How to Cook Chicken Breast in an Instant Pot A Step-by-Step GuideThe Instant Pot is a game-changer when it comes to cooking quick, delicious meals. If you’re looking to make tender, juicy chicken breast in less time than traditional methods, the Instant Pot is the perfect solution. Whether you’re preparing chicken for tacos, salads, or meal prepping, this kitchen gadget can cook chicken breast to perfection in a fraction of the time it would take in the oven or on the stove.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of cooking chicken breast in the Instant Pot, providing helpful tips and suggestions to ensure your chicken is always flavorful and moist.
Why Use the Instant Pot for Chicken Breast?
The Instant Pot offers several advantages when cooking chicken breast. Here are a few reasons why it’s the best choice
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Quick Cooking Time The Instant Pot uses pressure to cook the chicken quickly, saving you time.
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Moist and Tender Results The pressure cooker traps moisture, ensuring that your chicken breast turns out juicy and tender every time.
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Set It and Forget It Once you add the chicken and seasonings, you can walk away while the Instant Pot does all the work.
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Versatility You can cook plain chicken breast or experiment with different seasonings, marinades, and sauces for a variety of meals.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Before you start cooking, make sure you have the following ingredients
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Chicken Breasts You can use fresh or frozen chicken breasts. If using frozen, there’s no need to thaw them before cooking.
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Liquid The Instant Pot needs liquid to build pressure. Use water, chicken broth, or vegetable broth for added flavor.
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Seasonings Common seasonings include salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, or any seasoning mix you prefer. You can also use fresh herbs or marinades for extra flavor.
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Oil (Optional) If you’d like to sear the chicken before cooking, you can use a little oil.
Step-by-Step Guide to Cooking Chicken Breast in the Instant Pot
Step 1 Prepare the Chicken
Start by preparing your chicken breasts. If they are very thick, you may want to cut them in half horizontally to ensure they cook evenly. You can also trim any excess fat if desired.
Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and any other seasonings you like. This is also the stage where you can marinate the chicken if you prefer. Just let it sit for about 15-30 minutes if marinating.
Step 2 Add Liquid to the Instant Pot
Pour 1 cup of liquid (water, chicken broth, or vegetable broth) into the Instant Pot. The liquid is essential for creating the pressure that will cook the chicken. If you want extra flavor, you can add herbs or spices to the liquid as well.
Step 3 Place the Chicken in the Instant Pot
Place the seasoned chicken breasts into the Instant Pot on top of the liquid. You can arrange them in a single layer to ensure they cook evenly, but they can overlap slightly. It’s important that the chicken is not submerged in the liquid, but just sitting on top of it.
Step 4 Seal the Instant Pot and Set the Timer
Secure the lid of the Instant Pot and set the valve to the ‘Sealing’ position. Set the Instant Pot to Manual or Pressure Cook on high pressure for 6-8 minutes for fresh chicken breasts. If you’re using frozen chicken, set the timer to 10-12 minutes.
Step 5 Natural Release or Quick Release
Once the cooking cycle is complete, you’ll need to release the pressure. There are two options here
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Natural Release Allow the Instant Pot to release the pressure on its own, which will take about 10 minutes. This method results in juicier chicken breasts.
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Quick Release If you’re in a hurry, you can quickly release the pressure by carefully turning the valve to ‘Venting.’
Be cautious when performing a quick release, as hot steam will escape.
Step 6 Check the Internal Temperature
Once the pressure has been released, carefully remove the lid. To ensure that the chicken is fully cooked, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. The USDA recommends that chicken should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). If it’s not fully cooked, you can seal the Instant Pot again and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
Step 7 Shred or Serve Whole
Once the chicken breast has finished cooking, you can either serve it whole or shred it for various recipes. To shred the chicken, simply use two forks to pull it apart into bite-sized pieces. Shredded chicken is perfect for tacos, sandwiches, or salads.
Tips for Perfect Instant Pot Chicken Breast
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Use Bone-In Chicken for Extra Flavor While boneless, skinless chicken breasts are a popular choice, bone-in chicken can add more flavor and moisture.
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Don’t Overcook Overcooked chicken breast can become dry and tough. Stick to the recommended cooking times to keep your chicken juicy.
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Season the Liquid Adding seasonings to the liquid will infuse the chicken with additional flavor. Consider adding garlic, onions, herbs, or spices to the broth.
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Avoid Overcrowding If you’re cooking multiple chicken breasts, make sure there is enough space for the steam to circulate. You can stack the chicken breasts on top of each other, but don’t overcrowd the Instant Pot.
How to Use Instant Pot Chicken Breast in Recipes
Instant Pot chicken breast is incredibly versatile and can be used in a wide variety of dishes. Here are some ideas
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Tacos Shred the chicken and use it as a filling for tacos, burritos, or quesadillas.
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Salads Add sliced or shredded chicken to salads for a protein-packed meal.
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Sandwiches and Wraps Use the chicken as a filling for sandwiches or wraps, and add your favorite condiments.
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Chicken Soup or Stew Add the cooked chicken to a pot of soup or stew for a comforting meal.
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Chicken Pasta Toss the chicken with your favorite pasta and sauce for a quick dinner.
How to Store Leftover Chicken
If you have any leftover chicken breast, it can be stored in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Store the chicken in an airtight container to keep it fresh. You can also freeze the chicken for up to 3 months. To reheat, simply warm the chicken in the microwave, on the stovetop, or in the Instant Pot with a little broth or water to keep it moist.
Cooking chicken breast in the Instant Pot is a simple, efficient way to prepare a juicy and flavorful meal in no time. Whether you’re using fresh or frozen chicken, the Instant Pot ensures that your chicken turns out perfectly cooked and tender every time. With just a few ingredients and easy steps, you can have a versatile protein ready for a variety of dishes.
By following the tips in this guide, you’ll be able to make the most of your Instant Pot and enjoy quick, delicious meals with perfectly cooked chicken breast.
