This fast and fabulous Instant Pot Smoked Paprika & Garlic Chicken Legs recipe will liven up your dinner menu and take no time to do it. From a fun new Instant Pot cookbook full of great, easy paleo recipes!
I seem to have less and less time right now to cook but thanks to my Instant Pot and a fun new cookbook that's not a problem: The 'I Love My Instant Pot' Paleo Recipe Book by Michelle Fagone.
I reviewed Michelle's first cookbook (The ‘I Love My Instant Pot’ Recipe Book) earlier this year and shared a delicious Instant Pot Chili Lime Chicken recipe.
Today’s Instant Pot Smoked Paprika & Garlic Chicken Leg recipe from the new cookbook is another easy peasy, fast-and-fabulous recipe.
This cookbook would make a great Christmas gift for someone with an Instant Pot or one getting one for Christmas!
Jump to:
What Is Paleo?
Before diving into the cookbook, let's talk 'Paleo'.
It's an eating regime of whole foods; meats, fish, vegetables, some fruits, nuts. It's a grain and dairy-free eating approach that has been adopted by those wishing to reduce the chances of developing certain chronic diseases or desiring a grain-free diet.
It's a whole food way of eating that avoids processed foods. For those gluten-free, the Paleo diet is also gluten-free (though not all foods that are gluten-free are paleo).
I think of Paleo food as they way my parents generation ate before the onset of processed foods. And frankly with the recipes in this cookbook, you can make whole ingredient recipes in a flash; processed food won't be missed.
‘I Love My Instant Pot’ Paleo Recipe Book
The 'I Love My Instant Pot' Paleo Recipe Book covers breakfast to dessert with all courses in between.
I pored over all the recipes searching for the perfect thing to share at this busy time of year and found so many things I want to make: Quick Lime Marmalade (to eat on Black Pepper Scones), Homemade Chai Latte (to save weekly purchasing of them), Bison Sloppy Joes (though I'd probably put them on gluten-free buns), Tom Kha Goong (my favorite Thai soup especially when I have a cold).
As one would expect with the speed and ease of Instant Pot cooking, the recipes are simple, straight forward and easy to follow. There are no fussy cooking techniques and recipes that will keep your breakfast, lunch and dinner table hopping with effortless interesting food.
There is an easy primer in the beginning of the book on using your Instant Pot, as well as accessories the author suggests.
I found the format easier to absorb than the Instant Pot manual. I also love that there is a list in the back of the book of 'Paleo ‘Yes' and 'No' Foods' to help if one is following a paleo regime. You'll love the recipes whether you are eating Paleo or not.
From the first thumbing through this cookbook these Instant Pot Smoked Paprika & Garlic Chicken Legs jumped off the page.
Smoked Paprika is one of my favorite spices with a deep, earthy flavor and gorgeous burnt red color.
Despite having only 4 ingredients this recipes is flavor-full and with a quick broil at the end the chicken legs are perfectly seared with juicy meat and crispy skin.
Ready in less than 30 minutes with little active cooking time.
Smoked Paprika vs regular Paprika
This recipe uses Smoked Paprika which taste very different than regular paprika. It has a deep earthy flavor.
For spicy food lovers you can swap it with HOT Smoked Paprika with will add some heat to the flavor.
Whichever version you use be sure to read the label to ensure you are getting the type you want!
Mind-Blowing Instant Pot Tips You Need!
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More Instant Pot Recipes You’ll Love
- Instant Pot Meatloaf: Fast Easy Comfort Food
- Creamy Mushroom Instant Pot Pot Roast
- Chocolate Cherry Instant Pot Cheesecake
- Creme Brulee in the Instant Pot
- Instant Pot Short Ribs with Southwestern Harvest Succotash
- Vegetable Beef Soup in the Instant Pot
- Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats
- Instant Pot Turkey Breast
- Southwestern Instant Pot Chili
Recipe
Instant Pot Smoked Paprika & Garlic Chicken Legs
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Garlic Powder
- 1 tablespoon Smoked Paprika*
- 1 teaspoon Fine Sea Salt
- 3 pounds (about 10) Chicken Legs/drumsticks
- 1 cup Water
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine garlic powder, smoked paprika, and salt. Season chicken legs with the seasoning mix.
