These Instant Pot Hawaiian chicken thighs make for such a delicious dinner! Let your Instant Pot do all the hard work with this easy recipe.

I am a huge fan of kitchen gadgets. Whether it’s my air fryer, slow cooker, bread machine, or Instant Pot, I’m all for easy cooking wins. These Instant Pot Hawaiian chicken thighs are so flavorful and can be ready in mere minutes. This recipe is a great way to get dinner on the table.
These Hawaiian chicken thighs are juicy, tender, and loaded with tons of sweet and savory flavor. This dish goes great with steamed vegetables, sweet coleslaw, rice, and so much more. It’s super versatile.
Ingredients needed
For this recipe, you will need:
- Chicken thighs: You can use fresh or frozen in this recipe. You’ll need 4-6 boneless and skinless chicken thighs.
- Cooking oil: You’ll need two tablespoons of oil (such as olive oil, safflower oil, or vegetable oil).
- Chili powder: You’ll need ½ of a tablespoon of chili powder.
- Garlic: You’ll need two tablespoons of fresh minced garlic. You can sub garlic powder, if needed.
- Pineapple preserve: You can find preserves at most grocery stores by the jams and jellies.
- Soy sauce: I recommend using low sodium soy sauce in this recipe since regular soy sauce can be quite salty.
- Water: You’ll need just ¼ cup of water to thin out the sauce.
How to make
- Add the cooking oil and then chicken thighs with the chili powder and garlic into your Instant Pot.
- Use the saute function for two minutes per side.
- Secure your Instant Pot lid and set the vent to sealing.
- Add the additional ingredients.
- Select manual mode (or pressure cook mode). Set the cooking time for 10 minutes at high pressure for fresh chicken and 12 minutes for frozen (the Instant Pot will take some additional time to come to pressure).
- When the cooking cycle is done perform a quick release.
Tips
- You can use fresh, defrosted, or frozen chicken thighs. If using frozen, cook for 12 minutes instead of 10.
- Use low sodium soy sauce unless you prefer saltier food.
Other Instant Pot recipes that you might like:
Instant Pot Hawaiian Chicken Thighs
Equipment
- Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 4-6 boneless and skinless chicken thighs
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- 2 tablespoons fresh minced garlic
- ½ cup pineapple preserves
- ¼ cup soy sauce I recommend using low sodium soy sauce since regular soy sauce can be quite salty
- ¼ cup water
Instructions
- Add the cooking oil and then chicken thighs with the chili powder and garlic into your Instant Pot.
- Use the saute function for two minutes per side.
- Carefully add the additional ingredients.
- Secure your Instant Pot lid and set the vent to sealing.
- Select manual mode (or pressure cook mode). Set the cooking time for 10 minutes at high pressure for fresh chicken and 12 minutes for frozen (the Instant Pot will take some additional time to come to pressure).
- When the cooking cycle is done perform a quick release.
Tatiana
I like this thighs turned out in my instant pot
Lilly
These chicken thighs are delish! II love the Hawaiian flavors. thanks for the recipe!
Jessica
Perfectly cooked and delicious!
Stine Mari
Yum, this will definitely be added to our dinner rotation for the summer months!
Ash B
I made this for the family, and they devoured it! Really easy to make since its all in the instant pot and it’s super yummy
Tammy
Perfect seasoning!
Kyleigh
love that I can make these in the instant pot!
Maggie
In the instant pot, yes. Love my instant pot!