This Instant Pot Sesame Shredded Chicken is a simple dinner entrée you can meal prep or throw together on a weeknight! Serve in salads, rice bowls, and more! Recipe includes a delicious sesame sauce to serve over the chicken!
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Meal prep doesn’t have to be all about whole entire meals! I’ve been working on ideas for individual parts of meals that can be mix and matched to achieve whatever kind of meal prep suits your preferences.
This Sesame Shredded Chicken is a simple chicken entrée idea that is MADE to go in your Instant Pot – perfectly cooked chicken in a quick cooking sauce turned yummy smothering sauce that works well served hot or cold.
Ingredients in the Instant Pot Sesame Shredded Chicken:
Most of the ingredient in this entrée recipe are pantry staples you probably already have. Let’s do a quick rundown of each one and any possible substitutions:
- soy sauce – Use whatever variety you prefer, low-sodium or otherwise. An option would be to use coconut aminos for a soy-free alternative.
- rice vinegar – This is a staple in Asian cooking, and it lasts forever, so I would encourage you to bite the bullet and buy some if you don’t have it already. Plus it’s pretty cheap. It brings a bit of acidity while still being a very mild vinegar.
- honey – A hint of sweetness! If you want to skip this, I think it would be okay.
- chicken broth – Use low-sodium, homemade, or whatever variety you prefer. The broth is important for helping the Instant Pot come to pressure, so don’t skip it.
- tahini – Tahini is made of toasted sesame seeds and has a consistency similar to peanut butter. This recipe works with or without the tahini. It adds an extra sesame flavor and makes the sauce a little bit creamy. Add it if you have it, but no need to go out of your way to find it.
- garlic – A staple in most dishes that come out of my kitchen! I love adding garlic for that boost and depth of flavor. Be sure to mince it very small for this recipe.
- sesame oil – Here’s where the sesame comes in if you aren’t using tahini. Light and mild with a hint of sesame.
How long do you cook chicken breasts in the instant pot?
When I cook chicken breasts by themselves (with a liquid or sauce), I generally cook them on high pressure (or manual) for 8 minutes, with at least a 5 minute natural pressure release. Based on my tests and experiences of others’ I’ve read, a bit of a natural pressure release is good for meat that’s prone to drying out, like chicken breasts. Releasing all the pressure immediately can cause the chicken to lose moisture.
Chicken breast size: The 8 minute pressure cook time indicated works perfectly for 7-8 ounce chicken breasts like the ones pictured. If your chicken breasts are this size, two of them will be approximately one pound of chicken. If you are using 4-6 ounce chicken breasts, you can decrease cook time by 1-2 minutes. If you are using 9-12 ounce chicken breasts, you can increase cook time by 1-2 minutes.
Can I use frozen chicken breasts?
I have never tested this recipe with frozen chicken breasts so I can’t say for sure. However, I would generally recommend cooking meat from thawed for more even cooking. If anyone does test this recipe with frozen chicken breasts, please let me know how it turns out. I suspect you would need a much higher cooking time.
How do you make the sesame sauce for the sesame shredded chicken?
After the chicken is done cooking, remove the breasts from the Instant Pot and let them cool. Turn the Instant Pot on “Sauté” mode. In a small bowl, whisk together 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water, and add it to the simmering sauce. Whisk and let the sauce simmer for 4-5 minutes until it’s slightly thickened. It will thicken more as it cools.
You can store the sesame sauce separately from the chicken, or mixed in. Either way works!
Which instant pot model do you use?
This recipe has only been tested using the Instant Pot Duo Plus 6 Qt (affiliate link!) model. I have not tested this with an 8 quart or small versions of the Instant Pot. For an 8 quart Instant Pot, I suspect the best method would be to double the entire recipe or at least the sauce, so you have plenty of liquid to help pressure cook the chicken.
If you try this out with another size or model of Instant Pot, please let me know how it turns out in the comments below!
Can this Sesame Shredded Chicken be made in the oven or stove?
To be honest, I recommend making this recipe in the Instant Pot, or finding a different recipe that is better suited for the oven or stovetop. But it can be done!
Follow the same directions, but use a large skillet or Dutch oven. Cook the chicken and sauce on the stovetop over low-medium heat, covered for 20-30 minutes until the chicken is completely cooked through and the internal temperature reaches 165F. Remove the chicken and shred. Meanwhile, let the remaining sauce continue to simmer, add starch slurry, and cook until the sauce is thickened, around 4-5 minutes.
