Beggar’s Chicken–tender chicken, braised in a rich, spiced soy sauce broth. Make it in your Instant Pot or Crockpot.
Beggar’s Chicken
Real beggar’s chicken is a traditional Chinese dish that involves a whole chicken stuffed, marinated, and wrapped in lotus leaves, then encased in clay or dough and baked. The name “Beggar’s Chicken” originates from the story of a beggar who stole a chicken and, lacking other resources, buried it in mud and roasted it. Of course, I will not be going to those great lengths to make beggar’s chicken! Haha! I like to do things the easy way. So I took some of the seasonings and spices from the real recipe and some chicken thighs and made tender delicious chicken in the Instant Pot (can also make it in the Crockpot). It turned out to be super yummy, tender chicken.
Ingredients/Substitution Ideas
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs–thighs stay moist and tender, you can also use chicken tenderloins
- Olive oil
- Garlic cloves
- Dried coriander
- White pepper–or black pepper
- Kosher salt
- Anise seed–I bought in bulk section at Winco
- Cinnamon
- Sugar
- Low sodium soy sauce
- Water
- Cornstarch
Steps
Add chicken into Instant Pot. Add in the oil, garlic, coriander, pepper, salt, anise seed, cinnamon and sugar. Stir to coat chicken in seasonings.
Add in the soy sauce and water.
To make pot-in-pot rice: Place a tall trivet into the pot. Add an oven safe dish on top of the trivet. Add 1 ½ cups water and 1 cup white rice into the dish. The rice will cook as the chicken cooks.
Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 3 minutes. When time is up let pot sit for 5-10 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
In a small bowl stir cornstarch together with 2 Tbsp of cold water until smooth. Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. Stir the slurry into the pot to thicken the sauce.
Turn off Instant Pot. Serve chicken and sauce over rice.
Notes/Tips
- Serve with steamed or roasted broccoli or asparagus. If you want to keep this lower carb then serve over the top of cauliflower rice instead of regular rice.
- This recipe can be gluten free if your soy sauce is gluten free.
- This recipe is dairy free.
- I used my 6 quart Instant Pot*. You can also make this in a 3 or 8 quart pot.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container* in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Other recipes you can make with soy sauce are Instant Pot Fried Chicken Rice and Korean Beef Tacos.
More Instant Pot Chicken Recipes…
Boursin Chicken
Tender chicken with a deliciously creamy and cheesy herb sauce!
College Dorm Chicken
Instant Pot or Crockpot chicken with just 3 main ingredients! An easy recipe that is perfect for those who don’t want to take lots of time or effort to create dinner.
It Ain’t Happening Casserole
An easy chicken, bacon, ranch, potato and cheddar casserole made fast in your Instant Pot.
Richard’s Chicken
Easy Instant Pot or slow cooker chicken with mushrooms in a savory, flavorful sauce. Tastes great over mashed potatoes or rice.
Okey Dokey Chicken
Instant Pot chicken and artichokes in an addictive, creamy parmesan sauce.
Did you know you can filter the recipes on my website to search by meat type, IP or Crockpot, low carb, gluten free, etc.? Use the filter to find exactly what you are looking for.
Beggar’s Chicken
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes (plus 5 minute NPR)
- Total Time: 18 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
Description
Tender chicken, braised in a rich, spiced soy sauce broth. Make it in your Instant Pot or Crockpot.
Ingredients
- 26 ounces boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite size pieces
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 8 small garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 tsp dried coriander
- 1/4 tsp white pepper
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp anise seed
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp sugar
- 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 1/2 Tbsp cornstarch
Instructions
Instant Pot Instructions:
- Add chicken into Instant Pot. Add in the oil, garlic, coriander, pepper, salt, anise seed, cinnamon and sugar. Stir to coat chicken in seasonings.
- Add in the soy sauce and water.
- Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 3 minutes. When time is up let pot sit for 5-10 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
- In a small bowl stir cornstarch together with 2 Tbsp of cold water until smooth. Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. Stir the slurry into the pot to thicken the sauce.
- Turn off Instant Pot. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve chicken and sauce over rice.
Slow Cooker Instructions:
- Add chicken into slow cooker. Add in the oil, garlic, coriander, pepper, salt, anise seed, cinnamon and sugar. Stir to coat chicken in seasonings.
- Add in the soy sauce and water.
- Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours.
- In a small bowl stir cornstarch together with 2 Tbsp of cold water until smooth. Turn slow cooker to HIGH. Stir the slurry into the slow cooker and cook on high without the lid for 10 mintues to thicken the sauce.
- Salt and pepper to taste. Serve chicken and sauce over rice.
Notes
To make pot-in-pot rice: Place a tall trivet into the pot. Add an oven safe dish on top of the trivet. Add 1 ½ cups water and 1 cup white rice into the dish. The rice will cook as the chicken cooks.
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Instant Pot
*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
I don’t happen to have any anise seed on hand but I’m thinking I can substitute five-spice powder for the anise and cinnamon since it has both in it. What do you think?
Yes that should work…
is this recipe calling for coriander as in the seed , or cilantro , which is the leaf of same plant. iIn different places it can be named differently.
It was ground coriander in a spice container
Karen,
In the Beggar’s Chicken recipe, it only calls for 1/4 cup water in the bottom with the chicken part.. My 8 qt Instant Pot needs 2 cups water for pressure. Is that 2 cups for pressure PLUS 1/4 cup water for recipe? Need advice, please.
Thank you,
Joyce
Hi Joyce, because there is 1/4 cup water and 1/4 cup soy sauce that is a half cup liquid. Then the chicken puts off liquid too which helps the pot come to pressure. It worked for me! You may want to add a little extra liquid for the 8 quart pot
I loved it. Thanks for the recipe. 5 stars
So glad you enjoyed it Cindy!
KathyRose, my family likes Chinese food and I’m wondering if you do not. That might be the reason you were not fond of yhis recipe.
i have tried a lot of your rec recipes but I am sorry to say this is my least favorite