Instant Pot Chicken Adobo – Quick & Flavorful Filipino Classic

Instant Pot Chicken Adobo is a faster, hands-off version of the Filipino classic. Made with tender chicken simmered in a tangy, savory soy-vinegar garlic sauce, this dish is rich in flavor and ready in no time.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons oil (vegetable or canola)

• 2–2½ lbs bone-in chicken thighs or drumsticks

• ½ cup soy sauce

• ½ cup cane vinegar (or white vinegar)

• 6 cloves garlic, smashed

• 2 bay leaves

• 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns

• 1 tablespoon brown sugar (optional, for a touch of sweetness)

• ½ cup water or chicken broth

• Cooked rice, for serving

• Green onions or fried garlic, for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

1. Sear the Chicken (Optional for extra flavor):

• Turn on Sauté mode on the Instant Pot.

• Add oil and sear chicken on both sides until lightly browned (2–3 minutes per side). Do this in batches if needed.

• Remove chicken and set aside.

2. Add Sauce Ingredients:

• Add soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, bay leaves, peppercorns, brown sugar, and water or broth to the pot.

• Stir to combine and deglaze the pot by scraping up any browned bits.

3. Pressure Cook:

• Return the chicken to the pot and toss to coat.

• Seal the lid and cook on High Pressure for 10 minutes.

• Let it natural release for 5 minutes, then do a quick release for the remaining pressure.

4. Thicken the Sauce (Optional):

• Remove the chicken and set Instant Pot back to Sauté. Simmer the sauce for 5–7 minutes until slightly thickened.

• Return chicken to coat with the sauce.

5. Serve:

• Serve hot over steamed white rice.

• Garnish with green onions or fried garlic if desired.

Tips:

• For extra richness: Add a splash of coconut milk before serving.

• Sweeter adobo: Use a bit more brown sugar if preferred.

• Storage: Tastes even better the next day! Store in the fridge up to 3 days.