How much liquid is needed for Instant Pot chicken?

Juicy, flavorful and tender Instant Pot Chicken Breast from fresh or frozen. 25 minutes from start to finish, simple ingredients and no searing required. Cooking chicken breast in the Instant Pot is so easy!

This simple recipe and Instant Pot BBQ chicken breast are my go-to on a busy weeknight or a weekend (who am I kidding?!).

Table of contents

• Why This Recipe Works?
• Ingredients You Will Need
• Can I Cook Bone-In Skin-On Chicken Breasts?
• How to Cook Fresh Chicken Breast in Instant Pot
• How to Cook Frozen Chicken Breast in Instant Pot
• How Long to Cook Chicken Breast in Instant Pot?
  • How Do I Know It’s Ready?
• How to Make Gravy
• What Size of Instant Pot Can I Use?
• Serving Recommendations
• How to Store Leftovers
• More FAQs
• More Instant Pot Chicken Recipes

This Instant Pot chicken breast recipe is easy, simple and forgiving.

Don’t you always have a pack of chicken breasts in your freezer?! Now you can make juicy chicken breast in Instant Pot from fresh or frozen in just 30 minutes.

I have been making slow cooker chicken breast for years. It’s a great recipe, the only downside is that you have to remove cooked chicken right away to avoid it being dry.

So, this easy recipe solves the problem because chicken breast is done in 25 minutes or so. I just love Instant Pot! It makes the best Instant Pot rice and beans without soaking the beans, and Instant Pot lasagna with no need for a springform pan.

If you are not a blessed electric pressure cooker owner just yet, check out my baked chicken breast or chicken breast in air fryer recipes. Also this honey garlic chicken breast would be good pan fried, in case you don’t have an oven.

Why This Recipe Works?

• Quick and easy: All you have to do is rub chicken breasts with spices and cook for 10 to 15 minutes. With pressure build up and bringing it down, you are in for a maximum of 30 minutes cooking time. You don’t even have to saute your meat but you can, if you wish.
• Cook from fresh or frozen: Forgot to thaw your chicken breasts this morning before going to work? No problem. Even frozen chicken breasts are ready in 30 minutes!
• Tender, juicy and flavorful chicken breast: I can guarantee you will end up with the best chicken breasts you have ever tried! Pressure cooker locks in all the moisture inside the meat resulting in mouthwatering tender chicken breast every time.

Ingredients You Will Need

To make Instant Pot chicken breasts you really need only chicken breasts and water. Everything else is up to your taste and what you are planning to serve it with.

If you are adding cooked chicken breast to salads, quesadillas or tostadas, I would not worry about seasonings much. If you are planning to eat it alongside grains and veggies, I would pay attention to spices.

• Chicken breasts: You can use boneless skinless chicken breasts, fresh or frozen.
• Salt and pepper: Simple seasonings so your chicken is a ‘blank slate’ for recipes.
• Garlic powder: If you wish, but not required.

Seasoning Tip

Of course, you can add more seasonings to taste. It will depend on how you plan to use the chicken once it is ready. Rub chicken breasts with some dried oregano, Italian seasoning, chili powder, smoked paprika or taco seasoning. Or this turkey breast rub would be delicious on chicken as well!

Can I Cook Bone-In Skin-On Chicken Breasts?

Yes, absolutely. You can cook with skin on and bone-in chicken breasts if that’s what you have. Cooking time remains the same.

You do not need to cook them longer because 10-15 minutes of cook time along with about 10 minutes of pressure build up time, is enough to cook through thin chicken bones.

How to Cook Fresh Chicken Breast in Instant Pot

1. Add water: Add 1 cup cold tap water and place trivet on top. You want to use cold water so warm water doesn’t reduce the cook time. If you don’t have trivet, just place breasts on the bottom of Instant Pot. Some readers like to use chicken stock or chicken broth instead, especially if cooking without trivet.
2. Add chicken: Lay chicken breasts in a single layer, sprinkle with spices and rub onto each other right inside the pot. You can also do so on a separate plate but I find it isn’t necessary.
3. Pressure cook the chicken: Depending on the model of your Instant Pot, you will have to press either Pressure Cook on High pressure or Manual button. Set timer for 10 minutes – for breasts under 2 inch thickness, 15 minutes – for over 2 inch thick breasts.
4. Release the pressure: Now you want to wait 5 minutes aka do Natural Release for 5 minutes. Then turn the pressure valve to Venting position to release remaining pressure. Your chicken is ready. I find you do not have to rest the meat with chicken breasts cooked in Instant Pot.

