How Long To Cook Chicken Breast In An Instant Pot

How To Make Shredded Chicken In A Pressure Cooker

If youre on the fence about pressure cooking chicken, now is the time to try it. This Instant Pot chicken breast recipe is probably the easiest and most versatile one to start with. It requires just three ingredients, plus salt and pepper to your liking. It doesnt get any easier than that! Its the fastest, best way to make shredded chicken.

Place all the ingredients in your pressure cooker, push a couple buttons, and youre all set. Ten minutes later, youll have perfectly juicy chicken breast. Shred it with two forks, or one of the other methods below. Voila!

Quick and easy pressure cooker chicken breast.

Feel free to customize the spices in this Instant Pot shredded chicken recipe to your liking. There are really two main ingredients chicken and chicken broth. But, I find that adding Italian seasoning as the third ingredient makes it so much better.

You can get as creative as you like with the spices. I like to keep it simple, so that the chicken can be used in a variety of recipes later. Italian seasoning works with pretty much anything.

One thing I do recommend is to make sure you use chicken broth and not water. Some people make shredded chicken with water, but you get a lot more flavor using chicken broth. This makes the biggest difference when the chicken itself is white meat, like chicken breast.

This is also the reason that this pressure cooker chicken breast recipe doesnt call for much salt. The chicken broth already adds most of the sodium needed.

Why This Instant Pot Chicken Breast Works

This Instant Pot chicken breast recipe is easy, simple and forgiving. Dont you always have a pack of chicken breasts in your freezer?! Now you can make chicken breast in Instant Pot from fresh or frozen in 30 minutes.

I just love Instant Pot! It makes the best Instant Pot rice and beans with no soaking, lasagna with no need for a springform pan, the most tender Instant Pot beef stew with no need to saute, easy Instant Pot steamed vegetables and even cobbler!

If you are new to pressure cooking, check out my Instant Pot guide. It explains what happens, why and how to avoid failures and how to clean your Instant Pot after cooking in it. Another great place to start learning how to cook the basics in your new appliance, is my best of Instant Pot beginner recipes. If you dont have an Instant Pot yet but are thinking about buying one, I explain which Instant Pot to buy in my humble opinion and how it is different than a slow cooker.

Also if you are not a blessed electric pressure cooker owner just yet, check out my baked chicken breast recipe or air fryer chicken breast. Same easy and simple. Also this honey garlic chicken would be good pan fried in case you dont have an oven.

Perfectly Cooked Chicken Breasts

Chicken is a staple in most meals and this easy instant pot recipe will make it a staple in your life as well. Tender, juicy, mouthwatering chicken prepared and ready to serve in 30 minutes thanks to the instant pot? Sign me up.

Ive made chicken many different ways and I must say chicken breast is probably one of the hardest that I notice people struggle with because most of the time it ends up dry. Cooking it in the Instant Pot, you are pretty much guaranteed with a moist and juicy chicken breast every single time.

Don’t Miss: Beef Sirloin Roast Instant Pot

How To Cook Instant Pot Chicken Breasts

Oddly enough, it can be really challenging to get the right texture when cooking boneless chicken breasts. They cook quickly in the Instant Pot, but if you dont cook them long enough they get a weird, rubber-like texture thats nearly impossible to chew, and if you cook them too long, their texture gets dry.

Here are some of the cook times I tried while perfecting this method:

• 8 minutes High Pressure, 10 minutes Natural Pressure Release: Chicken was cooked through, but a little dry.
• 20 minutes high pressure, 10 minutes Natural Pressure Release: Chicken was cooked through, but dry.
• 1 minute High Pressure, 10 minutes Natural Release: Chicken was under-cooked and still pink in the middle.
• 4 minutes High Pressure, 10 minutes Natural Release: This works when you need to cook the chicken directly in a sauce on the bottom of the pot. I use this timing for pot-in-pot cooking, and it works well when you need to cook two items at once, but its not quite as perfect texture-wise as the method below.

Some things to keep in mind when cooking chicken:

• 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.
• With other meats youll want to let the pressure naturally release, but Ive found that I get juicier chicken breasts when I quickly release the pressure.

How To Make Juicy Boneless Chicken Breasts In The 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.

Read Also: Why Does Instapot Say Burn

Frozen Chicken Instant Pot

Cook Time> High Pressure > 18-20 minutes > Quick Release

Preparing frozen chicken breast in the Instant Pot is similar to cooking unfrozen chicken breast, but there are some differences!

• If you are cooking more than one chicken breast at a time be sure the chicken breasts are not frozen together. They will not cook evenly.
• To separate the chicken breasts, run the chicken under water to remove any frost or to separate chicken breasts from each other.
• Dont skip using the metal trivet and water. If you skip these steps you will most likely end up with a burn notice!
• Cook time for frozen chicken takes a little bit longer than thawed chicken, remember to be patient!
• Be sure to check the internal temperature of the chicken breast before eating it. If its not done, cook it for a few more minutes in the Instant Pot.
• Seriously, frozen chicken Instant Pot is so easy.

