If you have an Instant Pot, there are a few things you should definitely try using it for. One of my favorite ways to use my Instant Pot is to cook up some juicy Instant Pot chicken breasts! It’s super simple, creates juicy meat, and you can use the chicken in a range of recipes throughout the week.
Why cooking chicken breasts in the Instant Pot works
Instant Pot chicken breast is juicy, delicious, and entirely hands-off. After seasoning and preparing your chicken, place it in the Instant Pot, set the cooking time, and walk away. You can use that free time to prepare your sides, get some chores done, or even put your feet up and relax!
Not only is the Instant Pot hands-off and easy when it comes to cooking chicken breasts, it also guarantees a perfectly cooked piece of chicken every time. There’s no worrying about dried out or overcooked chicken and you can meal prep a bunch of chicken for meals for the week ahead in under half an hour.
Ingredients you’ll need
This recipe is simple. All you’ll need to make Instant Pot chicken breast are:
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Chicken broth—You’ll use this in place of water for more flavorful chicken
- Avocado oil—For searing the chicken breasts
- Salt—You can add some pepper too if you’d like
- Garlic powder
- Italian seasoning
Do I need boneless or bone-in chicken breasts?
This recipe has the cooking times for boneless skinless chicken breasts. Although you can cook bone-in chicken breasts in the slow cooker, the cooking time would be longer because of the bone.
Wholefully Protip
This recipe calls for fresh chicken breast. It is possible to use frozen chicken breasts if you increase the cooking time by at least four minutes. Check the internal temperature and make sure the chicken breasts have reached 165°F. If needed, use the Instant Pot in manual mode to cook your breasts for a few more minutes.
How much liquid do I need for chicken breasts in the Instant Pot?
You only need a cup of liquid in the bottom of the slow cooker to cook Instant Pot chicken breasts. This recipe uses chicken broth to give some added flavor to the juicy meat. If you’re planning on adding a bunch of spices or flavor to your breasts when you add them to a meal, you could use water instead. The liquid adds moisture to the chicken, and placing the meat on top of a trivet keeps it out of direct contact with the broth while ensuring even and equal cooking.
How long do chicken breasts take in the Instant Pot?
It doesn’t take long at all to make this Instant Pot chicken breast recipe. The entire process only takes half an hour. Searing the breasts takes eight to ten minutes and cooking them using high pressure in the Instant Pot takes 12 minutes. After that, allow ten minutes for the Instant Pot to release pressure and your chicken breasts are ready to serve!
Wholefully Protip
I recommend not using the quick-release valve on the pressure cooker. Natural pressure release keeps your chicken juicy, as it soaks moisture back up while the Instant Pot is cooling down.
What makes chicken rubbery, and how do I keep that from happening?
When the meat doesn’t cook long enough in the Instant Pot, it can lead to rubbery chicken. To prevent this from happening, stick to the cooking times listed in the recipe. Your chicken should read 165°F on the thermometer after cooking to be safe to eat.
The other thing that can cause a rubbery exterior to your chicken breasts is when they get dry and overcooked on the inside. You can prevent this by using the trivet and the chicken broth listed in the recipe. As the Instant Pot cooks the chicken, the chicken soaks up the moisture from the broth, keeping the interior of the chicken nice and moist.
How do I make Instant Pot shredded chicken?
It is easiest to shred meat after it is cooked. Just take two forks, and pull them apart and across your juicy chicken breast to make shredded chicken. Now you’re ready to use it for chicken tacos, salads, soups, or buffalo chicken dip!
How can I use cooked chicken breasts?
There are so many ways to serve Instant Pot chicken breasts! Try using them in any recipe that calls for rotisserie chicken. You can shred the chicken and add it to a salad or sandwiches. They go great as your main dish served with gravy, potatoes, and other side dishes. You can slice them, add them to casseroles, mix them with some barbecue sauce, or cover them in cheese. Pretty much anywhere you need chicken, you can substitute the breasts from this easy Instant Pot chicken recipe.
How should I store the leftovers?
Allow leftover chicken breasts to cool slightly before storing to prevent the buildup of condensation. After cooling, store the leftover chicken breasts in an airtight plastic or glass container. Cooked chicken breasts will last up to three days in the fridge and up to three months in the freezer.
Juicy Instant Pot Chicken Breast
The Instant Pot pressure cooker creates a juicy, tender chicken breast in a fraction of the time.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and salt. Rub the mixture all over the chicken breasts, until well coated.
- Heat the oil in the Instant Pot on high, then add the chicken breasts. You may have to work in batches. Sear each chicken breast for 4-5 minutes on each side. Set the chicken aside.
- Pour in the chicken broth, and scrape the brown bits off the bottom of the pot.
- Press “cancel”, and place the trivet inside the Instant Pot. Set the seared chicken on top of the trivet, and close the lid.
- Pressure cook on high for 12 minutes, and allow for a 10-minute natural release. Once the 10 minutes is up, release the pressure from the Instant Pot, then open the lid and remove the chicken.
- Slice and serve!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 449Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 193mgSodium: 451mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 72g
At Wholefully, we believe that good nutrition is about much more than just the numbers on the nutrition facts panel. Please use the above information as only a small part of what helps you decide what foods are nourishing for you.
