• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Free Instant Pot Recipe Guide! download now!

FREE 5 Instant Pot Meals in 5 Minutes E Course!


Thank you for subscribing!


Formerly Your Homebased Mom

  • About
  • Latest
  • Contact
NEW! Watch on youtube!

Your Homebased Mom

Leigh Anne Wilkes

  • Recipes
    • Course
      • Appetizers
      • Beverages
      • Bread
      • Breakfast and Brunch
      • Dessert
        • Bars and Brownies
        • Cake
        • Candy and Treats
        • Cookies
        • Ice Cream
        • Pie
      • Main Dishes
      • Salads
      • Sandwiches and Burgers
      • Sauces and Dressings
      • Side Dishes
      • Soup
    • Cooking Method
      • Crock Pot
      • Grilling
      • Instant Pot
      • One Pan
      • Oven
      • Quick and Easy
      • Recipes for Two
    • Ingredients
      • Beef
      • Eggs
      • Pasta
      • Pork
      • Poultry
        • Chicken
        • Turkey
      • Seafood
      • Vegetarian
      • Gluten Free
    • Cuisine
      • American
      • Asian
      • European
      • Indian
      • Italian
      • Mediterranean
      • Mexican
    • Holiday
      • New Year’s Eve
      • Valentine’s Day
      • St. Patrick’s Day
      • Easter
      • 4th of July
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
      • Christmas
  • Travel
    • Europe
    • United States
      • New York City
      • Portland
    • What To Wear
  • Life
    • Home
    • Party Ideas
    • Empty Nesters
    • Church
      • Activity Day
      • Relief Society
    • Organizational Tips
    • Recommended Reads
  • New? Start Here
  • Subscribe for weekly recipes

    FREE 5 Instant Pot Meals in 5 Minutes E Course!


    Thank you for subscribing!


Recipe Finder

  • Course
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Bread
    • Breakfast and Brunch
    • Dessert
    • Main Dishes
    • Salads
    • Sandwiches and Burgers
    • Sauces and Dressings
    • Side Dishes
    • Soup
  • Cooking Method
    • Oven
    • Crock Pot
    • Grilling
    • Instant Pot
    • One Pan
    • Quick and Easy
  • Ingredients
    • Beef
    • Eggs
    • Pasta
    • Pork
    • Poultry
    • Seafood
    • Vegetarian
    • Gluten Free
  • Cuisine
    • American
    • Asian
    • European
    • Indian
    • Italian
    • Mediterranean
    • Mexican
  • Holiday
    • New Year’s Eve
    • Valentine’s Day
    • St. Patrick’s Day
    • Easter
    • 4th of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
Home / Latest Posts / Recipes / Cooking Method / Instant Pot / Instant Pot Kung Pao Chicken

Instant Pot Kung Pao Chicken

Jump to Recipe Print Share
Share on:
By: Leigh Anne WilkesPosted: 8/17/18Updated: 1/25/22

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure policy here.

Instant Pot Kung Pao Chicken is better than take out and quicker to make too.  It is the perfect dinner solution for a busy night.

Bowl of Instant Pot Kung Pao Chicken

Instant Pot Kung Pao Chicken is a classic when it comes to Chinese takeout. It’s always part of our order whether we are eating at the restaurant or taking it home.  I love the slight heat and the crunch of the peanuts.  When the craving hit for Chinese food this last week, I decided I could make a batch of  Instant Pot Kung Pao Chicken as easy and quick as I could phone in a take out order and pick it up!

Kung Pao Chicken over rice

I’ve made it two ways, depending on how much of a hurry I am in.  If I have a few extra minutes I like to toss the chicken in cornstarch and then saute it in some oil in the Instant Pot first.  This gives the chicken a little bit of a coating and also the cornstarch helps to thicken the sauce.  If I’m short on time, or not in the mood I just throw everything in and then thicken it at the end by adding  in some cornstarch and stirring it on saute for a minute or two.

Plate of Instant Pot Kung Pao Chicken

Sauteed Vegetables

I prefer to saute my veggies  in a pan on the stove top while the Instant Pot does it thing.  I like my veggies to still have a little crunch to them and I find they get too soft for me in the Instant Pot. Feel free to use what ever veggies you like.  I used zucchini and red pepper, but some broccoli would be good in it too as well as some carrots.

When the instant pot kung pao chicken is done (only 3 minutes on high and then a 15 minute natural release) I add in a little cornstarch/water slurry mixture if the sauce needs to be thickened and turn it on saute for a few minutes.  If you coated the chicken with cornstarch and sauteed before cooking you will find that by stirring up the cornstarch that stuck to the bottom of the instant pot  will thicken the sauce right up for you. Just stir in your sauteed veggies and peanuts and you are ready to go!

Just add chopsticks (or not!)

Kung Pao Chicken sauteed vegetables and rice

Some of my other favorite Instant Pot recipes:

  • Instant Pot Beef Stroganoff
  • Mexican Beef Instant Pot Recipe
  • Instant Pot Cafe Rio Pork

Some of my favorite kitchen tools for Instant Pot Kung Pao Chicken:

INSTANT POT –  This 6 qt electric pressure cooker helps cook dinner quicker and easier!  Has 7 different functions.

For all of my other favorite kitchen products and tools visit my Amazon Store.