Recommendations For Making Bbq Chicken In Instant Pot

I use chicken thighs for this recipe. You can use any type of chicken though. Chicken breast, boneless chicken thighs, fresh or frozen work great. It is the special combination of the house seasoning along with your favorite barbeque sauce that makes this recipe a winner.

Just remember to adjust your cook times accordingly for the type of chicken that you are using. You can find more information about cook times here.

Read Also: How To Make Yogurt In Instant Pot Without Yogurt Button

Why Is My Cooked Chicken Tough

The rubbery, tough, and dry texture is a result of overcooking the poultry. Usually, chicken is cooked quickly at high temperatures, and since the meat on a whole bird doesnt have the same thickness, some parts may become easier overcooked. Unfortunately, this is harder to control when cooking it in the instant pot.

However, following the recipe guidelines for cooking time per pound and making sure to pay close attention to how the meat turned our, will help you figure out the best cooking time.

Also Check: How To Cook Ground Turkey In Instant Pot

Can You Put Frozen Meat In The Instant Pot

Yes, definitely you can! I do this with all kinds of meat and guess what? Its safe! Why? Because the Instant Pot warms the meat fast enough so that it doesnt start to develop bacteria growth on it. Of course, youll want to add cook time if youre using a regular recipe that doesnt call for frozen meat. Typically I add about 5 minutes per pound of meat. If youd like to see how you can do this with Frozen Ground Beef, watch this video here.

Don’t Miss: What To Do When Instant Pot Says Burn

How To Cook Frozen Chicken Breast In Instant Pot

Cook frozen chicken breasts just like fresh but:

• For 15 minutes.
• Make sure each breast is separated.

If you add a blob of frozen chicken breasts, you will end up with raw meat inside and overcooked chicken outside.

When you bring fresh chicken from the store, line each breast with small piece of parchment paper before adding to a bag and freezing. Thaw for 5 minutes or run under cold water for easy parchment paper removal.

Check out my Instant Pot frozen chicken breast recipe for detailed info.

What To Serve With Chicken Breast

Chicken is so universal. You can pair it with almost anything, which is why this recipe is great! It can be served as is or accompanied by your favourite side dishes. You can use these chicken breasts in a variety of different recipes such as chicken salad, quesadillas, casseroles, sandwiches, pastas, and more! You can even serve this chicken with a variety of sauces such as teriyaki sauce or barbecue sauce. Here are some side dishes that I love to pair with these instant pot chicken breasts:

Don’t Miss: Madras Lentils Instant Pot

Honey Garlic Instant Pot Chicken Breasts

See my guide on how to use an Instant Pot.

These Honey Garlic Instant Pot Chicken Breasts are always moist, tender and flavorful! These pressure cooker chicken breasts cook perfectly in minutes from fresh or frozen. Serve your honey garlic instant pot chicken breast with rice or quinoa and veggies for a complete, quick dinner!

The Instant Pot is a dream come true for getting quick, healthy dinners on your table. Once you set your Instant Pot to pressure cook, you can focus on preparing other parts of your meal or taking care of your kids.

You can saute ingredients and thicken sauces, all right in the Instant Pot. You can even safely cook chicken from frozen.

Are you new to Instant Pot cooking? Read my How to Use an Instant Pot beginners guide to get started today!

Instant Pot chicken breasts cook up perfectly and hold their shape for slicing and serving. This honey garlic instant pot chicken breast is great for quick dinners or for meal prep lunches.

How Do Restaurants Get Chicken So Tender

There are actually a few different ways to tenderise chicken the Chinese restaurant way: marinating in a cornstarch/cornflour sludge then deep frying or blanching in water before proceeding to cook in the stir fry. egg whites sometimes the above method is also done using egg whites. chemical tenderiser.

Read Also: Tri Tip Pressure Cooker Recipe

How Long Does It Take To Cook A Frozen Chicken

How Long Does it Take to Cook From Frozen. If making a recipe with frozen chicken, you can expect the cooking time to increase by 50%, e.g., if the original cooking time was 30 minutes, plan for 45 minutes. However, depending on the size of the chicken breasts, the cooking time could be longer or shorter.

Why Recipe For Frozen Chicken Breast In Instant Pot Works

• No thawing required: Yes that is correct, cook from frozen! You will never be stuck wondering what is for dinner because you forgot to thaw chicken in the morning!
• Quick: Ready to use as is for dinner or in a recipe in less than 25 minutes.
• 2 ingredients: Only the frozen chicken and water, so easy.
• Juicy breasts: All the steam and moisture is locked in in the pressure cooker resulting in the most juicy chicken breast ever. If you follow the recipe of course, I promise!
• Perfect for meal prep: Use all week in a variety of healthy dishes! If you are meal prepping, shredded chicken will be where you need to go!

Don’t Miss: What Does C7 Mean On The Instant Pot

What If My Chicken Isnt Cooked To 165 Degrees

After you release the pressure and open the pressure cooker, be sure to check for doneness. The best way to do this is with a meat thermometer.

