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.
Ingredients
Scale
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
Instructions
- Prepare the Instant Pot by setting it to high sauté mode for 5 minutes. Season chicken thighs generously with salt and pepper.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Secure the lid and pressure cook on high for 10 minutes, ensuring the chicken reaches perfect tenderness and absorbs the surrounding aromatics.
- Perform a quick release of the pressure. Carefully remove the lid and transfer the chicken to a serving platter.
- 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.
- 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