28+ Instant Pot Chicken Recipes - Easy & Flavorful! (2024)

See my guide on how to use an Instant Pot.

The best Instant Pot chicken recipes to make dinner quick, easy and delicious! From healthy Instant Pot chicken breast recipes and Instant Pot chicken thigh recipes, to how to cook frozen chicken in your Instant Pot, this list of Instant Pot chicken recipes has it all!

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By now you probably know how much I love my Instant Pot. It makes dinner prep so quick and easy! The Instant Pot is the best for developing rich flavors in a fraction of the time.

Your Instant Pot can cook the best moist, tender and juicy chicken breasts and chicken thighs.

You know how when you cook chicken breasts in your slow cooker they tend to fall apart and often have that “slow cooker taste?” That is not the case at all with Instant Pot chicken!

Chicken breasts cooked in an Instant Pot will hold their shape and are perfect for slicing. Unless you cook them for a really long time, of course. In that case you are making shredded chicken.

If you are looking for new ways to cook chicken in your Instant Pot, you’re going to love the Instant Pot chicken recipes in this roundup! I’ve included my favorite simple Instant Pot chicken thighs recipe and my most popular Instant Pot chicken breasts recipe. There are one pot casseroles and soups, plus recipes for the basics like shredded chicken for meal prep.

You are going to want to add so many of these delectable Instant Pot chicken recipes to your collection. They’re simple, easy, and many of them are healthy.

Cooking Tips for Instant Pot Chicken

  • When cooking chicken breasts in your Instant Pot, the size of the individual breasts (not the total quantity of chicken) will determine the cook time. The beauty of the Instant Pot is that if you overcook your chicken a bit, it will still be tender and delicious.
  • The best way to check if your chicken is done is to use an instant read thermometer to check the internal temperature. It should be 165° F at the thickest part.
  • If your chicken is not done after pressure cooking, you can either (a) do a second pressure cooking cycle or (b) finish cooking the chicken using the Instant Pot’s sauté function.
  • You do not need to thaw frozen chicken before cooking it in your Instant Pot. Since the Instant Pot cooks quickly at high pressure, it is perfectly safe to cook frozen chicken in your pressure cooker!
  • You can thicken sauces or sauté veggies for your meal right in your Instant Pot using the sauté function. It is so easy and convenient!

Also see 29 Healthy Instant Pot Recipes here!

If you’re new to Instant Pot cooking, read my quick-start Instant Pot Manual to learn the basics. If you’re looking to buy an Instant Pot, see my guide on which Instant Pot to buy.

Instant Pot Chicken Recipes

This Instant Pot Chicken Breast recipe is a weeknight staple. This recipe makes it so easy to cook juicy chicken breasts, perfect for serving with your favorite side dishes or meal prep. You can even make a quick gravy from the cooking liquid, right in the Instant Pot.

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This Instant Pot Whole Chicken recipe makes the best rotisserie-style whole chicken. It’s easy to prepare and the chicken always turns out moist, juicy and so flavorful!

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When you forget to thaw your chicken, this method for cooking juicy Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Breasts is a lifesaver!

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One of our most popular recipes, Honey Garlic Instant Pot Chicken Breasts are tender and juicy with the best honey garlic sauce.

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Instant Pot Chicken Thighs can be cooked from fresh or frozen. The chicken thighs are seasoned with a delicious blend of seasonings.

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When you’re craving comfort food, Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings is just the meal you need. The easy homemade dumplings cook up tender and fluffy in the Instant Pot.

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This Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore is an easy dinner idea, with tender chicken, tomatoes, mushrooms and bell peppers.

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Lemon and garlic bring lots of flavor to this Instant Pot Lemon Chicken recipe.

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Instant Pot Shredded Chicken is a hands-off way to make juicy shredded chicken. Add it to salads and sandwiches, or use it in your favorite recipes that call for cooked chicken.

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This creamy Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo Pasta is a family favorite pasta and chicken dinner idea!

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These Instant Pot Chicken Tacos are so quick and simple to make! The salsa chicken is the perfect filling for tacos, or use it to make enchiladas or burrito bowls.

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Instant Pot Butter Chicken is a comforting meal made with chicken and a richly flavored tomato-based curry sauce. It’s especially delicious served with rice and naan.

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Instant Pot Chicken Stew with Farro is a wholesome dinner idea, made with chicken, vegetables and whole grains.

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This Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup is comfort food at its best. This nourishing soup is perfect for a cold day.

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Instant Pot Chicken and Rice is an easy one pot meal, made with brown rice, chicken breasts and vegetables. The whole family will love this delicious dinner idea!

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This flavorful Pressure Cooker Thai Peanut Chicken & Noodles offers a spicy Thai peanut sauce, tender chicken and noodles.

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This Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup is one of my most popular Instant Pot chicken soup recipes. It’s full-flavored and you can adjust the spice level to your preference.

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Garlic Sesame Chicken is an easy meal that has a quick preparation time. The combination of sweet and savory flavors is so delicious!

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This Instant Pot White Chicken Chili is simple to make using either fresh or frozen chicken breasts.

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Instant Pot Cashew Chicken is a healthier version of the takeout favorite. It’s simple and quick to make!

