8 Things You Should Know Before Cooking Instant Pot Chicken (2024)

Kelli Foster

Kelli FosterSenior Contributing Food Editor

Kelli is a Senior Contributing Food Editor for Kitchn. She's a graduate of the French Culinary Institute and author of the cookbooks, Plant-Based Buddha Bowls, The Probiotic Kitchen, Buddha Bowls, and Everyday Freekeh Meals. She lives in New Jersey.

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updated May 1, 2019

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Use an appliance regularly for three years and you will learn a lot about it. I’ve taken my Instant Pot for a spin with a lot of different foods, but come dinnertime there’s nothing I’ve used it for more than chicken.

Whether you just started using this multi-cooker or you’ve been at it for a while, these tips will help you with your next Instant Pot chicken dinner.

1. Chicken thighs are much more forgiving than breasts.

While all cuts of chicken are fair game for the Instant Pot, thighs are the most forgiving. Because chicken breast is so lean, just a couple of extra minutes of cook time turns them from juicy to overcooked and dry. Thighs, on the other hand, are a fattier cut, and not prone to dry out as quickly even after an extra minute or two of cooking.

2. Keeping chicken breasts whole will help prevent overcooking.

Even if a recipe uses chunks or cubes of chicken breast, it’s best to cook the meat whole and then cut it up after cooking since small chunks of meat cook through much faster than the whole breast. We do this with our butter chicken recipe, and consider it added insurance that the chicken breast won’t be overcooked or dry.

3. For whole chicken, choose one no larger than four pounds.

When buying a whole chicken that will be cooked in the Instant Pot, remember that size matters. To be sure the bird will easily fit in the pot without being smushed or pressed tightly against the edges, and that it will cook evenly, stick with a chicken that’s no heavier than four pounds.

4. Don’t expect crispy skin on your chicken.

The Instant Pot makes one killer whole chicken — it is juicy, irresistibly succulent, and downright delicious — but don’t expect it to have the crispy, crackly skin you get from roasting in the oven. Like the slow cooker, the Instant Pot (and other pressure cookers) creates a moist cooking environment that does not dry out the skin.

Don’t fear, though — this doesn’t mean you can’t get crispy skin after cooking in the Instant Pot. Our recipe for chicken adobo finishes under the broiler for ultra-crispy skin.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot Chicken Adobo

5. Aways pair like cuts together.

My motto for cooking chicken in the Instant Pot is to pair like things (in this case, cuts of chicken) together. For the best results and evenly cooked chicken, avoid mixing white and dark meat, or bone-in and boneless cuts. Meaty thighs and drumsticks, as well as bone-in cuts, require a little more cook time than their lean and boneless counterparts.

6. Expect it to take 10 to 15 minutes for the Instant Pot to come to pressure.

In addition to the cook time, don’t forget to factor the time it takes for the Instant Pot to come to pressure. The exact time will vary depending on the several factors, including the volume of food in the pot and whether it was frozen. On average, though, most chicken recipes will take 10 to 15 minutes for the Instant Pot to come to pressure.

Get the method: How To Make Chicken Breast in the Instant Pot

7. You can totally cook chicken straight from the freezer.

If you’ve ever started to prep dinner and realized you forgot to thaw the chicken, you will appreciate this feature. The Instant Pot has the ability to cook chicken pieces straight from the freezer. Unlike other cooking methods, it’s safe because the high temperature quickly takes frozen meat past the danger zone (temperatures between 40°F and 140°F, where bacteria are apt to grow).

Read more: Did You Know Your Instant Pot Can Do This?

8. Allot more time and use extra cooking liquid when starting with frozen chicken.

Cooking chicken from frozen is not all that different than cooking fresh chicken. The most important things to remember are that it will require some more time and cooking liquid. It will take a few extra minutes for the Instant Pot to come to pressure as well as about a 50 percent increase in cook time. You should also use enough cooking liquid to fully submerge the chicken, which ensures quick transfer of heat into the meat and, most importantly, even cooking.

Our Favorite Chicken Recipes in the Instant Pot

  • Instant Pot Whole Chicken with Mushroom Sauce
  • 30-Minute Pressure-Cooker Cacciatore Chicken
  • How To Make Butter Chicken in the Instant Pot
  • Instant Pot Chicken Adobo
  • Instant Pot Weeknight Chicken and Rice Burrito Bowls

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Chicken

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8 Things You Should Know Before Cooking Instant Pot Chicken (2024)

FAQs

8 Things You Should Know Before Cooking Instant Pot Chicken? ›

The 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.

