I love this recipe for Instant Pot Chicken Breasts because I can use fresh or frozen chicken, it’s completely hands off, and yields perfectly cooked chicken in about 25 minutes. Show
I love the ease of cooking chicken this way, and there are so many ways to enjoy it, like in chicken enchiladas, white chicken chili, or BBQ chicken pizza. Have you tried cooking chicken breast in your Instant Pot yet? It is so easy and yields juicy chicken breast you can enjoy for dinner, meal prepping, or use in any recipes that call for cooked or shredded chicken. Once you try it, there’s a good chance you won’t go back! For this recipe I’ve simply seasoned the chicken with salt and pepper but you can add whatever seasonings or spices that will enhance the flavor of the dish you are preparing. How to cook fresh or frozen chicken breast in the Instant Pot:
Can I cook frozen chicken breasts in the Instant Pot?Yes, follow the same steps above, but pressure cook for 10-12 minutes. Make sure that the frozen breasts are all separated and not in a clump when you put them in the instant pot. How do I know how long to cook the chicken breast?The cook time for chicken breast is determined by the size of the individual breasts, not the total amount of chicken. Here is a general rule to follow: for chicken breasts that are under 2” thickness, cook for 8 minutes. For chicken breasts that are over 2” thickness, cook for 10 minutes. Chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees before you eat it. If you’re not sure if it’s cooked through, test with an instant read thermometer. Should I use the poultry setting on the Instant Pot?Be wary of the poultry setting on the instant pot. This setting is based on an average chicken breast, so looking at the thickness of your own chicken breasts will yield a more accurate cook. Cook the chicken on manual high pressure setting based on the thickness. Do I need to use a trivet?If you have the trivet that the instant pot comes with, it is best to cook the breasts in a layer on top of it. This will ensure the chicken is steamed and kept juicy instead of boiling in the liquid. But, if you are without a trivet, putting the chicken breasts directly into the liquid will work just fine, or you can make a rope of aluminum foil and use that as a make-shift “rack” on the bottom of the pot. 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. Or consider topping them with a simple teriyaki sauce. 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 (such as pineapple or apple) for some added sweetness to the chicken. What size of instant pot should I use?You can cook chicken breasts in whatever size instant pot you have. Just make sure you add at least 1 cup of liquid, and then place the chicken in the pot in a single layer. If you have a smaller instant pot, simply cook your chicken in batches so you can keep it in single layers. If you have a larger instant pot, keep in mind it will take a little longer for your instant pot to come to pressure before cooking begins. Pro Tips:
Storing and Freezing Instructions:Shred the chicken with forks or a hand mixer and freeze it in individual bags to easily add to any weeknight dinner. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Or, chop the chicken and refrigerate to add to lunches throughout the week. Recipes for leftover cooked chicken:
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Chicken will stay fresh in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days, or place in freezer bags and freeze for up to 3 months. Calories: 388kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 72gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 218mgSodium: 979mgPotassium: 1259mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 102IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 1mg Did You Make This Recipe? Tag @TastesBetterFromScratch on Instagram with #TastesBetterFromScratch! HAVE YOU TRIED THIS RECIPE?! RATE and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience. Photography by Nikole from The Travel Palate.
Original Post June 9, 2020 Updated October 11, 2021 Lauren Allen Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos. Do you let chicken natural release in Instant Pot?You don't need to set the Instant Pot to natural release. It's a matter of not doing vs doing. You just let the float valve go down on its own. This will happen when the Instant Pot's inner temperature goes down over time and that in turn, reduces the pressure inside.
Can you quick release chicken?Ensure they're separated for best results (not frozen as one big chunk). For chicken thighs, cook them on high pressure for 13 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes and then do a quick release for the remaining pressure (or just let the pressure naturally release fully).
How do you quick release on Instant Pot?To use the quick release method, turn the steam release handle on the top of the Instant Pot from the “sealed” position to the “venting” position. This will allow the excess steam to shoot out of the lid immediately, and the Instant Pot will be depressurized within minutes.
How long does raw chicken take in the Instant Pot?Pressure cook on high for 8-10 minutes for fresh chicken breast, or 10-12 minutes for frozen chicken (depending on the thickness of the breasts). Cook time stays the same no matter how much chicken you add to the pot; the pot will just take longer to come to pressure.
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