Instant Pot Chicken Legs Recipe

Our Instant Pot chicken legs recipe will liven up your dinner routine with simple ingredients you might already have on hand. 

In this recipe, the quick-steamed chicken legs are coated with a flavorful homemade sauce. They are then perfectly baked in the oven until they become juicy on the inside with caramelized, crispy skin on the outside.

Bookmark this recipe now so it can be your go-to way to get a low-cost and delectable meal. You can even use the leftovers to create a whole new dish.

Is This Recipe Healthy?

Yes, our Instant Pot chicken legs are healthy.

Each serving of our Instant Pot chicken legs contains 471 calories. We serve it with salad, French fries, and juice for a 750-calorie meal, ensuring you enough energy to last until the next meal of the day.

Besides, we go easy on the added sugar and salt in each dish. For this one specifically, there is only ¼ teaspoon of salt and no sweetener added, so the recipe contains just 544 milligrams of sodium and 2.3 grams of sugar per serving.

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As a result, this recipe makes a wholesome, fulfilling meal with a nutritional value that is in line with the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines.

Seasoning

Our blend for chicken legs is addicting and packs a flavor punch. You can buy chicken rubs at stores, but believe it or not, nothing can beat this homemade one designed with your taste buds in mind.

Our seasoning blend features a combination of saltiness, a creamy texture, and a hint of spice. It starts with a base of salt, ketchup, and butter and is made uniquely flavorful by the addition of garlic, onion, and paprika. 

The great thing about this homemade rub is that you can adjust the amount of each element in the blend. You can also remove ingredients or add your favorite seasonings. 

And don’t worry, the leg of a chicken is naturally more flavorful than its wings or breasts. Thus, even a simple marinade with your readily-available ingredients will be enough to help bring out the best chicken taste.

To have perfectly cooked chicken legs every time, check out our juicy and tasty chicken legs in air fryer.

Can I Use Frozen Chicken Legs?

Yes, you can. Cooking chicken legs from frozen doesn’t require any special technique, just a little more time in the Instant Pot.

We suggest you increase the cooking time by 3 – 5 minutes depending on the size and thickness of the meat. When the chicken reaches 165°F, it’s good to go.

What to Do With Leftover

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Leftover chicken never needs to go to waste. There are a few ways to transform last night’s bird into new and tasty dishes. One of our favorites is to shred the meat and add it to a hot soup or cook the shredded chicken with milk and seasonings to have on sandwiches or hamburger buns.

It’s also quite simple to combine fresh vegetables with the leftover chicken meat for a healthy to-go lunch. The possibilities are endless, so you can be creative with the ingredients you have on hand and use them to breathe new life into the chicken legs in your refrigerator.

For more instant pot recipe ideas, have a look at our healthy instant pot dinner roundup.

How to Store and Reheat

Start by letting your chicken legs cool completely before putting them in an airtight container or a freezer-safe Ziploc bag. You can keep the chicken all together in the same container or seperate the legs into individual servings and store them for easy access during your week.

The meat can stay in the fridge for 2 – 3 days. Cooked chicken can also be frozen for up to 3 months without any noticeable deterioration in quality. 

To reheat the food, you can use the microwave if you’re in a hurry. However, the chicken’s skin won’t stay crispy. 

We love to reheat the meat using the broiler or oven, though these methods will take a little longer. The result is an amazingly flavorful interior with a crunchy exterior that everyone will love!

If this recipe got you craving some more chicken, check out our list of 50 healthy chicken recipes or 20+ amazing chicken thigh roundup. They are our versatile collection of delicious and diverse chicken dishes!

What to Serve With

These Instant Pot chicken legs can lend themselves to almost any flavor profile, so you can serve them with anything your heart desires!

Salad: It’s always a good idea to side your protein with salad. Green salad topped with fresh fruits and crunchy nuts can quickly refresh your taste buds and liven up the meal.