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Instant Pot Chicken and Mushrooms has tender chicken thighs, mushrooms and orzo pasta. It’s a weeknight favorite!

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Instant Pot Chicken Fricassee is an easy way to make this classic French chicken stew with a hearty broth and vegetables.

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Instant Pot Bone Broth can be used in soups or sipped as a nourishing beverage.

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Instant Pot Tuscan Chicken Stew is a hearty and wholesome meal. It’s loaded with flavor and veggies!

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Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken is a 30 minute meal. You’ll love the sweet and savory sauce!

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Instant Pot Salsa Verde Chicken is perfect for enjoying in burrito bowls with beans and rice.

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Instant Pot Orange Chicken has a delicious sticky-sweet orange sauce. Serve it over rice with a vegetable for a complete meal.

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Instant Pot BBQ Chicken makes the best BBQ chicken sandwiches and is perfect for feeding a crowd!

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28+ Instant Pot Chicken Recipes - Easy & Flavorful! (2024)

FAQs

How to make chicken more flavorful? ›

Add a touch of spice to your chicken breast by combining paprika, cinnamon, turmeric, cumin, ginger, garlic and olive oil to create a paste. Then cover your chicken breast with the paste and pat down to secure.

How much water do you put in an Instant Pot for chicken? ›

Add trivet into instant pot, add 1 cup water, add whole chicken or 1-2 chicken legs (in one layer), 2-4 chicken thighs (in one layer), 2-6 chicken drumsticks (in one layer), 1-4 chicken breasts (in one layer), 2-12 chicken wings in one layer.

Does chicken get more tender the longer you cook it in an Instant Pot? ›

If your boneless chicken breast winds up with a weird, rubbery texture, it probably means that you need to cook it longer. In general, the Instant Pot does better with longer cook times for meat.

What spices enhance the flavor of chicken? ›

5 best spice and herbs blends for chicken and meat
  • Paprika and garlic powder. Paprika is a great spice that makes any chicken dish stand out, it comes in many forms sweet, hot, regular and smoky. ...
  • Basil and rosemary. ...
  • Ginger and lemongrass. ...
  • Turmeric and chili. ...
  • Coriander and cumin.

Does chicken need to be submerged in pressure cooker? ›

chicken requires 18 minutes of high pressure cooking. Add 6 minutes of cooking time per additional pound. Note: You can submerge your chicken directly in the cooking liquid, especially if you want to make chicken stock. However, the steamer basket method ensures crispy skin and won't wash away the seasoning.

Is it better to slow cook or pressure cook chicken breast? ›

So can a Crock-Pot cook better chicken than an Instant Pot? Well, it really depends on what you're making. The Instant Pot cooks chicken much faster than its non-pressure counterparts, but the resulting texture isn't going to be the same as what you'd get with a slow cooker or Dutch oven.

Does pressure cooking chicken longer make it softer? ›

Cooking any meat on high heat (or high pressure) for an extended period will both: denature more the proteins / collagen making the meat more tender; "squeeze" more water out of the meat, making it drier / chalkier in texture.

Why is my chicken tough after pressure cooking? ›

Overcooking or cooking at too high a temperature can result in tough, dry chicken. Undercooking can leave chicken undercooked and chewy.

Do you cover meat with liquid in pressure cooker? ›

While you may cover meat almost completely for a conventional braise, use just enough liquid for the cooker to reach pressure – during pressure cooking the meat will release it's own juice and braise in that flavorful liquid, instead.

What is the best meat to pressure cook? ›

You can still pressure cook leaner pieces – like eye of round and top sirloin – but these work best if they've been stuffed, shredded or rolled (with other ingredients). Best cuts of beef to use: Chuck steak, Round Roast, Shoulder, Pot roast, Ribs, Brisket, Oxtail.

Can pressure cooker soften chicken bones? ›

The reason it is so important is that when you pressure cook a chicken the bones become very soft and crumbly like chalk. You can literally take the leg bone of a pressure cooked chicken and pinch it into pieces between your thumb and forefinger. No splinters – and LOTS of calcium and other minerals.

How do you fix bland chicken? ›

There are several simple and delicious ways to enhance the flavor and moisture of bland and dry chicken: Marinade: Marinating chicken before cooking can infuse it with flavor and moisture. You can use a mixture of olive oil, herbs, spices, and acid (like lemon juice or vinegar) to create a flavorful marinade.

How do you make chicken not bland? ›

You see, without a generous sprinkling of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, your chicken is basically destined for blandness. After you've pulled your chicken out of its marinade (or even if you're not using a marinade), always sprinkle all sides of the breast with salt and pepper.

How do you season chicken like a pro? ›

Tip: We recommend mixing your spices with a little olive oil and lemon juice and using a kitchen brush to glaze the chicken with the mixture. You can also add a sprig of thyme or rosemary to your chicken, as well as hiding a few cloves of garlic in different parts of it.

Why doesn't my chicken have flavor? ›

Avoid chicken that is brine-injected or has added water

This may seem like a paradox, because we just said that water is important for juicy chicken, but brine-injected chicken can actually have compromised texture and flavor, because industrial brining helps mask deficiencies in both.

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