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Home » Recipes » Instant Pot Date Night Low Carb Chicken with Roasted Red Pepper Cream Sauce

Instant Pot Date Night Low Carb Chicken with Roasted Red Pepper Cream Sauce

April 23, 2018 by Faith 6 Comments

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Instant Pot Date Night Low Carb Chicken with Roasted Red Pepper Cream Sauce features juicy dark meat in a rich creamy sauce; serve it over cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles to make it a full meal!

Instant Pot Date Night Low-Carb Creamy Roasted Red Bell Pepper Chicken on Wooden Table

Don’t save all your date nights at home for Valentine’s Day or a special occasion! Meals like this that are easy enough for weeknight cooking, but delicious enough to impress are the perfect way to surprise your sweetheart.

Instant Pot Cooking

If you’re not familiar with an Instant Pot, it’s an electric pressure cooker that has become wildly popular as of late! It makes a healthy and delicious homemade meal attainable with minimal effort even on the busiest of weeknights.

I held out on joining the Instant Pot craze for as long as I could. I thought I could make do with my slow cooker, and after I saw a stovetop pressure cooker mishap (where thankfully no one got hurt!), I swore off conventional stovetop pressure cookers altogether. But the Instant Pot is easy to cook with (the electric version is so much easier to use than the stovetop version), and bonus, instead of having to remember to get dinner started in the slow cooker before heading off to work in the morning, you can whip up any number of things after work in well under 30 minutes.

The only thing I don’t love about cooking skin-on chicken in the Instant Pot is that the skin doesn’t stay crisp, even if you sauté it first. Nobody I know likes soggy chicken skin, so there are a few ways I know of to deal with this issue: 1) take the skin off before cooking (which I don’t like to do because I find that the skin adds flavor to the dish as it cooks; 2) take the skin off after cooking (which is my preference because this way you don’t have to give up the flavor that the skin adds); or 3) broil the chicken under the broiler after cooking it in the Instant Pot (which I don’t usually do, just because it’s an additional step and the whole point of the Instant Pot is to simplify cooking). Like I mentioned, my preference is to just remove the skin after cooking.

Easy Chicken Dinners

It seems like everybody and their brother wants chicken dinner recipe ideas, lol! Scratch that, easy chicken dinner recipe ideas. It doesn’t get much easier than cooking in an Instant Pot, and this chicken dinner requires just five minutes of hands-on prep time before it gets pressure cooked. And as far as ingredients go, it’s mostly just fridge and pantry staples. I bet you already have almost everything on hand, and the roasted red pepper cream sauce makes turns it into something special!

How Is Dark Meat Chicken Different Than White Meat Chicken

Dark and white meat chicken look and taste different, and should be cooked a little differently too! Here’s why…

Why Dark and White Meat Chicken Look Different

White meat comes from chicken breasts and dark meat comes from chicken legs, thighs, and wings. The color of the meat is different because it’s a different kind of muscle; the muscle in chicken breast is fueled by glycogen, while the muscle in chicken legs and thighs is fueled by fat which is a more sustainable source of energy. (You can read more about the science behind the differences between white and dark meat chicken on The Kitchn.)

The Difference in Cooking White and Dark Meat Chicken

The difference between white and dark meat chicken affects the cooking method. (Note that the USDA recommends cooking chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165F. Check it in the innermost part of the thigh and wing, or the thickest part of the breast.) Chicken breasts usually cook faster than legs and thighs, which is only an issue when you’re cooking a whole bird. To prevent the white meat from drying out before the dark meat is fully cooked, there are different methods that can be used to keep the white meat moist. Some people roast a chicken breast-side down, or to help ensure even cooking throughout, spatchcock the bird (i.e., to butterfly it, cutting it along the back and cooking it flat). Another method is to line the breasts with bacon, which renders down as the bird roasts.

Since the breasts are low in fat, they do well with fast and hot cooking methods, like grilling or pan-searing. To help tenderize dark meat, it generally does better with roasting, braising, or other slow-cooking. I also like pressure cooking for dark meat because it does the job of slow cooking in much less time.

