Instant Pot Chicken a la King

Name: Instant Pot Chicken a la King
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoon butter; 1 medium onion (diced); 1 cup sliced carrot; 1/2 cup sliced celery; 2 tablespoons minced garlic; 2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken (cut into bite size slices); 1 teaspoon paprika; 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 large bay leaf; 1 teaspoon parsley; 2 cups chicken broth; 1 cup frozen peas (thawed); 1 cup heavy cream; 3 tablespoons corn starch (mixed into 3 tablespoons of cold water.); 6 large biscuits

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Are you a fan of quick and easy weeknight meals? If so, the Instant Pot is your go-to appliance for delicious results in a fraction of the time.

This pressure cooker can make anything from delectable soups to creamy risottos in no time at all. Today we're featuring one of our favorite Instant Pot recipes—Instant Pot Chicken à la King!

In only 30 minutes, you can have a flavorful classic dish that's sure to be a hit with everyone around the dinner table!

Long vertical image featuring a bowl filled with chicken a la king made in the Instant Pot.

As a busy home cook, you're going to love this Instant Pot Chicken à la King recipe for a multitude of reasons.

Firstly, it helps bring a restaurant-quality dish to your dinner table in just half an hour, saving you a ton of time.

Secondly, the Instant Pot does most of the work, minimizing the amount of effort needed on your part and freeing up time for other tasks.

Experience the perfect blend of convenience, speed, and gourmet taste with this sensational recipe.

Indulge in the richness of cream, the robust flavor of chicken, and the delicious sweetness of fresh vegetables.

Elevate your weeknight dinner routine with this must-try recipe that will transform your cooking skills at home.

Recipe Prep

Chicken: cut the boneless skinless chicken and into bite size pieces.
Prep the vegetables ahead of time to save time: Dice the onion, dice the carrots, slice the celery. mince the garlic.
Mix the cornstarch and water in a small bowl until the corn starch has dissolved. Set aside until needed.

Chicken a la King Ingredients

Below is a quick look at the ingredients and directions. You can find the entire ingredient amounts and step by step directions in the recipe card below. P. S. You can also save your favorite recipes to your personal recipe box! ⬇️

👇See the step by step directions below!

boneless skinless chicken cut into bite size pieces
unsalted butter: is used to sauté the vegetables
vegetables: fresh or frozen diced carrots, fresh onion, celery, and frozen peas
herbs and spices: fresh or jarred garlic, bay leave, Lawry's seasoned salt, ground black pepper, and paprika
broth: chicken broth
the cream sauce: heavy cream, or whole milk
thickener: cornstarch and cool water

Instant Pot Quick Guide

New to cooking in the Instant Pot? Grab my FREE Instant Pot Cooking Quick Guide

Step by Step Directions

Step 1: Turn on sauté setting on and melt the butter. Add the diced onion, the diced carrots, and the sliced celery. Sauté until the onion is translucent.

Step 2: Add the garlic and sauté 2 minutes. Do not brown the garlic it will taste bitter. Hit cancel to turn off the sauté setting.

Step 3: Add the seasoned salt, pepper, paprika and bay leave. Mix with a wooden spoon to combine.

Overhead image of the inner pot adding the herbs and spices to the vegetables.

Step 4: Add the chicken pieces and pour the broth over the chicken. Mix with a large spoon to break up the pieces of chicken and to combine with the other ingredients.

Adding the chicken pieces and chicken broth to the inner pot.

Step 5: Twist the lid on and push the valve to the sealing position. Press the manual button and set the time to 5 minutes.

Step 6: Once the pressure cooking time is up move the pressure valve to the open position to quick release the steam. Press the cancel button to turn off the pressure cooker. Once the pressure pin has dropped carefully twist open the lid and remove it. Remove the bay leave and discard.

Step 7: Add the thawed frozen peas and stir. Add the heavy cream and the corn starch slurry. Stir with a wooden spoon to blend.

4 image collage showing adding peas, cream and cornstarch to the cooked ingredients.

Step 8: Press the sauté button and bring to a simmer. Occasionally stir to keep the cream sauce from scorching on the bottom of the inner pot. As the sauce starts to heat up it will begin to thicken. Simmer until it has thickened about 5 minutes.

The thicken chicken a la king sauce in the inner pot.

Step 9: Once the sauce has thickened press the cancel button to turn off the sauté setting.

A ladle full of the thickened chicken a la king before serving in a bowl.

Chicken a la King Serving Suggestions

Chicken a la king is a classic dish that is known for its creamy and flavorful sauce. It is best served hot and fresh.

Here are some serving suggestions that would perfectly complement the rich and savory flavors of instant pot chicken a la king:

Biscuits: If you're looking for a more indulgent serving suggestion, sourdough biscuits would be the perfect addition to chicken a la king. The flaky, buttery biscuits would be perfect for sopping up the creamy sauce.
Rice: A simple serving of white rice would go perfectly with the creamy sauce of chicken a la king. The fluffy texture of the rice is a perfect match to the creamy goodness of the dish.
Bread: Serve your instant pot chicken a la king with some freshly baked bread or dinner rolls. The soft, warm bread would be perfect for soaking up all the delicious sauce. Or spoon it over toasted sandwich bread.
Pasta: Serve the chicken a la king over your favorite pasta - wide egg noodles is a good choice or you could use fettuccini, spaghetti, or penne pasta. The pasta provides a satisfying chewiness that could enhance the overall experience of the dish.

Serving instant pot chicken a la king with any of these delicious and complementary options would elevate the overall dining experience and make for a satisfying and filling meal.

Recipe FAQS

How long does it take to make Instant Pot Chicken a la King?

Chicken a la King made in the Instant pot cooks in about 35 minutes including 15 minutes for the appliance to come up to pressure. You will also need another 15 minutes to chop the vegetables. You can save time by prepping the vegetables the night before pressure cooking.

What are some serving suggestions for Instant Pot Chicken a la King?

Serve Instant Pot Chicken a la King over biscuits, noodles or rice. It can even be used as a chicken pot pie filling.

What other vegetables can I add to the recipe?

Mushrooms, pimentos, and diced bell pepper are vegetables that can be added to Instant Pot Chicken a la King.

📌Pro Cooking Tips

Chicken: cut the boneless skinless chicken into bite size pieces.
Prep the vegetables ahead of time to save time: Dice the onion, dice the carrots, slice the celery and mince the garlic. This can be done the night before to save time.
Mix the cornstarch and water in a small bowl until the corn starch has dissolved.
How long to come to pressure: It will only take 15 minutes to come to full pressure and pressure cook for 5 minutes.
corn starch thickener: cornstarch is the best thickener for sauces, soups and stews. It will not cause lumps or change the flavor. Stir before adding to the pot.

Homemade chicken a la king served over a buttermilk biscuit in a bowl.

Make It

End your meal time rush with a flavorsome dinner that can be made with minimal preparation.

A classic dish such as Instant Pot Chicken a la King is the perfect choice for those who want to serve a homecooked meal in no time.

Not only is this recipe incredibly delicious, but it is also easy enough to make that you can whip it up without much fuss or preparation.

As its name suggests, the Instant Pot does all the work for you and creates a meal worthy of royalty!

So why not give it a go? If you are looking for an effortless way to enjoy classic comfort food flavors with contemporary convenience, then this Instant Pot Chicken a la King recipe may just be what you need.

So don't wait any longer – try the recipe today!