The Chicken Meal That Isn’t Chicken: Discover My Healthier Twist on a Classic with Instant Pot City Chicken!
Discover how to make Instant Pot City Chicken, a delicious and easy no-fry recipe that’s perfect for a quick and healthy meal. This updated classic combines the rich flavors of traditional city chicken with the convenience of the Instant Pot, ensuring a tender and flavorful dish every time.”
This revelation was more than just a shift in cooking appliances; it was a complete transformation in how I approached one of my favorite meals. Instant Pot City Chicken meant I could enjoy the same delicious, comforting flavors without the unhealthy aspects of deep frying. The process became simple and clean, using significantly less oil while still achieving that perfect fork-tender texture.
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Embracing the Instant Pot for my City Chicken was a game-changer. It’s not just about the ease of cooking; it’s about making a beloved dish healthier for my family and me. Join me as I share how this classic comfort food got a modern, healthier makeover, all thanks to the Instant Pot.
What Is Instant Pot City Chicken?
Before diving into how to make City Chicken in an Instant Pot, it’s essential to understand its roots. Emerging during the Great Depression as a response to the cost of chicken, this ingenious creation from the Rust Belt, notably in cities like Pittsburgh and Cleveland, involved crafting a mock chicken from more affordable meats like pork and veal. Today, I’m giving this dish a healthier twist with my Instant Pot City Chicken recipe.
Assorted cubes of meats, each delicately coated in breadcrumbs, come together in an Instant Pot for a magical transformation. Welcome to the modern version of City Chicken – a dish that takes a classic recipe and spins it with a healthier, less greasy twist. Forget deep frying; this is about simplicity and flavor.
Clarification TIP: And before we keep on moving through the recipe for city chicken in an Instant Pot, do note that this can be pressure cooker city chicken, meaning any pressure cooker you prefer, not just the branded Instant Pot! So keep reading.
The Appeal of Instant Pot City Chicken
In this modern adaptation, I’ve swapped out the traditionally high oil content and the less-than-healthy aspects of frying for a cleaner, pressure cooker method. This Instant Pot version is a blend of the old and new, sticking to the roots of using meats other than chicken and offering a choice of breading or sometimes just flour.
Essentials To Make City Chicken In An Instant Pot
- Electric Pressure Cooker (Hello, Instant Pot!): The star of the show. This isn’t just a pot; it’s your ticket to perfectly cooked City Chicken without the hassle.
- Large Mixing Bowl: Think of it as your culinary canvas where all the meat cubes magically transform into fork-tender bites.
- A Trusty Fork: Sometimes, the simplest tools are the most effective.
- Wood Skewers (Optional but Handy): Often included with your city chicken meat cubes, these skewers add that authentic touch.
Ingredients For The Pressure Cooker City Chicken
The recipe includes city chicken meat cubes, a bit of extra virgin olive oil, classic seasonings like salt and pepper, and breadcrumbs of your choice. The secret ingredient, Gravy Master, adds a rich, savory depth.
A Quick Overview Of How To Make Instant Pot City Chicken
- Start by coating your Instant Pot with olive oil.
- Prepare your egg wash and breadcrumbs
- Coat the meat
- Sear using the sauté mode
- After searing, add water and Flavor Master, and cook using the meat/stew setting.
Grab the full set of directions in the recipe below! I Promise this is easy peasy to prepare!
Perfect Pairings and Serving Suggestions
Instant Pot City Chicken pairs beautifully with mashed potatoes, buttered elbow noodles, scalloped potatoes, Mac and Cheese, sautéed onions with egg noodles, or Sweet Potato Fries.
Storing and Reheating: Best Practices
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Use the microwave for basic reheating but if you prefer a crisp exterior then use the air fryer!
Ingredients For The Instant Pot City Chicken Recipe
You are probably wondering what ingredients to make this updated classic recipe for city chicken right? Ready to gather your troops for this non-fried twist on City Chicken? Here’s a little insight into each ingredient and why they’re crucial for this healthier yet delicious rendition:
- City Chicken Meat Cubes: Whether you snag a ‘City Chicken’ pack or curate your meat cube mix, these are your main act – no deep frying needed!
