Chop Secrets is a culinary platform that focuses on recipe development, offering a wide variety of accessible and time-saving meal ideas. The site is a go-to destination for home cooks looking for delicious recipes that are simple to follow. Known for its collaborations with Instant Pot, Chop Secrets has produced over 250 recipe videos, providing users with step-by-step guides to make cooking easier and more enjoyable. With a range of recipes spanning from appetizers to desserts, Chop Secrets helps both beginners and seasoned cooks explore the versatility of their kitchen tools. The platform also offers a popular Instant Pot Master Class, which teaches essential techniques for mastering this appliance through cook-along lessons and printable resources, helping people create flavorful meals with minimal effort.
Cooking chicken legs in an Instant Pot is a quick and easy way to make a delicious weeknight dinner. The pressurized environment helps infuse flavor into the meat while ensuring it remains moist and tender. But nailing the right cook time is key to getting perfect results. Undercook the chicken and it will be unsafe to eat. Overcook it and you’ll end up with dry stringy meat.
So how long should you cook chicken legs in the Instant Pot? This full guide will help you find the perfect cooking time every time for sweet, juicy chicken legs.
Instant Pot Chicken Leg Cook Times
The exact cooking time can vary slightly depending on the size and thickness of the chicken legs, as well as your particular Instant Pot model. But here are some general guidelines for fresh, bone-in chicken legs:
- Small chicken legs (around 1/2 inch thick): 8-10 minutes
- Medium chicken legs (around 1 inch thick): 10-12 minutes
- Large chicken legs (around 1 1/2 inches thick): 12-15 minutes
For bone-in thawed frozen chicken legs, add 2-3 minutes to the times above.
You’ll set the Instant Pot to cook for the times shown above. The total time will be a little longer because you need to account for the time it takes to increase the pressure (10–15 minutes) and then let the pressure drop naturally (15–20 minutes).
So for a batch of medium-sized fresh chicken legs, the total time would be about:
- 10-15 minutes to build pressure
- 10-12 minutes cook time under pressure
- 10-15 minutes natural pressure release
- Total time: 30-42 minutes
Step-by-Step Instant Pot Chicken Legs
Cooking chicken legs in the Instant Pot takes just a few easy steps:
1. To build pressure, add 1 cup of liquid. The liquid turns into steam. Chicken broth adds great flavor but water works too.
2. Put the trivet and chicken legs in the pot. The trivet will raise the chicken above the liquid. Arrange legs in a single layer on the trivet.
3. Lock lid and set to High Pressure: Make sure the vent is sealed. Set the manual/pressure cook button to high pressure for the recommended time based on your chicken leg size.
4. Allow natural pressure release: When cook time is complete, let the pressure release naturally for 10-15 minutes before manually venting.
5. Check internal temperature: Chicken should reach 165°F. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
6. Finish with broiler (optional): For crispy skin, broil chicken legs for 2-3 minutes.
And that’s it! With this simple process you’ll have tender, juicy chicken legs ready in under an hour.
Tips for the Best Instant Pot Chicken Legs
Here are a few tips to help ensure perfect chicken leg results:
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Use fresh, high quality chicken legs – Avoid pre-injected enhanced chicken which can lead to mushy texture.
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Season well – Chicken legs do well with assertive seasoning. Try garlic powder, paprika, oregano, etc.
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Sear first (optional) – Browning the chicken legs on saute mode first enhances flavor.
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Use broth for flavor – Chicken broth adds more flavor to the pot than water.
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Elevate legs on a trivet – Keeping the chicken above the liquid prevents sogginess.
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Allow for natural pressure release – This keeps the chicken moist and tender.
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Check doneness with meat thermometer – Chicken must reach 165°F. If undercooked, simmer and check again.
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Let chicken rest – Letting it rest 5-10 minutes allows juices to redistribute.
Troubleshooting Common Instant Pot Chicken Leg Problems
Even when you follow the recipe exactly, there can be some hiccups. Here’s how to troubleshoot some potential issues:
Undercooked chicken – If the internal temperature hasn’t reached 165°F, simmer uncovered for 5-10 more minutes until done.
Overcooked, dry chicken – Reduce cook time by 2-3 minutes next batch. And allow for natural pressure release rather than quick release.
Not enough flavor – Use chicken broth instead of water for cooking liquid. Season aggressively before cooking.
Chicken legs stuck to pot bottom – Always use a trivet or steamer basket to elevate chicken legs off the pot bottom.
Burn notice – Make sure pot is deglazed completely after searing chicken legs before pressure cooking.
