Instant Pot Whole Chicken Cook Time
Cooking time varies with size of chicken. Below is a simple cooking time guide:1.5kg – Manual pressure cook 25 minutes then 5 minutes natural pressure release.1.8kg – Manual pressure cook 28 minutes then 5 minutes natural pressure release.2kg – 30 minutes manual pressure cook and 5 minutes natural pressure release.
For food safety compliance, it’s important you check that the internal temperature of the chicken is atleast 165F . To ensure this, check by using meat thermomether.
Instant Pot Chicken Thighs & Instant Pot Chicken Drumsticks
I havent tested cooking them to 30 minutes but in theory they should be just fine because if the whole leg is fine up to that time the individual parts should be, too.
My goal testing was finding the minimum time, clearly. Chicken thighs at 10 minutes high pressure + 5 minutes natural pressure release got me the 165 F but with slightly pink fluid and very hard to remove from the bone. Extremely weird texture.
At 15 minutes high pressure they become extremely tender and fall-off the bone. I myself have cooked them for up to 22 minutes and full natural pressure release and they were still divine. Super soft and juicy.
For drumsticks, I noticed that 15 minutes seems to be the absolute minimum for starting to soften down. Anything under may make it to safe temp but not fall-off the bone. I myself have cooked to up to 22 minutes and just like the thighs they were divine. Super soft and juicy.
15-30 minutes High Pressure + 5 or more minutes Natural Pressure Release
Cooking Tips For The Best Instant Pot Roast Chicken
- Use a dry rub to season the chicken before cooking, and try to get some of the rub under the skin on the chicken breasts. The spice rub in this whole chicken recipe is a simple blend of seasonings and it is so good! My kids cannot get enough of it! You can easily use your favorite seasonings if you prefer.
- Sear the chicken before pressure cooking. You can do this right in your Instant Pot using sauté mode! Browning the chicken adds so much flavor!
- The easiest way to flip the chicken. Turning the chicken over in the Instant Pot after browning it on the first side can be a little tricky. Heres what Ive found works best: stick a long handled spoon or tongs into the cavity and then use another long spoon to turn the chicken first onto its side and then flip it over. The smaller your chicken, the easier it will be to flip over in the pot. The chicken in the photos in this post was 5.5 pounds and it just barely fit in my Instant Pot. Flipping it was not easy but I got it done!
- Flavor from the inside out. After searing the chicken, fill the cavity with half of a fresh lemon, half an onion, and fresh herbs such as rosemary or thyme. While this is optional, it will infuse your chicken with extra flavor as it cooks!
- Broil for crispy skin. You can put your chicken under the broiler in your oven for 4-5 minutes after it is done cooking to crisp up the skin. Honestly, I dont bother with this because we dont eat the skin but it is up to you!
You May Like: How To Cook Venison Roast In An Instant Pot
Recipe Tips And Tricks:
- If you are cooking a frozen chicken and need to remove the giblets, just run that area under warm-hot water for 5-10 minutes, so you can remove and discard them.
- Weighting the bird is very important, as pressure cooking it for too long will make it explode in the IP. Basically, the cartilage becomes too soft and the end result wont be as pretty but still delicious. Tieing together the drumsticks helps prevent that.
- Also, make sure to use a relevant poultry size, so it fits the IP. If the chicken is larger than your pressure cooker, then it wont work. You could either follow the Oven Baked Recipe or use a larger sized 8 QT Pressure Cooker.
- To make this recipe healthier, replace the butter in the Buttery Mixture with olive oil.
- Keep the carcass and make the best homemade stock.
- For super-crispy skin, brush the chicken with oil after it has been pressure cooked. Then, place it under the broiler for about 2-4 minutes, until the skin becomes golden brown.
What Are The Benefits Of A Pressure Cooker Whole Chicken
- You have a whole chicken ready in less than 30 minutes , which is just fantastic for a quick weeknight meal
- The whole chicken is really very moist and infused with the most beautiful delicate flavors
- Keep the bones and you have about 8 cups of homemade chicken broth at your hands with very little effort
- You can use the shredded chicken in any number of other meals during the week
- Not able to use all the chicken within a couple of days? Shred and freeze in smaller amounts and just pull some out when you need it!
I hope you love this easy and nourishing meal as much as my family and I do. If you are looking for something to pair it with then check out these sides:
If you don’t have a pressure cooker yet then check out the Instant Pot. I have had mine for about a year now and seriously use it every single day.
