Instant Pot Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken Thighs. Something about the smell of fresh lemongrass that is instantly relaxing. This tasty recipe uses the powerful flavor of lemongrass along with the convenient powers of the Instant Pot to craft a chicken that is worth chilling out for!
What is Instant Pot Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken Thighs?
Lemongrass is a common aromatic herb used in Vietnamese food. It has citrusy notes that read almost ginger-like. Its flavor is drawn out by crushing the herb and adding it to soups, marinades, and more. Lemongrass works very well with the light and lean flavors of chicken to make an irresistible Vietnamese-inspired dish!
My take on this dish adds a few delicious twists. My delicious Lemongrass Chicken is marinated overnight to give you full lemongrass flavor. I use an Instant Pot Air Fryer to achieve a nice crispy yet juicy chicken. The result is the best (and the easiest) Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken you have ever tasted!
What You Will Love About Instant Pot Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken Thighs
- Loveable Lemongrass –Lemongrass is a truly amazing plant! Its stalks almost resemble green onions, but the flavor is nothing like it! This flavorful grass has super aromatic powers, wonderful citrus flavor, and antibacterial properties. This herb is commonly used in aromatherapy because its smell causes relaxation. That is why you should make this chicken mid-week when your stress is high. Let the smooth lemongrass flavor calm you down and satisfy your hunger!
- Sensationally Simple- This tasty recipe uses a short list of ingredients with very little prep work. It features easy-to-find elements and options for different equipment. I love a recipe that ANYONE can make, and this is one of those recipes!
- Amazing Options-My Instant Pot Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken Thighs were designed to be made in the Instant Pot Air Fryer, but that shouldn’t panic anyone! If you don’t have one, don’t worry! There are instructions on how to make this on the stove and grill, as well!
Ingredients for Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken Thighs
- Chicken Thighs-The lead in this show is the chicken. I love working with chicken thighs because they are inexpensive and full of flavor. For this recipe, the thigh should be deboned, but leave the skin on.
- Soy Sauce-Soy sauce is a powerhouse of salty flavor and no great marinade is complete without a little of this ingredient. If sodium is a concern of yours you can swap this ingredient for a lower-sodium option. Another great substitution for sodium-conscious soy sauce lovers is Coconut Liquid Aminos.
- Oyster Sauce-For the chicken marinade, you will need oyster sauce. It is a delectable condiment that adds tons of flavor to dishes and is commonly used in many Asian cuisines. Its flavor is full of umami notes, sweetness, saltiness, and fishiness. If you don’t have this ingredient on hand, try swapping it with fish sauce. They are not as close in flavor as their names might lead one to believe, but the fish sauce has a little briny bite that will work in a pinch.
- Dark Brown Sugar-My go-to choice for sweetening marinades for meat is dark brown sugar. It has more depth than other sweeteners and adds a caramel-like flavor to this marinade. If you don’t have dark brown sugar, substitute it with light brown sugar.
- Red Onion-Red onions are actually purple, which is just the pop of vibrant color this dish needs! The flavor of red onions when uncooked is less strong than white or yellow, but when cooked red onions bloom into a wonderfully sweet and aromatic variety of onions. They will infuse the chicken with onion flavor in the marinade and then cook in the final process to add sweet onion flavor to the scrumptious chicken thighs.
- Lemongrass-Lemongrass is the highlight of this recipe. Its wonderful citrus-like flavors work so well with the light meat of chicken. While the stalks of lemongrass have a pretty strong flavor they have to be broken or cut to truly enhance a recipe. Get ready for your chicken to smell amazing as you slice up this fun herb!
- Lemongrass Powder (Optional)-Another way to infuse some big lemongrass flavor into this chicken is to add lemongrass powder. This ingredient can be found in specialty grocery stores and online. It brings even more lemongrass flavor to the chicken, so if you think your chicken needs an extra citrus boost, go for this add-in!
- Lemongrass Oil (Optional)-Just like the lemongrass powder this oil is meant to enhance the fresh lemongrass flavor that is already in this recipe. It is a powerful ingredient so if you love lemongrass add this oil in and if you only like it, skip this one.