- Add water to the Instant Pot and insert trivet. Arrange chicken standing up, meaty side down, on the trivet. Lock lid. Press the Poultry button (or High Pressure if there is no Poultry button) and cook for the default time of 15 minutes. When timer beeps, let pressure release naturally for 5 minutes. Quick release any remaining pressure until float valve drops and then unlock lid. Check the chicken using a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature is at least 165°F.
- Meanwhile (while pressure is releasing) position the top oven rack aproximately 4 inches below the broiler and turn on the broiler (on HIGH). Place chicken legs on a foil-lined baking sheet sprayed with non-stick spray. Cook the chicken 2 minutes on one side (watching closely to ensure no burning), flip with tongs, and cook 1 1/2 to 2 minutes on the opposite side to crisp the chicken.
- Transfer chicken to a serving plate and serve warm.
Video
Notes
- “Smoked paprika is an underused spice that should be at the front of your spice drawer. Sweet and smoky and a little mild, smoked paprika adds comfort to proteins and sauces, and it is lovely as a garnish on deviled eggs.” -Michelle Fagone (I Love My Instant Pot Paleo Recipe Book)
- To add more spicy heat, HOT Smoked Paprika can also be used.
Kara says
So easy and so flavorful! I’ve recently started using smoked paprika, and it really is tasty!
Katie says
Love the flavors in this and love how easy it is to make! Thanks for sharing.
lisa says
delish!
wilhelmina says
These are totally delicious! I loved how easy it was to control the spice level!
lauren kelly says
I have made this several times and my family loves them! I will definitely keep this in our rotation! Thank you!
GLORIA JACKSON says
I tried this recipe last night. Actually, this is my first food cooked in
my IP. It turned out super tender and juicy, however, I desire more
seasoning/spiciness. My family thought the drumsticks were bland
and I was disappointed. Hoping they’d do a cartwheel. LOL! We’re in
Louisiana and prefer more seasonings. Next time, I will add something
like “Season All” that will give more flavor. Thanks for sharing the
recipe.
Toni Dash says
Hi Gloria! Thanks for leaving your comment. Seasonings are so personal. You’ll see many reviews loving the spices and I can also understand from your spice reference points the chicken may taste a bit tame lol. Can I clarify that you used Smoked Paprika and not regular paprika? You also could try HOT Smoked Paprika which is definitely more spicy. Thanks again.
Tiffany Garcia says
What of I wanted to add some thighs in this? How long should I cook it for?
Toni Dash says
I’ve only made the recipe as written Tiffany. Usually chicken thighs are seared before cooking in the Instant Pot to render excess fat and create a better consistency. They really can’t be swapped into this recipe and get the same end result.
Andrea @ Cooking with Mamma C says
I’m always looking for new Instant Pot recipes, and this one sounds easy and delicious! I never would have thought to stand up the chicken drumsticks, but that makes a lot of sense.
Hong says
I can’t wait to try this recipe! Is there anyway to do this without broiling the chicken?
Toni Dash says
Sure! You can just omit that step. When the chicken comes out of the Instant Pot the skin is not crisp like roasted chicken. The broiling step crisps the skin as though it was cooked in the oven.
Rosa says
Wow this sounds so good! I love recipes with smoked paprika and the fact that this is made in the Instant Pot is a huge win for me. Do you think I can try this with chicken leg quarters (bc that’s what I have) and would I increase cooking time?
Toni Dash says
I have only made them this way Rosa but I would doing some Googling on how long it takes leg quarters to cook in the Instant Pot and use that as your guide. Maybe you won’t have to even change the cooking time (I’m just not sure since I have not cooked them in the Instant Pot myself).
Colette says
You could cut the drumsticks from the thighs and use the thighs at a later time.
Stephanie says
Love how easy this dinner sounds using the instant pot. Still haven’t got on board with one yet but I think I need to. This sounds fabulous.