Instant Pot Garlic Chicken Legs
This post may contain paid links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.
Are you looking for an easy chicken drumstick electric pressure cooker recipe? Let us show you how quick it is to throw our Instant Pot Garlic Chicken Legs together. This buttery garlic main dish is low in carbs and has everyone asking for seconds.
Note: We use referral links to products we love.
How to Make Garlic Chicken Legs in an Electric Pressure Cooker
Cris here.
Does your family insist on dinner every night like mine does? ๐ I don’t know about you, but after a long day I sometimes just need a simple recipe that I can count on to turn out great every time.
So the other day when I totally forgot to put on our Crock Pot Garlic Chicken Thighs in time for supper, I decided to give it a try in my instant pot. Then I realized I was out of thighs and had chicken drumsticks instead. And that is how Instant Pot Garlic Chicken Legs were born.
Since that day we have made this as a quick low carb dinner several times and everyone always loves it. This is also one of those recipes that my family actually eats the leftovers, so it has become a regular on our menu.
Notes on Instant Pot Garlic Chicken Legs
- This is an adaptation of our Crock Pot Garlic Chicken Thighs.
- We have tested this recipe in both our Instant Pot and Ninja Foodi, but you can use any 6 quart electric pressure cooker.
- If you are using a larger electric pressure cooker, you may need to add additional liquid to reach pressure.
- Looking for more recipes? Ourย Recipe Finderย can help you find exactly what you need.
- Check out all our favorite recommendations for cookbooks, slow cookers and low carb essentials in ourย Amazon Influencer Shop.
- As with any of our recipes, carb counts, calorie counts andย nutritionalย information varies greatly. As a result, yourย nutritionalย content depends on which products you choose to use when cooking this dish.ย The auto-calculation is just an automated estimate and should NOT be used for specific dietary needs.
- Finally, allย electricย pressureย cookersย cookย differently, soย cookingย times are always a basic guideline. Recipes shouldย always be tested first in your ownย electricย pressureย cookerย and time adjusted as needed.
Instant Pot Garlic Chicken Legs Recipe
Instant Pot Garlic Chicken Legs
Ingredients
- 4 lbs chicken drumsticks
- 1 cup butter melted
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon parsley flakes
- 1 teaspoon dried cilantro leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
Instructions
- Place chicken legs into the bottom of a 6 quart electric pressure cooker.
- Whisk together your melted butter and spices and immediately pour evenly over your chicken.
- Cook under high pressure for 20 minutes and naturally release for 15 minutes after cooking.
- If you would like to brown up your chicken, place the thighs on a cookie sheet with a large, wide, slotted spoon and place in your oven on broil (Hi if you have the option of Hi/Lo) for 60-90 seconds, watching it closely.
Video
Notes
- This is an adaptation of our Crock Pot Garlic Chicken Thighs.
- We have tested this recipe in both our Instant Pot and Ninja Foodi, but you can use any 6 quart electric pressure cooker.
- If you are using a larger electric pressure cooker, you may need to add additional liquid to reach pressure.
- Looking for more recipes? Ourย Recipe Finderย can help you find exactly what you need.
- Check out all our favorite recommendations for cookbooks, slow cookers and low carb essentials in ourย Amazon Influencer Shop.
- As with any of our recipes, carb counts, calorie counts andย nutritionalย information varies greatly. As a result, yourย nutritionalย content depends on which products you choose to use when cooking this dish.ย The auto-calculation is just an automated estimate and should NOT be used for specific dietary needs.
- Finally, allย electricย pressureย cookersย cookย differently, soย cookingย times are always a basic guideline. Recipes shouldย always be tested first in your ownย electricย pressureย cookerย and time adjusted as needed.
Nutrition
We recommend serving this dish with the following recipes:
If you enjoyed this recipe, you might also enjoy these dishes:
- Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
- EPC Whole Chicken with Vegetables
- Creamy Garlic Parmesan Wings (Electric Pressure Cooker)
- Crockpot Taco Chili - February 22, 2026
- Easiest Crockpot Chicken Tacos Ever - February 21, 2026
- Crockpot Cornbread Chili: The Ultimate Easy Comfort Food Dinner - February 21, 2026
This is cooking in my instant pot right now and it smells amazing! I added a teaspoon each of turmeric, oregano, and Old Bay seasoning for a little extra flavor since I’m going to be eating this with a salad without dressing. I didn’t have garlic salt, so I added in a teaspoon of minced garlic and half a teaspoon of pink salt to try to replicate that. Thank you for the recipe and video!
Sounds delicious! I hope you enjoyed this recipe greatly!
I made this awesome dish tonight in my 3-quart IP. I used frozen drumsticks and cooked them for twenty-five minutes. They came out as delicious as the first time! This is one of my favorites.
Wonderful! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe!
This recipe looks great as my husband is not a big fan of BBQ. I would like to add bone-in chicken thighs and legs, would i need to adjust the time?
Hi Malinda!
I haven’t tried adding bone-in thighs to the bone-in legs for this recipe. I would start with the original cooking time and check the thighs with a meat thermometer to see if you need to cook for any additional time. If you give it a try, let me know how it goes!
Aunt Lou
Amazingly tender, you can leave it in the IP for a couple hours after NR to maintain if cooking well before serving. It’s a GREAT base for adding more flavors to the chicken. Needs more salt per my preference and a few TBS of DanO’s makes for a delectably savory herbed chicken leg. I’ll use this recipe time and time again. Also, makes enough ‘sauce’ to cook 5lbs of chicken legs, I added 3 min to the cook time.
I’m glad you enjoyed this recipe Aimee! I love your ideas for making this recipe your own too! Sounds yummy.
Can I use frozen drumsticks or is it better if thawed out
Hi Claritza!
We haven’t tried this with frozen drumsticks. If you do, you will need to cook them longer. If you give it a try, let me know how it goes!
Aunt Lou
I made this tonight HUGE hit with the family. I used my Crockpot Express preesure cooker.
So glad your family enjoyed it as much as we do, Lisa! Thanks for taking the time to stop by and let us know!
Hi Lisa: I also have a Crockpot Express pressure cooker. Was the 1 cup of melted butter enough liquid so it could cook under pressure or did you have to add some additional liquid to bring it up to pressure?
Thank you,
Lark
The butter sauce from this recipe is amazing! I have to adjust the recipe though as the pressure dropped off before the 20 minutes ended. I think I need to add a 1/4 to 1/2 cup of chicken broth to maintain the pressure.
So glad you enjoyed it, Daniel!
How would you adjust the time to an 8 quart instant pot
Hi Brandon-
I haven’t tested it, but I would likely add 1/2 more liquid and cook the same amount of time. Hope that helps!
can the recipe be halved?
Could I use boneless skinless chicken thighs and would the cook time be the same for the Instant Pot?
Hi Gayle!
I would reduce the cooking time to 10 min under high pressure and naturally release for 15. Enjoy!!
This would be good. I dont have a insta pot. Only crock pot. Can you do this in a crock pot and how long
Hi Connie-
You can find the crock pot version here: https://www.recipesthatcrock.com/crock-pot-garlic-chicken-thighs/
Enjoy!!
We love this quicker way to make one of our crock pot favorites!