If your chicken breast isnt at 165 degrees, you can place the lid back on the Instant Pot and cook on high for another couple of minutes to finish cooking the chicken to the right temperature.

It wont take long since the Instant Pot is already warmed up.

The Best Instant Pot Chicken Breast + Video

Looking for the best Instant Pot chicken breast recipe? Youve found it. This method produces flavourful, tender, perfect chicken breasts using fresh or frozen chicken. Excellent for meal prep and make-ahead meal solutions.

Suitable for Whole 30, Paleo, and Keto dieters. Recipe also includes Weight Watchers points and a video tutorial.

If youre looking for the best and easiest way to cook chicken breast in the Instant Pot, youre going to be soooo happy you landed on this post.

I spent a lot of time in the kitchen perfecting the PERFECT Instant Pot chicken breast recipe to share with all of you. I know perfect when I see it and

yeap, this is it.

Recommended Reading: How To Steam Brussel Sprouts In A Pot

Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Breasts Boneless Skinless

I love to use frozen, boneless skinless chicken breast the most in my Instant Pot! No need to thaw, just throw them in the pot with your seasonings and some water and they will be amazing.

*Look a little bit further down the page for all of the seasoning combos you can add to these chicken breast to make them any way you like.

You can slice these chicken breast, or shred them for stuffing in enchiladas, salads, soups, and chicken salad.

In all of these recipes I use 1 cup of chicken broth or water.

For the frozen chicken breast cook time, it really depends on the size of the chicken. You could just do 10 minutes with a 10 minute natural pressure release and that will cook most chicken breasts all of the way through.

For small frozen chicken breast, I would do 8 minutes with a 10 minute NPR

For larger than normal frozen breasts , I would do 12 minutes with a 10 minute NPR.

As an Amazon Associate and a Butcher Box Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Can You Cook Frozen Chicken

Heres some good news for us busy momsyou can cook frozen chicken in your pressure cooker! I know, it seems too good to be truebut it works!

You just set it and forget it, so the Instant Pot does the work for you while you move on with your life!

Ive successfully used this method with frozen chicken breasts multiple times, and Ive read that you can even cook a whole frozen chicken in the Instant Pot!

Also Check: What Does Release Pressure Naturally Mean

Basic Not Boring Chicken Breast In The Instant Pot

There are a lot of ways to cook chicken in the electric pressure cooker, but this method is specifically for plain chicken breast that you can use as meal prep for building salads and grain bowls or for using in recipes that call for cooked chicken.

Yes, this recipe below is just chicken, salt, and chicken broth or water, but you can totally add your own flavors before cooking with dry spice rubs or citrus, or dress up the cooked chicken with sauces or salsas. Theres no need to adjust the cooking time when adding any of these for flavor.

It will take about 12 minutes for the Instant Pot to come up to temperature and then another 10 to 15 minutes of cook time. Depending on how youd like your chicken cooked, youd add up to five minutes of natural release time. Your total cook time, including prep? Thirty minutes. See? Better, faster meal prep awaits!

Can I cook frozen chicken breasts in the Instant Pot?

Yes! This method works with frozen chicken as well. Just plan for frozen breasts to take longer to come to temperature about two to five minutes extra depending on the number of breasts. The cook time under pressure doesnt change, but it does extend the amount of time it takes the pot to come up to pressure to about 15 minutes.

Some Tips And Tricks For Cooking Frozen Chicken Breasts In Instant Pot

• Instant Pot size matters: I have tested these cook times in 6 and 8 quart Instant Pot. I recommend to add 3 minutes cook time to 3 quart models because it comes to pressure faster.
• Turn into Instant Pot shredded chicken: Save a bit of cooking liquid to rehydrate when shredding. You can shred with forks or in a bowl of stand mixer.
• Jazz it up: After cooking frozen chicken breast in Instant Pot, your chicken is essentially a blank canvas for mixing with barbecue sauce, teriyaki sauce, creamy sauce, you name it! Thats why not much seasonings for cooking are necessary. Even adding salt and pepper on cooked plain poultry tastes different than adding it before try it!
• Freeze for later: Cool completely then freeze in freezer safe bags for up to 3 months for easy meals again. I like to cube or shred before freezing. Perfect way to meal prep.
• Do not discard broth: Use it to make healthy soups, further cook in Instant Pot chicken stock or save for everyday cooking.

Also Check: What Does C7 Mean On An Instant Pot

How To Cook Chicken Breast In The Instant Pot

The first thing I suggest making in your brand new electric pressure cooker is hard-cooked eggs . The second? Basic chicken breast! This dinner staple cooks up perfectly every time in the Instant Pot. You can aim for firm but juicy chicken for cubing, or let it cook a little bit longer for tender shredded chicken.

Instant Pot chicken breast is also as ingenious for meal prep as it is for weeknight dinners. You can even cook frozen chicken breast this way while you figure out the rest of dinner. Ready for the simple steamed chicken breast technique youll use over and over again?