Tangy & Sweet Instant Pot Chicken Marbella Recipe

Silver plums and olives create magic in this instant pot chicken marbella masterpiece that brings Mediterranean flavors straight to your kitchen.

Weeknight dinners rarely feel this luxurious with such minimal effort.

Tender chicken emerges perfectly cooked, infused with a complex blend of sweet and savory notes.

Capers and prunes dance together, delivering unexpected depth to each succulent bite.

Mediterranean herbs weave through the sauce, transforming simple ingredients into something extraordinary.

Generations of home cooks have cherished this classic dish, now reimagined for modern convenience.

You’ll want to savor every single morsel of this incredible meal.

Why Instant Pot Chicken Marbella Stands Out

• Quickly Master a Gourmet Dish: Elevate your home cooking with this restaurant-quality chicken recipe that transforms simple ingredients into a sophisticated meal.
• Minimal Prep, Maximum Flavor: Skip complicated techniques and enjoy a one-pot wonder that delivers complex taste profiles with minimal kitchen effort.
• Family-Friendly Culinary Adventure: Create a crowd-pleasing dinner that introduces exciting Mediterranean-inspired flavors while being approachable for all ages and skill levels.
• Smart Cooking Technology: Leverage the Instant Pot's precision to achieve perfectly cooked, tender chicken with a rich, developed sauce in a fraction of traditional cooking time.

What You Need for Chicken Marbella in a Flash

• Chicken Thighs: A tender and flavorful cut that absorbs the rich, sweet-savory sauce beautifully.

• Apricots, Olives, Capers: These ingredients add a sweet, tangy, and salty complexity to the dish that balances the chicken's richness.

• White Wine: Provides depth and acidity to the sauce.
• Brown Sugar: Adds a caramelized sweetness that complements the savory elements.
• Garlic: Offers a robust and aromatic base flavor to the dish.
• Oregano: Brings a classic Mediterranean herb note to the recipe.
• Salt, Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance the overall taste of the chicken.
• Water: Helps create the sauce and prevents burning during cooking.
• Cooking Oil: Facilitates browning and prevents sticking during the searing process.

How to Make Chicken Marbella in the Instant Pot

Step 1: Prep Instant Pot

Heat the Instant Pot on high saute mode. Season chicken thighs generously with salt and pepper.

Pour oil into the pot and sear chicken pieces skin-side down until golden brown, creating a delicious crispy exterior. Flip and cook the other side until perfectly colored.

Transfer chicken to a separate plate.

Step 2: Build Flavor Base

Drop minced garlic into the pot and cook until fragrant and lightly golden.

• Dried apricots
• Kalamata olives
• White wine
• Capers
• Brown sugar
• Dried oregano
• Water

Scrape all the delicious browned bits from the bottom of the pot to maximize flavor.

Step 3: Position Chicken

Turn off the Instant Pot.

Place a cooking rack inside the pot over the sauce mixture. Gently arrange chicken thighs skin-side up on the rack.

Step 4: Pressure Cook

Close the lid and pressure cook on high for 10 minutes. After cooking completes, quickly release the pressure.

Open the lid carefully and transfer chicken to a serving platter.

Step 5: Finish and Serve

Switch Instant Pot back to saute mode.

Let sauce simmer and reduce by half, creating a rich, concentrated flavor. Generously spoon the luxurious sauce over the chicken and serve immediately.

Instant Pot Chicken Marbella Tips You’ll Love

• Opt for bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs to ensure maximum flavor and juiciness during pressure cooking.
• Pat chicken thighs completely dry before seasoning to achieve a perfect golden-brown sear and crispy skin.
• Deglaze the Instant Pot with white wine to capture all the delicious browned bits, enhancing the sauce's depth and complexity.
• Let the sauce reduce naturally to concentrate flavors, creating a rich, glossy coating that complements the tender chicken perfectly.
• Swap white wine with chicken broth for a non-alcoholic version or use capers sparingly if you prefer a milder, less briny taste.

Flavor Spins on Classic Chicken Marbella

• Mediterranean Herb Infusion: Replace oregano with fresh rosemary and thyme, adding a robust herbal flavor profile to the chicken.
• Spicy Moroccan Style: Incorporate harissa paste and smoked paprika for a bold, warming heat that transforms the dish's character.
• Citrus Burst Edition: Swap white wine with fresh orange juice and add lemon zest to create a bright, tangy alternative to the original recipe.
• Caribbean Rum Splash: Use dark rum instead of white wine, add a touch of allspice, and include chopped green onions for a tropical Caribbean-inspired variation.