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Just a smidge is needed here. It’s not about deep frying; it’s about using a healthier fat for a light sauté, ensuring our meat browns without sticking.
- Salt and Pepper: These classic seasonings bring out the natural flavors of the meat, without overpowering it.
- Breadcrumbs (Traditional, Italian, or Panko): Choose your breadcrumb style! Each type offers a different texture and flavor – traditional for a classic feel, Italian for a herby kick, or Panko for extra crunch.
- Gravy Master: This isn’t just about color; it’s about adding a rich, savory depth to your meat, enhancing the overall umami.
- Water: Plays a humble yet vital role in pressure cooking, helping to tenderize the meat and meld all the flavors together inside the Instant Pot.
Breading then Skewering:
- Pros: This method allows for an even and thorough coating on all sides of the meat cubes, ensuring each piece is perfectly breaded before it’s skewered. It’s also less messy since you’re not handling the skewered, breaded meat multiple times.
- Cons: It can be a bit more time-consuming, as you need to handle each piece of meat individually both for breading and then again for skewering.
Skewering then Breading City Chicken In An Instant Pot:
- Pros: This method is quicker and more straightforward. Once the meat is skewered, you can roll the entire skewer in the breading, which speeds up the process.
- Cons: It might be challenging to get the breading evenly distributed, especially between the meat cubes. There’s also the risk of the breading getting a bit smudged as you handle the skewers.
Overall Recommendation For Breading Your City Chicken Meat Cubes
Given the nature of Instant Pot cooking and the importance of having a well-breaded piece of meat for texture and flavor, I would lean towards breading the meat cubes first and then skewering them. This method might take a bit more time, but it ensures a consistent and satisfying result with every bite.
However, the best method might also depend on personal preference and the specific context of your cooking. It’s all about finding that sweet spot between efficiency and the desired outcome of the recipe. Why not try both methods and see which one works best for you? It could even be a fun experiment for you to try and figure out Which method YOU prefer.
How To Reheat & Store Instant Pot City Chicken Leftovers
Let’s get this wrapped up because leftovers are awesome! They are fork tender, and they seemingly marinate and the flavor just oozes when you reheat them!
Can I Freeze The Instant Pot City Chicken? YES!
- If you are not planning on eating the leftovers within 5 days you should place the meat inside a plastic zipper bag and you can store it in the freezer for up to 6 months!
- When it is time to reheat it from the refrigerator, I suggest taking the meat off the skewer and then heating it up in the microwave according to your ‘heat’ preferences.
- If you are taking this out of the freezer, you will want to place it in the refrigerator 6-8 hours before to allow it to properly defrost and use the microwave to heat up your leftovers, again off the skewers. Air fryers are fabulous for reheating the Instant Pot city chicken.
- Hot Tip for Reheating Instant Pot City Chicken That Was Frozen in an Air Fryer: Brush each piece with a little bit of olive oil, and then air fry, it won’t be dry! The air fryer will crisp the exterior while the interior will be soft and tender.
FAQs: Answering Common Queries About Instant Pot City Chicken
Q: Do I have to use skewers for Instant Pot City Chicken?
A: No, it’s completely up to you! While traditional City Chicken is often skewered, feel free to skip this step. The Instant Pot cooks the meat cubes perfectly, with or without skewers.
Q: What type of breadcrumbs should I use for Instant Pot City Chicken?
A: You can use traditional, Italian, or Panko breadcrumbs based on your preference. However, it’s advisable to avoid Panko breadcrumbs for this recipe as they can become soggy.
Q: Does Instant Pot City Chicken actually contain chicken?
A: No, despite its name, City Chicken typically doesn’t contain chicken. It’s usually made with a mix of pork, veal, or beef cubes, mimicking the shape and texture of chicken drumsticks.
Q: How can I make my Instant Pot City Chicken crispy?
A: To achieve a crispy exterior, sear the breaded meat cubes in the Instant Pot using the sauté mode before pressure cooking. For reheated leftovers, an air fryer works great for adding crispiness.
Q: Can I freeze the leftover Instant Pot City Chicken?