Soup: A hot and creamy soup is all you need to turn this succulent chicken into a comforting meal. This combination is perfect for cold winter days.

French Fries: Not only do these air-fryer French fries have crispy edges and a creamy taste you’ll love, but they can also be made easily in just a few minutes.

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You Can Make Tasty Treats With The Instant Pot

This Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip is a healthy recipe that anyone at the table can enjoy. The dip is filled with juicy chicken cooked in buffalo sauce, topped with a healthy amount of cheese that's enough to keep everything flavorful.

This chicken dish is perfect for an intimate gathering because it's super easy and tasty. The wings are pressure-cooked to seal up the moistures, tossed in a hot buffalo sauce, and then air-fried to crispy perfection. Those edges are really something.

Instant Pot Chicken Legs

5 from 1 vote

This Instant Pot chicken legs recipe is a quick and effortless way to get a juicy, well-seasoned chicken meal on the table.

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• cook TIME 35 mins
• prep TIME 10 mins
• total TIME 45 mins

• COURSE Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
• CUISINE American
• SERVINGS
  4

  servings
• CALORIES 476 kcal

INGREDIENTS

1x2x3x

• 42 oz chicken drumsticks
• 3 oz lettuce
• 4 oz cucumber (sliced)
• 2 oz red leaf lettuce
• 1 oz radish (sliced)
• 1 oz baby carrot (sliced)
• 1 oz red onion (sliced)
• 1/2 cup unsalted chicken broth
• 2 tbsp Heinz ketchup
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp garlic (chopped)
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1/4 tsp ground pepper
• 2 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 2 tsp Italian seasoning
• 2 fl oz water
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp coriander
• 2 tbsp Japanese mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp plain Greek yogurt

INSTRUCTIONS

Image instructions

Cook the Chicken:

1

Pour 1/2 cup unsalted chicken broth into the Instant Pot. Put a trivet in the pot and place the chicken legs on top. Cover the pot with a lid and set it to “Stew Meat Mode” for 15 minutes.

2

Naturally release the pressure. Open the lid and transfer the chicken to a plate.

3

Turn on the “Sauté Mode,” add 2 tbsp Heinz ketchup, 1/2 tsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp salt, 1 tsp paprika, 1/4 tsp ground pepper, 2 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter, 2 tsp Italian seasoning, and 2 fl.oz water and 2 tbsp all-purpose flour mixture to the pot. Cook for 7 minutes.

4

Add steamed chicken to a bowl. Gently toss the chicken to coat the sauce evenly.

5

Place the chicken on the baking tray and brush the chicken with sauce. Bake at 375 ℉ for 5 minutes. Flip the chicken and brush with the sauce. Return to the oven for another 5 minutes.

6

Remove the chicken from the oven. Keep the remaining sauce for dipping.

Make the Salad:

1

Make salad dressing: Whisk together 2 1/2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp apple cider vinegar, 2 tbsp coriander, 2 tbsp mayonnaise, 2 tbsp Greek yogurt, and 1 tbsp garlic in a small bowl.

2

Layer 2 oz red leaf lettuce, 1 oz radish, 1 oz baby carrot, 3 oz lettuce, 4 oz cucumber, and 1 oz red onion on a salad plate. Drizzle with dressing.

3

Place the chicken on the same plate.

4

Serve.

NUTRITION

Nutrition Facts

Instant Pot Chicken Legs

Amount Per Serving (1 serving)

Calories 476Calories from Fat 261

% Daily Value*

Fat 29g

45%

Saturated Fat 9g

56%

Polyunsaturated Fat 3g

Monounsaturated Fat 11g

Cholesterol 207mg

69%

Sodium 529mg

23%

Potassium 657mg

19%

Carbohydrate 12g

4%

Fiber 2g

8%

Sugar 4g

4%

Protein 41g

82%

Vitamin A 2498IU

50%

Vitamin C 4mg

5%

Calcium 74mg

7%

Iron 3mg

17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.