with parsley with a small white bowl of ranch dressing next to it.

    More Posts from this Category

    As an amazon associate I earn from qualified sales.

    Get My Latest Book!

    Cover photo of The Ultimate Keto Air Fryer Cookbook by Wendy Polisi. 100 Low Carb High Fat Recipes. Photo of Chicken Parmesan on a light blue plate against a light blue background.

    Footer

    Privacy Policy

    Affiliate Disclosure

    Disclaimer

    Welcome to the Kicking Carbs website (“site“). Wendy Polisi is not a health professional and information on this blog, arising from this blog, or social media related to this blog is only her personal experience and opinions. You should always check with your health care provider before beginning any diet, health plan, or lifestyle change.

    Copyright © 2021 Kicking Carbs 2020