Imagine a dish that combines the creamy decadence of French cuisine with the convenience of modern cooking - welcome to the most irresistible Instant Pot Chicken Gratin you'll ever experience! This mouthwatering recipe transforms humble ingredients into a restaurant-quality meal that will have your family begging for seconds. With tender chicken, perfectly layered potatoes, and a luxurious cheese blanket, this gratin is about to become your new go-to comfort food that's surprisingly easy to prepare.
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 40 mins
Cuisine: French
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken thighs
- 2 cups potatoes, thinly sliced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tsp thyme
- 1 cup grated Gruyère cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare ingredients by trimming chicken thighs of excess fat and patting them dry with paper towels. Season chicken with salt, pepper, and thyme.
- Thinly slice potatoes using a mandoline or sharp knife to ensure uniform thickness, approximately 1/8 inch thick. Aim for consistent slices to ensure even cooking.
- Grease the Instant Pot inner pot with butter or cooking spray to prevent sticking and ease cleanup.
- Layer half of the sliced potatoes at the bottom of the Instant Pot, creating an even base for the chicken and creating a foundation for the gratin.
- Arrange seasoned chicken thighs on top of the potato layer, ensuring they are not overlapping to promote even cooking.
- Cover chicken thighs with remaining potato slices, creating a complete layered arrangement.
- Pour heavy cream and chicken broth over the layers, ensuring liquid distributes evenly and covers most of the ingredients.
- Sprinkle grated Gruyère cheese over the top layer, which will create a golden, crispy crust during cooking.
- Close Instant Pot lid, set valve to sealing position, and cook on high pressure for 20 minutes.
- After cooking completes, allow natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then carefully do a quick release.
- Optional: For a more golden top, transfer gratin to an oven-safe dish and broil for 3-5 minutes until cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.
- Let gratin rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow sauce to set and flavors to meld together.
- Serve hot, garnishing with fresh thyme or chopped parsley if desired.
Tips
- Potato Slicing Perfection: Use a mandoline for consistently thin potato slices, which ensures even cooking and a professional presentation.
- Seasoning Strategy: Don't be shy with seasoning - generously salt and pepper your chicken thighs to build deep flavor layers.
- Cheese Selection: While Gruyère is traditional, you can experiment with similar melting cheeses like Emmental or Comté for subtle flavor variations.
- Broiling Bonus: The optional broiling step is crucial for achieving that irresistible golden-brown cheese crust that makes this gratin truly spectacular.
- Liquid Balance: Ensure your cream and broth mixture almost covers the ingredients for the most luxurious, creamy result.
- Resting is Key: Always let the gratin rest for 5 minutes after cooking to allow the sauce to set and flavors to harmonize.
- Make-Ahead Magic: This dish can be prepared in advance and reheated, making it perfect for meal prep or entertaining.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 480kcal
Carbohydrates: 15g
Protein: 35g
Fat: 32g
Saturated Fat: 18g
Cholesterol: 160mg
