Our BEST Chicken Recipes for Your Instant Pot (2024)

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Taylor MurphyUpdated: Feb. 02, 2024

When chicken dishes are this packed with flavor, it's hard to guess they came together in a flash. It's time to believe!

1/24

Pressure Cooker Risotto with Chicken and Mushrooms

Portobello mushrooms add an earthy flavor to this creamy classic, while shredded rotisserie chicken makes it a snap to prepare. You’ll savor every bite. —Charlene Chambers, Ormond Beach, Florida

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2/24

Taste of Home

Pressure-Cooker Spicy Lime Chicken

This tender chicken with light lime flavor is a natural filling for tacos, but my son Austin also loves it spooned over cooked rice and sprinkled with his favorite taco toppings. —Christine Hair, Odessa, Florida

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3/24

Taste of Home

Pressure-Cooker White Bean Chicken Chili

My sister shared this chili recipe with me. The jalapeno adds just enough heat to notice but not too much for my children. —Kristine Bowles, Albuquerque, New Mexico

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4/24

Pressure-Cooker Autumn Apple Chicken

Fill the whole house with the aroma of chicken with apples and barbecue sauce. This is a meal you won’t want to wait to enjoy. —Caitlyn Hauser, Brookline, New Hampshire

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5/24

Taste of Home

Pressure-Cooker Orange Chipotle Chicken

The citrus in this delicious chicken dish keeps things fresh and lively. We're big on spice in our house, so sometimes I use two chipotle peppers. —Deborah Biggs, Omaha, Nebraska

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6/24

Taste of Home

Pressure-Cooker Chicken Chop Suey

If you’re in for a busy evening, here’s a wonderful way to ensure you can still have a healthful supper. It’s tasty, traditional—and easy, too. —Melody Littlewood, Royal City, Washington

Pressure-Cooker Cajun-Style Beans and Sausage

Beans and rice make the perfect meal because they're well-balanced, an excellent source of protein, and easy to prepare. Sausage adds full flavor to the recipe, and traditional pork sausage lovers won't even notice the switch to chicken sausage. —Robin Haas, Cranston, Rhode Island

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8/24

Pressure-Cooker Spring-Thyme Chicken Stew

During a long winter (and spring), we were in need of something warm, comforting and bright. This stew always reminds me of the days Mom would make her chicken soup for me. —Amy Chase, Vanderhoof, British Columbia

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9/24

Pressure-Cooker Indian-Style Chicken and Vegetables

This easy Indian-influenced dish is one just about everyone will love. Feel free to add more or less tikka masala sauce according to your taste. —Erica Polly, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

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10/24

Pressure-Cooker Red Pepper Chicken

Chicken breasts are treated to black beans, red peppers and juicy tomatoes in this southwestern supper. We love it served with rice cooked in chicken broth—and it would also make a great filling for tacos or burritos. —Piper Spiwak, Vienna, Virginia

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11/24

Taste of Home

Pressure-Cooker Chicken Bog

Chicken Bog is a South Carolina tradition with lots of variations—think herbs, spices and fresh veggies—but the standard ingredients remain sausage, chicken and rice. This pressure-cooked rendition is a simple take on the classic. — Anna Hanson, Spanish Fork, Utah

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12/24

Taste of Home

Pressure-Cooker Mushroom Chicken and Peas

Some amazing fresh mushrooms at our local farmers market inspired this dish. Start with the best ingredients and you can’t go wrong. —Jenn Tidwell, Fair Oaks, California

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Pressure Cooker Chicken with Raisins and Capers

Capers, golden raisins and fresh basil give this dish a sweetly savory flavor. And what's even better than that? The kids love it! —Nadine Mesch, Mount Healthy, Ohio

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14/24

Taste of Home

Pressure-Cooker Homemade Chicken Broth

There’s nothing better or more satisfying than making your own chicken broth. You can control the amount of seasoning and salt, so you can customize it for whatever recipes you’re using it in. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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15/24

Taste of Home

Pressure-Cooker Apple Balsamic Chicken

I just love the sweet and tart flavor that balsamic vinegar gives to this easy dish. After cooking in the pressure cooker for just a few minutes, the chicken thighs are tender and flavorful. —Juli Snaer, Enid, Oklahoma

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16/24

Taste of Home

Pressure-Cooker Lemon Chicken with Basil

No matter when I eat it, this tangy chicken dish always reminds me of summer meals with friends and family. The recipe produces a lot of lovely sauce; serve it as is or spoon it over some lightly herbed couscous. —Deborah Posey, Virginia Beach, Virginia

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17/24

Pressure Cooker Herbed Chicken and Shrimp

Tender chicken and shrimp make a flavorful combination that's easy to prepare, yet elegant enough to serve at a dinner party. While I clean the house, it practically cooks itself. I serve it over hot cooked rice with crusty bread and a green salad. —Diana Knight Reno, Nevada

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18/24

Taste of Home

Pressure-Cooker Cranberry Hot Wings

Cranberry wings remind me of all the wonderful celebrations and parties we've had through the years. My daughter?s friends can?t get enough of them. —Noreen Danek, Cromwell, CT

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19/24

Pressure-Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala

The flavors of this Indian-style entree keep me coming back for more. The dish isn’t fancy, and it’s simply spiced—but it’s simply amazing. —Jaclyn Bell, Logan, Utah

