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Instant Pot Cherry Chicken Recipe
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Instant Pot Cherry Chicken

Instant Pot Cherry Chicken recipe creates extremely tender, fall of the bone, chicken meat with a luscious savory cherry sauce. So perfect for Sunday dinner with the family.
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Keyword Instant Pot Cherry Chicken, Instant Pot Whole Chicken
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 10 servings
Calories 266kcal
Author Heather

Ingredients

  • 1 3 1/2-4 lb whole chicken *innards removed
  • 3 tbsp cooking oil like avocado oil
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • 4 cups frozen cherries (I used Costco’s frozen Organic Dark Tart Cherries) *defrosted
  • 1 med brown onion *diced, about 2 cups
  • 4-6 cloves garlic minced or crushed, about 2 tbsp
  • 1/2 tsp thyme
  • 1/4 tsp marjoram
  • 1/4 cup port wine *marsala, merlot, shiraz or chianti may also be used
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice *about 1-2 lemons
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1/2 cup chicken stock
  • 2 1/2 tbsp arrowroot or cornstarch *see notes above

Instructions

  • Remove chicken from bag and drain of any excess liquid. Place the raw chicken, breast side up, on a double layer of paper towels and pat dry. Turn the chicken over and pat dry backside. 
    Salt and pepper backside of chicken. 
  • With Instant Pot plugged in, hit sauté button. Once display panel reads hot place whole chicken back side down into pot and sear for 5-7 mins per side. Chicken will be ready to flip once skin is no longer sticking. 
  • Once searing of both sides of chicken is completed remove from pot and set aside.
  • Hit sauté button once again. Add onions and butter. Sauté for approximately 4 mins making sure to remove browned bits on button of pan with spatula. 
    Add herbs and garlic. Continue sautéing for about 1 min and add lemon juice. 
  • Add wine, cherries and chicken broth. Stir well. 
  • Turn off sauté feature and place seared chicken breast side up in pan (no trivet). Place a few spoonfuls of sauce over chicken.
    Place lid on pressure cooker and secure valve to sealed. Hit poultry feature (high pressure) for 6 mins per lbs.  
    Once cooking time has elapsed allow pressure to release naturally for 10 mins.
  • Carefully removed cooked chicken from pot and return  pressure cooker to sauté function.  
    In a small bowl make a slurry of arrowroot with a small amount of cherry liquid (about 2-3 tbsp). Pour slurry into pot and cook stirring constantly until thickened, about 2-3 mins. 
  • Carefully remove inner pot and pour the cherry gravy into a serving container. 
    Slice chicken to desired thickness and serve with gravy and favorite side dishes. 

Notes

Chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165℉. If chicken does not reach final cooking temperature, cook another 1 min per lb at high pressure and let natural release for 7-10 mins. 
*Please use as many organic ingredients as possible.*

Nutrition

Calories: 266kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 39mg | Potassium: 168mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 106IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg