Creamy Instant Pot Tuscan chicken thighs in a rich garlic cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and wilted spinach, served over fettuccine in a white bowl

Instant Pot Recipes: Beef Stew That Actually Slaps

Quick Answer

To make Instant Pot Tuscan Chicken, sear seasoned chicken thighs on Sauté mode, then pressure cook on High for 10 minutes with broth, garlic, and sun-dried tomatoes. Release pressure, stir in cream and spinach, and serve over pasta, rice, or with crusty bread.

I bought the Instant Pot during a power outage, which is exactly the kind of decision-making that defines me as a person. It sat on my counter for four months after that, staring at me like a small silver judge, until the night I had company coming, a mostly empty refrigerator, and a completely unreasonable amount of confidence. That was the night I started cooking instant pot recipes in earnest, and I have not looked back once, though I have looked sideways at the pot several times when it starts building pressure and sounds like a county fair ride that's one bolt short of a tragedy.

What I know now —? and what I did not know the night I served undercooked rice to a woman I was trying to impress —? is that easy instant pot dinners only work if you respect the liquid ratios and don't skip the sear. That first attempt was wet in places and scorched in others, like the pot was making a political statement. This Tuscan chicken recipe fixed all of that. It is one of those pressure cooker chicken recipes that looks like you studied in Italy and cooked for three hours, and the truth is you seared some thighs and pushed a button.

I make this on Thursdays, when the week has already won and I need something that feels like a real meal without requiring me to be a real adult about it. It is also the dish I made when my mother-in-law visited for a week and I needed her to think I was capable. She asked for the recipe. I gave it to her and I am not sorry.

Prep10 minutes
Cook20 minutes
Total30 minutes
Serves4 servings
DifficultyEasy

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. 1Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
  2. 2Set the Instant Pot to Sauté mode (Normal). Add olive oil and let it heat for about 1 minute until shimmering.
  3. 3Sear chicken thighs in batches, 3–4 minutes per side, until golden brown. Do not crowd the pot —? two or three thighs at a time is the move. Transfer seared chicken to a plate.
  4. 4Add the minced garlic to the pot and sauté for 30 seconds, stirring constantly, until fragrant. Do not let it burn.
  5. 5Pour in the chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon. This is called deglazing and it prevents the burn notice. It is also the most satisfying part.
  6. 6Add the sun-dried tomatoes and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir to combine.
  7. 7Return the chicken thighs to the pot, nestling them into the liquid in a single layer as best you can.
  8. 8Secure the lid. Set the valve to Sealing. Pressure cook on High for 10 minutes.
  9. 9When the cook time is done, allow a Natural Pressure Release for 5 minutes, then carefully move the valve to Venting to release any remaining pressure.
  10. 10Open the lid. Switch back to Sauté mode (Low). Pour in the heavy cream and stir gently to combine with the cooking liquid.
  11. 11Add the fresh spinach and stir until wilted, about 2 minutes.
  12. 12Stir in the Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce is smooth and slightly thickened.
  13. 13Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Garnish with fresh basil if using. Serve over pasta, rice, or with thick crusty bread that can hold up to the sauce, which is saying something.

Pro Tips

Substitutions

heavy cream → full-fat coconut cream Use for a dairy-free version. The sauce will have a very faint coconut flavor that honestly isn't bad in this context.
fresh baby spinach → frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry Use about 3/4 cup. Works fine —? just make sure you squeeze out every drop of water or the sauce gets watery.
sun-dried tomatoes in oil → dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes, rehydrated in warm water for 10 minutes Works well —? just drain them completely and add a teaspoon of olive oil to compensate.
Parmesan cheese → Pecorino Romano Saltier and sharper, so reduce or eliminate added salt before serving.

Storage Instructions

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave at 50% power, stirring occasionally. The cream sauce may separate slightly when reheated —? a splash of broth or cream stirred in while warming will bring it back together.

Make Ahead

You can sear the chicken and make the base sauce up to the point of adding cream up to 2 days ahead. Store in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, reheat the base in the Instant Pot on Sauté mode, then add cream, spinach, and Parmesan and proceed from step 10.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I really need to sear the chicken before pressure cooking?

Technically no, but practically yes. Pressure cooking does not brown anything —? it just steams under pressure, which is efficient but does nothing for color or depth of flavor. The sear creates the Maillard reaction that makes your sauce taste like something. Skip it if you must, but the dish will taste noticeably flatter and the chicken will look pale and a little apologetic.

Can I use frozen chicken thighs in this instant pot recipe?

Yes, but skip the sear and add 5 additional minutes to the pressure cook time, cooking for 15 minutes on High. You will not get the same depth of flavor without the sear, but the chicken will be fully cooked and safe. Make sure the thighs are not frozen in a solid block —? separate them before cooking so heat distributes evenly.

Why did my cream sauce turn out thin and watery?

Two likely culprits: too much liquid in the pot before you added the cream, or frozen spinach that wasn't squeezed dry enough. To fix a thin sauce, switch to Sauté mode after adding the cream and let it simmer uncovered for 3–5 minutes, stirring, until it reduces to your liking. It will thicken as it cooks. The Parmesan also helps —? don't skip it.

Can I make this ahead of time for meal prep?

Yes. This recipe holds up well for meal prep. Cook the full recipe, let it cool, and portion into containers with pasta or rice. Refrigerate for up to 4 days. The sauce thickens considerably when cold and may look strange —? that's normal. Reheat with a small splash of broth or cream stirred in and it will loosen back up to the right consistency.

How do I store and reheat leftover Instant Pot Tuscan chicken?

Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 4 days, or freeze for up to 2 months. To freeze, cool completely, portion into freezer bags, and lay flat. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. Warm on the stovetop over low heat with a splash of broth or cream, stirring gently. Microwave reheating works but reheat at 50% power in 90-second intervals to avoid breaking the sauce.

Is this recipe gluten-free?

Yes, as written this recipe is naturally gluten-free —? chicken, cream, Parmesan, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach contain no gluten. Serve over rice, gluten-free pasta, or zucchini noodles to keep the full meal gluten-free. Just confirm your chicken broth is certified gluten-free, as some brands use additives that contain wheat.

Can I double this recipe in the Instant Pot?

You can double the ingredients as long as you do not exceed your Instant Pot's maximum fill line, which is two-thirds full for most models. Keep the cook time exactly the same —? pressure cooking time does not increase with volume. You may need to sear the chicken in more batches. The come-to-pressure time will be longer, which is normal.

What should I serve with this instant pot chicken recipe?

Pasta is the classic move —? fettuccine, pappardelle, or rigatoni all hold up to the sauce well. Mashed potatoes work beautifully and soak up every bit of cream sauce. Rice is a solid weeknight option. For lower-carb serving, try cauliflower rice or roasted zucchini. Whatever you choose, make sure there's enough of it. The sauce is not shy and you will want something to put it on.