Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Chicken
Yield: 4 servings
Active Time: 10 minutes*
Prep Time: 10 minutes*
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Cilantro and lime are such complimentary flavors to chicken!

Ingredients for Single Meal

  • 2 - lb(s) boneless chicken thighs
  • 1/2 - cup(s) hot water**
  • 1 - Tbsp canola oil
  • 2 - lime(s)
  • 1 - Tbsp brown sugar
  • 4 - tsp minced garlic
  • 1 - Tbsp chili powder
  • 1/3 - cup(s) chopped cilantro
  • - Salt and pepper
  • Side: - rice**
  • Side: - veggies**
  • 1 - gallon-size freezer baggie(s)
With MyFreezEasy, you can...
  1. Set up your own freezer meal plan with all your favorite freezer meals.
  2. Personalize the month's themed meal plans.
  3. Download any and all of the 8 themed meal plans released each month.
Also, as a member, you get access to our Freezer Meal Plan Builder (option to adjust serving sizes) & the MyFreezEasy mobile and tablet apps. No more spending hours on Pinterest searching for recipes, adjusting the math on the serving sizes, writing your own shopping list and trying to figure out the step-by-step for the freezer meal prep session!! We do all of that for you - in minutes! Learn more about becoming a MyFreezEasy member!

Cooking Directions for Single Meal

  1. Juice both limes. Chop cilantro.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the canola oil, juice from 2 limes, brown sugar, minced garlic, chili powder and cilantro. Add a little salt and pepper and then whisk the marinade. Add the chicken thighs and coat them in the marinade. Put in the fridge and marinate for at least 30 minutes.*
  3. Cook rice, as directed.
  4. Turn on the Instant Pot and set to Saute. Let warm up and then add the chicken thighs and marinade and saute for 4 minutes.
  5. Then, if needed, add water or chicken stock so that the total liquid is at least 1 cup. Put the lid on and follow the cooking steps below.
  6. Steam valve: Sealing.
  7. Cook on: Manual/High for 10 minutes.
  8. Release: Natural or Quick.
  9. Prepare veggies and rice.
  10. Serve Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Chicken with rice and veggies.

Freezeasy Meal Prep Directions

  1. Juice 4 limes.
  2. Chop about 2/3 cup cilantro.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 2 Tbsp canola oil, juice from 4 limes, 2 Tbsp brown sugar, 8 tsp minced garlic, 2 Tbsp chili powder, 2/3 cup chopped cilantro and salt and pepper.

To each gallon-size plastic freezer baggie in a round bowl/dish, add the following ingredients:

  • 2 lbs. boneless chicken thighs
  • Half of the prepared marinade into each bag

Remove as much air as possible and seal. Add label to baggie and freeze.

Freeze & Thaw Instructions

Put baggie in the freezer and freeze up to 6 months in fridge freezer or 12 months in a deep freezer. Thaw in the fridge overnight, or a warm bowl of water for about 20 minutes, before adding contents to electric pressure cooker insert. Saute and pressure cook as directed.

Special notes

See myfreezeasy.com/EPC for more tips and tricks.
Add 5-10 minutes of pressure cooking time, if cooking from completely frozen or mostly frozen. Note that preheat time and release time may vary by appliance.

Dairy-Free Modifications

Recipe is dairy-free when served with dairy-free sides.

Gluten-Free Modifications

Recipe is gluten-free when served with gluten-free sides.

Printable Label Recipe Title

Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Chicken

Printable Label Instructions

Thaw, then saute chicken with marinade in Instant Pot for 4 minutes, then add any water (if needed), then cook on high pressure for 10 minutes with sealed valve; then natural release.
Serve with rice and veggies.