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    Home » Instant Pot Recipes » Instant Pot Lemon Chicken

    Instant Pot Lemon Chicken

    Published: Apr 21, 2020 by Wendy Polisi Modified: Mar 14, 2023 · 922 words. · About 5 minutes to read this article.

    • 537
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This easy Instant Pot Lemon Chicken packs a surprising punch of flavor for a recipe that requires so little effort. (Plus it is easy to make with pantry staples!) The garlicky lemon sauce is absolutely magical. This is a recipe I turn to again and again.

    Photo of Instant Pot Lemon Chicken on a white plate with asparagus garnished with parsley, crushed red pepper flakes, and a lemon.

    Instant Pot Lemon Chicken is Deliciously Easy!

    It is no secret that I am a bit obsessed with all things lemon. First, there were these Lemon Bars. And then this ridiculously flavor-packed Keto Lemon Chicken.

    With all that is going on in the world - and the fact that I feel like I've cooked 2,000 meals in the last 30 days - I decided that a super-easy lemon chicken in order.

    What better way to do it than in my Instant Pot?

    This recipe is super-quick to throw together, with less than 10 minutes of hands-on time. With only eight ingredients (and no breading required), this is a win in the easy dinner category!

    Looking for more Instant Pot inspiration? Check out these 27 Keto Instant Pot Recipes or my complete archives of low carb recipes for the Instant Pot.

    Photo of a keto quickstart guide with the description of the guide on the right.

    Variations

    • If you don’t have xanthan gum and would like to thicken the sauce, 2 tablespoons of cream cheese is an alternative.
    • Feel free to adjust the amount of xanthan gum (or cream cheese) to get the sauce to your desired consistency.
    • Fresh minced garlic is fabulous here! I used garlic powder because I was trying to stick to pantry staples, but if you have fresh garlic, use it.
    • If you don't have lemons, don't sweat it. Bottled lemon juice works in a pinch.
    • For a touch of heat, add ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes to the chicken.
    • Olive oil can be used in place of butter.

    How to Cook Lemon Chicken in the Instant Pot

    First, start by sprinkling the salt, pepper, and garlic powder over the chicken.

    Photo of chicken thighs with garlic powder, salt, and pepper on a white plate.

    Next, set your Instant Pot to high sauté and melt the butter. Out of butter? Oil works too!

    Add the chicken to the pot, and cook until brown. (You will need to cook in batches.)

    Photo of Lemon Chicken Cooking in an Instant Pot.

    Return all of the chicken to the pot and at the broth and lemon juice. Top with lemon slices.

    Add the lid and set it to seal. Cook on high pressure. Allow to naturally release and then do a quick release. Remove the chicken from the pot and allow to rest. Discard the lemon slices.

    Set the pot to low sauté and add the cream. Sprinkle with xanthan gum and cook for about 3 minutes, until the sauce thickens.

    Overhead photo of lemon chicken in an Instant Pot against a white background.

    Serving Suggestions

    • I am a big fan of Parmesan Asparagus with this Instant Pot Lemon Garlic Chicken.
    • Brussels Sprouts are another favorite that never gets old.
    • A simple green salad is also nice.
    • Toss zucchini noodles in the sauce and serve the chicken on top.
    • When I am craving a little comfort food, Mashed Cauliflower is nice.

    Slow Cooker Instructions

    You can sear the chicken on the stove and cook this in your slow cooker for 3 to 4 hours. Transfer the drippings to a pot and finish the sauce.

    Storing - Freezing - Reheating

    • Cooked chicken will keep in the freezer for up to three months. I recommend thawing it in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
    • You may keep this in the fridge for up to three days.
    • Reheat this in the oven, air fryer, or on the stovetop. You can use the microwave, but I feel like it gives chicken a rubbery texture and am not fond of using this method.
    Overhead photo of two plates of Instant Pot Lemon chicken against a white background.

    More Keto Chicken Recipes to Try:

    • Keto Instant Pot Chicken and Mushrooms is quick to make, and always a winner! It is so full of flavor that you won't believe how easy it is to make.
    • This Slow Cooker Chicken Tinga can also be made in the Instant Pot. This is one of my go-to recipes for Taco Tuesday.
    • Looking for a delicious option for lunch? It doesn't get any better than this Keto Taco Salad.
    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, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see all my delicious recipes.
    Square photo of Instant Pot Lemon Chicken on a white plate with asparagus garnished with parsley, crushed red pepper flakes, and a lemon.
    Print Recipe

    Instant Pot Lemon Chicken

    This Pressure Cooker Lemon Chicken is one of my favorite recipes to prepare on Sunday so that I have an energizing meal on hand throughout the week. Serve it with asparagus, Brussels sprouts, or roasted green beans.
    Prep Time8 minutes mins
    Cook Time12 minutes mins
    Total Time20 minutes mins
    Course: Main
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Instant Pot
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 358.41kcal
    Author: Wendy Polisi
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualified sales.

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot

    Ingredients

    • 2 pounds boneless chicken thighs or breast
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • Salt and pepper
    • ¼ cup butter
    • ½ cup chicken broth
    • ¼ cup lemon juice
    • 1 lemon sliced
    • ½ cup heavy cream
    • ¼ teaspoon xanthan gum optional
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Sprinkle the garlic powder over the chicken and season to taste with salt and pepper.
    • Set your Instant Pot to high saute and melt the butter. Add the chicken to the pot, cooking in batches, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until brown.
    • Return all of the chicken to the pot. Add the broth and lemon juice to the pot. Top with the lemon slices.
    • Add the lid and set it to seal. Cook over high pressure for 6 minutes.
    • Allow to naturally release for 3 minutes, and then do a quick release. Remove the chicken from the pot and allow to rest. Discard the lemon slices.
    • Set the pot to low sauté and add in heavy cream. (You can add more if you would like more sauce.) Sprinkle with xanthan gum and cook for about 3 minutes, until the sauce thickens.
    • Plate the chicken and drizzle with the sauce.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 358.41kcal | Carbohydrates: 2.9g | Protein: 19.08g | Fat: 30.19g | Saturated Fat: 12.16g | Cholesterol: 146.76mg | Sodium: 200.65mg | Potassium: 286.33mg | Fiber: 0.48g | Sugar: 0.56g | Vitamin A: 484.38IU | Vitamin C: 11.13mg | Calcium: 23.95mg | Iron: 0.87mg

    More 20 Minute Keto Meals

    • Turkey Lettuce Taco Wraps take just 16 minutes to make and never fail to satisfy.
    • Keto Pizza Pockets are quick to make and even quicker to disappear.

    « Keto Meatball Casserole
    Keto Meat Sauce »
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lynn

      April 21, 2020 at 1:59 pm

      Would the times change for boneless chicken breast??

      Reply
    2. Cathy Gaul

      June 24, 2020 at 12:26 pm

      Would love to make this-instead of cream cheese as a thickener, could you use corn starch?

      Reply
      • Wendy Polisi

        June 24, 2020 at 1:31 pm

        Yes, cornstarch would thicken it in is a great option if you aren't low carb. Mix it with a little water and add it in in the end.

        Reply
    3. Carol

      July 04, 2020 at 1:11 pm

      What is heavy cream? Alternatives I can use? Sounds delicious, want to try this week.

      Reply
      • Wendy Polisi

        July 04, 2020 at 1:25 pm

        I think in Canada it may be called whipping cream. You want to stick to something that is high in fat, because low fat dairy (like milk) does not do well in the Instant Pot.

        Reply

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    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 →

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