You May Like: Will Instant Pot Keep Cooking On Burn
Will The Whole Chicken Fall Apart When You Remove It From The Instant Pot
Nope! Not if youre using the Instant Pot trivet rack to easily remove the chicken with its convenient carrying handles.
Why Do You Rinse Chicken
I rinse frozen chicken so oil and then spices will stick to it. Otherwise, good luck burning your fingers on a layer of frost and losing all spices.
If you carefully rinse raw meat in the sink, then wash your hands with soap and wash sink with dish soap and cloth, it is safe. It is absolutely OK.
There is a lot of misinformation on the web right now aka fake news. Everyone with a phone is a professor.
Also Check: Instant Pot Yogurt No Button
Cook An Entire Chicken In Your Instant Pot
If you often find yourself picking up a rotisserie chicken, then this recipe might be one that you really lean into. Its an easy and delicious way to make a whole chicken in your Instant Pot. YEP!
The result is a wonderfully healthy and comforting dinner, and you can use the leftover chicken in all kinds of ways! Salad, sandwiches, burritos, you name it!
Making a chicken like this is very helpful at the beginning of the week, so that you can have some easy protein on hand when you need it. I also like to cook whole chickens regularly , because they are usually a really good deal, price-wise, compared to chicken pieces! And, you can reserve the bones to make good, homemade stock.
Maybe youre already on the whole-roast-chicken bandwagon, but you usually use your crock pot. Hey, Im with ya check it CROCK POT Honey Lemon Chicken! But, if you havent tried making one in your Instant Pot, I really have to recommend it! Pressure-cooked chicken is tasty, tender, and of course, quick! And, like, really, really juicy.
How Do You Steam A Whole Chicken In An Instant Pot
How to Cook a Whole Chicken in an Instant Pot Rub the chicken with olive oil and seasonings. Brown the chicken on both sides. Fill the cavity with fresh lemon, onion and herbs . Put 1 cup water and the trivet in the Instant Pot. Pressure cook the chicken, 6 minutes per pound. Natural release the pressure for 15 minutes. Serve and enjoy!
Read Also: Pressure Cook Frozen Ribs
Why Does Chicken Get Rubbery In Instant Pot
According to Greatist, Overcooking might play a role in your chickens tire-like texture! Leaving chicken in a , pan, oven, or grill for just a little too long can suck the moisture right out and leave you with a dry, rubbery bird. Without moisture, the protein fibers in the chicken become elastic.
How Do You Cook Frozen Chicken In An Instant Pot
Its easy to do, and it tastes great! Follow the below steps:
Read Also: Steam Frozen Tamales In Instant Pot
How To Cook A Whole Chicken In A Pressure Cooker
I used a Ninja Foodi to cook this chicken. The instructions will be the exact same for any other type of pressure cooker, including Instant Pot. The difference is that the Ninja Foodi is also an air fryer so we could crisp the chicken up right in the same pot.
The chicken you use may be larger or smaller than mine. A good rule of thumb is to pressure cook your chicken for 5-6 minutes per pound. Ive tested the times for cooking chicken in a pressure cooker, and have found that many recipes call for too much time. My method will give you tender and perfectly cooked chicken without the bird completely falling apart.
What To Serve With Instant Pot Whole Chicken
The chicken goes particularly well with a Classic Wedge Salad, but you might also want to serve it with this Roasted Green Beans & Mushroom side dish, or these crispy potatoes.
A whole chicken is such a great meal to make because it keeps on giving. You can easily make multiple meals from the one chicken. Then you can use the left overs for other things, like chicken salad, these delicious chicken flautas or these chicken southwestern eggrolls.
Don’t Miss: What Does Instant Pot Burn Mean
Preparing Frozen Chicken For The Instant Pot
The Instant Pot relies on moisture for cooking, so you need to make sure you include some with your chicken. Simply add a cup of liquid to the inner pot before adding your chicken and spices.
To enhance the flavor you are going for, Id recommend cooking it in the juice, says Trista Best, MPH, RD, LD. For instance, if you want a pineapple chicken, substitute a portion of the water for pineapple juice to allow it to cook into the meat.
If youre just meal prepping plain chicken to add to recipes later, water or chicken broth works perfectly.
Once you have your frozen chicken ready for cooking, simply press the manual or pressure cook button on your Instant Pot and adjust the cooking time as needed.
Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer, and youre ready to enjoy it!
Lessons Learnt From Our Instant Pot Chicken Experiment
There were a few things that we noticed when cooking whole chicken in the instant pot.
The first was how silly it looked. We cooked it breast side down and the trivet left a big mark on it where it had rested.