The Difference in Flavor Between White and Dark Meat Chicken

Dark meat has a stronger flavor than white meat, and it also tends to be juicer and more tender. Many people have a very clear taste preference for one type of meat over the other, but I like both white and dark meat.

Low-Carb Cooking and How to Keep This Meal Low-Carb

One of the things I love most about low-carb cooking is that it doesn’t sacrifice flavor. Many carbs are typically quite bland (think rice, pasta, etc.) and need to be doctored up with something (like butter on bread or sauce on pasta) to give them flavor. Low-carb cooking isn’t low-fat cooking, and as the saying goes “How do you spell flavor? F-A-T!” This cream cheese-based sauce is seasoned simply with garlic, roasted red pepper, and dried Italian herb seasoning, and yet it’s absolutely packed with flavor.

It’s fairly easy to keep this meal low-carb. Serve it with mashed cauliflower, cauliflower rice, or zucchini noodles to soak up that glorious roasted red pepper cream sauce.

Roasted Red Pepper Cream Sauce

Other than the Instant Pot, the real star of this dish is the roasted red pepper cream sauce! In addition to how delicious it is, the best part is that this sauce basically cooks itself. After the chicken cooks in the Instant Pot, I add cream cheese, roasted red bell pepper, and dried Italian herb seasoning to the liquid in the pot and whisk to combine. That’s all there is to it!

Other Chicken Dinner Ideas That Make Just a Couple Servings (For More Date Night at Home Dinner Inspiration!)

  • Creamy Rosemary and Red Grape Chicken Salad from An Edible Mosaic
  • Easy Moroccan Chicken from Show Me the Yummy
  • Skillet Chicken Parmesan from Wry Toast
  • Instant Pot Chicken Sausage Guinness Stew from An Edible Mosaic

Close Up of Instant Pot Date Night Low-Carb Creamy Roasted Red Bell Pepper Chicken

Instant Pot Date Night Low-Carb Creamy Roasted Red Bell Pepper Chicken on Wooden Table

Instant Pot Date Night Low Carb Chicken with Roasted Red Pepper Cream Sauce

Instant Pot Date Night Low Carb Chicken with Roasted Red Pepper Cream Sauce features juicy dark meat in a rich creamy sauce; serve it over cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles to make it a full meal!
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 2 people
Calories: 769kcal
Author: Faith Gorsky

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon clarified butter or avocado oil
  • 4 chicken thighs or 2 thighs and 2 drumsticks
  • 1/4 small yellow onion thinly sliced
  • 2 large cloves garlic crushed
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 4 oz cream cheese
  • 2 tablespoons roasted red bell pepper minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian herb seasoning
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Turn pressure cooker on, press “Sauté”, and wait 2 minutes for the pot to heat up. Add the ghee or oil and the chicken thighs (skin down), and cook until browned, about 2 minutes per side. Press “Cancel” to stop sautéing.
  • Add the onion, garlic, water, salt, and black pepper to the pot. Turn the pot on Manual, High Pressure for 15 minutes and then do a quick release.
  • Use thongs to transfer the pieces of chicken to a plate; let them cool slightly, and then remove the skin (unless you don’t mind soggy skin).
  • Press “Sauté”, and whisk in the cream cheese, roasted red bell pepper, and dried Italian herb mix. Continue whisking until the sauce is smooth and thickened slightly, about 4 to 5 minutes. Return the chicken back to the sauce.
  • Serve along with cauliflower mash, cauliflower rice, or something else to soak up the sauce.

Helpful Tips

Net Carbs: 6g per serving

Nutrition

Calories: 769kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 64g | Saturated Fat: 25g | Cholesterol: 303mg | Sodium: 853mg | Potassium: 583mg | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1015IU | Vitamin C: 8.8mg | Calcium: 93mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @anediblemosaic or tag #anediblemosaic!

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links to products I believe in, which means that even though it doesn’t cost you anything extra, I will receive a small amount of money from the sale of these items, which helps me keep this site alive – thank you for helping to support An Edible Mosaic!

