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Day: May 4, 2026

Instant Pot Chicken Thighs | Made by Meaghan Moineau

Posted on by Meaghan Moineau

It was one of those chaotic weekday evenings where all I could think about was getting dinner on the table in less time than it would take for me to order takeout. I stood in my kitchen, slightly overwhelmed by the day’s hustle, when I felt that familiar craving for something warm and homey — something that felt like a hug on a plate. The answer? My trusty Instant Pot Chicken Thighs. This dish is perfect when you want something flavorful but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen. With a few pantry staples and the magic of the Instant Pot, dinner would be ready in a flash. It’s the kind of meal that makes you feel accomplished and cozy all at once.

Jump to Recipe

What You’ll Need

This recipe is great because you probably have most of these ingredients already lounging in your pantry, like they’re waiting for their time to shine. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Skinless boneless chicken thighs
  • Dried oregano
  • Dried thyme
  • Pepper
  • Garlic powder
  • Onion powder
  • White pepper
  • Olive oil

How to Make Instant Pot Chicken Thighs

  1. In a small bowl, mix together dried oregano, dried thyme, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and white pepper. This will be your flavor magic dust.
  2. Rub the chicken thighs generously with the seasoning mix. Imagine you’re giving them a spa treatment — they deserve it.
  3. Set your Instant Pot to Saute mode and let it get nice and warm for about a minute. When it’s ready, add the olive oil. The oil should shimmer — that’s your cue.
  4. Place the seasoned chicken thighs in the pot and cook them for 3-4 minutes on each side until they’re lightly browned. You want them to have that golden look, and your kitchen will start smelling heavenly.
  5. Transfer the chicken thighs to a plate. Now, turn off the Instant Pot and pour in 1 cup of water. Use a scraper to gently nudge all those tasty brown bits off the bottom of the pot — these are flavor bombs!
  6. Place the metal trivet into the pot, and then nestle the chicken thighs on top of it.
  7. Secure the lid on the Instant Pot, making sure the vent is closed. Set it to Manual Pressure on high for 8 minutes. This is where the Instant Pot works its magic.
  8. Once the timer is up, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes. Then, carefully release any remaining pressure. When the pin drops, it’s safe to open the lid and reveal your perfectly cooked chicken.
  9. Serve these juicy chicken thighs with your favorite sides, and enjoy the deliciousness!

Cook’s Notes

Here’s the scoop: don’t skip the browning step. It adds a depth of flavor that makes people wonder if you’ve been cooking all day. If you’re making this ahead of time, these chicken thighs reheat beautifully. Just pop them in the microwave or a warm oven for a few minutes. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. If you happen to forget to release the pressure naturally, don’t worry too much; the chicken should still be juicy, but try to remember next time for the best texture.

Make It Your Own

There’s a world of possibilities to tweak this recipe to your liking:

  • Swap the chicken thighs for crispy tofu if you’re going for a vegetarian vibe. Just be mindful of cooking times.
  • Add a squeeze of lemon juice and zest to the seasoning mix for a bright, zesty kick.
  • Craving spice? Toss in some cayenne pepper with the seasoning for a fiery twist.
  • Throw in some baby potatoes or carrots on the trivet with the chicken for a complete one-pot meal.

If you try this, I’d love to hear how it turns out — drop a comment or tag me! This dish has saved my sanity more times than I can count, and I hope it becomes a staple in your kitchen too. Enjoy every bite!

Related Reading

Related update: Instant Pot Chicken Thighs

Utes Big Bats Dominate BYU Series Victory | Analysis by Brian Moineau

Posted on by Brian Moineau

When the Bats Attack: Utah Bats Blast BYU for Series Victory

There’s nothing like a rivalry series to remind you why you follow college baseball — and the phrase "Utah bats blast BYU for series victory" does a lot of heavy lifting in describing what unfolded in Provo. Over three games at Miller Park, the Utes’ lineup woke up, found its swing, and delivered the kind of middle-of-May offense that turns a friendly rivalry into a weekend the other team remembers.

The series went the full three games (April 30–May 2, 2026), with both programs trading momentum early before Utah punched through in the rubber game. That final contest wasn’t just a win — it was a statement: Utah’s offense can carry a team, and when the long ball and timely hitting come together, the Cougars were in trouble.

