I love brown sugar rubs and spices. It gives your food this sweet savory taste that can’t be beat. In fact, I even like my barbecue sauce to be hickory brown sugar. So, this Instant Pot Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken is something from my own heart! Let me show you have to make this easy one-pot Instant Pot chicken recipe.

There is something about chicken night that just makes everyone happy. It’s such a versatile meat that you can do almost anything with. It’s a great addition to pasta dishes, soups or even casseroles. Plus, you can add any kind of spice your heart desires.

Like garlic and brown sugar! This Instant Pot chicken recipe is made all in one pot and is ready in under 30 minutes. It also has the sweet and tangy flavor that everyone loves!

What is Instant Pot Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken?

Instant Pot Garlic Brown Sugar chicken is a sweet and savory dish. Basically, its a sweet brown sugar and garlic sauce that is boiled and sautéed in your Instant Pot. Then, the chicken is added to the sauce. As you cook your chicken in the pressure cooker, the sauce really permeates the chicken breasts leaving you with sweet, savory, and juicy chicken breasts everyone will love.

Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken Ingredients

The best part about this recipe is that it uses common ingredients that you probably already have on hand. The most exotic ingredient may be the dry mustard.

• 3 large chicken breasts – cut into pieces
• 4 Tablespoons of butter
• 1 Tablespoon of chili powder
• 3 Tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce
• 2 Tablespoons of dry Mustard
• 1 Tablespoon of Garlic salt
• 2 Tablespoons of Paprika
• 3/4 cup of water
• 1/4 cup of Brown sugar

Chicken – You can use any kind of chicken you like for this recipe. Breast, tenders or thighs will all work here. Whatever you use, make sure to get boneless and skinless chicken.

Butter – I suggest unsalted butter since we are adding salt with the spices.

Spices – You can find all of the spices in the baking aisle of your grocery store. Feel free to customize the spices to your taste preferences.

Brown sugar – To make garlic brown sugar chicken you need.. brown sugar! If you don’t have any on hand, you can try and make your own brown sugar. It’s pretty easy!

Instant Pot Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken Directions

This recipe is super easy to make. First you will make the sauce and then cook the chicken. Follow the steps below for a deliciously sweet chicken.

Step 1 Make Spice Mixture

In the Instant Pot, place the butter, chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard, garlic salt, Paprika, water, and brown sugar. Turn the Instant Pot to ‘SAUTE’, and melt all ingredients together.  Bring the mixture to a boil, and boil for 1 minute.  Turn off the Saute setting. 

Step 2 Coat the Chicken Breasts

Cut the chicken breasts into thirds, and place in the Instant Pot, turning the pieces of chicken in the spice mixture to coat the chicken. (you may need to turn the chicken three or four times to completely coat it).

Step 3 Set Your Pressure Cooker

When the chicken is coated, place the lid on the Instant Pot, and make sure the PRESSURE VALVE is set to SEALING.  Press the MANUAL button, and set the time to 10 minutes.

Step 4 Natural Release

Let the Instant Pot release the pressure naturally (this is not a quick release).  When the Instant Pot has finished cooking, and goes to OFF, leave the lid on the Instant Pot for 10 minutes.  After the 10 minutes, turn the pressure valve to VENTING, and make sure all the pressure has been released, and float valve is down. 

Step 4 Thicken the Sauce

Remove the lid to the Instant Pot, and stir the chicken and sauce.  Turn the SAUTE setting on, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, to thicken the sauce a little. 

Step 5 Serve Your Dish

Turn the Saute setting off, stir the sauce, and spoon over the chicken, and allow the chicken to cool for a few minutes.  Serve with mashed Potatoes or mashed cauliflower and sauce ladled over chicken. 

Side Dish Ideas

This Instant Pot Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken goes perfectly served over mashed potatoes with the sauce drizzled over. But, you can also make other sides to go with it too. Here are our favorite side selections:

• Cheesy Baked Asparagus
• Quick Honey Roasted Carrots
• Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
• Loaded Broccoli Salad
• Instant Pot Rice
• Buttery Garlic Green Beans

How to Store Instant Pot Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken

You can easily store any left over chicken in your refrigerator. Place it in a Tupperware container or a ziplock bag. Left over chicken will keep for about 3 to 5 days in the fridge.

How to Freeze Leftovers

If you want to freeze your chicken, you can. It can last several months in the freezer. However, keep in mind that if you store cooked chicken in the freezer that it may be dry when you reheat it. To prevent this, store the chicken in a ziplock freezer bag with the sauce.

When you want to eat the frozen chicken, thaw the chicken and sauce out in the fridge or in cool water before reheating.

Other Instant Pot Chicken Recipes to Try

If you love chicken, but get tired of eating the same thing all the time, it’s time for a little variety. These Instant Pot recipes are the perfect addition to your meal planning:

• Instant Pot Chicken and Potatoes
• Instant Pot Chicken Tostadas
• Asian Chicken Thighs in the Instant Pot
• Chicken Burrito Bowls
• Instant Pot Chicken Wings
• Instant Pot Orange Chicken
• Sesame Chicken in the Instant Pot
• Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala

Don’t have time to make this delicious chicken now? Pin this post to Pinterest so you can find it later!