This easy Instant Pot Chicken recipe makes for incredibly tender and flavorful chicken in minutes! A quick and easy chicken recipe that is perfect to use for meal prep, too!
Tender chicken is great to use in so many dishes. Some of our favorites are weeknight dinners like chicken enchiladas, easy lunches like chicken salad, and dips like buffalo chicken dip. I think you’ll find so many ways to use it throughout the week!
How to Make Easy Instant Pot Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.
For this easy chicken recipe, you’ll need just two simple ingredients:
- Chicken – I generally use boneless, skinless chicken breasts since that’s what my family prefers in most of my chicken dishes. However, use whatever cut of chicken you prefer! I even have an Instant Pot rotisserie-style chicken recipe that I think you might enjoy if you like to prepare a whole chicken to use for meal prep during the week or for a single meal.
- Water – For my Instant Pot, I add 1/2 cup of water to the chicken. Be sure to read the instructions for your pressure cooker to ensure how much liquid you should add to your appliance.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Add chicken and water to the Instant Pot. Close the vent and set to High pressure for 10 minutes.
- Use the quick-release method to release the pressure from the Instant Pot.
- Remove the chicken and use it in your favorite chicken recipes.
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 bake it in the oven. It depends on the mood I’m in. Thankful that we have so many options!
Storage Tips
To store. Cool the chicken and then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
To make ahead. Prepare the chicken as directed. Cool and portion into airtight containers and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Use for easy meal prep in your favorite chicken recipes.
To freeze. Cook and cool. Store in airtight, freezer-safe containers in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight to use in your favorite chicken recipes.
Here’s my easy Instant Pot Chicken Recipe. I hope you love it as much as we do!
Easy Instant Pot Chicken Recipe
Equipment
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.
Notes
Storage Tips
To store. Cool the chicken and then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. To make ahead. Prepare the chicken as directed. Cool and portion into airtight containers and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Use for easy meal prep in your favorite chicken recipes. To freeze. Cook and cool. Store in airtight, freezer-safe containers in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight to use in your favorite chicken recipes.Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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.