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):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! Prep Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 10 mins Pressurize time:: 10 mins Total Time: 25 mins Servings: 4
To 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. Calories: 195kcal, Protein: 23g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 72mg, Sodium: 74mg, Potassium: 249mg, Vitamin A: 95IU, Calcium: 12mg, Iron: 0.8mg Per 4 ounces: Calories: 195, Fat: 10g, Carbohydrates: 0, Fiber: 0, Protein: 23gOther Helpful Instant Pot Tutorials:
Reader Feedback: Do you meal prep using your Instant Pot, too? Let me know what you make! My go-to staples are quinoa, beans, and chicken at the moment. 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?. Can you overcook chicken in Instant Pot?The Instant Pot utilized pressure cooking, which is an ulrta quick cooking method. This makes it very easy to overcook chicken. Rubbery chicken is overcooked.
How long does it take to boil chicken in pressure cooker?For perfectly juicy chicken breast: Cook the chicken on HIGH pressure for 10 minutes and quick release the pressure. Seal the cooker and make sure the pressure valve is closed. Set to HIGH pressure for 10 minutes. For fresh chicken, it will take about 10 minutes to come to pressure.
How long do you pressure can chicken?Times for pressure canning chicken are as follows: For boneless chicken (raw or hot pack), process jars at pressure for 75 minutes for pints and 90 minutes for quarts. For bone-in chicken (raw or hot pack), process jars for 65 minutes for pints and 75 minutes for quarts.
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