Tips for Cooking Frozen Chicken Legs in Instant Pot
You can absolutely cook frozen chicken legs straight from the freezer in your Instant Pot. Here’s how:
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Increase cook time by 2-3 minutes from fresh chicken leg recipe
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Use trivet and arrange chicken in a single layer without stacking
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Add 1 extra cup of cooking liquid
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Allow for full natural pressure release for 10-15 minutes
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Check internal temperature and simmer if needed until chicken reaches 165°F
Cooking from frozen only adds a few extra minutes to the total time, making this an easy Instant Pot dinner even on busy nights.
Infuse Your Chicken Legs with Flavor
One benefit of Instant Pot cooking is it allows you to infuse chicken legs with big, bold flavors. Try these ideas:
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Marinades – Marinate chicken legs 1-24 hours before cooking.
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Spice rubs – Rub chicken legs with Cajun, jerk, bbq or other robust seasonings.
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Herbs and aromatics – Add fresh herbs, garlic, chili, citrus zest, etc.
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Sauces – Deglaze pot with wine, vinegar, soy sauce, etc. after searing.
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Broths and cooking liquids – Use broth, juice, wine or other flavorful liquids.
Get creative with the flavor combinations! The pressurized environment really drives those flavors deep into the meat.
Recipes and Variations for Instant Pot Chicken Legs
Once you’ve nailed the basic recipe, try these fun ways to prepare chicken legs in the Instant Pot:
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Honey garlic – Toss legs in a honey garlic marinade before cooking.
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Jerk chicken – Use a Caribbean jerk seasoning blend on the chicken.
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Buffalo chicken – Toss cooked chicken legs in buffalo sauce.
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Balsamic chicken – Add balsamic vinegar to the cooking liquid.
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Chicken adobo – Use soy sauce, vinegar, garlic and peppercorns.
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BBQ chicken – Finish legs with bbq sauce on the stovetop or under the broiler.
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Lemon garlic chicken – Season with lemon, garlic, oregano and olive oil.
So get ready to make quick and delicious Instant Pot chicken leg dinners your family will request again and again!
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Main Menu (6/3 LAUNCH)
Course: Main Dishes
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 5 min
Cook Time: 25 min
Total Time: 15-30 min
Cooking Technique: Vortex Plus Air Fryer Oven
Cuisine: American
Diet: Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Keto, Low Carb, Paleo
Yield: 4-6 servings
- 2-2.5 lbs. chicken drumsticks
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 1 tsp. black pepper, ground
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp. cumin, ground
- Pour olive oil over the drumsticks in a large bowl and toss to coat.
- Mix the rest of the ingredients together in a small bowl. Then, sprinkle them over the drumsticks and toss them to coat them evenly.
- Divide the coated chicken onto the cooking trays.
- Put the drip pan at the bottom of the cooking area. On the screen, choose “Air Fry.” Next, set the temperature to 400°F (204°C) and the time to 25 minutes. Finally, press “Start.”
- Put one cooking tray at the very top and one at the very bottom of the oven when the screen says “Add Food.”
- When the screen says “Turn Food,” flip the food over and switch the cooking trays so that the one that was on top is now on the bottom and the other way around.
- After the Air Fry program is over, make sure that the meat’s thickest part is at least 165°F / 74°C. Remove and serve hot.
Chop Secrets is a cooking website that focuses on creating new recipes and providing easy-to-find and quick meal ideas. The site is a go-to destination for home cooks looking for delicious recipes that are simple to follow. Chop Secrets has made over 250 recipe videos with step-by-step instructions to make cooking easier and more fun. The company is known for working with Instant Pot. Chop Secrets has recipes for everything from appetizers to desserts, so it can help both new and experienced cooks find new ways to use their kitchen tools. The website also has a well-known Instant Pot Master Class with cook-along videos and printable materials that teach people how to use this appliance properly and make tasty meals with little effort.
Instant Pot Chicken Drumsticks – How To Cook Chicken Legs In Instant Pot – Easy Chicken Dinner!
FAQ
How do I cook chicken drumsticks in my Instant Pot?
Place drumsticks into a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot®) and pour sauce on top. Close and lock the lid. Select high pressure according to manufacturer’s instructions; set timer for 15 minutes. Allow 10 to 15 minutes for pressure to build.
How much time to cook chicken in the Instant Pot?
Set to HIGH pressure for 10 minutes. For fresh chicken, it will take about 10 minutes to come to pressure. Expect frozen chicken to take 12 to 15 minutes to come up to pressure. Quick release the pressure, remove, and serve or use for future use.
How long does it take for chicken legs to cook in a pot?
Once all the browned bits are scraped up, add the chicken legs and any chicken juices in the bowl. Lock the lid and pressure cook on high pressure for 30 minutes in an Instant Pot or other electric pressure cooker or for 25 minutes in a stovetop PC.
How long to pressure can chicken legs?
Place jars in ready pressure canner. Proceed per canner instructions. Process pints for 65 minutes and quarts for 75 minutes. After pressure canner is “done”, remove jars to a towel lined table or countertop, away from drafts.