28+ Instant Pot Chicken Recipes - Easy & Flavorful! (2024)

See my guide on how to use an Instant Pot.

The best Instant Pot chicken recipes to make dinner quick, easy and delicious! From healthy Instant Pot chicken breast recipes and Instant Pot chicken thigh recipes, to how to cook frozen chicken in your Instant Pot, this list of Instant Pot chicken recipes has it all!

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By now you probably know how much I love my Instant Pot. It makes dinner prep so quick and easy! The Instant Pot is the best for developing rich flavors in a fraction of the time.

Your Instant Pot can cook the best moist, tender and juicy chicken breasts and chicken thighs.

You know how when you cook chicken breasts in your slow cooker they tend to fall apart and often have that “slow cooker taste?” That is not the case at all with Instant Pot chicken!

Chicken breasts cooked in an Instant Pot will hold their shape and are perfect for slicing. Unless you cook them for a really long time, of course. In that case you are making shredded chicken.

If you are looking for new ways to cook chicken in your Instant Pot, you’re going to love the Instant Pot chicken recipes in this roundup! I’ve included my favorite simple Instant Pot chicken thighs recipe and my most popular Instant Pot chicken breasts recipe. There are one pot casseroles and soups, plus recipes for the basics like shredded chicken for meal prep.

You are going to want to add so many of these delectable Instant Pot chicken recipes to your collection. They’re simple, easy, and many of them are healthy.

Cooking Tips for Instant Pot Chicken

  • When cooking chicken breasts in your Instant Pot, the size of the individual breasts (not the total quantity of chicken) will determine the cook time. The beauty of the Instant Pot is that if you overcook your chicken a bit, it will still be tender and delicious.
  • The best way to check if your chicken is done is to use an instant read thermometer to check the internal temperature. It should be 165° F at the thickest part.
  • If your chicken is not done after pressure cooking, you can either (a) do a second pressure cooking cycle or (b) finish cooking the chicken using the Instant Pot’s sauté function.
  • You do not need to thaw frozen chicken before cooking it in your Instant Pot. Since the Instant Pot cooks quickly at high pressure, it is perfectly safe to cook frozen chicken in your pressure cooker!
  • You can thicken sauces or sauté veggies for your meal right in your Instant Pot using the sauté function. It is so easy and convenient!

Also see 29 Healthy Instant Pot Recipes here!

If you’re new to Instant Pot cooking, read my quick-start Instant Pot Manual to learn the basics. If you’re looking to buy an Instant Pot, see my guide on which Instant Pot to buy.

Instant Pot Chicken Recipes

This Instant Pot Chicken Breast recipe is a weeknight staple. This recipe makes it so easy to cook juicy chicken breasts, perfect for serving with your favorite side dishes or meal prep. You can even make a quick gravy from the cooking liquid, right in the Instant Pot.

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This Instant Pot Whole Chicken recipe makes the best rotisserie-style whole chicken. It’s easy to prepare and the chicken always turns out moist, juicy and so flavorful!

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When you forget to thaw your chicken, this method for cooking juicy Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Breasts is a lifesaver!

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One of our most popular recipes, Honey Garlic Instant Pot Chicken Breasts are tender and juicy with the best honey garlic sauce.

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Instant Pot Chicken Thighs can be cooked from fresh or frozen. The chicken thighs are seasoned with a delicious blend of seasonings.

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When you’re craving comfort food, Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings is just the meal you need. The easy homemade dumplings cook up tender and fluffy in the Instant Pot.

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This Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore is an easy dinner idea, with tender chicken, tomatoes, mushrooms and bell peppers.

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Lemon and garlic bring lots of flavor to this Instant Pot Lemon Chicken recipe.

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Instant Pot Shredded Chicken is a hands-off way to make juicy shredded chicken. Add it to salads and sandwiches, or use it in your favorite recipes that call for cooked chicken.

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This creamy Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo Pasta is a family favorite pasta and chicken dinner idea!

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These Instant Pot Chicken Tacos are so quick and simple to make! The salsa chicken is the perfect filling for tacos, or use it to make enchiladas or burrito bowls.

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Instant Pot Butter Chicken is a comforting meal made with chicken and a richly flavored tomato-based curry sauce. It’s especially delicious served with rice and naan.

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Instant Pot Chicken Stew with Farro is a wholesome dinner idea, made with chicken, vegetables and whole grains.

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This Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup is comfort food at its best. This nourishing soup is perfect for a cold day.

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Instant Pot Chicken and Rice is an easy one pot meal, made with brown rice, chicken breasts and vegetables. The whole family will love this delicious dinner idea!

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This flavorful Pressure Cooker Thai Peanut Chicken & Noodles offers a spicy Thai peanut sauce, tender chicken and noodles.

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This Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup is one of my most popular Instant Pot chicken soup recipes. It’s full-flavored and you can adjust the spice level to your preference.

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Garlic Sesame Chicken is an easy meal that has a quick preparation time. The combination of sweet and savory flavors is so delicious!

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This Instant Pot White Chicken Chili is simple to make using either fresh or frozen chicken breasts.

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Instant Pot Cashew Chicken is a healthier version of the takeout favorite. It’s simple and quick to make!

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Instant Pot Chicken and Mushrooms has tender chicken thighs, mushrooms and orzo pasta. It’s a weeknight favorite!

