Chicken Recipes Instant Pot
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This Instant Pot BBQ chicken recipe is so simple and so finger-lickin’ good! This is going to become your favorite weeknight meal ever!
Got chicken breasts or thighs? Got BBQ sauce? That’s all you need to make this easiest BBQ chicken recipe ever! We are cooking this chicken in the Instant Pot pressure cooker, then chopping it up and mixing with barbecue sauce – yum!
Don’t have Instant Pot? No worries! You can cook chicken by any other method – on the frying pan, in the oven or making poached chicken in a pot of water. It doesn’t really matter how you cook the chicken, but Instant Pot is the quickest and easiest way to accomplish it!
Cooking the chicken in the Instant Pot is really easy. Just put a package of chicken breasts or thighs in the Instant Pot, add a cup of water, press the Manual or Pressure Cook button and cook on High pressure for 8 minutes for chicken breasts (or 13 minutes for chicken thighs). Allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes, then quick release (QR) the remaining pressure. The chicken is cooked!
If you want to cook chicken from frozen, you surely can! Follow my instructions for Instant Pot frozen chicken breasts to cook them from frozen to perfection! Add an extra 5 minutes of cooking time for chicken thighs.
So once you cook the chicken, take it out of the Instant Pot and cut cooked chicken into pieces. Return chicken pieces to the Instant Pot, squeeze a BBQ sauce over the chicken and mix.
Turn the Instant Pot on Saute method and cook, stirring, for 1 minute, or until the BBQ sauce is hot. Dinner is ready!
Look at that yummy yum yum BBQ chicken! It’s a 2-ingredient dinner that is ready in 15 minutes! So delicious and so simple!
The chopped BBQ chicken on this picture is served over brown rice that I also cooked in the Instant Pot earlier :) Check out my recipe for Instant Pot Brown Rice.
If you like this simple Instant Pot BBQ Chicken, you will also love these easy recipes:
Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe – this homemade barbecue sauce recipe is so easy to make and tastes so much better than store-bought! Using this amazing sauce will take your BBQ chicken to the whole new level!
BBQ Chicken Grilled Cheese – two of my favorites (BBQ chicken and grilled cheese) combined into one epic dish! That’s a true comfort food!
Instant Pot Apple Sauce – making homemade apple sauce in the Instant Pot takes just 5 minutes and you don’t even need to peel the apples!
Instant Pot Chicken Drumsticks – the easiest recipe ever to make with chicken legs in the Instant Pot, it even cooks them directly from frozen!
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This delicious Instant Pot BBQ chicken is a universal favorite! Get a yummy dinner on the table in 15 minutes!
Cook Time15 minutes mins
Total Time15 minutes mins
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 servings
Instructions
Rub the chicken with salt and pepper.
Put water and chicken breasts or thighs in the Instant Pot.
Close the Instant Pot and turn the valve to a Sealing position.
Select the "Pressure Cook" or "Manual" setting and set the time for 8 minutes for chicken breasts (or 13 minutes for thighs).
Once it finishes cooking, allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes, then release the remaining pressure using the quick release.
Take the cooked chicken out of the Instant Pot and chop into pieces. Pour the water out of the pot.
Put the Instant Pot on a Saute setting.
Return the chopped chicken back to the pot, add BBQ sauce to it and mix until combined. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute, or until the BBQ sauce is completely warmed through.
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FAQs
Chicken thighs are much more forgiving than breasts.
While all cuts of chicken are fair game for the Instant Pot, thighs are the most forgiving. Because chicken breast is so lean, just a couple of extra minutes of cook time turns them from juicy to overcooked and dry.
Why is my chicken breast rubbery in Instant Pot? ›
If your chicken breast is rubbery after cooking in the Instant Pot, you likely over-cooked it. Make sure you're only cooking it for 5 minutes at high pressure followed by a quick release of the pressure by flicking the seal valve at the top with a spoon.
How do you keep chicken from getting tough in Instant Pot? ›
The key to getting perfectly juicy boneless chicken breasts is to cook them on a trivet, above the liquid. I find that this results in a better texture than cooking them on the bottom of the pot. I also think their texture is best when you quickly release the pressure, rather than letting it naturally release.
Does chicken get more tender the longer you pressure cook it? ›
How long should I pressure cook frozen chicken thighs? Compared to breasts, chicken thighs have more fat and different types of muscle fibers which make them less prone to overcooking. Since you don't have to worry about drying them out, longer cook times can make them more tender.
Is it better to use chicken thighs or breasts? ›
Chicken breasts do have a higher content of some B vitamins and minerals whereas chicken thighs have higher amounts of vitamin B12, she adds. Chicken thighs are typically less expensive by the pound. However, chicken breasts can be a challenge to cook because they can easily dry out and be overdone.
Can I layer chicken breasts in Instant Pot? ›
For even cooking stack your chicken breasts on top of each other cross ways. Or if possible lay the chicken in one even layer on the trivet. If you don't have a trivet you can lay your chicken directly in the bottom of the pot with the liquid. Lots of liquid releases from chicken.
Can you put too much chicken in Instant Pot? ›
Cook time stays the same no matter how much chicken you add to the pot; the pot will just take longer to come to pressure.
How many chicken breasts can you cook in an Instant Pot? ›
You can make up to 5 pounds of chicken breast in the Instant Pot at once, if yours is 6 quarts like mine. I usually stick to no more than 4 pounds, as 5 pounds doesn't always cook evenly.
Can you overcook chicken in a pressure cooker? ›
Typically, it's very easy to overcook chicken, but in the instant pot, it is difficult to do. Pressure cooking really locks in the flavor and moisture of chicken. I wouldn't cook 1 lb of chicken for 20 minutes in the pressure cooker, but if you do, it probably won't even be overcooked!
Do you need to add water when cooking chicken in an Instant Pot? ›
Add the chicken to the Instant Pot: Arrange the chicken in a single, even layer in the bottom of the pressure cooker. Add the water, then sprinkle with salt.
An improperly sealed lid can cause the Instant Pot to just cook and cook your contents as it attempts to reach pressure. This will lead to scorching and then a burn notice. Make sure that you're using enough liquid.
How do you tenderize meat in an Instant Pot? ›
Tips and Notes for Perfect Instant Pot Steak
The key to tender beef in a pressure cooker is not just the cooking time but also the natural release of pressure instead of quick release. This allows the meat fibers to relax and retain moisture, making them tender and juicy.
Is chicken breast or thigh better for slow cooker? ›
Use chicken thighs or leg meat over chicken breast
We've come to love chicken thighs over chicken breast in general because they have more flavor and don't dry out as quickly. The same holds true in the slow cooker. Whether you go boneless or bone-in is up to you, but bone-in will have more flavor.
Do chicken breasts or thighs take longer to cook? ›
First, chicken breasts cook faster than thighs and are easier to overcook. For example, if a recipe suggests cooking thighs for 30 minutes, the breasts may only take 20. The best way to avoid under or overcooking your chicken breasts is to test them with a meat thermometer.
Is chicken breast or thighs more tender? ›
Chicken thighs are a fattier cut of meat, which means they're going to have a more intense, rich flavor than the white meat breasts. Being more tender, thighs cook easily and go well with a variety of other ingredients. They can be grilled, roasted, baked, boiled, fried, etc.
Is chicken thigh better than breast for stir fry? ›
Best Chicken for Chicken Stir Fry
Chicken breasts and chicken thighs both work well for stir fries. Just make sure the pieces are relatively small and thin. Plus, they should be about the same size so the chicken cooks evenly.