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20/24

Taste of Home

Pressure-Cooker Mediterranean Chicken Orzo

Orzo pasta with chicken, olives and herbes de Provence has the bright flavors of Mediterranean cuisine. Here’s a bonus: Leftovers reheat well. —Thomas fa*glon, Somerset, New Jersey

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21/24

Pressure Cooker Saucy BBQ Chicken Thighs

Barbecued chicken gets a makeover in this recipe. The combination of ingredients makes for a mellow, not-too-sweet flavor that's more grown-up than the original and super over rice, pasta or potatoes. —Sharon Fritz, Morristown, Tennessee

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22/24

Pressure-Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

My husband and I own and operate a busy farm. There are days when there's just no time left for cooking! It's really nice to be able to come into the house at night and have dinner ready in just a few minutes. —Aggie Arnold-Norman, Liberty, Pennsylvania

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23/24

Taste of Home

Pressure-Cooker Black Bean Chicken Nachos

One of my favorite local restaurants, Zeppelins, has the best chicken nachos. Its famous dish inspired me to create my own, with the added convenience of using the pressure cooker. I recommend fresh cilantro because it makes the dish pop with flavor. —Natalie Hess, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

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24/24

Pressure-Cooker Chicken Mole

Chocolate with chicken? If you’re not familiar with mole, don’t be afraid of this versatile Mexican sauce. I love sharing this recipe because it’s a great one to experiment with. —Darlene Morris, Franklinton, Louisiana

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Originally Published: March 22, 2018

Taylor Murphy

Taylor has been working in digital media for 10 years. She started out as an editorial assistant at Good Housekeeping and House Beautiful, and shortly after that, became a full-time freelancer for brands like Taste of Home, Eating Well, Parents and Popsugar. Her coverage spans topics of food news, product roundups, parenting and human interest articles. When she’s not writing, Taylor is on the hunt for the best coffee or having fun in the kitchen taste-testing recipes with her kids.

Our BEST Chicken Recipes for Your Instant Pot (2024)

FAQs

Why is my Instant Pot chicken so tough? ›

Oddly 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.

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Is chicken better in crock pot or Instant Pot? ›

The final verdict

So can a Crock-Pot cook better chicken than an Instant Pot? Well, it really depends on what you're making. The Instant Pot cooks chicken much faster than its non-pressure counterparts, but the resulting texture isn't going to be the same as what you'd get with a slow cooker or Dutch oven.

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

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.

Is chicken breast better in air fryer or Instant Pot? ›

If I want to cook a lot of chicken breasts quickly, I do them in the Instant Pot like this recipe. This gives your chicken a poached or stewed texture. If I just need 2 or 3, I turn to my air fryer. The texture from the air fryer is more like a traditional roasted chicken breast, which I prefer for most uses.

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Can you overcook chicken in the Instapot? ›

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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Does chicken get more tender the longer you cook it? ›

Unlike chicken breasts, chicken thighs and drumsticks actually become more tender the longer they cook. That's because of their makeup. Dark meat has an abundant amount of connective tissue, which dissolves into gelatin as the meat cooks, rendering it juicy and tender.

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

Why is my Instant Pot shredded chicken rubbery? Chicken can get a rubbery texture in the instant pot when over cooked. To avoid this, try not to over cook your chicken.

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Does food taste better in a pressure cooker or slow cooker? ›

As the ingredients cook under pressure, their flavors are concentrated, resulting in a richer taste. Tenderization: Pressure cooking breaks down tough fibers in meats and other ingredients, making them more tender and juicy.

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Are instant pots healthy? ›

Even though some studies suggest that pressure cooking isn't the best way to preserve nutrients in food, no research exists to suggest that pressure cookers of any model or brand pose health risks. If you're a fan of your Instant Pot, don't worry: You can continue to safely use your appliance without worry.

Why is my chicken tough in air fryer? ›

The #1 tip for the best chicken breasts in an air fryer is: Don't overcook them! Chicken breasts should be cooked to 160°F, but if you cook them all the way to that temperature in the air fryer, carryover cooking will take them beyond that temp and cause them to dry out.

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Why is air fryer chicken so juicy? ›

The constant airflow in the air fryer cooks the outside of the chicken quickly and evenly, something you typically find in a convection oven. "Due to the compact design of an air fryer, there's not as much room for the juices to evaporate like they sometimes do in other methods," Dang said.

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Why is air fryer chicken so good? ›

The fryer uses electrical elements to heat the air and circulate it through the food. This process cooks the chicken quickly without drying it out, leaving you with crispy skin and juicy insides.

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Why is my chicken so hard after cooking? ›

Leaving chicken in a pan, oven, or grill for just a little too long can suck the moisture right out and leave you with a dry, rubbery bird. Without moisture, the protein fibers in the chicken become elastic. The types of chicken you buy at the store can also make a difference.

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Why is the chicken I cooked so tough? ›

Overcooking leads to dry, tough, sawdusty meat with nearly no flavor. High doneness temperature for food safety. Salmonella is the food safety enemy in chicken that dies only at higher temperatures. But cooking chicken breast to an instant thermal-kill doneness temperature will cause it to dry out excessively.

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Why is my chicken tough after I cooked it? ›

Overcooking or cooking at too high a temperature can result in tough, dry chicken. Undercooking can leave chicken undercooked and chewy. Proper cooking techniques, such as roasting, grilling, or braising, can help maintain moisture and tenderness.

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