How do you keep chicken from getting rubbery in the Instant Pot? ›

The 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.

Do you need to add water when cooking chicken in an Instant Pot? ›

You can cook chicken breasts in whatever size instant pot you have. Just make sure you add at least 1 cup of liquid, and then place the chicken in the pot in a single layer.

Does chicken get tough in Instant Pot? ›

Chicken can get a rubbery texture in the instant pot when over cooked. To avoid this, try not to over cook your chicken.

What do I need to know about an Instant Pot? ›

They're true multi-cookers that can be used to braise, sauté, steam, and so much more. But all Instant Pots are not created equal—er, not every model can perform every function, and they're billed accordingly (7-in-1, 9-in-1, etc.). All Instant Pots can pressure-cook, slow-cook, sauté, and keep warm.

Does cooking chicken longer in Instant Pot make it more tender? ›

This dinner staple cooks up perfectly every time in the Instant Pot. You can aim for firm but juicy chicken for cubing, or let it cook a little bit longer for tender shredded chicken.

Why did my chicken burn in Instant Pot? ›

There are a number of reasons your Instant Pot will display its burn message. Most of these involve mishaps that may occur during the cooking process, like not adding enough liquid or forgetting to adjust the steam valve to the sealing position. Once you figure out what you've done wrong, correcting the error is easy.

What happens if you overcook chicken in Instant Pot? ›

Because chicken breast is so lean, just a couple of extra minutes of cook time turns them from juicy to overcooked and dry. Thighs, on the other hand, are a fattier cut, and not prone to dry out as quickly even after an extra minute or two of cooking.

Can you use oil instead of water in Instant Pot? ›

You can safely pan fry with small amounts of oil in the Instant Pot. You can also stir fry. But do not attempt deep frying. You cannot use an Instant Pot in the pressure cooking setting with large amounts of oil.

How do you know when chicken is cooked in an Instant Pot? ›

Carefully open the lid and check the internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer at the thickest part of the chicken. If your chicken is bone-in, make sure the thermometer doesn't touch the bone. The chicken should register 165 degrees F. If it is below 160 degrees F, reseal and cook a few additional minutes.

Can you leave chicken in Instant Pot overnight? ›

There would be a problem if they turned off the instant pot and left it over night. As long as the food stays warm out of the danger zone (40-140 degree F.) it should be safe to eat.

Why is my Instant Pot meat not tender? ›

If you find that it's still tough after cooking, you'll need to cook it for another 10 to 20 minutes at high pressure – it just needs a bit longer to continue to brine and break down the connective tissue.

What happens if you don't have a poultry setting on Instant Pot? ›

Secure the Instant Pot lid, being sure the vent is set to “sealed” and not venting. Select high pressure cook for 8-10 minutes using the manual button. If you are trying to cook frozen chicken breasts, they will need to cook longer. Cook them for at least 10-12 minutes.

What is the disadvantage of Instant Pot? ›

Con– The Instant Pot uses steam under pressure to cook food and not everything is meant to be cooked in the Instant Pot. I attempted a crustless quiche which turned out well but it was too wet and moist to my liking and I prefer to cook it in the oven with dry heat.

Why did Instant Pot go out of business? ›

“In particular, tightening of credit terms and higher interest rates impacted our liquidity levels and made our capital structure unsustainable,” Mr. Gadbois said. Instant Brands said in a statement on Wednesday that the new financing would allow the company to continue paying workers, vendors and suppliers.

Why is my Instant Pot chicken so chewy? ›

Why is my Instant Pot Chicken rubbery? If your chicken is rubbery it's overcooked. Choose to cook chicken breasts that are similar in size and weight to ensure the cooking time is appropriate for your IP chicken. An inexpensive kitchen scale is extremely helpful in preventing overcooking IP chicken breast meat.

What happens if you cook chicken too long in Instant Pot? ›

While all cuts of chicken are fair game for the Instant Pot, thighs are the most forgiving. Because chicken breast is so lean, just a couple of extra minutes of cook time turns them from juicy to overcooked and dry.

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