Filipino Instant Pot Chicken Adobo

This Instant Pot Chicken Adobo is a savory, tangy and slightly sweet Filipino Adobo recipe made with simple pantry ingredients in a fraction of the time, thanks to your pressure cooker or Instant Pot.

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Instant Pot Chicken Adobo

Enjoy the authentic flavors of traditional Filipino adobo and be ready to add this famous dish to your list of quick and easy favorite chicken recipes.

This adobo recipe produces tasty and tender chicken, flavored with the best adobo sauce made with vinegar, soy sauce and brown sugar, seasoned with fresh garlic, onions and bay leaves.

In this Instant Pot Chicken Adobo recipe, I use a well balanced combination of ingredients to deliver an incredibly tasty dish. Traditional adobo or authentic adobo uses the same ingredients; however, a dish as popular as this has many variations and every household claims to serve the best one!

What Is Adobo

Adobo is one of those confusing food terms that mean more than one thing. Adobo is a famous dish, a cooking technique, a seasoning mix and a cooking sauce!

• The Dish: In this post we are referring to Filipino Adobo, the unofficial national dish of the Philippines. Filipino Adobo can be made with pork, beef or chicken. In adobo recipes, meat is marinated, braised and in some cases finished by quickly pan searing it until golden brown.
• The Cooking Technique: Adobo or adobar is also a cooking term and technique. To adobar means to marinate and adobo means marinade!
• The Seasoning Mix: To make things just a bit more confusing, in some Caribbean countries adobo is a popular seasoning mix made with either wet or dried ingredients. This type of adobo seasoning is commonly sold commercially and has become a staple of Puerto Rican and Dominican cuisine.
• The Sauce: In some Latin countries, adobo is a thick sauce made with ingredients like garlic, rehydrated dried chiles and spices just like in my Chile Colorado beef stew recipe. Adobo sauce serves both as a seasoning and as a cooking sauce.

Adobo Ingredients

For exact ingredients and amounts, check the printable chicken adobo recipe card below.

• Chicken: To make adobo chicken in the instant pot, I recommend using bone-in, skin-on chicken legs, thighs or chicken quarters (leg and thigh). Boneless chicken can be used, but the cooking time will have to be adjusted to prevent overcooking.
• Soy Sauce: Use regular, light or low sodium soy sauce.
• Vinegar: I use white wine vinegar. For an authentic taste, use sugar cane vinegar sold in Asian markets.
• Sugar: Brown sugar, light or dark.
• Vegetables/Aromatics: Fresh garlic is a MUST to make this Filipino recipe. Onions (yellow or brown), green onions for garnish.
• Broth/Stock: I use regular chicken broth. Low sodium broth can also be used.
• Oil: I use vegetable oil for this recipe, but any mild oil works.
• Seasoning/Spices: Dried bay leaves and ground black pepper.

How To Make Chicken Adobo In The Instant Pot

One of the things people often want to know is if they can make an oven baked, stove top or slow cooker recipe in the pressure cooker. So if you are wondering what are the steps to make adobo in your Instant Pot, you’ll be happy to know that Instant Pot adobo is super easy to make.

• Marinate: Combine soy sauce, brown sugar, white vinegar, garlic, bay leaves and black pepper in a mixing bowl or resealable bag. Place the chicken in the mixture and marinate for 30 minutes or up to 6 hours in the refrigerator.
• Sear the Chicken: Turn the Instant pot to sauté and heat up the oil. Remove the chicken from the marinade, reserving the marinade. Sear the chicken on both sides until golden brown. You may need to do this in batches not to overcrowd the instapot. Transfer the seared chicken to a plate.
• Pressure Cook: Pour the marinade and the broth into the instant pot. Stir and scrape any brown bits stuck to the bottom. Add the onions and return the chicken to the pressure cooker trying to keep the chicken pieces in one layer. Close the lid, seal the pot and pressure cook on high for 10 minutes. When the cooking is done, let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes.
• Reduce The Sauce: Turn the Instant pot to sauté. Keeping the chicken in the pot, bring the sauce to a boil and reduce until the sauce thickens.
• Enjoy: Serve the instant pot chicken adobo garnished with green onions and served with rice (optional, but highly recommended).

What Cut Of Chicken Is Best For Adobo?

For the tastiest chicken adobo, I recommend bone-in chicken thighs or chicken drumsticks. You can remove the skin, if you prefer. Bone-in chicken breast and wings are also good alternatives.

Can I Make Filipino Adobo With Boneless Chicken?

The short answer is yes! This recipe can be made with boneless chicken. However, I suggest that you sear the chicken, then pressure cook it as directed in the recipe. Remove the chicken from the pressure cooker before reducing the sauce – especially if you are using boneless and skinless chicken breasts. Although boneless chicken thighs should be removed before reducing the sauce, breasts are such lean protein that can easily become dry and chewy.

How Long To Cook Boneless Chicken Breast And Boneless Chicken Thighs In The Instant Pot?

To cook Adobo with fresh boneless and skinless chicken breast and chicken thighs in the pressure cooker, turn the instant pot to sauté and sear the chicken for about 2-4 minutes per side.

• Pressure cook boneless chicken breast for 8 to 10 minutes (depending on the size of the chicken). Allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes.. Transfer the chicken to a plate before reducing (thickening) the sauce.
• Cook boneless chicken thighs in the instant pot for 10 minutes (depending on the size of the chicken). Allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate before reducing (thickening) the sauce.

What Does Filipino Chicken Adobo Taste Like?

The most popular recipe in the Philippines, Chicken Adobo has the perfect balance of salty and sweet with a little tang from the vinegar. This recipe uses a few simple pantry ingredients, yet the combination of flavors is pure perfection. Some recipes make the sauce super thick and sticky while others are on the thinner side.

What Kind Of Vinegar To Use When Making Adobo Chicken?

If you want to make Filipino Adobo Chicken as authentic as possible, use cane vinegar which is the most common vinegar in the Philippines. Cane vinegar is made by fermenting syrup made from sugar cane. The flavor is less harsh than distilled vinegar. You can find this vinegar on Amazon and at Asian markets.

What Should I Serve With Chicken Adobo?

Adobo is typically served with white rice (Jasmine rice works best). Learn how to cook rice to perfection without a rice maker. It’s easy and takes very little time to cook. You can also serve this amazing dish with potatoes like this creamy slow cooker mashed potatoes. Both rice and potatoes are perfect for soaking up the mouthwatering savory-sweet sauce.

If you prefer a veggie side dish, blanched green beans are always a favorite at home.

Other Instant Pot Recipes:

• Instant Pot Carnitas
• Instant Pot Shredded Chicken
• Instant Pot Brisket
• Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Pork
• Best Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

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