This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
Instant Pot chicken makes for incredibly tender and flavorful chicken in minutes! A quick and easy chicken recipe perfect for the beginner or the expert!
One of the requests I’ve been getting for some time now has been, “do you have any pressure cooker recipes?” And while we all probably remember those ancient pressure cookers that clanked and growled from our grandmother’s kitchens, the newer models (both stovetop and electric) have definitely come a long way!
I thought I’d begin by sharing one of my absolute favorite pressure cooker recipes – this pressure cooker chicken. It has to be one of the ways that I use my Instant Pot the most while getting fabulous results. It is also one of the absolute easiest pressure cooker recipes. Perfect for those who just received a pressure cooker and are dipping their toes into using it as well as for those who have had theirs for a longer period of time and just need a reliable recipe to turn to week in and week out to help them get supper on the table. This is the one!
Instant Pot Chicken Recipe
I have electric pressure cookers, by two different brands – both of which I love dearly. One is by Cuisinart and the other is by Instant Pot. While the Instant Pot is a pressure cooker and more, I’m only talking about the pressure cooker aspects of it at the moment. Both the Cuisinart and the Instant Pot have easy to understand control panels and unlike watching Grandmother use hers in the 70s, I’ve always felt comfortable using both of them. I also have a stovetop pressure cooker/ canner and that I primarily use for canning.
I do recommend reading your user manual from front to back before you begin using it so that you understand the settings, venting procedures, and such.
So, are you ready to dig into this recipe? You won’t believe how easy it is!
How to Make Instant Pot Chicken Recipe
Here’s how I do it, I toss four frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts in, add water, seal it, close the vent, and set the pressure to high for 10 minutes. Then, after the 10 minutes, I quickly release the pressure and remove the chicken. That’s it! From frozen to tender, juicy, delicious, and almost like a miracle chicken in 10 minutes!
From that point, you can use your pressure cooker chicken any way that you desire. From serving it with side dishes to shredding it to use in all sorts of recipes. I like to do both!
I’ve shared with you before how I like to make shredded chicken for the week to use in recipes using my slow cooker, I still do. Sometimes, I’ll use the slow cooker and sometimes I’ll use the pressure cooker and sometimes I’ll just bake it in the oven. It depends on the mood I’m in. Gosh at the possibilities!
Here’s my pressure cooker chicken printable recipe card. I hope you love it as much as we do!
Pressure Cooker Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 (6 to 8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- Arrange chicken breasts in pressure cooker. Add water. Seal the lid and cook under high pressure for 8 minutes. Use quick release once chicken has cooked. Test for doneness by pricking chicken with a sharp knife for the juices to run clear.
- If cooking from frozen, cook for 10 minutes under high pressure and use the quick release method.
Nutritional Information
I thought I’d share with you a few of my favorite ways that I use my shredded pressure cooker chicken.
Chicken Enchiladas. Mercy are these the BEST chicken enchiladas I’ve ever tasted. I’m completely spoiled for any others now.
White Chicken Enchiladas. And boy howdy how my family loves this version, too. Delicious!
Chicken Salad. And this has to be Bart’s favorite way for me to use pressure cooker chicken! He could eat it every single day and not complain!
Chicken Nachos. Quick, simple and absolutely delicious, these nachos are always a favorite!
Chicken and Rice Casserole. Comforting and perfect for sharing with company, it is just hard to beat chicken and rice!
Buffalo Chicken Dip. So everyone’s favorite game day appetizer just got even easier. Love!
And so many more chicken recipes – any that call for cooked chicken, actually.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
Hi I just got an electric. Pressure cooker for Christmas and have only used it one time to make bean soup…was looking for something to make with chicken breast and come across your recipe going to try it thanks
Congratulations on your new pressure cooker, Tracy! I know you’ll have fun trying new recipes with it. I hope you enjoy the chicken recipe! It is definitely one of my weekly staples.
Hello,
Love your recipes. I have an instapot but the chicken breasts I have are already thawed out. How would this recipe be altered to allow for chicken breasts that aren’t frozen.
Thanks!
It says 8 minutes if not frozen.
I’d love to try this method but I’m confused. Your printable recipe card also has 1/2 c water listed, but you do not mention water anywhere else on the recipe card or in the post. Does it just go in the cooker with the chicken?
Yes the water goes in the pressure cooker with the chicken 🙂
I’ve only had my Instant Pot a short while and I was a little hesitant to put frozen chicken breasts in it and set the timer for 10 short minutes, but voila! It worked! The chicken breasts were tender & flavorful and sliced into sections to put in whole wheat wraps (with bacon, cheese, lettuce & caesar dressing). My kids said they were the best wraps I’ve ever made!
Normally, I would have to slice the raw chicken breasts & then pan fry to put into wraps – an even more tedious process if they’re frozen. The pressure-cooking method saved many steps and a good amount of time! Thank you so much for posting this ‘how-to’…it will definitely be a routine way for me to cook chicken now!
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed it – and your kids did as well! Thanks! xo
I have cooked chicken in the pressure cooker many times, it always comes out very good. I would make a suggestion though, the only safe way to make sure the chicken is fully cooked is to use a thermometer and make sure it is at least 165 in the thickest part of the chicken. I have had clear juices and it not be up to the safe temperature. Thanks for sharing this and the recipes, I am always on the look our for different meals for my family
this was so great and easy. I had a variety of meals for the week
Great to hear that it helped you for the week, Theresa!
I only want to cook 2 chicken breast frozen how long do I cook them.
Robyn,
I am single and have been trying to decide if I need an Instant Pot. All of these recipes sound so good and seem like they are made with little effort. Can you tell me some other things and/or recipes you use your Instant Pot for? Thanks Linda
Linda, I have many Instant Pot recipes such as Instant Pot Spaghetti, Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup, Instant Pot Brown Rice, and Instant Pot Oreo Cheesecake. To see all the recipes for an Instant Pot I have, just click on the All Recipes tab at top left of page of my site, then Recipe Index, By Cooking Style, and Instant Pot Recipes. Hope this helps.
Fast, easy and practical.
I added all the seasonings in the pressure cooker to cook the chicken. It was done ten minutes after the steam started. But, don’t use thick pieces, they may not be ready by then.
After cooking it I shredded the pieces using two forks. I used the shredded chicken to make sandwiches, chicken pie, chicken salad and enchiladas. Delicious!
I didn’t know how easy it’s to cook using the pressure cooker. Once I learn the cooking time for the ingredients, I’ll be able to prepare the family dinner within minutes!
Thanks, Robyn, for making the life of a working mom so much easier!
Thanks, Shirlei. I love that this recipe is so easy and you have so many different dishes you can make with the chicken.
How long for chicken leg and thighs hook together cooking time and how much water
Cindy, cook the legs and thighs on high pressure for 20 minutes with 3/4 cup water. Let the pressure release naturally. Hope this helps.