Today, I’m going to show you how to make perfectly juicy boneless chicken breasts in the Instant Pot, to make the process as easy as possible. They’re great to have on hand when you want to add protein to a salad or stir fry. Show
(You can see how to properly combine meat, like chicken, on my food combining chart here.) Since I cook so many vegetarian entrees, it’s nice to have pre-cooked chicken on hand when my husband wants some extra protein added to his portion. If you’re like me, and don’t love handling raw meat, you’ll probably love the Instant Pot as much as do– because you barely have to touch the chicken to cook it. (I use the 6-quart Instant Pot here.) Fresh vs. Frozen Chicken BreastsWhen I use frozen chicken breasts, I literally just pour them out of the bag directly into the bottom of the pot. When using fresh chicken breasts, I recommend cooking them on the handled trivet that comes with your electric pressure cooker, to get the best texture possible. How to Cook Instant Pot Chicken BreastsOddly 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. Here are some of the cook times I tried while perfecting this method:
Some things to keep in mind when cooking chicken:
I keep the seasoning simple– just salt and pepper– but you can add any other sauce you like, too. I’ve included several methods for cooking chicken in my healthy Instant Pot Cookbook, with mouthwatering dairy-free(!) sauces, so consider this just one method that works well for me when meal prepping for the week. How to Make Juicy Boneless Chicken Breasts in the Instant PotThe key to getting perfectly juicy boneless chicken breasts is to cook them on a trivet, above the liquid. I find that this results in a better texture than cooking them on the bottom of the pot. I also think their texture is best when you quickly release the pressure, rather than letting it naturally release. Frozen Chicken Breasts in the Instant PotWhen using frozen chicken breasts, there’s no need to thaw them ahead of time. I typically don’t even use the trivet when cooking frozen chicken, as you can throw them in the bottom of the pot and they’ll thaw as the pot heats up. When I first got my Instant Pot, I didn’t even add water to the pot when cooking frozen chicken– they thaw and release moisture, so it’s not necessary, though adding a little bit helps it come to pressure faster. I typically do let the pressure naturally release when cooking frozen chicken, as it needs extra cooking time when compared to fresh. I hope you’ll find this pressure cooking method works well when you need to prepare a batch of boneless chicken breasts, too! How to Make Perfect Instant Pot Chicken Breasts (1-Minute Video):Perfect Instant Pot Chicken Breasts4.62 from 18 votes Here's how I cook a batch of boneless chicken breasts in the Instant Pot to use for meal prep all week long. They're always perfect and juicy every time! Print Recipe Pin Recipe Prep Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 10 mins Pressurize time:: 10 mins Total Time: 25 mins Servings: 4 EquipmentInstant Pot Thermometer Ingredients
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VideoNotesTo Cook Frozen Instant Pot Chicken: Pour 1/2 cup of water into the bottom of the pot and place the frozen breasts on top of that. (No trivet necessary.) Make sure the frozen breasts are not stuck together, as they won't cook evenly otherwise. Cook at high pressure for 12 minutes, then let the pressure naturally release for at least 10 minutes before venting and removing the lid. How long should I pressure cook chicken?Set to HIGH pressure for 15 minutes. For fresh chicken, the cooker will take about 10 minutes to come to pressure. Expect frozen chicken to take 12 to 15 minutes to come to pressure. When the 15 minute cook time is up, do a natural release of pressure for 5 minutes before quick releasing any remaining pressure.
Can you overcook chicken in Instant Pot?Yes, it is possible to overcook chicken in an Instant Pot because you are unable to check the temperature of the chicken throughout the cook time. Be sure to cook the Instant Pot chicken for the full time and then check and see if it needs more time!
How long does it take to cook 5 lb of chicken breast in the Instant Pot?How Long To Cook Chicken Breast In The Instant Pot?. How much water do you add to Instant Pot for chicken breast?To cook the chicken breasts, add about one cup of water to your Instant Pot insert. Add chicken, season with seasonings of choice, seal up the pressure cooker, set it for 10 minutes for fresh chicken breasts and 12 minutes for frozen chicken breasts. Then let it do its thing.
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