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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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
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📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Wings | Paleo with a Keto Option
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lbs frozen whole chicken wings (bone-in) (about 450 grams)
- 1 cup water or low sodium chicken stock
- 3-6 cloves minced garlic use less or more if you prefer
- 1 tablespoon minced ginger
- ½ cup honey
- 3 tablespoon coconut sugar (brown sugar is the non-paleo recipe variation)
- ⅛ cup coconut aminos (soy sauce for a non-paleo recipe variation)
Slurry - optional
- 1 teaspoon tapioca flour (optional - for thickening the sauce)
- 4 teaspoon water (optional - for thickening the sauce)
Instructions
Pressure cook the frozen chicken wings
- Set the inner pot in place and add one cup of water or chicken stock. Next, set the trivet or rack inside the Instant Pot 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. The Instant Pot will take some time to come to pressure and will start counting the time once it is pressurized.1 cup water, 1 lbs frozen whole chicken wings (bone-in)
- While the chicken wings are pressure cooking, set the oven to broil, line a baking tray with parchment paper or foil then place a grilling or 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, set the program 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).3-6 cloves minced garlic, 1 tablespoon minced ginger, ½ cup honey, 3 tablespoon coconut sugar, ⅛ cup coconut aminos
- 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 the sauce thickens before the 5 minutes saute time is over, simply press the cancel button to stop cooking.1 teaspoon tapioca flour, 4 teaspoon water
- Carefully combine the wings with the sauce. Next, lay each of the chicken wings 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 the Instant Pot chicken wings with some sliced scallions, sesame seeds, or both and serve.
Notes
- 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 wings 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 - use your favorite sauces instead; Parmesan cheese and buffalo are other delicious combos to try!
- Broiling - increase the broiling time, for more crispy wings! Do not skip the broiling, it is what helps keep the skin crisp. If your Instant Pot has an air fryer lid then use this instead.
- To prevent the chicken wings from touching the water or stock and overcooking, I recommend using a trivet or steamer basket.
- 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.
- I used frozen whole chicken wings but simply use what you have!
- The cooking time excludes the time you need to make the sauce.
Jazz
This was such a helpful recipe to cook frozen wings because I always forget to thaw. Thank you!
Kate Hahnel
thank you. It certainly helps save a lot of time!
Tamara
Oh my goodness these wings were absolutely delicious! I was looking for a recipe to switch up from our normal fried chicken. My kids and husband were a huge fan!
Chenée Lewis
I always forget to plan ahead so I loved that this recipe could be made with frozen wings! They came out perfect!!
Taneisha
I loved this recipe. I never did chicken wings in the instant pot so I knew I wanted to test it out and it was so delicious! Love it! Thank you!
Capri
This recipe saved me so much time in the kitchen! And the wings were so flavorful! Great recipe!
Eric & Shanna Jones
We are always down for a great wing recipe! We enjoyed these on game day, and everyone loved them!
Kim
I can't believe how quick this cooks in an instant pot! More instant pot recipes please and thanks for this one.
Kaluhi
A true showstopper!! Everyone at home loved this!!
Kate Hahnel
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed making this!
Crystal DaCruz
I’m always looking for new things to make in my instant pot and I was so excited to make this dish! Your recipe was so easy to follow and the wings came out amazing!
Britney
These wings were finger licking good! Super easy to make, flavorful, and very tender! We loved this recipe 😍
Robin
I am obsessed with this recipe because I don't have to thaw the chicken on advanced - plus the sauce is so flavorful.
Renia
Although I do not have an instant pot I made this recipe by baking my wings. They were delish all the same!
Kate Hahnel
I am so glad you found a way to making this recipe, without an Instant Pot.
BENJAMIN
Great recipe! I served this at dinner party and the dish was cleared in minutes!