Instant Pot BBQ Chicken
User Reviews
4.2
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Prep Time
5 mins
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Cook Time
35 mins
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Total Time
40 mins
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Servings
4 cups bbq chicken
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Calories
270 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
American
Instant Pot BBQ Chicken
Description
This recipe uses an Instant Pot to quickly cook chicken with BBQ sauce inside a sealed environment. Both bone-in and boneless chicken breasts or thighs can be used, fresh or frozen. Depending on the chicken type, cooking times vary from 10 to 12 minutes at high pressure, followed by a natural pressure release to keep moisture and tenderness.
After cooking, the chicken is shredded directly in the pot and mixed well with the sauce, allowing the meat to soak up the tangy flavor of the barbecue. The method yields juicy shredded chicken without long cooking times or drying out.
The shredded BBQ chicken can be served immediately in dishes like sandwiches or stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days, with freezing possible for up to six months. Adding chicken broth before cooking helps prevent sauce burning if it’s thick.
Cooks can season the chicken beforehand with BBQ rubs for extra flavor. The recipe scales for different quantities, maintaining sauce to chicken ratios for consistent taste across batches.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breasts or thighs, boneless or bone-in (see notes below)
- 12 ounces BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Add the chicken and bbq sauce to an Instant Pot.
- Place the lid on the Instant Pot and make sure the steam release is set to “sealing”.
- For bone-in chicken breasts, frozen chicken breasts or chicken thighs, set the timer on the Instant Pot to HIGH pressure for 12 minutes. For fresh (not frozen) boneless chicken breasts, set the timer to 10 minutes.
- Once the timer beeps, allow the Instant Pot to pressure down for 10 minutes, then move the pressure valve from “sealing” to “venting” to release any remaining pressure. Once all of the pressure has been released, remove the lid from the Instant Pot.
- Once the lid is removed, shred the chicken with two forks and toss with the bbq sauce.
- Remove from the Instant Pot and serve immediately with your favorite bbq chicken recipe, or place in an airtight container in the refrigerator for later use.
Notes
- If your BBQ sauce is thick or you want to avoid burning, add 1/2 cup chicken broth to the pot.
- This recipe works with fresh or frozen chicken breasts, bone-in or boneless, and chicken thighs.
- Season the chicken prior to cooking with a preferred BBQ rub for enhanced flavor.
- One pound of chicken yields about 2 cups of shredded meat; use weight, not quantity, for portioning.
- Shredded chicken keeps refrigerated up to 5 days or frozen for up to 6 months in an airtight container.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4cups bbq chicken
Amount Per Serving
Calories 270 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 6cups | |
| Calories | 270kcal | 14% |
| Carbohydrates | 23g | 8% |
| Protein | 33g | 66% |
| Fat | 4g | 6% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol | 97mg | 32% |
| Sodium | 758mg | 32% |
| Potassium | 691mg | 15% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 19g | 38% |
| Vitamin A | 172mg | 3% |
| Vitamin C | 2mg | 2% |
| Calcium | 26mg | 3% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.2
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