Related

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged: Chicken, Dinner for Two, Electric Pressure Cooker Recipes, Instant Pot, Low-Carb, Pressure Cooking, Recipes, Roasted Red Pepper Cream Sauce

Comments

  1. Christina Kempf says

    December 10, 2018 at 11:36 am

    I would like to see the nutritional value of this recipe. How many carbs per serving, etc.

    Reply
    • Faith says

      December 15, 2018 at 8:09 pm

      Christina, Thanks so much for your comment! I just added nutritional information to the recipe.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Easy Keto Low-Carb Instant Pot Crack Chicken Recipe says:
    August 11, 2018 at 11:08 am

    […] Low Carb Roasted Red Bell Pepper Chicken – juicy dark meat in a rich creamy sauce. […]

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  2. Keto Meal Prep Made Easy - The Keto Queens says:
    December 21, 2018 at 5:01 am

    […] Chicken with Roasted Red Pepper Cream Sauce […]

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  3. INSTANT POT ACCESSORIES - THE MUST HAVES! - The Keto Queens says:
    January 4, 2019 at 9:20 am

    […] Today I’m going to be sharing with you my favorite Instant Pot Accessories! Let’s talk about Instant Pot’s first. I have 2. I have the Instant Pot DUO 6 Qt 7-in-1 that has the yogurt function (which I never use LOL). I typically just cook everything on manual or the slow cooker function. This size is great for making sides like riced cauliflower, broccoli mash, and date night dinners. […]

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  4. Keto Chicken Meal Prep - The Keto Queens says:
    February 15, 2019 at 4:01 am

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Hello! I’m Faith and I write An Edible Mosaic. This is my recipe collection of international favorites and updated American classics, with an emphasis on seasonal dishes. I focus on real foods that sustain body and mind, bring people together, and make a house a home. Welcome to my mosaic of recipes.

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I’m Faith Gorsky, the writer, cook, and photographer behind An Edible Mosaic. My goal is to inspire you to get in the kitchen and try something new! Feel free to email me with questions or comments.

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❄️Buffalo-born + raised
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🍴Food✈️Travel📝Musings
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Instagram post 2195848590159668337_193133428 When my ex-husband and I were first married there was a time when we had literally no money. We were living in Amman, Jordan at the time. We had a single can of tuna to eat and not even a can opener to open it. I was a baby, still in law school, and he was also a student. I remember being so ridiculously happy though, laughing as he used a knife to pry the can of tuna open. (And that was the best can of tuna I've ever tasted, lol!) We ended up going to stay with his family in Damascus, Syria. . One of the memories that sticks out to me most from my time in Damascus is a taxi ride home. We had been at the market all afternoon and it was rush hour. Taxis were full and it was a very long walk home. . Finally we were able to hail a taxi, and the driver asked if it was ok that his daughter was asleep in the backseat. My ex took the front seat and I got in the back. The little girl, about 2 years old, lifted her blonde curly head inquisitively, looked at me with big blue eyes, smiled sleepily, and nestled her head into my lap. . On the way home they chatted in the front seat (in Arabic, so I only picked up bits and pieces of the conversation), and it was only later that Mike told me the taxi driver had several kids and was having trouble making ends meet. . The driver refused to take money for the ride home, saying I was a guest in their country. And not only that, but he invited us to his home for lunch (lunch in the Middle East means a spread of no less than 10 homemade dishes; it's an ordeal, and it's how you show respect and honor to a guest). That level of hospitality is so unprecedented and unwarranted, and completely humbling to me. . Two things I learned from that: 1) happiness is a choice that has absolutely nothing to do with circumstances and 2) you don't need to have extra to share with someone else. I'm convinced that in the end, #kindness is the only thing that means anything. ❤️ . Slide 1) Mini Pistachio Rose Layer Cake with Honeyed Buttercream that I made for a project I made as a dedication to Syria (search "to syria with love" on An Edible Mosaic for details). Slide 2) A street in Yarmouk, a Palestinian refugee camp outside Damascus.
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