Instant Pot Golfer’s Chicken–an easy 5-ingredient, dump and go chicken recipe with a sweet and savory sauce.

Instant Pot Golfer’s Chicken
Golfer’s chicken is one of those recipes that started out as a crockpot recipe that took about 4-5 hours to cook…which is roughly about how long a round of golf takes. Golfer’s can pop this in the crockpot, go play a round of golf and have dinner ready when they get back. My version is for mini golfers haha! You can speed up the recipe with your Instant Pot (you can still make it in the crockpot if you’d like though!).
Instant Pot golfer’s chicken has a unique sauce that you’re going to love. It sounds weird but it’s good, believe me. It’s a mixture of french salad dressing, apricot preserves and onion soup mix. It’s slightly sweet (not overly sweet) and savory.
I love how you can cook this recipe 3 different ways! If you’d like directions on how to make this in your Crockpot or oven keep reading…
Ingredients/Substitution Ideas
- Brown rice–or see notes section for how to use white rice
- Water–or chicken broth
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs—frozen chicken breasts.
- French dressing–or Catalina dressing or Dorothy Lynch dressing
- Apricot preserves
- Onion soup mix–or make your own from scratch
Steps
Add water into Instant Pot. Sprinkle in the brown rice.

Place chicken thighs on top.

In a small bowl whisk together the French dressing, apricot preserves and onion soup mix. Spoon the mixture on top of the chicken.

Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 22 minutes. When time is up let pot sit for 10 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.

Stir and serve.

Notes/Tips
- Can I make this recipe without rice? Yes you can. Add ½ cup of chicken broth into Instant Pot. Place chicken into the pot. Spoon sauce over the top of the chicken. Pressure cook for 12 minutes. When time is up let pot sit for 10 minutes and then move valve to venting. Thicken sauce with a cornstarch slurry, if desired.
- You can also make this with white rice and chicken tenderloins or chicken cut into chunks (about 1 ½ pounds). Pressure cook for 3 minutes with a 5-10 minute natural pressure release.
- Serve with a side of vegetables like broccoli, asparagus, salad, etc.
- This recipe can be gluten-free if you use gluten free dressing and onion soup mix.
- 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 apricot preserves are Instant Pot Apricot Chicken and Instant Pot 3-Ingredient Meatballs.
How to make Golfer’s Chicken in the Slow Cooker
The chicken part of this recipe turns out well in the slow cooker. Here’s how to make it:
- Combine dressing, apricot preserves and onion soup mix in a bowl and whisk well.
- Add chicken into a slow cooker and pour the sauce over the top.
- Cover slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
- Serve chicken and sauce over rice, quinoa or couscous.
How to make Golfer’s Chicken in the Oven
The chicken part of this recipe turns out well in the oven. Here’s how to make it.
- Combine dressing, apricot preserves and onion soup mix in a bowl and whisk well.
- Add chicken into a casserole dish and pour the sauce over the top. Cover the dish with foil.
- Bake at 225 degrees for 4-5 hours.
- Serve chicken and sauce over rice, quinoa or couscous.

More Instant Pot Rice and Chicken Recipes…
Instant Pot “Everything” Chicken Casserole
An easy dump and go chicken and rice dish flavored with “everything bagel” seasoning.
Instant Pot Melissa’s Casserole
An easy chicken, rice, broccoli and cheese casserole that’s made in one pot, the Instant Pot.
Instant Pot Harvest Chicken Casserole
A one pot meal with chicken, wild rice, sweet potatoes, brussels sprouts, craisins and almonds. It’s healthy and delicious!
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.


Instant Pot Golfer’s Chicken
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes (plus 10 minute NPR)
- Total Time: 37 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cup brown rice
- 1 1/2 cups water or chicken broth
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (frozen or fresh)
- 1/2 cup French or Catalina dressing
- 1/4 cup apricot preserves
- 1 (1 oz) packet onion soup mix
Instructions
- Add water into Instant Pot. Sprinkle in the brown rice. Place chicken thighs on top.
- In a small bowl whisk together the French dressing, apricot preserves and onion soup mix. Spoon the mixture on top of the chicken.
- Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 22 minutes. When time is up let pot sit for 10 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
- Stir and serve.
Notes
You can also make this with white rice and chicken tenderloins or chicken cut into chunks (about 1 ½ pounds). Pressure cook for 3 minutes with a 5-10 minute natural pressure release.
- 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.
Love the chicken, but the brown rice found the garbage, tried it with 2 different brands of brown rice. Maybe I just don’t like brown rice. Hard,seemed way undercooked.
hmmm, interesting! Maybe add more liquid next time and cook for longer like 28 minutes with a 10 minute natural pressure release.
Question: Does the cooking time change for using thawed out chicken?
Nope! Same cooking time because the rice needs the 22 minutes.