A: Absolutely! Place the cooked meat in a plastic zipper bag and store it in the freezer for up to 6 months. To reheat, defrost in the refrigerator and then warm it up in the microwave or air fryer.
Q: Is Instant Pot City Chicken healthier than the traditional version?
A: Yes, this Instant Pot version is healthier as it uses significantly less oil compared to the traditional frying method, making it a less greasy and more heart-friendly option.
Instant Pot City Chicken Helpful Tips
- Instant Pot City chicken is fast and fabulous and you will be using a light dash of some sort of oil in the liner to ‘sear and seal’ the skewers but not anywhere NEAR what you would use if you were frying.
- If you don’t use the oil, the meat and breading WILL stick to the Instant Pot liner and that causes other chaos (let’s just say I already tried this for you! )
- Next, do not overfill the water with this recipe, instead just enough like a level or slightly less than level with the meat. More is not better it is just more.
- Your secret to success is in this bottle and trust me it will do its thing and the meat will be super tender and taste amazing.
Tell Me How Your Instant Pot City Chicken Turned Out
Instant Pot City Chicken
Insant Pot City Chicken is comfort food and now you can prepare it faster and juicier than ever using this Instant Pot recipe!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 C Bread Crumbs
- 3 Tablespoons Gravy Master (By Flavor Master)
- 4 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 1/2 C Water - 3/4 Water no more
- 12 Skewers of City Chicken Meat, 3 Cubes Each 6"
- 2 pounds of meat approximately, your choice, chicken or pork
- Dash of fresh pepper is optional
- *Optional Eggs for Breading - for those that want to use an egg for breading, you can.
- Simply whisk an egg, and dunk the meat into that first, then the breadcrumb mixture.
Instructions
- Skew Meat Cubes - about 3 healthy cubes per skewer.
- Fill a bowl with the bread crumbs.
- Next, use tongs and pick up a skewer of meat, turning meat and coating as you turn.
- When you are done you will have a platter stacked and waiting to be prepared.
- Don't worry the Instant Pot can take this task on easily, you will be doing this in segments.
- This is the part that takes the most time and it's about 5 minutes total to get these all turned and seared, that's it!
- Remove each coated piece to a platter. Continue to coat all skewers and return to the plate. It's now about to be all about the Instant Pot.
- The breading takes just minutes, and do make sure to shake off any excess, that is why I use tongs, not fingers, it is quicker and cleaner.
- Alternatively, you could use a baggie to bread (do be mindful the skewer could poke a hole in the baggie!)
- Turn the Instant Pot On to Saute and put Olive Oil in the liner.
- Now, transfer about 6 skewers at a time into the Instant Pot. You are going to saute these, sealing in the juices, and turn to all 4 sides, just quickly sauteing.
- Remove the first batch of six and place it on a platter.
- Next, you may need to add more olive oil (add 2 more tablespoons if necessary).
- Once all the skewers have been seared/sauteed, transfer from the plate and replace all into the Instant Pot.
- Now it is time to do an 'S' formation across the meat with the Gravy Master.
- This just means, starting at the top of the meat in the pot and going to the bottom, working right to left, and creating a design of an 'S' across the meat with the gravy master.
- It evenly distributes it this way.
- *** Alternatively, just put the Gravy Master into the pot between the meat.
- Either way, add in the water.
- Turn off the mode from Saute.
- Place lid atop Instant Pot.
- Seal.
- Last, choose Meat/Stew and use the minutes that show as 24 minutes. That is all you have to do.
- When the meat is done cooking, you can choose to use the Natural Release Method, or force release with a wet washcloth covering release so steam does not spew everywhere.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
You can replace breading and instead dredge through flour, very much a personal choice.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1138Total Fat: 59gSaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 36gCholesterol: 457mgSodium: 749mgCarbohydrates: 41gFiber: 2gSugar: 3gProtein: 104g
DanaVento.Com is not a dietician or nutritionist; any nutritional information shared is simply an estimate. Use a nutritional calculator if you need exact estimates of nutrition, and note that the brands you use in your recipe may differ slightly or significantly from those brands of items you use, creating a variance in nutritional content.
