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Home » Instant Pot and Pressure Cooker Recipes

Juicy Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Thighs + Video

Dated: October 4, 2020 . Modified: Apr 8, 2022 by Kate Hahnel

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You will love these juicy Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Thighs! Cooked in an aromatic spice blend, making flavorful chicken that is juicy inside with crispy skin has never been easier!

You will find a video of this recipe on the recipe card, at the bottom of the page.

Bone-in Instant Pot chicken thigh cooked from frozen.

*This post may contain affiliate links — as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

We love simple pressure cooker recipes from our Instant pot chicken wings three ways, Instant pot frozen chicken wings, to our ninja foodi chicken vegetable soup. If you are a chicken lover, this instant pot frozen chicken thighs recipe is a must-try!

why you will love this recipe

  • Easy.
  • Versatile - you can add vegetables to transform it into a healthy, veggie-packed meal!
  • Clean eating friendly - It is gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo, low carb, whole 30, THM-S and keto-friendly too.
  • Budget-friendly.
  • Perfect for meal-prep.
Bone-in Instant Pot chicken thigh cooked from frozen.

ingredients

  • frozen skin-on and bone-inchicken thighs - skin on (trim off excess fat).
  • spices - cumin, sweet paprika, cinnamon, coriander powder, ground ginger, turmeric powder.
  • seasoning and condiments- salt and olive oil.
  • vegetables - chopped medium-sized onion, garlic cloves, lemon juice.
  • other- chicken stock or water.

This is a summary of the ingredients you will need to make this recipe, along with possible substitutions. Detailed measurements and step-by-step instructions have been provided in the recipe card provided below.

instant pot frozen chicken thighs recipe ingredients

how to make frozen chicken thighs in the Instant Pot

Spice blend for making Instant Pot frozen chicken thighs.
Overhead picture of some frozen and seasoned chicken thighs along with some garlic and seasoning blend.
  1. Prepare spice blend: first, create a spice blend with cumin, paprika, cinnamon, ground ginger, coriander powder, salt, and turmeric.
  1. Season the chicken: use half of the spice blend to season the frozen bone-in chicken thighs, saving the rest of the spice blend for broiling.
Frozen chicken thighs inside the instant pot, along with some
Seasoned chicken thighs on top of a grilling rack.
  1. Pressure cook: Add olive oil to the Instant Pot. Next. Fry garlic until fragrant then add chicken stock, chicken thighs, sliced onion, and lemon juice. Cover the Instant Pot, set the valve on the lid is set to SEAL, then pressure cook on high for 15 min.
  1. Pressure release: do a 10-minute natural pressure release (NPR) followed by a quick pressure release (QPR).
  2. Broil for crispy skin: Transfer chicken to a rack, pat dry, and season with reserved spice blend. Broil 5-10 minutes for crispy skin. Alternatively, air fry until crispy.
  3. Serve: Garnish the chicken with fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, or chives if desired. Serve hot with your favorite side dishes.
A photo of a cooked chicken thigh and mashed cauliflower..

useful tips

  • Add your favorite vegetables for extra flavor. Saute the onion and garlic, then add the veggies along with 1-2 cups of water before proceeding on with the rest of the recipe steps-
  • Cook the chicken to an internal temperature of at least 165°F before broiling.
  • Thicken your stock with a slurry made from all-purpose flour, coconut flour, almond flour, or arrowroot powder.
  • Do not add any sauce thickeners to the Instant Pot before cooking, as this affects how heat is transmitted. This may also cause the inner pot of the Instant Pot overheat.
Bone-in Instant Pot chicken thigh cooked from frozen.

serving suggestions

Here are some of my favorite ways to serve this chicken thighs dish. However, feel free to serve it with your favorite side dish or dishes!

  • Spicy Southern-style cabbage
  • Jamaican steamed cabbage (Keto-friendly, for those of you on a low-carb diet)!
  • Roasted garlic mashed potatoes.
  • Instant Pot mashed cauliflower
  • Instant Pot Basmati Rice
  • German green bean salad

refregeration and freezing

Store cooked chicken thighs in suitable airtight containers or Ziploc bags in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Thaw frozen chicken thighs in the refrigerator overnight (make sure to keep the chicken thighs in a bowl to prevent bacteria in the liquid from spreading to other items in the fridge). Warm them in the microwave or oven.

A photo of a cooked chicken thigh and mashed cauliflower..

more Instant Pot recipes for you to try!

Don't just stop here, make sure to try our other delicious Instant pot recipes!!

  • A bowl of sugarfree applesauce, made using the Instant Pot
    No Peel Instant Pot Applesauce with No Sugar
  • Instant Pot Potato Leek Soup in a bowl, garnished with leek and bacon
    Instant Pot Potato Leek Soup with Bacon
  • Instant Pot Chicken Wings Three Ways - Keto
    Instant Pot Chicken Wings Three Ways
  • Chicken served on a plate with some tomato sauce and a side of honey mustard dressing.
    Honey Mustard Instant Pot Chicken Breast and Potatoes

Enjoy making this recipe! Be sure to give it a review ⭐ below! Also don't forget to follow us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Tiktok!