Meal prep ideas for this Sesame Shredded Chicken:
This chicken and sauce will be good in the refrigerator for up to four days after cooking. For meal prep, you can either prep the chicken as an entrée and save it for weeknight meals, OR you can portion the chicken out with other meal components for completely prepared meals. This dish makes four servings of sesame shredded chicken.
Meal ideas with Sesame Shredded Chicken:
- Sesame Chicken & Cold Noodle Salad (coming soon!)
- Serve with Broccoli & Rice (pictured)
- Serve with a bell pepper stir fry
- Serve with green beans, carrots, onions
- Sesame chicken & cabbage tacos
Prep ahead and freeze this Sesame Shredded Chicken entrée:
Place all of the ingredients into a gallon size freezer safe Ziploc bag and seal completely. Freeze flat for quick and even thawing. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw completely before placing all the ingredients into the Instant Pot and following the directions from there.
More Instant Pot recipes from Project Meal Plan:
- Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Meatballs Meal Prep
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
- Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken Meal Prep
Instant Pot Sesame Shredded Chicken
This Instant Pot Sesame Shredded Chicken is a simple dinner entrée you can meal prep or throw together on a weeknight! Serve in salads, rice bowls, and more! Recipe includes a delicious sesame sauce to serve over the chicken!
- Total Time35 minutes
- Yield4 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (or coconut aminos)
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon tahini
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 2 medium-large)
- starch slurry for thickening (1 TB water + 1/2 TB cornstarch or arrowroot starch)
Instructions
- Cook the chicken: In a small bowl or mason jar with lid, combine chicken broth, soy sauce, rice vinegar, water, honey, tahini, sesame oil and garlic until well mixed. Add chicken breasts and just made sauce to the Instant Pot insert. Place the lid on the Instant Pot and make sure the steam release valve is sealed. Set to Manual or Pressure Cook High for 8 minutes. After pressure cooking is done, let the Instant Pot do a Natural Pressure Release (NPR) for 5 minutes (until the timer counting up says 5). Release remaining pressure after 5 minutes. Remove the chicken and shred, then set aside.
- Make the sauce: Hit the Sauté button on the Instant Pot. In a small bowl, whisk together 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water, and add it to the simmering sauce. Whisk and let the sauce simmer for 4-5 minutes until it’s slightly thickened. It will thicken more as it cools. Turn off the Instant Pot and let the sauce cool slightly before serving or storing.
- Serve or store: Enjoy immediately with sides or meal prep into portions for lunch or dinner. Store sauce mixed with chicken or separately in a jar with lid. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Notes
Tahini: This recipe works with or without the tahini. It adds a deeper sesame flavor and makes the sauce a little bit creamy. Add it if you have it, but no need to go out of your way to find it.
Chicken breast size: The 8 minute pressure cook time indicated works perfectly for 7-8 ounce chicken breasts like the ones pictured. If you are using 4-6 ounce chicken breasts, you can decrease cook time by 1-2 minutes. If you are using 10-12 ounce chicken breasts, you can increase cook time by 1-2 minutes.
Cooking methods: This recipe has only been tested using the Instant Pot Duo Plus 6 Qt (affiliate link!) model. I have not tested this with an 8 quart or small versions of the Instant Pot. Other cooking methods:
- Stovetop chicken & sauce: Use a large skillet or Dutch oven. Follow directions as normal to mix up the sauce and add it to the pan with the chicken. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cover. Let it simmer for 20-25 minutes or until the chicken reaches 165F. Remove the chicken, let it cool and shred. Make the sauce thickener by mixing 1/2 TB cornstarch with 1 TB water in a small bowl. Whisk the thickening mixture into the Dutch oven with the cooking liquid, then let the sauce simmer for 5-10 minutes until thickened. It will thicken more as it cool.
- Slow cooker chicken & sauce: Mix up the sauce, then add chicken and sauce to slow cooker and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours until the chicken is done. Remove chicken and shred. Make the sauce thickener by mixing 1/2 TB cornstarch with 1 TB water in a small bowl. Add the mixture to the slow cooker, whisk, and then cook on HIGH for about 20 minutes. Remove sauce from slow cooker and set aside to cool, then use as you wish. Sauce will thicken as it cools.
Nutrition information estimated with My Fitness Pal, includes sauce with tahini.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 ounces + 1/4 cup sauce
- Calories: 215
- Sugar: 7g
- Fat: 8g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Protein: 29g
I want to see what you made! Share your version of this Sesame Shredded Chicken with me on social media by tagging @projectmealplan or using that hashtag #projectmealplan. I’ll be able to find your creation that way!
