Have a taste of Taiwan with this Classic Signature Comfort Food – Instant Pot Three Cup Chicken Recipe (San Bei Ji) 三杯鷄! One bite after another, you’ll be captivated by the tender chicken soaked in this fragrant, savory-spiced & slightly sweet secret sauce!
Taiwan will always hold a special place in our hearts.
Taiwan is often known for bustling night markets filled with countless cheap street food & shopping. Definitely a battleground to challenge yourself with some haggle fun. 😛
Taiwanese Street Food Recipe: Taiwanese Corn on the Cob (台式烤玉米)
Or breathtaking scenes in famous destinations like Alishan 阿里山, Kenting National Park 墾丁國家公園 , or Sun Moon Lake 日月潭.
But, what captured my heart were the beauties in the Taiwan Old Streets 台灣老街.
There are hundreds of Old Streets scattered around the country. Each with their unique culture, buildings, and stories.
Every time we stroll down an Old Street, I would be mesmerized.
It felt like each brick had a story to tell.
The red brick walls, the rigged cobblestone pavements, rusted fences, luring smell of classic street food…
It seemed like the time has frozen or perhaps we pulled a Marty McFly and traveled through time?
And of course, how can we miss having a nostalgic taste without FOOD?! 😉
Three Cup Chicken is one of the classic Taiwanese favorites! From homes to restaurants, this simple yet flavorful dish has won many hearts & tummies, young & old.
So, what’s the secret? Why the funky name 3 Cup Chicken?
It’s simple.
The fragrant sauce is the soul of this signature dish. Deliciously savory, slightly sweet with a wee bit of spice…
The traditional myth has that the inventor used 1 cup of Sesame Oil, 1 cup of Rice Cooking Wine, and 1 cup of Regular Soy Sauce. Hence the name 3 Cup Chicken.
However, be prepared for a heated debate if you raise the question about what’s the best or most authentic way to cook Three Cup Chicken!
Time for some Three Cup Chicken (San Bei Ji)!
You’ll Enjoy Instant Pot Three Cup Chicken Because:
- Easy to make weeknight meal
- Satisfying classic comfort food packed with flavors & fragrance
- Very appetizing dish that goes very well with rice
- The Sauce!! Uniquely savory, slightly sweet, with a wee bit of spice
Ingredients for Instant Pot Three Cup Chicken
- 8 chicken drumsticks (827g), chopped (or whole)
- 1/4 cup (63ml) sesame oil
- 1/4 cup (63ml) Chinese rice wine or Shaoxing wine
- 1/4 cup (63ml) regular soy sauce
- 15 grams (1 tbsp) rock sugar (raw cane sugar) 黃冰糖
- 32 grams ginger, peeled & thinly sliced
- 14 garlic cloves, peeled & crushed
- 3 dried Chinese red chili
- ½ tablespoon (7.5ml) dark soy sauce
- 10 – 16 fresh Thai basil leaves
Optional Thickener:
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch + 2 tablespoons water
Step-by-Step Guide: Instant Pot Three Cup Chicken
Preparation
First, peel & thinly sliced the ginger. Then, peel & crush the garlic cloves.
Optional Step: chop the chicken drumsticks in pieces (as shown in photo below).
Pro Tip: The authentic Taiwanese Three Cup Chicken dish uses chopped chicken drumsticks. But, you can opt out from chopping if you like.
However, the chopped chicken came out more flavorful than the whole chicken drumsticks as we were testing this recipe. This is because the chopped chicken were able to absorb more flavors during the cooking process.
Step 1
Prepare Pressure Cooker
Heat up your pressure cooker over medium heat (Instant Pot: press Sauté button).
Make sure your pot is as hot as it can be (Instant Pot: wait until indicator says HOT).
Step 2
Sauté Ginger and Garlic
Add ¼ cup (63ml) sesame oil, 32g sliced ginger, and 14 garlic cloves in the pressure cooker. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
Step 3
Sauté Chicken Drumsticks
Add in the chicken drumsticks. Then, sauté for 3 minutes.
Pour in ¼ cup (63ml) rice cooking wine and let it boil for a minute to evaporate some of the alcohol content.