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Instant Pot Chicken Fricassee is an easy way to make this classic French chicken stew with a hearty broth and vegetables.

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Instant Pot Bone Broth can be used in soups or sipped as a nourishing beverage.

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Instant Pot Tuscan Chicken Stew is a hearty and wholesome meal. It’s loaded with flavor and veggies!

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Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken is a 30 minute meal. You’ll love the sweet and savory sauce!

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Instant Pot Salsa Verde Chicken is perfect for enjoying in burrito bowls with beans and rice.

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Instant Pot Orange Chicken has a delicious sticky-sweet orange sauce. Serve it over rice with a vegetable for a complete meal.

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Instant Pot BBQ Chicken makes the best BBQ chicken sandwiches and is perfect for feeding a crowd!

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28+ Instant Pot Chicken Recipes - Easy & Flavorful! (2024)

FAQs

How do you make chicken taste more flavorful? ›

Brining your chicken is a foolproof way to not only add flavour to your roast but also to ensure you don't overcook the meat. Essentially a mix of salt, sugar and water, we love adding herbs, garlic or whole spices such as fennel and cumin to flavour the brine.

Does chicken get more tender the longer you cook it in an Instant Pot? ›

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.

How do I give chicken the best flavor? ›

Add a touch of spice to your chicken breast by combining paprika, cinnamon, turmeric, cumin, ginger, garlic and olive oil to create a paste. Then cover your chicken breast with the paste and pat down to secure.

Why does my Instant Pot chicken come out rubbery? ›

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 don't cook them long enough they get a weird, rubber-like texture that's nearly impossible to chew, and if you cook them too long, their texture gets dry.

What spices enhance the flavor of chicken? ›

5 best spice and herbs blends for chicken and meat
  • Paprika and garlic powder. Paprika is a great spice that makes any chicken dish stand out, it comes in many forms sweet, hot, regular and smoky. ...
  • Basil and rosemary. ...
  • Ginger and lemongrass. ...
  • Turmeric and chili. ...
  • Coriander and cumin.

What should you season chicken with? ›

Aside from classics like salt, pepper, basil and garlic, you could try using chilli powder, ginger, cumin, cayenne, paprika, oregano, sage, rosemary and thyme.

Why is my chicken tough after pressure cooking? ›

With chicken you need to let the pot naturally release for at least 10 minutes-all the way before opening. This helps it finish cooking and keeps it from becoming dried out and tough. 8-10 minutes high pressure should be enough for fresh chicken.

Can you overcook chicken in a Instapot? ›

While all cuts of chicken are fair game for the Instant Pot, thighs are the most forgiving. Because chicken breast is so lean, just a couple of extra minutes of cook time turns them from juicy to overcooked and dry.

Is it better to pressure cook or slow cook chicken? ›

So can a Crock-Pot cook better chicken than an Instant Pot? Well, it really depends on what you're making. The Instant Pot cooks chicken much faster than its non-pressure counterparts, but the resulting texture isn't going to be the same as what you'd get with a slow cooker or Dutch oven.

What is the fastest way to add flavor to chicken? ›

Flavor Trick #1: Marinate Whole or Sliced Chicken Breasts for 30 to 90 Minutes Before Cooking. Marinating not only adds flavor, but the combination of healthy fat and acid in most recipes also helps tenderize the meat.

How to infuse flavor in chicken? ›

  1. Make a dry brine. 1 tbsp salt for every 5 lbs, fresh herbs such as thyme, tarragon, oregano etc. Pulse herbs and add to salt. ...
  2. 1 hr before cooking bring to room temp. Pulse together unsalted butter, fresh herbs. Rub all on top, under skin and inside.
  3. Lastly.. stuff chicken cavity with onions, oranges or lemons.
Oct 28, 2021

Is woody chicken breast safe to eat? ›

The specific cause is not known but may be related to factors associated with rapid growth rates. Companies often use a three-point scale to grade the woodiness of a particular breast. Although distasteful to many, meat that exhibits woody breast is not known to be harmful to humans who consume it.

Why is my chicken tough and stringy? ›

If your chicken breast are tough, you cooked them too long. Chicken breasts are hard to get right because they have a fat end and a skinny end. The fat end takes a bit longer to cook. Cooked perfectly, a chicken breast is moist and tender, with no pink flesh in the middle of the thickest part.

How to fix bland chicken? ›

There are several simple and delicious ways to enhance the flavor and moisture of bland and dry chicken: Marinade: Marinating chicken before cooking can infuse it with flavor and moisture. You can use a mixture of olive oil, herbs, spices, and acid (like lemon juice or vinegar) to create a flavorful marinade.

Why is my chicken not flavorful? ›

You're Not Using Skin-on, Bone-In

The bones and skin add a subtle layer of fat and flavor to whatever it is that you're cooking. Even if you prefer not to eat the skin, cooking the breast with the skin on and then peeling it off right before you chow down will yield a tastier, more succulent breast.

How to add flavor to cooked chicken breast? ›

some tasty ways to spice up boring chicken breast:
  1. zesty italian - an herby mix of basil, oregano, parsley, and grated parmesan, mostly if ur craving something italian. (My personal fav)
  2. Coat the chicken in a mixture of cayenne pepper, paprika, garlic powder and black pepper. ...
  3. Another - Cumin, chili powder,
Aug 9, 2023

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