Searing Tip

If you would like to sear your seasoned chicken breasts, press Saute and wait until it says Hot. Swirl a bit of olive oil and sear chicken on all sides for about 2 minutes per side. You might have to do so in batches. After when you add water, make sure to scrape away all browned bits because they can trigger burn notice. Cook seared breasts less than 2″ thick – for 7 minutes, and over 2″ thick – for 10 minutes.

How to Cook Frozen Chicken Breast in Instant Pot

1. Add water: You always want to start with 1 cup cold thin liquid like water or broth when cooking in Instant Pot. Don’t add warm water because it will skew the cook time and your chicken will come out undercooked.
2. Add chicken: When cooking frozen chicken breasts, it is very important to make sure each breast is separated. If you add a blob of frozen breasts, you will end up with raw meat inside and overcooked chicken outside. Place chicken in a single layer.
3. Season it: You won’t be able to rub spices or sear frozen chicken, so just sprinkle seasonings on top.
4. Pressure cook: Press Pressure Cook on High (Duo model) or Manual (LUX) for 15-18 minutes. I would say chicken breasts under 2″ thick in the thickest part – cook for 15 minutes. Over 2″ – cook for 18 minutes.

Check out my Instant Pot frozen chicken breast recipe for detailed info.

Freezing Tip

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.

How Long to Cook Chicken Breast in Instant Pot?

With all the different sizes and models of this electric pressure cooker, you might be wondering how long to cook chicken breast in the Instant Pot?! And it’s valid question.

You need to answer only 2 questions:

1. Are you using fresh chicken breasts or frozen chicken breasts?
2. How thick are they?

I have put together this cooking time chart for your quick reference:

• Fresh chicken breasts: 10 minutes – under 2″ thick, 15 minutes – for over 2″ thick breasts.
• Frozen chicken breasts: 15 minutes – under 2″ thick, 18 minutes – for over 2″ thick.

Always with 5 minutes of natural pressure release and then quick release remaining pressure.

How Do I Know It’s Ready?

As per USDA guidelines, your chicken is ready when a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part reaches 165 degrees F. Check the internal temperature in the thickest part of the breast.

How to Make Gravy

If you have seasoned your chicken breast with extra spices and seared it, then you will have flavorful cooking liquid sitting at the bottom of the pot. In this case, you can make delicious gravy that is full of flavor.

Press Saute button and in a small bowl, make a slurry with 2 tablespoons cold water and 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Pour it in, whisk and cook until gravy has thickened, about 2-3 minutes. Easy!

What Size of Instant Pot Can I Use?

Any size of Instant Pot works for this recipe. It comes in 3 quart, 5 quart, 6 quart or 8 quart.

Same recipe. Same cooking time. Same water amount.

Just make sure chicken breasts fit in a single layer. If your Instant Pot is small and you want to cook large amount of breasts, do so in a few batches. Piling up chicken in a few layers will result in undercooked chicken.

Also note that larger Instant Pot, for example like my 8 quart, takes longer to come to pressure. About 8-10 minutes.

Serving Recommendations

There are so many ways to answer the question on what to do with cooked chicken breast! It sure is a welcome addition to a variety of recipes like salads, enchiladas, casseroles and sandwiches.

Here are a few ways to turn it into a meal:

• Instant Pot shredded chicken: Shred meat with 2 forks, refrigerate and use to make chicken salad or healthy white chicken chili.
• Diced chicken breast: Chop it up to add protein to pasta, vegetable soup or borscht. Why not?!
• Low carb meal: Make one of these healthy zucchini recipes to have with chicken for a complete meal.
• With sauce: Combine shredded chicken with homemade barbecue sauce or teriyaki sauce.

How to Store Leftovers

Store: Refrigerate leftover chicken in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Weekly meal prep: Refrigerate whole or cubed chicken breast and use throughout the week for lunches. Sub out your sandwich deli meat or use in healthy cobb salad.

Freeze: Fully cook, cool completely and freeze in an airtight container or resealable freezer bags for up to 3 months. Thaw in a fridge or on a counter.

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