Instant Pot Chicken Legs With Honey, Cayenne and Rosemary is a fantastic recipe and one the whole family will love. Cooking chicken legs in the Instant Pot doesn’t have to be difficult, and the fantastic flavours in this cayenne chicken dish will leave you wanting more.
Jump to:
Why This Recipe Works
- Tender and Juicy: Instant Pot ensures these chicken legs are cooked to succulent perfection.
- Time Efficient: Skip long marinating hours with this quick yet flavorful recipe.
- Versatile Meal: Serve Instant Pot Chicken Legs with salad, rice, or pasta for a satisfying dinner.
📋 Ingredients
- Chicken Legs: The star of the dish, they become tender and flavorful in the Instant Pot, absorbing all the seasonings well.
- Cayenne Pepper: Adds a spicy kick to the chicken legs, enhancing their savory flavor.
- Salt: Balances out the flavors and brings out the natural taste of the chicken.
- Chicken Broth: Provides moisture for the cooking process, infusing the chicken legs with a savory depth.
- Honey: Adds a hint of sweetness that contrasts beautifully with the spices, creating a more complex flavor profile.
- Olive Oil: Used for sautéing the onion and garlic, it adds a subtle richness and helps the other flavors meld together.
- Garlic Cloves: Bring a robust, aromatic flavor that complements the chicken and spices well.
- Lemon: Adds a fresh, tangy note that cuts through the richness of the dish.
- Butter: Melts into the dish, giving it a creamy, indulgent quality that boosts the overall flavor.
- Large White Onion: Adds a savory depth and slight sweetness when cooked, acting as a great flavor base.
- Rosemary Sprigs: Infuse the dish with their fragrant, herbal aroma, enhancing the savory elements.
- Optional White Rice: Makes a perfect side, soaking up the flavors of the dish and providing a satisfying, hearty element.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
- Reduce Pepper: If you want to cut down on the amount of cayenne pepper in this recipe, or even eliminate it, you can try some other fantastic flavors to season your chicken.
- Extra Flavor: Try garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, dried oregano or even a bit of curry powder, red pepper flakes or dry rub.
- Sauce: If looking for a different sauce try honey sriracha sauce or your favorite BBQ sauce or buffalo sauce if you fancy Instant Pot BBQ chicken drumsticks or something different.
🔪How to Cook Instant Pot Chicken Legs
Step One: In a small bowl, mix together the cayenne pepper, salt, honey, olive oil and crushed garlic. Wash the chicken legs and make small cuts in the surface of the pieces. Marinade the chicken drumsticks in a large Ziploc bag with the marinade mix and seal tightly and place in the fridge for two hours
Step Two: Cut the onion into long thin strips and cut the lemon into thin slices as well.
Step Three: Set your Instant Pot to sauté function and add half of the butter to the pot. Remove the chicken from the fridge and take the pieces out of the bag, leaving the marinade in the bag for later. Saute the chicken on each side for two to three minutes or until the chicken skin crisps up and turns a light golden or dark brown color. Remove the chicken from the Instant Pot and set aside.
Step Four: Add the remaining butter and the onions to the Instant Pot and sauté for one to two minutes, until the onions become tender and translucent. Turn the saute button off and let sit for a minute before turning it back on.
Step Five: Add the chicken to the pot on top of the onions and pour the rest of the marinade over the chicken. Add the rosemary sprigs and lemon slices.
Step Six: Cover the Instant Pot with the lid and set the pressure cook button to cook on high pressure for 7 minutes followed by a quick release. Turn the Instant Pot button off and let the chicken rest to allow the honey to thicken up. Serve your Instant Pot Chicken Legs!
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Crispy Skin: After pressure cooking, transfer the chicken legs to the oven or air fryer to crisp up the skin for added texture.
- Thermometer Use: For precise cooking, use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken legs reach a safe internal temperature.
💭 FAQs
Cooking Chicken Drumsticks in an Instant Pot pressure cooker is much faster and easier than cooking chicken legs in the oven or on the stovetop.
Yes, you can cook frozen chicken legs in the Instant Pot. Fresh or thawed chicken is best for marinade absorption. For frozen drumsticks, add an extra 5 minutes of pressure cooking time.
This is a personal preference. Some prefer cooking chicken with skin to keep it moist. I cook mine skinless as I don’t like it, but if serving kids or aiming for extra moisture, leave the skin on. This Instant Pot recipe suits fresh and frozen chicken legs.
If you don’t prefer chicken legs or don’t have them, feel free to use other chicken cuts like breast, thighs, or wings in this recipe. Adjust cooking time as needed.
Storage: Cool and store cooked chicken legs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Serving Suggestions
Here are some great sides to serve with Chicken Legs:
- Veggies And Rice: Serve this Instant Pot Chicken Legs recipe with some simple Steamed Vegetables and Instant Pot Rice.
- Potatoes And Carrots: This Instant Pot Chicken Legs recipe would also go great with some Mashed Potatoes, Air Fryer Carrots or even Sweet Potato Fries.
- Garlic Butter Rice: The aromatic rice infused with butter and garlic flavors pairs perfectly with this delicious recipe.
- Cornbread: The slightly sweet and crumbly texture of the cornbread complements the savory flavors of the Instant Pot Chicken Legs, making it a comforting and satisfying side dish.
- Cauliflower Fried Rice: The cauliflower rice provides a low-carb alternative to traditional fried rice and pairs well with the flavorful chicken legs.
- Salad: The fresh and tangy flavors of the salad provide a refreshing contrast to the rich and savory Instant Pot Chicken Legs.
🍜 Related Recipes
Did you make this recipe? Leave a review and a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below, or tag us in our Facebook Group! Alternatively, bookmark it in your browser or save to Pinterest.
Instant Pot Chicken Legs With Honey Cayenne Rosemary
Ingredients
- 6 Chicken Legs
- 1 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ¼ Cup Chicken Broth
- 2 tablespoons Honey
- 3 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 5 cloves Garlic
- 1 Lemon
- 1 cup Butter
- 1 Onion
- 2 Sprigs Rosemary
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix together the cayenne pepper, salt, honey, olive oil and crushed garlic.
- Wash the chicken legs and make small cuts in the surface of the pieces.
- Marinade the chicken in a large Ziploc bag with the marinade mix and seal tightly.
- Let the Instant Pot chicken drumsticks sit in the fridge for two hours or just until all of the other ingredients are ready to go.
- Cut the onion into long thin strips and cut the lemon into thin slices as well.
- Set your instant pot to sauté function and add half of the butter to the pot.
- Remove the chicken from the fridge and take the pieces out of the bag, leaving the marinade in the bag for later.
- Saute the chicken on each side for two to three minutes or until the chicken skin crisps up and turns a light golden or dark brown color.
- Remove the chicken from the Instant Pot and set aside.
- Add the remaining butter and the onions to the Instant Pot and sauté for one to two minutes, until the onions become tender and translucent.
- Turn the saute button off and let sit for a minute before turning it back on. Add the chicken to the pot on top of the onions and pour the rest of the marinade over the chicken. Add the rosemary sprigs and lemon slices.
- Cover the Instant Pot with the lid and set the pressure cook button to cook on high pressure for 7 minutes.
- Quickly release the pressure on your Instant Pot and remove the lid. Set to sauté mode again until the juices from the marinade and chicken have thickened.
- Turn the Instant Pot button off and let the chicken rest and cool a bit before serving to allow the honey to thicken up. Serve your Instant Pot Chicken Legs!
Leave a reply