Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Wings | Paleo with a Keto Option

Learn how to make the best Instant Pot Frozen Chicken wings with honey and garlic!! They are great for game night, to bring along to parties, or simply enjoy at home with your loved ones! They are crispy, juicy, only need a few minutes to cook, and are paleo compliant with a keto option. This recipe also includes the cooking time for unfrozen wings, just in case you prefer to make them from fresh.

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Jump to:

• Ingredients Summary
• How to make Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Wings
• Low Carb and Keto Options
• How long to pressure cook frozen chicken wings using the Instant Pot?
• How long to cook fresh chicken?
• Useful Recipe Tips:
• Checkout These Other Tasty Instant Pot, and Chicken Recipes
• 📖 Recipe

Just like most people, I did not know for a very long time, that I could make frozen chicken or meat using my pressure cooker. There was no looking back once I learned this!! I just love how easy it is now to make chicken, without having to worry about forgetting to thaw. I actually almost always pressure cook chicken thighs from frozen, seeing how amazing they taste cooked this way!

Ingredients Summary

You will require the following ingredients:-

This is a quick summary of the ingredients and method, for those who prefer to read about the recipe in the post. A printable recipe card is provided at the end of this post.

• Bone-in whole frozen chicken wings - I used whole chicken wings, but simply use what you have!
• Water or chicken stock - if using broth, then choose a low-sodium variety.
• Honey.
• Coconut sugar - this can easily be substituted for brown sugar.
• Minced garlic and ginger.
• Coconut aminos - use regular soy sauce for a non-paleo variation.
• Chopped scallions or sesame seeds (optional, to be used as garnish).
• Tapioca or arrowroot flour or, your favorite sauce thickener and a few tablespoons water - If you like, you can thicken the sauce by making a slurry by whisking together the flour (or your favourite sauce thickener) and water.

How to make Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Wings

Making these chicken wings basically involves three simple steps namely, pressure cooking, making the sauce, and broiling. Broiling is an optional step but I highly recommend that you do not skip it, as it helps crispen up the skin.

• Set the inner pot in place and add one cup of water or stock. Next, set the trivet or rack inside and lay the frozen chicken wings on top. If you can, try to separate the wings, so they lay out flat.
• Close the lid, making sure to set it to SEAL and pressure cook on HIGH for 11 minutes. While the chicken wings are pressure cooking, set the oven to broil, line a baking tray with parchment paper or foil, then place a wire rack on top. Once the pressure cooking time is over, allow the Instant Pot to naturally pressure release (NPR) for 5 minutes before doing a quick pressure release (QPR). Open the lid and carefully lift the trivet.

• To make the honey and garlic sauce, program the Instant Pot to Saute for 5 minutes. Next, add the honey, coconut sugar, minced garlic, minced ginger, and coconut aminos then use a whisk to combine until the sauce is thick (this will take about 2 minutes).
• If the sauce seems too light for your liking, make a slurry by combining 1 teaspoon tapioca flour with four teaspoons of water and stir this into the sauce, making sure to whisk so there are no lumps of slurry. Should it thicken before the 5 minutes saute time is over, simply press the cancel button.
• Add back the chicken wings to the Instant Pot and carefully combine with the sauce then lay each wing on the previously prepared baking tray and wire rack, leaving enough space between them so they do not stick. Brush or spoon some of the sauce on top then broil in the oven for about 3-5 minutes, or until you get the desired level of crispiness or brown. Use tongs to flip to the other side and broil again for about 3-5 minutes. I like to reserve any remaining sauce to use for dipping.
• Garnish with some sliced scallions, sesame seeds or both, and serve.

Low Carb and Keto Options

Make Keto Instant Pot chicken wings from frozen by substituting the honey and brown sugar in the recipe for suitable low-carb sugar-free honey and brown sugar alternatives. Finally, use xanthan gum instead of tapioca flour, should you wish to thicken the sauce.

How long to pressure cook frozen chicken wings using the Instant Pot?

Cook frozen chicken wings in the Instant Pot for 11-12 minutes, at high pressure, followed by a 5-minute natural pressure release.

How long to cook fresh chicken?

Fresh or thawed wings require 8 minutes per 450g/ 1 lb to pressure cook at high pressure, with a 5-10 minute Natural Pressure Release (NPR).

Useful Recipe Tips:

• Double up the batch - feel free to double up the batch if cooking this for a crowd. The cooking time, in this case, will remain the same. Just bear in mind that because the frozen chicken meat considerably lowers the temperature in the pot, the Instant Pot will take longer to pressure up.
• Single pieces - it is recommended to have your chicken frozen in single pieces as opposed to one big lump of ice. I, however, experimented with cooking them frozen in one lump, and they still turned out great.
• Sauces - feel free to use your favorite sauces instead. Parmesan cheese and buffalo are other favorites of ours.
• To prevent the chicken wings from touching the water or stock and overcooking, I recommend using a trivet or steamer basket.
• Do not skip the broiling, it is what helps keep the skin crisp. If your Instant Pot has an airfryer lid then use this instead.
• Storing leftovers. Kept in a suitable airtight container, these Instant Pot chicken wings will keep in the fridge for 4-5 days. They can be kept in the freezer for 4-5 months.

Checkout These Other Tasty Instant Pot, and Chicken Recipes

• Easy Baked Chicken Drumsticks Recipe
• Instant Pot Frozen Whole Chicken
• Instant Pot Honey Mustard Chicken with Potatoes - Stories

📖 Recipe