How To Cook Chicken Breast In The Instant Pot

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Ge The Instant Pot Chicken Breast Recipe:

How to Cook Chicken Breast and Rice in the Instant Pot~Easy Cooking

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How To Make Gravy

I actually love to make some gravy with the leftover liquid in the Instant Pot. Trust me there is a lot of flavor there and its wonderful over this chicken breast.

To make the gravy, simply make a slurry with 2 tbsp of water and 1 tbsp of cornstarch. Set the Instant Pot to the Saute setting and bring the leftover liquid to a boil. Add the cornstarch slurry and whisk well. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until thickened. Thats all!

Does Cook Time Change If I Have A Smaller Or Larger Instant Pot

  • No matter which size model Instant Pot you have, the number of minutes you select on the Instant Pot remains the same.

The capacity of each Instant Pot and the amount of time the differently sized pots take to come to pressure will vary, but youll always set it for the same number of minutes, regardless of its size.

If you have a different brand other than Instant Pot and are wondering how long to cook chicken in a pressure cooker, the times listed above should still be accurate for other electric pressure cooker models.

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More Spice Mixes For Chicken

Looking for variations on this delicious recipe? The best thing about this recipe is that you can make it taste completely different, based on the spice mix you use.

It tastes delicious with the Chicken Rub, and you can also use other spice mixes as well:

Italian Seasoning Mix, use this mix to make delicious Italian chicken breasts.

Best Cajun Seasoning, perfect for making Cajun chicken.

Taco Seasoning Mix, for delicious taco chicken. Once you make the chicken, just use it in tacos!

What To Serve With A Traditional Chicken Salad Sandwich

The Best Instant Pot Chicken Breast + Video

One of our familys favorite side dishes when having chicken salad sandwiches is a Super Simple Salsa with chips. You can make your salsa spicy with extra jalapeno and serve with any specialty blue taco chip.

In the summer you will love to have fresh farm-grown corn on the cob that is so easy to make Corn on the Cob in the Instant Pot.

A simple and easy Corn Bread Recipe is perfect in fall.

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How To Make This Instant Pot Bbq Chicken Breast Recipe

Place frozen chicken breasts in your Instant Pot.

Pour HALF the sauce over the top of the chicken.

Pour the chicken broth over that.

Secure the lid on your Instant Pot.

Close the vent and press the Manual button. Adjust time according to the chicken used . Chicken should be at least 165 F. when done. Drain off any leftover liquid.

Add the other half of the barbecue sauce to the chicken in the Instant Pot and press the Sauté button.

Cook the breasts in the sauce, heating the sauce until it has thickened.

Once the sauce is thick, the chicken is done.

Instant Pot Chicken Paprikash With Egg Noodles

Paprika and chicken stock deliver big flavor with this easy Instant Pot paprikash, featuring skinless, boneless chicken thighs and egg noodles. Easy and delicious, says Latkins. Its my kind of meal. I added some red peppers but you dont need to. I just wanted to jazz it up a bit. Its a perefect weeknight meal.

Paprika and chicken stock deliver big flavor with this easy Instant Pot paprikash, featuring skinless, boneless chicken thighs and egg noodles. Easy and delicious, says Latkins. Its my kind of meal. I added some red peppers but you dont need to. I just wanted to jazz it up a bit. Its a perefect weeknight meal.

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Instant Pot Chicken Breasts Quick Tips

  • Get a digital scale. I use one similar to this*.
  • If you are cooking more than one chicken breast choose ones that are similar size and thickness. If you cook a large chicken breast with a small chicken breast one will be overdone and one will be underdone. Cook chicken breasts of similar size to get consistent results every time.
  • For FROZEN chicken: Weigh your chicken breasts. Lets say your chicken breast weighs 12 ounces. Youll use a pressure cooking time of 12 minutes. If youre cooking more than one chicken breast and the average weight of the breasts is 12 ounces youll still only cook it for 12 minutes. The one minute per ounce rule is for sliceable chicken. If you want shreddable chicken then add 3 minutes to the total cooking time. So in the example I just used you would cook the chicken for 15 minutes for shreddable chicken.
  • For FRESH chicken: use the formula in step 3 but subtract 2-3 minutes of cooking time .
  • Use a 5 minute natural pressure release for frozen or fresh chicken. This means when the time is up you let the pot sit there for 5 minutes and then move the valve to venting.
  • Use 1 cup of broth or water in the bottom of your Instant Pot. Use a trivet, if possible. Lay the chicken on top of the trivet. For even cooking stack your chicken breasts on top of each other cross ways. Or if possible lay the chicken in one even layer on the trivet. If you dont have a trivet you can lay your chicken directly in the bottom of the pot with the liquid.
  • Tips For Making Instant Pot Chicken Breasts

    Instant Pot: How to Make the Perfect Chicken Breast

    Like any pressure cooker recipe, allow extra time for the pressure cooker to come up to temperature. This typically takes about 5 to 7 minutes, but depending on the thickness of your chicken breasts and how many you stack in the insert, it could take longer. I dont have the exact time for this since each of you are different, so you will have to play with it.

    With this Instant Pot chicken breast recipe using 3 boneless chicken breasts, theres no need for any additional time needed for the instant pot to natural release the steam.

    Also note that you can make chicken stock in an Instant Pot as well.

    Stock from chicken cooked in the Instant Pot is incredibly delicious, especially when using bone-in chicken breasts for all that rich flavor that comes from bones. If youre interested in making homemade chicken broth in an Instant Pot instead of just chicken breasts, follow the directions in my recipe for the Best Chicken Stock ever.

    Use the stock to make gravy or use as a soup base, by adding these additional ingredients:

    • chicken boullion cubes
    • root vegetables such as parsnip or turnips
    • garni of herbs like parsley, thyme, bay leaves
    • 5-6whole peppercorns

    Read Also: Pre Cooked Ribs In Instant Pot

    How To Make Shredded Chicken In The Instant Pot:

    To make this Instant Pot chicken recipe, simply

  • Combine the ingredients in the Instant Pot. Add the chicken breasts, seasoning and chicken stock. Then briefly toss to combine, being sure to arrange the chicken breasts in an even layer.
  • Pressure cook. Cover with the lid and pressure cook on high for 10 minutes, followed by a 5 minute natural release, followed by a quick release with whatever pressure remains.
  • Shred. Remove the lid and use two forks to shred the chicken. Give it a thorough toss with the remaining juices in the Instant Pot.
  • Serve or store. Then serve the chicken while its nice and warm. Or transfer it to a sealed container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
  • How Do You Cook Fresh Chicken Breasts In The Instant Pot

    If your chicken is not frozen, you will use the same cook times and method described above. The only difference is that you will do a quick pressure release instead of a 10 minute natural release. The quick pressure release will stop the cooking process faster than a natural release.

    To do a quick pressure release, as soon as the cook time ends, use the handle of a long spoon to carefully turn the steam release valve to the venting position. Once steam stops coming out and the float valve drops down, open the Instant Pot lid. Use an instant read thermometer to check that the chicken is cooked through to a safe 165 degrees F.

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    How Can I Use Instant Pot Chicken

    Now that you have cooked chicken, what can you do with all the meat? Try out some of our favorite chicken breast recipes:

    When youre ready to expand your skills past the Instant Pot, try our variety of chicken dinner ideas! For summer months, enjoy the outdoors and learn how to grill chicken breasts. Or, consider these slow-cooker chicken breast recipes.

    Frozen Chicken In The Instant Pot

    Instant Pot Chicken Breasts (+Gravy)

    If you have an Instant Pot, then you probably already know that it is the little machine that can. It has literally transformed the way that so many of us cook , but I think that my favorite thing about the Instant Pot to date is the fact that it can cook meat from frozen.

    Being able to cook a protein from frozen means that if I forget to move my frozen chicken from the freezer to the fridge to start thawing before I leave for work , dinner doesnt have to be completely scrapped for takeout! Instead, I can come home, pop that frozen chicken right into my Instant Pot, and continue on with my dinner plan.

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    Can I Add Potatoes And Cook Them With The Chicken

    Yes, you can add cut up potatoes and arrange them in the liquid. Use a mix of water and stock. Once the cooking time is over, remove chicken and trivet and mash the potatoes right in the pot. You can also add baby potatoes, cut in half, around the chicken on a trivet and still make the gravy from the liquid.

    Instant Pot Chicken Breast Variations:

    • Chicken is one of my favorite proteins because it can take on a wide variety of spices, seasonings and sauces! Mix things up with your seasoning blend or use a bottled blend that you love for a new flair.
    • Slice and toss in barbecue sauce for easy Instant Pot BBQ Chicken.
    • This seasoning blend and cooking method works just as well for a combination or breasts and thighs if you have a chicken thigh lover, toss in some boneless, skinless chicken thighs with your breasts and everyone is happy!

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    How To Make Instant Pot Shredded Chicken

    We place the raw chicken right in the Instant Pot pressure cooker before seasoning with salt and pepper, and then shred the cooked chicken in the Instant Pot before serving any way you like.

    Instant Pot shredded chicken couldnt be easier and more convenient and its super tender. The trick was figuring out a perfect cook time to pressure cook and weve done it. Check out all of our tips for shredded chicken breast recipes in the Instant Pot below!

    Well also walk you through how to make Instant Pot shredded chicken with both fresh and frozen chicken breasts.

    How Long To Cook Instant Pot Chicken Breast:

    How to cook chicken breast in the Instant pot plus 3 EASY chicken breast recipes
    • 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

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    How To Cook Chicken Thighs In The Instant Pot

    Chicken thighs with or without bone, with or without skin, fresh or frozen get the times needed to cook chicken thighs of any type in the Instant Pot. This is a great technique for when chicken thighs are on sale and youre doing meal prep for the week.

    I really love chicken thigh meat. I find it much juicier and more flavorful than chicken breast. So when its on sale at my grocery store, I load up on it.

    My new favorite way to cook chicken thighs, especially if Im doing food prep for the week, is to put it all into the Instant Pot. It comes out really juicy and tender and full of flavor. I mean it. If I put half an onion and some garlic cloves into the Instant Pot with that chicken, the meat seems to get penetrated by that flavor. Probably due to the high pressure of the Instant Pot cooking method.

    What youre going to do is to season up your chicken thighs with salt and pepper and anything else youd like.

    Then put some water into the bottom of your Instant Pot insert. 1 cup is enough. I often put 2-4 cups because that water ends up deliciously flavored and I use it as stock or broth during the week. Note that if you use more water, the time the Instant Pot takes to get pressurized will increase. You still set your Instant Pot for the same number of minutes, all that changes is what the Instant Pot does, not what you do.

    Note: You can use any kind of chicken thighs in the Instant Pot. Times are given for different types below.

    Should I Add Seasoning To My Chicken

    Chicken breasts in the instant pot can be customized to whatever dish you are planning to put them in. Mexican food? Sprinkle with taco seasoning. Italian dish? Add some Italian seasoning or garlic.

    For simple, versatile, chicken breast that can be used in meal prep, salad, etc, just add some salt and pepper along with your chicken broth or water. You can also use different juices for your liquid for some added sweetness to the chicken.

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    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.

    What Are Some Flavor Ideas For Instant Pot Chicken

    Chicken Breast Instant Pot Recipe [VIDEO]

    Want to spice things up? Try some of these suggestions to quickly transform a plain chicken breast:

    • Change up the liquid: skip the chicken stock and opt for beer, apple juice or pineapple juice instead.
    • Add some Asian flair: add a tablespoon of miso paste and a splash of soy sauce to the chicken stock.
    • Go for Mexican flavors: add in 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder, 1/4 teaspoon chili powder and finish off with a squeeze of fresh lime juice to the chicken stock.
    • Make it Mediterranean: add 1 teaspoon each of dried oregano and garlic powder to your stock.
    • Be bold with Buffalo chicken flavor: embolden your chicken stock with 1/4 cup hot sauce or your favorite wing sauce, 1 tablespoon butter, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar and 1/4 teaspoon celery seed. Top finished chicken with blue cheese.

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    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.

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