Cayenne & Rosemary Chicken - Instant Pot Chicken Legs Recipe
A fragrant and flavor-packed Instant Pot chicken legs recipe to whip up for a quick, no-fuss dinner worthy of a 5-star rating.
Creating healthy, wholesome meals for the entire family can be a task sometimes, and if you can relate, here’s just the recipe for you.
No matter how much time you have left in your day to cook, you have enough time for this recipe using an electric pressure cooker.
Fresh chicken is often affordable and a budget-friendly way to make sure you have an easy recipe on hand to make dinner in a short amount of time.
Great things come in small packages. Or large, if we're talking about a budget-sized package of chicken. Depending on how many people you are serving, you can at least double this recipe. However, we normally try to make sure the chicken is in a single layer, but with pressure cooking that isn't really necessary.
Using your Instant Pot, you can recreate this delicious Instant Pot Chicken legs recipe that everyone will love and gobble down happily.
It uses simple ingredients, and an easy cooking process, and is literally one of the easiest home-cooked meals you can try your hands at. Best of all, you just need a handful of supplies that you probably already have in your pantry- so no trips to the supermarket are needed.
Other Seasoning Options
No matter what seasonings you decide on, the best flavor comes when you keep the chicken skin on. If you remove the skin, that's fine too, but keep in mind you'll lose some flavor.
- Dry rub with cayenne pepper and onion powder
- Black pepper and salt- the classics
- Barbecue sauce- the only chore is settling on a favorite bbq sauce with the whole family
- Buffalo sauce
- Soy sauce- this is great to add salt and results in nicely tender meat
- Olive oil, garlic powder, salt and pepper
- Brown sugar
Can I Use Frozen Chicken Legs?
Now, that would make this a super easy Instant Pot chicken drumsticks recipe if you could cook this recipe right from frozen.
And while we do cook chicken from frozen from time to time, this isn't a recipe where we recommend doing so. Although you certainly could if you wanted the absolute easiest way to cook chicken and you don't have time to thaw the chicken out.
Can I Use Boneless Chicken Thighs Instead?
Go for it! The good news with this tender chicken drumsticks recipe is that you can totally switch out the chicken for other cuts. Breasts, wings, thighs... you name it. Instant Pot chicken thighs are a super tasty way to use this recipe because you get the extra flavor that is packed into dark meat. You can also use a whole chicken.
What To Serve With Chicken Legs?
After a busy day, you don't want to worry about what to make for dinner or even what to serve with the main dish. Here are a few great recipes to make cook time your time and take off any remaining pressure you have about making dinner.
So, relax about the sleep you didn't get last night, take a deep breath and be prepared to serve up one of the most fantastic chicken drumstick recipes around.
- white rice- swap out the water for the same number cups of chicken broth for added flavor
- brown rice- keep in mind the cooking time is longer than white rice, but this healthy dish is well worth the wait
- Instant Pot carrots - you simply must try these insanely tasty carrots
- a cup of clam chowder as a starter
- air fryer mozzarella sticks
Table of contents
Creating healthy, wholesome meals for the entire family can be a task sometimes, and if you can relate, here’s just the recipe for you.
Using your Instant Pot, you can recreate this delicious Instant Pot Chicken legs recipe that everyone will love and gobble down happily.
It uses simple ingredients, an easy cooking process, and is literally one of the easiest home-cooked meals you can try your hands at.
Best of all, you just need a handful of supplies that you probably already have in your pantry- so no trips to the supermarket are needed!
Can I Try Other Marinades?
Whether you’re missing out on an ingredient or two that makes up these wonderful chicken legs, or just have a spice mix or idea that you want to try out, you can actually go ahead and experiment your heart out with the marinades.
In fact, you can also create this in small batches, each with different marinades and stored in different individual Ziploc bags, and pop them in the freezer to be used the next time. Easy peasy!
Just remember to let it marinade for at least a couple of hours in the refrigerator, if not more. That way, all the delicious flavors of the spices really sink into the meat, and it gives the chicken a more intense taste.
Essential Instant Pot Supplies
- Instant Pot Inner Pot - I like to have an extra inner pot available because of how much cooking I do in my Instant Pot. It comes in really handy when I want to put a lid on the inner pot and refrigerate the leftovers, or mix up ingredients the night before to save time at the end of the day.
- Silicone Lid for Instant Pot- I'm not sure how I lived without this one. Having a silicone lid for my Instant Pot has made life so much easier. It is perfect for adding ingredients a day or two ahead of time.
- 101 Instant Pot Recipes for Beginners- If you are new to pressure cooking, this is a great ebook to get you started with basic recipes you will use over and over again.
How Do I Make it Healthier?
On a healthy eating spree? Looking for some good ways to take this already healthy and protein-packed meal up a notch?
Depending on what you’re serving these chicken legs with, you can have some roasted veggies on the side- think onions, zucchini, bell peppers, baby corn etc.
You can also prepare a quick coleslaw or a simple salad with Ranch dressing to contrast the flavors of the chicken- it can make the entire meal taste absolutely phenomenal and is also super healthy.
You can also serve some sliced hard-boiled eggs on the side if you’re hunting for a way to make this meal, even more, protein-rich.