Step-by-Step Instructions
There are three excellent methods for making this chicken: Instant Pot Air Fryer, stovetop, or grill. The first steps are the same for both, after that, find your cooking method and pick the process up there! No matter which method you are using start here:
- Debone the chicken thighs. Flatten the thigh so that it will be one-fourth inch thick and place it in a large bowl. Add in all of the ingredients making sure that the chicken thighs are well coated.
- Cover and marinate overnight.
How to Cook in the Instant Pot
- Place the inner pot in the Instant Pot Base. Place the air fryer basket and spray with nonstick oil. Put two chicken thighs and cover them with the air fryer lid. Set the temperature to 390 F and set the timer to 15 minutes. Turn the chicken as required. Slice into bite-sized pieces.
How to Cook Stove Top
- Add in a small amount of cooking oil and fry the chicken thigh until cooked through.
How to Cook on the Grill
- Turn on the grill to low temperature and grill the chicken thigh until cooked through.
Expert Tips and Tricks
- Lemongrass powder and oil are optional but they add so much bright lemongrass flavor. If you have access to these add-ins they can really bring a pop to this chicken.
- Be sure you have the Air Fryer attachment for the Instant Pot before cooking, if not adjust to a different cooking method.
What to Serve with Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken Thighs?
- These chicken thighs are so flavorful and well-rounded that all they really need is a simple side. I like to serve this with rice or a fresh green salad to enhance the lemongrass’ natural brightness!
Can I Store Leftover Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken Thighs
- Absolutely! Any leftovers of this chicken should be allowed to fully cool and then moved to an air-tight container. Seal and store in the refrigerator for up to four days.
How to Reheat Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken Thighs
There are two methods for reheating this chicken: microwave and oven.
Microwave
Place the desired amount of chicken on a microwave-safe plate or bowl. Microwave for about 1-2 minutes checking every 30-seconds to ensure everything is cooking evenly and not overheating.
Oven
Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray a baking sheet with non-stick spray. Arrange the desired amount of chicken on the tray and bake for up to 15 minutes or until warm throughout.
Is Lemongrass Healthy?
- This is an herb with a lot to offer. Lemongrass has both antibacterial and antifungal properties. It also has lots of iron and vitamin C. All of those factors add up to a pretty beneficial herb. Try this tasty chicken to see for yourself how wonderful lemongrass can make you feel!
More Recipes You’ll Love
Learning new recipes is so rewarding because, in the end, you have something delicious! Keep on learning with these great side dishes and dessert ideas to serve with this tasty chicken!
Instant Pot Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken Thighs
Equipment
- 1 Instant Pot Duo Crisp Plus Air fryer lid 5 quart
- Large bowl
Ingredients
- 5 pieces chicken thigh skin on, debone
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/2 cup oyster sauce
- 1/8 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/4 cup red onion chopped
- 1 stem lemongrass chopped
- 1/2 tsp lemongrass powder optional
- 1/4 tsp lemongrass oil optional
Instructions
- Debone the chicken thighs. Flatten the thigh so that it will be one-fourth inch thick and place it in a large bowl. Add in all of the ingredients making sure that the chicken thighs are well coated. Cover and marinate overnight.
How to Cook in the Instant Pot
- Place the inner pot in the Instant Pot Base. Place the air fryer basket and spray with nonstick oil. Put two chicken thighs and cover them with the air fryer lid. Set the temperature to 390 F and set the timer to 15 minutes. Turn the chicken as required. Slice into bite-sized pieces.
How to Cook Stove Top
- Add in a small amount of cooking oil and fry the chicken thigh until cooked through.
Cook lemongrass chicken thigh in the grill
- Turn on the grill to low temperature and grill the chicken thigh until cooked through.
Welcome!
Hi, my name is Shobee. Welcome to The Skinny Pot, where we cook Easy Recipes from the available ingredients from our pantry and fridge! We’re your go-to source for simple and delicious recipes that make the most of what you already have at home. Talk about the pantry challenge. Read more...
Shobelyn Dayrit says
Yes.
Anna says
Can you use yellow onion if you don’t have red onion?