Step 4
Pressure Cook Chicken
Add ¼ cup (63ml) regular soy sauce, 3 dried Chinese red chili, and 15g (1 tbsp) rock sugar.
Close the lid and pressure cook at
- For Chopped Chicken Drumsticks: High Pressure for 5 minutes + 10 minutes Natural Release or
- For Whole Chicken Drumsticks: High Pressure for 8 minutes + 10 minutes Natural Release
Open the lid carefully.
Step 5
Thicken Sauce
Place chicken pieces in a large serving bowl.
Heat up your pressure cooker (Instant Pot: press Sauté button), and bring the sauce back to a boil.
Add in roughly 1/2 tbsp (7.5ml) dark soy sauce to give it some color and sweeten it a little.
Optional: Mix 2 tbsp of cornstarch with 2 tbsp of water, and stir the mixture into the sauce one third at a time until desired thickness.
Step 6
Taste & Adjust Seasoning
Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning with more regular soy sauce if necessary.
Pro Tip: be sure to taste & adjust the dish because different bottles of soy sauces have varying levels of saltiness (even from the same brand).
Stir in 10 – 16 fresh Thai basil leaves.
Step 7
Serve Instant Pot Three Cup Chicken
Pour the sauce into the large serving bowl with chicken. Mix well.
Serve immediately with your favorite side dish (it goes very well with white rice).
Watch: How To Make Instant Pot Three Cup Chicken Recipe
Can’t see the cooking video? Watch it here.
Instant Pot Three Cup Chicken (San Bei Ji) 三杯鷄
Ingredients
- 8 (827g) chicken drumsticks , chopped (or whole)
- ¼ cup (63ml) sesame oil
- ¼ cup (63ml) rice cooking wine or Shaoxing rice wine
- ¼ cup (63ml) regular soy sauce
- 15 grams (1 tbsp) rock sugar (raw cane sugar; Chinese: 黃冰糖)
- 32 grams ginger , peeled & thinly sliced
- 14 garlic cloves , peeled & crushed
- 3 dried Chinese red chili
- ½ tablespoon (7.5ml) dark soy sauce
- 10 - 16 fresh Thai basil leaves
Optional Thickener:
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons cold water
Equipment
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Instructions
- Prepare Pressure Cooker: Heat up your pressure cooker over medium heat (Instant Pot: press Sauté button). Make sure your pot is as hot as it can be (Instant Pot: wait until indicator says HOT).
- Sauté Ginger and Garlic: Add ¼ cup (63ml) sesame oil, 32g sliced ginger, and 14 garlic cloves in the pressure cooker. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Sauté Chicken Drumsticks: Add in the chopped or whole chicken drumsticks. Then, sauté for 3 minutes. Pour in ¼ cup (63ml) rice cooking wine and let it boil for a minute to evaporate some of the alcohol content.
- Pressure Cook Chicken: Add ¼ cup (63ml) regular soy sauce, 3 dried Chinese red chili, and 15g (1 tbsp) rock sugar. Close the lid and pressure cook at For Chopped Chicken Drumsticks: High Pressure for 5 minutes + 10 minutes Natural Release or For Whole Chicken Drumsticks: High Pressure for 8 minutes + 10 minutes Natural Release. Open the lid carefully.
- Thicken Sauce: Place chicken pieces in a large serving bowl. Heat up your pressure cooker (Instant Pot: press Sauté button), and bring the sauce back to a boil. Add in roughly 1/2 tbsp (7.5ml) dark soy sauce to give it some color and sweeten it a little.
Optional: Mix 2 tbsp of cornstarch with 2 tbsp of water and stir the mixture into the sauce one third at a time until desired thickness. - Taste & Adjust Seasoning: Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning with more regular soy sauce if necessary. Stir in 10 – 16 fresh Thai basil leaves.
- Serve: Pour the sauce into the large serving bowl with chicken. Mix well. Serve immediately with your favorite side dish.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Looking for more Instant Pot Chinese Recipes?
- Taiwanese Favorite: Pressure Cooker Braised Pork Hock 台式萬巒豬腳
- General Tso’s Instant Pot Shredded Chicken
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