How To Cook Chicken in the Instant Pot (2024)

In The Kitchen

Need chicken fast? The pressure cooker is the way to go!

Coco Morante

Coco began developing recipes for Simply Recipes in 2016 and is the author of five cookbooks. She is an industry expert on Instant Pot cooking.

Learn about Simply Recipes'Editorial Process

Updated April 15, 2024

In This Recipe

Easy Cooked Chicken
See Also
Pressure Cooker vs Slow Cooker | Harris Scarfe How to SAFELY Can Raw Chicken 8 Things You Should Know Before Cooking Instant Pot Chicken Crock-Pot vs. Instant Pot: Which makes better chicken?
Cooking Time
Cooking Frozen Chicken
Using Cooked Chicken
BONUS: Chicken Broth!

11 Chicken Thigh Recipes for Your Instant PotFEATURED IN:

It's so convenient to have already-cooked chicken in the fridge. You can use it for salads, sandwiches, last-minute pasta dishes...or any time you are trying to round out a meal with some protein, really!

And the easiest way method for cooking your chicken? In the Instant Pot, of course!

Instant Pot Chicken Is So Easy!

Cooking chicken in the pressure cooker or Instant Pot works similarly to poaching. The biggest difference is that you use less liquid and you can press a button and step away while the pot is doing its thing.

The chicken cooks in water, seasoned with salt, bay leaves, and garlic for a little bit of extra flavor. You can add any aromatic spices or vegetables to the water, really, depending on how you want to flavor the meat. Ginger and green onion would be nice if you plan to use the chicken on top of an Asian-style salad, for instance.

New to the Instant Pot? Check out our post How To Use an Instant Pot: A First-Timer’s Guide.

How To Cook Chicken in the Instant Pot (3)

How Long to Cook Chicken in a Pressure Cooker

Boneless chicken breasts and thighs cook in the same amount of time—just 10 minutes at high pressure will do it! Just be sure to arrange the meat in a single, even layer in the pot, as it cooks more evenly that way. It should reach about halfway up the chicken.

This timing works for a 1 1/2 to 2 pound batch of boneless chicken. If you’re cooking more meat (3 to 4 pounds), increase the cooking time to 15 minutes to ensure that it is cooked through. For a smaller amount of meat (1 pound or less), decrease the cooking time to 8 minutes.

How To Cook Chicken in the Instant Pot (4)

Cook Frozen Chicken in the Instant Pot

Yes, you can cook chicken from frozen! You'll just need to adjust the cooking time and method a little bit. Take a look at this handy guide for more details:

How to Cook Frozen Chicken in the Instant Pot

Ways To Use Cooked Chicken

The cooked chicken can be used in any recipe that calls for precooked chicken. Shred, slice, or cube it as needed, then use it however you like!

Tuck a few slices of chicken into a sourdough sandwich, or top a salad to make a light lunch. Toss cubed chicken into a soup or pasta dish. Mix shredded chicken with BBQ sauce or hot sauce for sliders or tacos.

How To Cook Chicken in the Instant Pot (5)

BONUS: Chicken Broth!

As a bonus, cooking chicken this way yields about two cups of chicken broth! Save it in the fridge or freezer for later, use it as a base for a soup, or cook up an extra flavorful batch of rice or quinoa, subbing the broth for water.

More Basic Pressure Cooker Recipes

How To Make Instant Pot Easy-Peel Hard Boiled Eggs
How To Make Fast, No-Soak Beans in the Instant Pot
Instant Pot Chicken Soup
How to Cook Whole Butternut Squash in the Pressure Cooker
How to Cook Potatoes in the Pressure Cooker

How To Cook Chicken in the Instant Pot

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time30 mins

Ingredients

1 1/2 to 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
1 cup water
1 teaspoon salt (use less if chicken is brined or otherwise pre-seasoned)
2 bay leaves
3 cloves garlic

Method

Add the chicken to the Instant Pot:
Arrange the chicken in a single, even layer in the bottom of the pressure cooker. Add the water, then sprinkle with salt. Add the bay leaves and garlic.
Pressure cook the chicken:
Secure the lid on the pressure cooker. Make sure that the pressure regulator is set to the “Sealing” position. Select the “Pressure Cook” or “Manual” program, then adjust the time to 10 minutes at high pressure.
The pressure cooker will take about 10 minutes to come up to full pressure. Cook time begins once it has reached full pressure.
Release the pressure:
As soon as the timer goes off at the end of cooking, perform a quick pressure release by moving the pressure release knob from “Sealing” to “Venting.” It will take a minute or two for the pressure to release completely.
Open the pot, then use a digital thermometer to check the thickest part of a piece of chicken—it should be at least 165oF. If the chicken is not quite up to temperature, put the lid back on with the vent closed and cook for another minute or two.
Use the chicken:
Use a pair of tongs to transfer the chicken to a dish, and let it rest for 10 minutes. Slice, shred, or cube the chicken as needed, or refrigerate in a lidded container for up to 5 days.
If you want to save the cooking liquid (it is now a lightly flavorful chicken broth), strain out the bay leaves and garlic. Transfer to a tightly lidded container and store in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days, or frozen for up to 6 months.

Healthy Pressure Cooker
Healthy Chicken

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
252	Calories
5g	Fat
1g	Carbs
47g	Protein

Show Full Nutrition Label

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4to 6
Amount per serving
Calories	252
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 5g	7%
Saturated Fat 2g	8%
Cholesterol 129mg	43%
Sodium 501mg	22%
Total Carbohydrate 1g	0%
Dietary Fiber 0g	0%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 47g
Vitamin C 0mg	2%
Calcium 27mg	2%
Iron 2mg	9%
Potassium 394mg	8%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.