New to cooking with a pressure cooker? Try out the Be the Boss of Your Instant Pot Video Course! It'll help take the pressure off and ease you into cooking with your Instant Pot.
Serving Suggestions
Chicken, being super versatile that it is, can be teamed up with pretty much anything. You can pair this chicken with a bowlful of steamed rice, pasta, or even roasted potatoes- they taste incredible with them all.
Another excellent idea is to recreate the same recipe with rotisserie chicken- only use the other ingredients as a sort of rub or seasoning over it, and then shred it and mix it into your simple pasta to take the flavors up a notch.
If you have a little time, you can also toss the cooked rice with some chopped cilantro leaves, a little melted butter, and a nice squeeze of lemon juice.
Of course, if needed, there are tons of ways to use up leftover chicken too.
More Instant Pot Chicken Recipes to Try
- Instant Pot Chicken Breast Recipe
- Instant Pot Chicken Wings with Sticky Sauce
- Instant Pot Hawaiian Chicken Recipe
- Instant Pot Butter Chicken
- Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken Recipe
- Instant Pot Chicken Enchilada Casserole with Rice
- Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Leek Soup
- more Chicken recipes
Recipe
Instant Pot Cayenne & Rosemary Chicken
Instant Pot Cayenne and Rosemary Chicken Legs are full of flavor and an easy recipe to pair with rice, pasta or potatoes.
Ingredients
Supplies used to make the best Cayenne & Rosemay Chicken
- Instant Pot DUO
- Mixing Bowls
- Cutting Board
- Kitchen Knife
- Wooden Spoon
- Spoon Rest
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Silicone Lid
- Tempered Glass Lid
- Garlic Press
Ingredients for an easy Cayenne & Rosemay Chicken recipe
Instructions
1. In a small bowl, mix together the cayenne pepper, salt, honey, olive oil and crushed garlic.
2. Wash the chicken and make small cuts in the surface of the pieces.
3. Marinade the chicken in a large Ziploc bag with the marinade mix and seal tightly. Let sit in the fridge for two hours or just until all of the other ingredients are ready to go.
4. Cut the onion into long thin strips and cut the lemon into thin slices as well.
5. Set your instant pot to sauté mode and add half of the butter to the pot.
6. Remove the chicken from the fridge and take the pieces out of the bag, leaving the marinade in the bag for later.
7. Fry the chicken on each side for two to three minutes or until the chicken skin crisps up and turns a light golden or dark brown color.
8. Remove the chicken from the instant pot and set aside.
9. Add the remaining butter and the onions to the instant pot and sauté for one to two minutes, until the onions become tender and translucent.
10. Turn the instant pot off and let sit for a minute before turning it back on.
11. Add the chicken to the pot on top of the onions and pour the rest of marinade over the chicken.
12. Add the rosemary sprigs and lemon slices.
13. Cover the instant pot with the lid and set it to manual mode with seven minutes cook time and let cook.
14. Release the pressure and remove the lid. Set to sauté mode again until the juices from the marinade and chicken have thickened.
15. Turn the instant pot off and let the chicken cool a bit before serving to allow the honey to thicken up. Serve with white rice or butter pasta!
Recommended Products
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Instant Pot Duo Crisp 11 in 1, Electric Pressure Cooker with Air Fryer, Roast, Bake, Dehydrate, Slow Cook, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Saute, 8 Quart, 14 One-Touch Programs -
Mixing Bowls with Airtight Lids, 6 Piece Stainless Steel Metal Bowls by Umite Chef, Measurement Marks & Colorful Non-Slip Bottoms Size 7, 3.5, 2.5, 2.0,1.5, 1QT, Great for Mixing & Serving -
Large Organic Bamboo Cutting Board For Kitchen, With 3 Built-In Compartments And Juice Grooves, Heavy Duty Chopping Board For Meats Bread Fruits, Butcher Block, Carving Board, BPA Free… -
enowo Chef Knife Ultra Sharp Kitchen Knife Set 3 PCS,Premium German Stainless Steel Knife with Finger Guard Clad Dimple,Ergonomic Handle and Gift Box -
Wooden Spoons for Cooking,Nonstick Kitchen Utensil Set,Wooden Spoons Cooking Utensil Set Non Scratch Natural Teak Wooden Utensils for Cooking(Teak 8 Pack) -
Modern Silicone Spoon Rests (Set of 3) | Kitchen Utensil Holders | Quality Material | BPA Free | Counter Spatula Holder | Stovetop Spoon Rest -
Simply Gourmet Measuring Cups and Spoons Set - Stainless Steel Measuring Cups Set for Cooking & Baking, Set of 15. -
Instant Pot Silicone Lid, 8 quart, White -
Instant Pot Tempered Glass Lid, 10" Stainless Steel (8 Qt/ 8L model) -
ZYLISS Susi 3 Garlic Press "No Need To Peel" - Built in Cleaner - Crusher, Mincer and Peeler, Cast Aluminum
Nutrition Information
Yield
8Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 781Total Fat 52gSaturated Fat 22gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 25gCholesterol 389mgSodium 705mgCarbohydrates 14gFiber 1gSugar 5gProtein 63g
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