Subscribe to our YouTube channel and Newsletter for regular recipe notifications!

This recipe has been updated on the 6th of December 2023. Certain parts have been summarized to enhance clarity and readability.

📖 Recipe

A picture of Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Thigh served over some cauliflower mash.

Juicy Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Thighs

Kate Hahnel
Delicious skin-on and bone-in frozen chicken thighs cooked using the Instant Pot. This keto-friendly recipe is easy to make, delicious, and can be served alongside so many side dishes!
5 from 18 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Pressure release + broiling time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 35 minutes mins
Course Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 198 kcal

Video

Equipment

6 Quarts (5.7 litres) OR 8 Quarts (7.6 litres) OR 10 Quarts (9.5 litres) Instant Pot. You could also use the smallest Instant Pot but you will need to adjust the recipe to make sure it all fits.
Chopping board
Chopping board
Knife
Measuring cups and spoons
Measuring cups and spoons
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients
  

  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoon paprika powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 2 teaspoon salt
  • 6 frozen chicken thighs skin left on and excess fat trimmed-off
  • 1 chopped medium-sized onion or about 1 cup
  • 1½ cup chicken stock or water
  • 4 cloves garlic use more if you prefer
  • 2 tablespoon lemon juice

Instructions
 

  • Mix spices (cumin, paprika, cinnamon, ground ginger, coriander, salt, turmeric) to make a spice blend.
    Spice blend for making Instant Pot frozen chicken thighs.
  • Season frozen bone-in chicken thighs with half the spice blend. Reserve the rest for later (see notes).
    Overhead picture of some frozen and seasoned chicken thighs along with some garlic and seasoning blend.
  • In an Instant Pot, heat olive oil and fry garlic until fragrant. Add chicken stock or water, then the seasoned chicken thighs. Top with stock, sliced onion, and lemon juice. Cover the pot.
    Frozen chicken thighs inside the instant pot, along with some
  • Set the Instant Pot to HIGH PRESSURE for 15 minutes, ensuring the valve is sealed. After pressure cooking, allow a 10-minute natural pressure release, followed by a quick release, until all the pressure and sizzling is gone.
  • Once the pressure cooking time is over, allow for a natural pressure release (NPR) of 10 minutes then followed by a quick pressure release (QPR), until all the pressure and sizzling is gone.
  • For crispy skin, transfer chicken thighs to a baking sheet, pat dry, and season with remaining spice blend (about a tablespoon - see notes). Broil 5-12 inches under the heat for 5-10 minutes, or until the skin is crispy. Ensure safety while broiling. Alternatively, grease your air fryer basket and air fry at 400F (or 200C) until you obtain your desired level of crispiness.
  • Serve hot with a side dish and garnish with fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, or chives.

Notes

  • Added Flavor: Include 2 cups of preferred vegetables like Brussels sprouts, celery, carrots, or baby potatoes. Sauté onion and garlic, then add vegetables with 1 cup of water and other ingredients as instructed.
  • Spice Blend Usage: Season chicken with only a tablespoon of the spice blend before broiling. Reserve any extra for other recipes.
  • Cook the chicken to an internal temperature of at least 165°F before broiling.
    Thicken your stock with a slurry made from all-purpose flour, coconut flour, almond flour, or arrowroot powder.
  • Achieving Crispy Skin: Broil chicken for crispy skin, as browning in the Instant Pot may not be effective due to liquid from frozen thighs. Alternatively, grease your air fryer basket and air fry at 400F (or 200C) until you obtain your desired level of crispiness.
  • Instant Pot Cooking Times (may vary depending on your pressure cooker or  altitude):
    • Frozen chicken thighs: 14-15 minutes.
    • Boneless skinless: 10 minutes.
    • Bone-in skinless: 12 minutes.
    • Bone-in skin-on: 12 minutes.
Nutritional information is a guide, calculated using tools that we use. We recommend that you make your own calculations as it may vary,depending on the specific products you use. Calculations have been made with half of the amount of spice, as I did not use up all the spice while developing this recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 198kcalCarbohydrates: 4.2gFat: 2.4gSaturated Fat: 7.4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0gMonounsaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 29.4mgSodium: 843.6mgPotassium: 12.2mgFiber: 1.1gSugar: 1.3gVitamin A: 0IUVitamin C: 2.52mgCalcium: 70mgIron: 0.234mg
Tried this recipe? I would love it if you could leave a rating by clicking on the stars above on this recipe card.Pin this recipe on Pinterest or tag me out on socials @weeatatlast. I love seeing your creations.

frequently asked questions

How much liquid do I need to use?