How the series tilted: momentum, timely hitting, and a four-run inning

  • Game 1 (April 30): BYU used a late rally to steal the opener, a 6-4 win that felt like the home team pressing the right buttons at the right time. BYU’s approach that night — working counts and delivering under pressure — set an early tone for the series. (sports.yahoo.com)

  • Game 2 (May 1): Utah responded with a thumping 8-1 performance. The Utes didn’t merely scratch out runs; they exploded, including multiple solo home runs that changed the scoreboard and the psychology of the series. Utah’s lineup found consistent, middle-of-the-order pop and put the pressure on BYU’s pitching staff. (byucougars.com)

  • Game 3 (May 2): The rubber match turned into a showcase for Utah’s bats and defense. An 8-3 final score gave the Utes the series victory, anchored by a multi-run inning that opened the floodgates and a defense that turned key double plays to halt BYU rallies. Utah’s ability to manufacture runs in bunches — and then protect the lead — was the difference. (utahutes.com)

Those four-run innings — and particularly the Utes’ sixth-inning surge in game two and their multi-run rally in the finale — illustrate a classic baseball truth: steady offense plus opportunistic hitting beats sporadic heroics.

Utah bats blast BYU for series victory: what it means for both teams

For Utah:

  • Confidence boost. Winning a rivalry series on the road injects momentum into the schedule. The lineup’s .300+ team average inside the Big 12 has teeth; when it clicks, Utah can pressure any pitching staff. (utahutes.com)
  • Balanced attack. Home runs and small-ball mixed well; that balance makes the Utes harder to plan for and easier to sustain over a weekend.

For BYU:

  • A reminder about depth. BYU showed it can win with timely hitting and strong pitching, but the losses exposed how quickly a bullpen or defensive hiccup can flip a series.
  • Opportunity to adjust. Rivalry losses sting, but they also clarify what needs fixing (late-inning relief, limiting extra-base hits, and tightening situational hitting).

Transitioning from raw results to implications: this series doesn’t define either club’s season, but it does shape near-term trajectories and seeding conversations inside the conference.

Players and plays that mattered

There were a few patterns and performers worth noting:

  • Utah’s long ball came at helpful times, and a trio of solo blasts in one game underscored how power can change momentum in a hurry. (byucougars.com)
  • BYU’s Game 1 offense demonstrated patience and situational execution — skills that will keep them competitive, especially if the pitching staff stabilizes. (sports.yahoo.com)
  • Defensive moments — including a reverse-force double play in the series finale — stopped rallies cold and stole outs that felt like extra runs. That’s the kind of fielding that complements hot batting. (utahutes.com)

These contributions aren’t just box-score fodder. They change the rhythm of a game and, over a weekend, alter a rival’s confidence.

Bigger-picture context for the rivalry

This matchup is the 386th meeting between BYU and Utah on the diamond, part of a decades-long in-state rivalry that sways between blowouts and classic, one-run dramas. The Utes’ recent success in this series reflects not only current talent but also the program’s adjustment to the rigors of Big 12 play. Meanwhile, BYU’s fighting performances — especially earlier in the series — show why the rivalry remains compelling: even when the overall records look similar, rivalry feel and execution change outcomes. (byucougars.com)

Moreover, college baseball in May is about peaking: teams that time a hot stretch become dangerous in the postseason. Utah’s bats arriving now could make them a dark horse for a late-season surge, while BYU can use this as a reset.

What to watch next

  • Utah’s lineup consistency: Can the Utes string together consecutive weeks of offensive output, or will production ebb?
  • BYU’s bullpen response: The Cougars must shore up late-game relief to avoid giving opponents multi-run windows.
  • Conference ripple effects: Series outcomes like this shift the Big 12 standings in small but meaningful ways; both teams still have opportunities to improve their league position.

Key takeaways from the series

  • Momentum swung the series; Utah seized it with explosive middle innings and persistent pressure.
  • Timely home runs and a clutch defensive playbook gave the Utes the edge.
  • BYU showed grit but needs steadier late-inning pitching and fewer long-ball allowances to win rivalry weekends.

My take

This was exactly the kind of three-game set that keeps fans invested: close moments, sudden eruptions, and a satisfying finish. Utah’s series victory in Provo wasn’t just about one standout night — it was about the lineup deciding, collectively, to take control. Rivalry wins taste sweeter on the road, and for the Utes, this one should reverberate through the locker room. For BYU, the loss is a push: tough to swallow, but fixable with attention to bullpen depth and situational defense.

Baseball’s beauty is that weekends like this rearrange narratives without erasing seasons. Expect both teams to be motivated — Utah riding high, BYU hungry for retribution — as the calendar flips toward tournament time.

Sources