Did you know I wrote a cookbook?  Check out the Holiday Slow Cooker Cookbook for 100 delicious recipes

Instant Pot Kung Pao Chicken Recipe

5 from 1 vote
Instant Pot Kung Pao Chicken

Instant Pot Kung Pao Chicken

Recipe From: Leigh Anne Wilkes
Instant Pot Kung Pao Chicken is the perfect dinner solution and it's easier and better than take out!
serves: 4 people
Prep:5 minutes
Cook:20 minutes
Total:25 minutes
Rate Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp cornstarch
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 3 chicken breasts boneless, skinless (approx 1.5 lbs), cut into 1-1 1/2 inch pieces.
  • 3 Tbsp canola oil
  • 1 cup dry roasted peanuts
  • 1 red bell pepper cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 zucchini cut into 1/2 inch thick pieces

Sauce

  • 1/2 cup soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 4 Tbsp brown sugar
  • 3 tsp garlic minced
  • 1 tsp ginger minced
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 4 tsp cornstarch crockpot version only

Instructions

  • Option 1: Mix together cornstarch, salt and pepper and place in bag or bowl.  Add in chicken and toss to coat.   Add oil to Instant Pot on saute and brown chicken.  Cook on manual, high pressure for 3 minutes.  Natural release for 15 minutes.  Open pot and Stir to loosen the bits of cornstarch stuck on bottom of pan from sauteing and turn pot onto saute to thicken up the sauce.  If it needs more thickening, add in  an additional 2 Tbsp cornstarch mixed into 1/4 cup water.  Add to mixture and stir on saute until thickened.
  • Option 2:  Add chicken directly to Instant Pot without coating in cornstarch or browning.  Mix together sauce, cover chicken with sauce. Cook on manual, high pressure for 3 minutes.  Natural release for 15 minutes.
  • To thicken sauce, combine 2 Tbsp cornstarch with 1/4 cup water and add into Instant Pot.  Turn onto saute and stir until sauce thickens.
  • Option 1 & 2:  Saute red pepper and zucchini in a frying pan with 1 Tbsp oil until desired tenderness.  Stir into finished chicken mixture and serve over rice.

Crock Pot Instructions

  • Place chicken in crockpot.
  • Mix together sauce ingredients and pour over chicken.  Cook on low for 4-5 hours or until chicken is cooked through.
  • Remove chicken and strain remaining liquid.  Place in a sauce pan and bring to a boil.
  • Combine 4 tsp cornstarch and 4 tsp water, stir until smooth and combined  Add into hot sauce.  Stir to combine and stir until sauce thickens.
  • Pour sauce over chicken and then serve over rice.    Add sauteed veggies.

Nutrition Facts:

Calories: 605kcal (30%) Carbohydrates: 29g (10%) Protein: 48g (96%) Fat: 33g (51%) Saturated Fat: 4g (25%) Cholesterol: 108mg (36%) Sodium: 2374mg (103%) Potassium: 1142mg (33%) Fiber: 4g (17%) Sugar: 16g (18%) Vitamin A: 1120IU (22%) Vitamin C: 49.4mg (60%) Calcium: 56mg (6%) Iron: 2.6mg (14%)
* Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. Read full disclosure here.
Course:Main Dish
Cuisine:Chinese
Instant Pot Kung Pao Chicken
Did you make this?I love seeing what you made. Be sure to share a picture and tag @yourhomebasedmom on social media!
Tag on Insta! Leave a Rating

Need some help figuring out what’s for dinner tonight?

Come join our Facebook Group!  Join hundreds of others who love sharing dinner time ideas.  You don’t want to miss out on the fun!

You’ll find lots of ideas for dinner from all our awesome members and you can share your ideas too!  Join the Family Dinner Table today.

 

Bowl of Instant Pot Kung Pao Chicken

 

Previous Post
Mongolian Beef
Next Post
One Pan Chicken Yakisoba

Reader Interactions

Leave a Review Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Made this? Rate this recipe:




  1. Nancy says

    Posted on 9/18 at 8:56 am

    Can you use chicken thighs? How would you adjust the cooking time?

    Reply
    • Leigh Anne says

      Posted on 9/20 at 2:23 pm

      They should work fine and I would do the same cook time

      Reply
    • Leigh Anne says

      Posted on 9/20 at 2:24 pm

      They should work fine, same cooking time.

      Reply
  2. Deb says

    Posted on 8/18 at 5:13 am

    Using option one where you coat the chicken, at what point do you add the sauce? Before or after pressure cooking? Also, when do you add the peanuts? Just sprinkle over top when serving, or do you cook them also? Thanks. Do you cut the chicken into chunks before or after you cook it?

    Reply
    • Leigh Anne says

      Posted on 8/18 at 8:28 am

      Deb, Thanks for your great questions. I clarified the directions to answer your questions. Thanks!

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Seasonal Posts

overhead shot of broccoli salad

Broccoli Salad

Strawberry Pizza

BBQ Ribs from the grill

BBQ Ribs

hand holding a hot dog wrapped in foil

Copycat JDawg Sauce

Most Popular Posts

Lemon Oatmeal Cookies

Lemon Oatmeal Cookies

Herb Rice

chicken cooked in the microwave

How to Cook Chicken in the Microwave

baked riblets

Easy Oven Baked Riblets

Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window

Trending Now

overhead shot of cinnamon rolls

One Hour Cinnamon Rolls

plate of smashed potatoes and a fork

Crispy Smashed Potatoes

overhead shot of bowl of almond chicken

Almond Chicken

baked riblets

Easy Oven Baked Riblets

No knead bread in a pan

Instant Pot Bread

Tomato tart pieces

Easy Tomato Tart

spoon full of mac and cheese

Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

Almond Torte

  • Crock Pot
  • Instant Pot
  • Chicken
  • Breakfast
  • Appetizers
  • Bread
  • Salad
  • Dessert

Order my Cookbook, Holiday Slow Cooker!

Buy Now!
Back to Top
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure
  • Contact
© 2013–2022 Leigh Anne Wilkes Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled