The Best Instant Pot Chicken Recipes

Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 4 servings

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These easy Instant Pot Chicken Recipes come together SO quickly, you can have a delicious homemade meal on the table in no time! From whole chicken in the Instant Pot, to chicken breasts to chicken thighs, these are the best chicken recipes to make in everyone’s favorite multicooker.

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The Instant Pot is such a versatile kitchen tool!

It took me a little while to get the hang of it, but as I’ve been committed to using mine more and more, I’ve realized that you can make THE MOST Instant Pot dinners! From chicken tacos, chicken soups, one pot meals, and more, the possibilities are limitless.

With so many ways to make use of an Instant Pot, who could go back to pre-Instant Pot times? Seeing as chicken is one of my favorite things to make in the pressure cooker, I thought it was high time to compile and share a list of my best Instant Pot chicken recipes. 

What it’s the Difference Between an Instant Pot and a Pressure Cooker?

There are a few key differences between an Instant Pot and most pressure cookers: 

  • An Instant Pot is an all-in-one multicooker, with pressure cooking as just one of its functions. Instant Pots are used for slow cooking, rice cooking, sauteing, steaming, and warming, the main goal being to speed up the cooking process.
  • A Pressure Cooker is also designed to reduce cooking time. Pressure cookers are single-function and trap steam inside in order to cook the food more quickly. In general, they’re a little more technical and not as user-friendly.

Since it’s so easy to use, the Instant Pot is basically the novice’s pressure cooker (among other things)! The main difference between the two though is in the multi-function set up of the Instant Pot.

Why Instant Pot Recipes Are Perfect for Weeknights

Not only does the Instant Pot save time during the actual cooking process, it makes the overall meals just so much easier! Considering you can cook, saute, and keep everything warm in one pot, it really is the best. Here are just some of the ways that the Instant Pot is perfect for weeknight meals:

  • It has completely changed the game when it comes to weekly meal prep. I can whip up all dinners (and even some lunches) for the week in a single evening, done and dusted!
  • This one-pot wonder cuts out TONS of clean-up time. Since the Instant Pot does it all, there’s no need for loads of dirty pots and pans.
  • Instant Pots are perfect for meals in a hurry. Busy weeknights often call for having dinner on the table, pronto! A multicooker makes it easy to have a whole family meal ready to go in no time. You can even cook frozen chicken breasts in the Instant Pot, making it the ultimate time saver. 

Tips for Success Every Time

Here are a few helpful tips for how to cook the best chicken in the Instant Pot:

  • Instant Pots are forgiving. With other cooking methods, chicken can become dry when overcooked. In the Instant Pot, because it’s such a moist environment, I’ve found that it stays perfectly juicy a lot longer. Do your best to get the timing right, but if you do add a couple of extra minutes to the cooking time, that’s probably okay.
  • Add creams and thicker sauces later on. The Instant Pot needs a certain amount of liquid to come to pressure, so thick sauces like BBQ sauce or cream-based sauces alone may risk burning. It can help to combine thicker sauces with a bit of broth or water before adding them into the pot. You can also set aside some of the sauce to add in after the chicken is cooked.
  • Pay attention to cooking times. If you’re making a one-pot meal with chicken and veggies, try to find ingredients with similar cooking times. Adding the vegetables part way through will take extra time, since the Pot will have to come back up to pressure to cook again. So be prepared and read recipes carefully.

30 Instant Pot Chicken Recipes to Try

From chicken breasts, to chicken thighs, to whole chickens cooked in the Instant Pot, these chicken dinners are so incredibly easy and flavourful!

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Instant Pot Chicken Recipes

5 from 4 votes
These easy Instant Pot Chicken Recipes come together SO quickly, you can have a delicious homemade meal on the table in no time! From whole chicken in the Instant Pot, to chicken breasts to chicken thighs, these are the best chicken recipes to make in everyone's favorite multicooker.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Time to build and release pressure 20 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Cuisine American
Course Instant Pot, Main Course
Servings 4 servings
Keywords instant pot chicken recipes, instant pot recipes

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Meet Ashley

My name is Ashley Fehr and I love creating easy meals my family loves. I also like to do things my way, which means improvising and breaking the rules when necessary. Here you will find creative twists on old favorites and some of my favorite family recipes, passed down from generations!

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Comments

  1. Vinnie says

    Ashley, You have renewed my interest in Chicken! I was beginning to look up ways to groom Feathers because I was sure I was going to break out in Feathers soon! Thanks for sharing, and if you haven’t tried this Indian Favorite (also Ours)
    check it out! Butter Chicken, It’s great, I just start it off with some Carmelized Onions, brown sugar, and curry powder and you can use a premade sauce or concoct one of your own,It’s worth looking into!
    Thanks again, Vinnie

  2. Jen says

    This is so perfect for me! Pinning! I’m going to start with the chicken and noodles and sit down to meal plan the rest. Thank you!

  3. Tammy Shay says

    I am having a difficult time with my recipes. I made spaghetti and it burned on the bottom. I made a rice dish and it too burned. My next recipe was going to be chicken. I bought a whole chicken, thinking that’s how it is to be cooked,

    I am hoping it turns out.

    • Ashley Fehr says

      Hi Tammy! Unfortunately I can only offer assistance if you have made Instant Pot recipes from The Recipe Rebel, as I haven’t made many of the recipes out there. If you do make one here and leave a comment on that recipe post, I can definitely help you trouble shoot!

  4. Christina B says

    Most of these sound great. Does anyone have a source for chicken recipes that don’t need served over rice? (E.g pasta or potatoes work instead) my father can’t eat rice and it’s a problem with many recipes I’m noticing.

  5. Ruth A Freeman says

    I just got my Instant Pot three weeks ago. So far Ive tried the tried & true pot roast…perfect.
    Then I got on the internet and made a quiche-my husband said it was the best he ever had! He suggested I make a cheesecake next, it came out light and creamy, another success. Well, I’m batting a pretty aveage so tonight I’m trying chicken breasts. I’ve looked at some receipes and looked to see what I have in the cupboard. I’m going to stay with simple for my first chicken breast. I’ll write again…

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