Instant Pot chicken breast makes the ultimate hands-off, tender, juicy chicken breast from fresh or frozen - perfect for slicing and shredding into dozens of dishes!
In a bowl, combine all the spices, then use your hands to gently rub them into the chicken breasts.
Use the sauté function on your Instant Pot to heat the oil. Once hot, brown the chicken on both sides (about 2-3 minutes per side).This step isn't necessary, though it adds nice color. I'll usually skip it if I'm making shredded chicken for other recipes.
Add the chicken broth to the bottom of the Instant Pot, scrape away any browned bits (to avoid triggering the "burn notice"), add a trivet over that, and place the chicken breasts on top.It's also possible to cook the chicken breasts directly in the liquid for more of a "boiled" rather than "steamed" result.
Close the lid and turn the seal valve to the "sealing: position, then pressure cook on MANUAL High Pressure for:- 1 lb. - 4 minutes- 2 lb. - 5 minutes- 3 lb. - 6 minutes - 4 lb. - 8 minutes - 5 lb. - 10 minutes
Once the time is up, allow the Instant Pot to naturally release pressure for 10 minutes before carefully opening the seal valve to release the remaining pressure.
Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken breasts has reached 160-165ºF/71-74ºC, then remove the chicken from the Instant Pot and allow it to rest for 5 minutes to allow the juices to settle.Then, carve or shred the pressure cooker chicken breast to your liking, and enjoy!
Using Frozen Chicken Breasts
Cooking frozen chicken in an Instant Pot is great for days when you forget to defrost it. Just skip the searing steps and increase the cooking time. For example, with 3lb of meat, increase the cooking time to 10 minutes.As a general rule, it's best to increase the cooking time by about 50% when using frozen chicken.
Notes
Seasoning is optional: Depending on how you plan to use the meat, a bit of salt & black pepper may be all you need.
Don't overcrowd the chicken: It's best to cook the breasts in a single layer so they cook evenly.
Allow the chicken to rest: During this time, the juices within the chicken settle and redistribute for perfectly juicy chicken breasts.
Use the leftover juices: The chicken broth will have picked up all the chicken juices, making for a flavorful liquid to drizzle over the chicken or reduce and use in sauces and turn into a gravy with 1 tablespoon cornstarch in a slurry.
Should I use the poultry setting on the Instant Pot? I don't recommend it, as it's based on an "average chicken breast," so it may not be accurate to the thickness and weight of the chicken you’re cooking.What size Instant Pot should I use? You can use any size Instant Pot. Just ensure you add at least one cup of liquid. Cook the chicken in batches if necessary.Check the blog post for more tips and serving recommendations!