  • The 6 Quarts (5.7 liters) Instant Pot will require a minimum of 1.5 cups (approx. 12 oz or 375ml). For the 8 Quarts (7.6 liters) one needs a minimum of 2 cups or (approx. 16 oz or 500 ml). You will need a minimum of 2.5 cups (20 oz or 625 ml) for the 10 Quarts (9.5 liters) Instant Pot. Chicken thighs require a cooking time of 10-15 minutes per 1 lb/ 450g. You can read more on Instant Pot cooking times here. I recommend using 15 minutes for frozen chicken thighs.
  • Can you cook chicken thighs in the Instant Pot from frozen?


    Yes, you most certainly can cook frozen chicken thighs in your Instant Pot (we actually just did)!! It may however be difficult to brown the chicken before as you normally would when using unfrozen chicken meat. You can counter this by broiling the chicken using a broiler or your oven, once it has pressure cooked. You can also use your pan.

    How long do you cook frozen chicken thighs in an Instant Pot?

    As a general rule, chicken thighs will have the following cooking times, which you can then use as a guide:-
    Frozen chicken thighs - 14 to 15 minutes
    Boneless skinless - 10 minutes
    Bone-in skinless - 12 minutes

  • Bone-in skin-on - 12 minutes
  • The time it takes chicken thigh to cook in the Instant Pot will depend on whether you are cooking from frozen or fresh, whether the bone or skin is on, as well as your altitude.

    More Instant Pot and Pressure Cooker Recipes

    • A bowl of pressure cooker beef stew.
      Pressure Cooker Beef Stew
    • Homemade tomato soup in bowls, garnished with basil.
      Ninja Foodi Tomato Soup Recipe
    • Health and creamy ninja foodi chicken vegetable soup with rice and potatoes.
      Ninja Foodi Chicken Vegetable Soup
    • Ninja Foodi Spaghetti
      Ninja Foodi Spaghetti

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jawyllie

      March 06, 2023 at 3:48 am

      5 stars
      I’ve died and gone to heaven with this recipe, made it twice and will make it again and again. Fail proof, quick and delicious. The flavors are amazing and it solves two of my biggest issues, limited time to cook and the frozen chicken debacle. Fear no more, takeout does not hold a candle to this fabulous recipe!

      • Kate Hahnel

        March 06, 2023 at 9:16 am

        Thank you and I am so glad you enjoyed it! I am happy to say this still remains one of my favorite Instant Pot recipes (well, not because I wrote it, lol), but just because cooking frozen poultry or meat is sometimes such a hassle. This is just one of those recips that simplifies this. Thanks again!!

    2. Tara

      August 10, 2022 at 3:14 am

      5 stars
      Extremely delicious! I'm looking forward to trying more of your recipes.

      • Kate Hahnel

        August 14, 2022 at 9:29 pm

        Thank you very much! I am so glad you loved it!!

    3. Jazz

      October 14, 2020 at 5:26 pm

      5 stars
      This chicken is so perfectly crispy and flavorful. I served it with green beans and mushrooms and everybody loved it!

    4. Britney

      October 14, 2020 at 4:17 pm

      5 stars
      The seasonings that you used in this recipe was so aromatic and delicious!! I loved the cinnamon and coriander with cumin and ginger - amazing!!

    5. Tamara

      October 14, 2020 at 3:11 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely delicious! Everything about these chicken thighs were amazing! The kiddos devoured them.

    6. Capri Lilly

      October 14, 2020 at 3:22 am

      5 stars
      I love the step by step instructions you provided! My chicken turned out delicious!!

      • Kate Hahnel

        October 14, 2020 at 10:14 am

        I am glad you liked it!

    7. Chenée Lewis

      October 13, 2020 at 5:45 pm

      5 stars
      These were amazing and the blend of spices was so flavorful! I will definitely be making this for meal prep all the time now!

    8. Barry J.

      October 12, 2020 at 5:55 pm

      This looks like the perfect recipe for a super busy week night. Definitely going to be making this recipe this week.

      • Kate Hahnel

        October 13, 2020 at 11:31 am

        Thank you Barry. I hope you will like it.

    9. Mila

      October 09, 2020 at 9:32 pm

      5 stars
      I LOVED being able to make these from frozen. Saved SO much time!

    10. Marta

      October 09, 2020 at 2:57 am

      5 stars
      I have to admit I was so skeptical that I could make chicken thighs from frozen. They were perfectly spiced and juicy.

    11. Jessica

      October 08, 2020 at 5:24 pm

      5 stars
      I always forget to take my chicken out of the freezer in time to get dinner ready! Love that this recipe calls for frozen chicken thighs. So easy to just throw in the instant pot and have this deliciousness ready in no time. THANK YOU!

    12. Natasha

      October 08, 2020 at 12:20 am

      5 stars
      I love a good instant pot recipe and this looks delcious. You had me at frozen chicken thighs. Because sometimes you just forget thaw out the chicken lol The spice blend sounds aromatic and I love the combination of spices. I'll put this on my list to try soon. Thanks for sharing.

    13. Megan

      October 07, 2020 at 8:55 pm

      5 stars
      I can't wait to try this! I love easy and healthy Instant Post recipes.

    5 from 18 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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