• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Grass Fed Salsa

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Recipes
  • Wellness
    • Autoimmune Protocol
    • Beauty
    • Detox
    • Essential Oils
    • Nutrition
    • Wellness Entrepreneur
  • Programs
    • Courses & Ebooks
    • Student Log In
  • About
    • Work With Us
  • Contact
  • Business
    • Biz Building Tips
    • Podcast
    • Online Course
Home » Recipe » Instant Pot Sweet and Sour Chicken (Whole30 & AIP)

Instant Pot Sweet and Sour Chicken (Whole30 & AIP)

Published July 17, 2019. Last modified April 10, 2020 By Anne Marie 2 Comments

732 shares
Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe
White bowl of Sweet and Sour Chicken with cauliflower rice and a white linen napkin on a gray countertop

This Instant Pot Sweet and Sour Chicken is the perfect recipe to make for an easy weeknight meal. As a bonus, it's also a gluten free and Paleo version of one of my favorite takeout meals. If you feel the same way, look no further than this Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe. You can serve it with rice to refuel after a hard workout, or modify it slightly to make it keto.

White bowl of Instant Pot Sweet and Sour Chicken with cauliflower rice and a white linen napkin on a gray countertop

How to make Instant Pot Sweet and Sour Chicken:

If you haven’t hopped on the instant pot bandwagon yet, I can’t recommend it enough. It’s just as easy as a crockpot but requires even less planning. Throw in the ingredients when you get home from work, and while you shower and fold laundry it will cook itself.

Start with preparing your sauce so it’s ready to go onto your veggies. Then, while you chop your vegetables, put some oil in your Instant Pot and turn it onto “sauté” mode. Quickly sear the chicken, then add your veggies and sauce.

Next, turn your Instant Pot to steam mode and cook for five (just five!) minutes. After you let the steam out, add arrowroot starch and the remaining pineapple juice, and you’re done! 

Add garnishes like sesame seeds or cilantro, and serve over cauliflower, white rice, brown rice, or quinoa, depending on your dietary preferences.

White bowl of Sweet and Sour Chicken with cauliflower rice and a white linen napkin on a gray countertop

How to revise the recipe for Crockpot Sweet and Sour Chicken:

If you’re still a devoté of your crockpot, this will work for you too! Before you throw your ingredients into the crockpot, brown your chicken on each side in a pan. Don’t cook all the way through. Pour the sauce on top of the chicken, and cook on high for 3 hours or low for 5-6 hours. 

Next, add the bell peppers and onions to your crockpot and stir into the sauce. Add the pineapple chunks on top, close the lid and cook another 30 minutes until the peppers are soft.

White bowl of Sweet and Sour Chicken with cauliflower rice and a white linen napkin on a gray countertop

Is this Sweet and Sour Chicken healthy?

Yes! Unlike the traditional sugar and oil-filled version, this sweet and sour chicken won’t leave you bloated and lethargic. This is a perfect addition to your rotating menu of paleo, gluten free, and even autoimmune paleo go-to meals.

A hand pouring Sweet and Sour Sauce onto a bowl of Crockpot Sweet and Sour Chicken with cauliflower rice and a white linen napkin on a gray countertop

Can you reheat or freeze this dish?

Yes! I am a big fan of doubling or tripling recipes so that I can either eat leftovers throughout the week, or pop some containers in the freezer so you don’t turn to takeout when groceries start running low.

This paleo sweet and sour chicken is just as fast as ordering takeout, and will save you the tummy ache and bloat. Make it to eat right away, or batch cook and freeze it to have healthy meals on-hand throughout the week. If you’re looking to up the carbohydrates, serve it over rice, and if you’re looking to make it keto, simply make a few simple tweaks to fit it into your plan.

More recipes you'll love:

  • Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole (Whole30 and AIP)
  • Bacon Chicken Ranch Casserole (Whole30 and AIP)
  • Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos (Whole30 and AIP)
White bowl of Instant Pot Sweet and Sour Chicken with cauliflower rice and a white linen napkin on a gray countertop
Print Recipe
2.34 from 3 votes

Instant Pot Sweet and Sour Chicken

This Instant Pot Sweet and Sour Chicken is the perfect recipe to make for an easy weeknight meal. As a bonus, it's also a gluten free and Paleo version of one of my favorite takeout meals. If you feel the same way, look no further than this Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe. You can serve it with rice to refuel after a hard workout, or modify it slightly to make it keto.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time15 mins
Total Time25 mins
Course: Main Dish
Keyword: Crockpot Sweet and Sour Chicken, Instant Pot Sweet and Sour Chicken
Servings: 4 -6
Author: Anne Marie

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced into 1.5 inch-2 inch pieces (about 3 large chicken breasts)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 red pepper, seeds and stem removed and then chopped into 1inch-2 inch pieces (omit for AIP)
  • 1 can of no sugar added pineapple chunks with the juice drained and reserved, about ¾ cup pineapple and 2/3 cup juice
  • 1/3 cup raw, apple cider vinegar
  • 1/3 cup Whole30 compliant ketchup like Primal Kitchen, omit for AIP or use an AIP Ketchup
  • ¼ cup coconut aminos
  • 2 Tbsp Whole30 compliant fish sauce, like Red Boat
  • 1 Tbsp minced ginger
  • 4 cloves minced garlic
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 2 Tbsp arrowroot flour
  • Sliced green onions, optional
  • Toasted sesame seeds, optional, omit for AIP
  • Cauliflower rice, optional

