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This Instant Pot Chicken Breast is so good – and it’s always moist when you use a pressure cooker. This is a great dinner and can be done in under 30 minutes, so it is perfect for any rushed evenings. Don’t be scared of your instant pot–it is so easy to use!

chicken on a cutting board with greens sprinkled on top.


Instant Pot Chicken Breast Recipe

Instant pots can be scary, but if you use them correctly, they are totally safe. I often think that some things taste better in the instant pot–including this chicken. You can add it in to so many dishes and it is so flavorful even by itself. Cooking chicken breasts can be a task, but making it in the instant pot takes all the pressure off of yourself and the pot will do it all for you.

There are so many different meals you could add this chicken to, but I love the idea of making a chicken salad or making chicken tacos! You could also use this recipe for meal prepping! Just simply store the chicken in the refrigerator for a few days after making and it will be already done for you when you need it! Have this dinner done quick so your family can have a stress free night!

Ingredients Needed

  • Soy Sauce: Give this recipe all the flavor!
  • Brown Sugar: Adds a bit of sweetness!
  • Chicken Stock: or broth
  • Spices: I add black pepper – you do not need to add salt because of the soy.
  • Chicken Breasts: I always use boneless skinless chicken breasts but you can also use chicken thighs. This recipe is not written for bone-in chicken breasts.
full chicken on a cutting board.

How to make Instant Pot Chicken

  • Add soy sauce, brown sugar, chicken stock, and pepper to the insert of an instant pot or electric pressure cooker. Stir.
  • Add the chicken breasts into the liquid.
  • Place lid on the pressure cooker and lock. Make sure the pressure valve is set to the sealing position keep steam inside. 
  • For fresh chicken breasts: Use poultry setting and cook on high pressure for about 10 minutes. When instant pot has finished, use a fork or utensil to do a quick release any remaining pressure. This is called a natural pressure release.
  • For frozen chicken breasts: Use poultry setting and cook on high pressure for about 15 minutes. When instant pot has finished, use a fork or utensil to do a quick release. Make sure your frozen breasts are separated, not in one big ball of ice or it will take longer to come to pressure and longer to cook.
  • Remove chicken from pot and slice. Make sure the internal temperature of the chicken breasts are 165 degrees F. Drizzle with juices and serve as desired, either as a main or you can even make sandwiches with it.

Other Ways to Pressure Cook Chicken

If you want other ideas for juicy chicken breast, try these:

chicken on a cutting board with greens sprinkled on top.

Expert Tips

  • I used chicken stock, but if you only have chicken broth on hand–that will work just fine too!
  • When using the instant pot, this recipe calls for a quick release. Some use a natural release. Each time you cook follow the recipe to know which one. Once the food is done baking for this recipe, do a quick release.
  • Always read the directions of your instant pot before hand to know the interworking of it because they are all different.
  • Add an extra layer to this recipe and melt cheese on top or mix it with gravy or barbecue sauce. This chicken is so good that almost anything will go with it!
  • Be careful not to add anything to the instant pot that has a thickening agent or cornstarch (like taco seasoning) or it won’t come to pressure.

FAQs

Can you freeze this tender chicken breast?

You can! Make sure it is in a airtight container to keep it fresh!

instant pot chicken dinner

Instant Pot Chicken

4.80 from 5 votes
Easy Instant Pot Chicken – this chicken dinner recipe is done in under 30 minutes and is perfect every time.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Yield 4 servings
Serving Size 4 ounces

Ingredients
 

  • ¼ cup (59ml) low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon (13g) brown sugar
  • 1 cup (237ml) low-sodium chicken stock
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 pound chicken breasts, thawed
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Instructions

  • Add soy sauce, brown sugar, chicken stock, and pepper to the insert of an instant pot or electric pressure cooker. Stir.
  • Add the chicken breasts into the liquid.
  • Place lid on the pressure cooker and lock. Make sure the pressure valve is set to keep steam inside. 
  • For fresh chicken breasts: Use poultry setting and cook on high pressure for about 10 minutes. When instant pot has finished, use a fork or utensil to do a quick release.
  • For frozen chicken breasts: Use poultry setting and cook on high pressure for about 15 minutes. When instant pot has finished, use a fork or utensil to do a quick release. Make sure your frozen breasts are separated, not in one big ball of ice or it will take longer to come to pressure and longer to cook.
  • Remove chicken from pot and slice. Drizzle with sauce and serve as desired.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

Make sauce for the chicken: remove the chicken from the sauce. Mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 1 teaspoon water. Turn the instant pot to sauté and add the cornstarch mixture. Cook, stirring, until it boils and thickens.

Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 4ounces | Calories: 158kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 681mg | Potassium: 499mg | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 35IU | Vitamin C: 1.3mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 0.9mg
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Course Main Course
Cuisine American

Other Chicken Recipes



Dorothy Kern

Welcome to Crazy for Crust, where I share recipes that are sometimes crazy, often with a crust, and always served with a slice of life.

4.80 from 5 votes (1 rating without comment)

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11 Comments

  1. Thank you for this easy, delicious recipe. I am new to the whole pressure cooker process and this was only the 2nd recipe I’ve tried. It is so good. Even my husband said he like it… twice!

  2. This saved dinner! It was delish and SO easy! My chicken was still frozen (90%), so I put it on poultry for 15mins and it did a natural release/keep warm for another 30 mins due to dropping a kid off, and it was fabulous!!

  3. I tried this tonight and discovered my instapot doesn’t have a poultry setting. I didn’t have cornstarch either, so I used flour. Other than that followed the directions and it turned out very good. Thank you.

  4. I made the Instant Pot Chicken according to the directions along with a few tweaks and it came out very good. We like our food with a lot of spice and flavor so I added garlic powder and onion powder to the broth along with the pepper and Italian seasoning. I will add some bouillon next time for a deeper flavor. My chicken was partially frozen and it cooked beautifully in the 9 min time frame. I didn’t have enough carrots so I added onion, mushrooms and zucchini in large chunks. I had a feeling the zucchini would be over done and it was but the rest was cooked beautifully. The rice was well done like risotto. This is a great recipe for a night you want a full meal but need it quick. Short prep time and it was all in the pot.