Best Pairings for Chicken Marbella

• Pair Perfectly with Robust Red Wine: Select a medium-bodied Spanish Tempranillo or Garnacha to complement the dish's rich Mediterranean flavors and balance the sweet-tangy sauce.
• Create Herbed Couscous Side: Prepare light, fluffy couscous with fresh parsley, lemon zest, and a touch of olive oil to absorb the delicious sauce and provide a complementary texture.
• Match with Crisp Green Salad: Toss a simple arugula salad with shaved parmesan, toasted pine nuts, and a light lemon vinaigrette to cut through the chicken's richness and add fresh, bright notes.
• Serve with Crusty Bread: Offer a rustic sourdough or French baguette to soak up the flavorful sauce, allowing diners to enjoy every last drop of the delectable cooking liquid.

Chicken Marbella Storage Made Simple

• Refrigerate: Store leftover chicken marbella in an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Ensure the container is sealed tightly to maintain freshness and prevent odors from spreading.
• Freeze: Pack chicken and sauce separately in freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Label with the date and contents. Frozen chicken marbella can last up to 2-3 months without losing quality.
• Microwave Reheat: Place chicken and sauce in a microwave-safe dish. Cover with a damp paper towel to prevent drying. Heat on medium power for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through to ensure even warming.
• Oven Reheat: Preheat oven to 350°F. Transfer chicken and sauce to an oven-safe dish.

Chicken Marbella Instant Pot FAQs

• What makes Chicken Marbella unique?

This dish combines sweet and savory flavors with ingredients like apricots, olives, capers, and white wine, creating a complex and delicious Mediterranean-inspired meal.

• Can I use chicken breasts instead of thighs?

Yes, but chicken thighs are recommended because they stay more tender and juicy during pressure cooking and have more flavor.

• Do I need special equipment for this recipe?

An Instant Pot is essential, but the recipe follows standard pressure cooking techniques that are straightforward for home cooks.

• Is this recipe considered healthy?

The dish offers a balanced protein with fruit and vegetables, and uses lean chicken thighs, making it a nutritious and flavorful meal option.

Instant Pot Chicken Marbella Recipe

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4.6 from 38 reviews

• Total Time: 28-34 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Succulent Instant Pot Chicken Marbella brings Mediterranean elegance to your dinner table with tangy olives and sweet prunes. Effortless cooking delivers bold flavors that will transport you to a sunny coastal kitchen in moments.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs

Herbs and Spices:

• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

Accompaniments and Flavor Enhancers:

• 1/2 cup dried apricots, halved
• 1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives
• 2 tablespoons drained capers
• 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup dry white wine
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

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Instructions

1. Prepare the Instant Pot by setting it to high sauté mode for 5 minutes. Season chicken thighs generously with salt and pepper.
2. Add oil to the pot and sear chicken thighs skin-side down until golden brown and crispy, approximately 6-8 minutes. Flip and cook the other side for 4-6 minutes, creating a rich caramelized exterior.
3. Remove browned chicken from the pot and set aside. In the same pot, quickly sauté minced garlic until fragrant and lightly golden, about 1 minute.
4. Introduce apricots, olives, white wine, capers, brown sugar, and oregano to the pot. Pour in water and use a wooden spoon to deglaze, scraping up all the flavorful browned bits from the bottom.
5. Place a rack inside the Instant Pot, positioning the chicken thighs skin-side up on the rack. This allows the chicken to steam above the flavorful liquid.
6. Secure the lid and pressure cook on high for 10 minutes, ensuring the chicken reaches perfect tenderness and absorbs the surrounding aromatics.
7. Perform a quick release of the pressure. Carefully remove the lid and transfer the chicken to a serving platter.
8. Switch the Instant Pot back to sauté mode and simmer the sauce, reducing it by half for 6-8 minutes until it thickens and intensifies in flavor.
9. Generously spoon the reduced sauce over the chicken, coating each piece with the rich, complex mixture of sweet and savory elements.

Notes

• Choosing the right chicken ensures a tender, flavorful dish with crispy skin that absorbs all the delicious marinade.
• Searing creates a deep golden-brown crust, locking in juices and developing rich caramelized flavors before pressure cooking.
• Adjust wine quantity for dietary needs or preferences, using chicken broth as a non-alcoholic substitute that maintains depth of flavor.
• Quick release prevents overcooking, keeping chicken moist and preventing rubbery texture that can happen with natural pressure release.

• Prep Time: 0 minutes
• Cook Time: 28-34 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Mediterranean

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 400
• Sugar: 5 g
• Sodium: 600 mg
• Fat: 25 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 12 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 30 g
• Cholesterol: 100 mg