Instructions

  • Start with preparing the ingredients for the sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together the sauce ingredients except the arrowroot and water.
  • Next, chop all the ingredients for the dish so they’re ready to add to the Instant Pot when it gets hot.
  • Press the "sauté" function on your instant pot. When the display on your Instant Pot says “hot” add the coconut oil. Let the coconut oil melt and coat the entire bottom of the pot.
  • Add chicken and cook about 1 minute on each side. Use tongs to turn the chicken. Your chicken doesn’t need to be fully cooked through, or even fully browned on each side. Doing so will cause your chicken to be overcooked. Instead, you’ll just want to sear it on both sides. 
  • While chicken sautés, whisk together vinegar, ketchup, 1/2 cup pineapple juice, coconut aminos, fish sauce, ginger, garlic, and sea salt.
  • After chicken is seared on both sides, and add the sauce, yellow onion, red pepper, and pineapple chunks. Close the lid, place the steam release on “sealing”, and set to manual, high pressure for 5 minutes.
  • After your Instant Pot beeps, use the quick release by turning steam release valve to “venting”. Once pressure is released, remove the lid.
  • Set the pot to "sauté" mode again. While it's coming to temp, whisk together the arrowroot starch with remaining pineapple juice in a small bowl. Add mixture to pot and stir to combine into the sauce. Cook about 2 minutes or until sauce thickens.
  • Press “cancel” on your Instant Pot, and use a ladle to portion out the chicken, vegetables, and sauce into your serving dish. Top with sesame seeds, green onions, cilantro, and a side of cauliflower rice.
Did you try this recipe?Tag me @GrassFedSalsa so I can send you some love!
White bowl of Sweet and Sour Chicken with cauliflower rice and a white linen napkin on a gray countertop

Anne is a certified Integrative Nutritional Health Coach and Interior Designer who is passionate about whole home and body detox, as well as personalized nutritional therapies tailored to the individual. She's the creator of several online programs and ebooks including Ditch Your Nutritionist, Autoimmune Accomplice, and Detox Your Life.

When she's not creating content for her wellness business and website Grass Fed Salsa, you can find her snuggled up to her daughter GG, her husband James, and their pups Cohen and Kiki.

Previous Post: « Mouth Taping: Improve your Sleep with this Cheap Hack!
Next Post: Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole (Whole30 & AIP) »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Juwie

    June 13, 2022 at 8:41 pm

    3 stars
    I tried this recipe right now, but it ended up looking like a stew or a soup. I think the instructions could be clearer so we can actually get the right result if we follow it.

    Reply
  2. Pseu Do

    January 13, 2022 at 4:23 pm

    Which ingredients are for the sauce?

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Yo, I’m Anne Marie.

I’m a Nutritional Health Coach showing you how to make detoxing your body, home, and diet simple and successful.

Learn More

Fall Favorites

These AIP Apple Pie Collagen Protein bars are low in sugar, high in protein, and taste like a candy bar!

Apple Pie Collagen Protein Bars (AIP, Paleo)

Get the recipe for this dairy free, AIP friendly Matcha Tea Latte.

Perfect Coconut Matcha Latte (AIP, Dairy Free)

A pie pan of gluten free and paleo cinnamon rolls covered in warm frosting.

Paleo Cinnamon Rolls (gluten free)

Paleo and AIP Cranberry Orange cookies! A healthier version of the classic holiday treat. These Cranberry Orange Cookies have a lightly sweet buttery taste with a fluffy inside and crunchy outside. Grain free, gluten free, AIP and paleo friendly! Simple to make in 30 minutes.

Cranberry Orange Cookies (AIP, Paleo)

AIP Salted Caramel Apple Parfaits

Ready to live less toxic & heal your autoimmunity?

Join over 15,000 others and get access to my free library of e-books, cookbooks, and resources for holistic wellness.

Reader Faves

Here's the complete yes/no AIP Diet foods list for the autoimmune paleo protocol, with a free printable food list you can download!

AIP Diet Food List (+ a free printable!)

Glass jar of Nomato Sauce on a marble background with a white towel, wooden spoon, and basil on the side.

Best Ever Nomato Sauce (AIP Nightshade Free Marinara)

wooden bowl holding an AIP breakfast of mashed cauliflower, sauteed mushrooms, bacon, and arugula.

Mashed Cauliflower Breakfast Bowls (Whole30, AIP)

Whole30 Ranch Dressing (AIP and Paleo)

a skillet of ground beef, bacon, dairy free cheese sauce, and avocado sprinkled with cilantro on a grey background

Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole (Whole30 & AIP)

Footer

  • Recipes
  • Wellness
  • Wellness Business Coaching
  • About
  • Contact
  • Programs
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Grass Fed Salsa

732 shares