Next was not tying up the legs of the whole chicken. If you dont not only will the chicken not be compact during the cooking process, but the meat is likely to fall off the chicken more.
The most tender whole chicken is achieved with a 15 minute natural pressure release. I cant believe the difference with or without it.
You May Like: What To Do When Instant Pot Says Food Burn
How Do You Make Instant Pot Whole Chicken
Start by mixing a blend of herbs and spice with room temperature butter. Spread the butter mixture all over the chicken, and rub some under the skin. Stuff the cavity of the chicken with lemon and onion. Pour chicken broth into the pot. Next, lace the chicken on a trivet in the Instant Pot. Cook the chicken, then let the pressure release naturally for 15 minutes. Manually release any remaining pressure. Place the chicken on a sheet pan, then broil it in the oven to get brown and crispy skin. You can skip this step if youre in a hurry but I highly recommend it! Turn the pot to saute mode, then bring the drippings to a simmer. Stir in corn starch to thicken the gravy. Slice the chicken, then pour the gravy over the top and serve.
Step Two: Prep The Instant Pot
The Instant Pot comes with a metal trivet that you can place at the bottom of the metal pot to raise the food up off the bottom. This is an occasion where you will want to use the trivet. Place it in the bottom of the pot.
Pour one cup of water into the bottom of the pot. You may need to use 1.5 or 2 cups if you have an 8-quart pot. The water should just come up to the top of the trivet.
Place the seasoned chicken on top of the trivet and close the lid of the Instant Pot. Make sure the valve is on seal. Set the pressure cooker to the appropriate number of minutes needed for your size of chicken.
- 1 lb = 6 minutes
- 5 lb = 30 minutes
You May Like: How To Get Smell Out Of Instant Pot Ring
Browning Your Instant Pot Whole Chicken
You do not need to brown your chicken prior to putting it in the Instant Pot. Understand that when cooking a whole chicken in the Instant Pot will not produce a crispy skin.
Browning a chicken before cooking does add table appeal for serving. It only takes a few minutes and I personally prefer to brown and sear in those seasonings.
Can I Use Frozen Chicken
- Yes, you definitely can use a frozen chicken. The only change you need to make for frozen is to increase the cooking time, which Ill discuss below!
- You may also want to rinse the frozen chicken and pat it dry, because seasonings dont cling to icy chicken skin very well. Rinse the ice away with a bit of warm water, pat dry, and keep going!
- Finally, keep in mind that the chicken cannot have giblets, metal or plastic ties, etc. in the Instant Pot. So if those are difficult or impossible to remove from your frozen chicken, you will have to wait for it to thaw first.
Recommended Reading: How To Make Yogurt In Instant Pot Without Yogurt Button
How Long To Cook Instant Pot Chicken Breast:
- Dont overcook overcooked chicken breast is not anyones favorite thing, but is somewhat difficult to do in the Instant Pot because the steam provides such a moist environment for the chicken to cook in.
- Dont undercook undercooked chicken breast is just plain dangerous! Be sure to check the internal temperature of the chicken to ensure its at least 165 degrees F.
- The exact cook time is going to depend on a variety of things, including the size and shape , and also the model of Instant Pot you have, as some run hotter or cooler. My recipes are tested in the 6 quart model with Bluetooth. Its important to take these these factors into consideration but I find a cook time of 8-10 minutes is always perfect and juicy for the chicken
Dont Miss: How To Cook Tuna Steak In Instant Pot
What Is Natural Pressure Release
A Natural Pressure Release means that the pressure is released gradually. For a Natural Pressure Release, you click on Keep Warm, and wait 10-15 minutes , after which you open the valve and let any leftover pressure release. Another option is to Turn Off/Unplug the IP, wait 10-15 minutes , and after that open the valve.
A natural release is usually used when cooking soups, meat in a large amount of sauce, pasta, or steel-cut oats. This method prevents any foam from the dish to shoot out through the valve, which can happen during a Quick Pressure Release.
Read Also: Poultry Button On Instant Pot
How Long Does It Take To Cook A Whole Chicken In The Pressure Cooker
The length of cooking time for a whole chicken will depend on the size of your chicken. A safe rule of thumb is to cook your chicken 8 minutes per pound and let the pressure naturally release for perfectly cooked chicken.
- 3-pound chicken : 24 minutes on high pressure
- 4-pound chicken : 32 minutes on high pressure
- 5-pound chicken : 40 minutes on high pressure
- For every pound add 8 minutes, for every half a pound add 4 minutes to the total cooking time for whole chickens.
