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How to Cook Fresh Chicken Breasts in the Instant Pot

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A tutorial on How to Cook Fresh Chicken Breasts in the Instant Pot.  This is seriously life-changing!

How to Cook Fresh Chicken Breasts in the Instant Pot| cleaneatingveggiegirl.comWith the holidays, our upcoming wedding, and saving for a down-payment on a house, Jeremy and I have been trying to reign in our spending.  We even went as far as foregoing Christmas presents for one another this year.  So when Black Friday rolled around, I told myself that I was not going to be sucked in by any “amazing” deals.  But then 50 bazillion people posted on Facebook and Instagram about how the life-changing appliance for all Paleo foodies was on major sale.  What is that life-changing appliance, you ask?  Why, the Instant Pot, of course!

I had been wanting an Instant Pot for quite some time (essentially as soon as I started eating Paleo), and even put a less expensive pressure cooker on our wedding registry because I decided the Instant Pot was a bit out of most people’s price range.  Said pressure cooker has since been removed, and I have been loving my $78.00 Instant Pot (originally $118 on Amazon) ever since.

How to Cook Fresh Chicken Breasts in the Instant Pot| cleaneatingveggiegirl.comThe first thing I decided to cook with my Instant Pot was chicken breasts.  I wanted to make chicken salad and decided it would be more delicious and less expensive to use fresh chicken than canned chicken.

Since I had no clue how to actually cook the chicken in the Instant Pot, I did some Googling.  Crazy enough, I only seemed to find tutorials on how to cook frozen chicken breasts in the Instant Pot as opposed to fresh chicken breasts.  This resulted in more Googling, reading the instruction manual of my precious pressure cooker, and doing a little experimentation.  After three different times whipping up chicken in the Instant Pot (in the span of about two weeks), I think I have finally perfected my method.  And since the world needs a tutorial on how to cook fresh chicken breasts in the Instant Pot, I am here to share!

How to Cook Fresh Chicken Breasts in the Instant Pot

How to Cook Fresh Chicken Breasts in the Instant Pot| cleaneatingveggiegirl.comStart by placing one pound of organic, pasture-raised chicken breasts into the stainless steel cooking pot of the Instant Pot.

How to Cook Fresh Chicken Breasts in the Instant Pot| cleaneatingveggiegirl.comGrab four cups of chicken bone broth from your pantry.  This brand is my favorite since it is AIP Paleo-compliant.  Of course, using homemade bone broth would be even better!

How to Cook Fresh Chicken Breasts in the Instant Pot| cleaneatingveggiegirl.comPour the broth into the pot until the chicken is covered.

How to Cook Fresh Chicken Breasts in the Instant Pot| cleaneatingveggiegirl.comAdd in any desired seasonings.  I usually sprinkle in a bit of garlic powder and onion powder.  You could also add salt, black pepper (not AIP), or dried herbs, if desired.

How to Cook Fresh Chicken Breasts in the Instant Pot| cleaneatingveggiegirl.comPlace the steel pot into the Instant Pot.  Secure the lid and cook on the Meat/Stew setting for 12 minutes.  Once the Instant Pot beeps signaling that the cooking process is finished, release the steam using the valve on the lid.

How to Cook Fresh Chicken Breasts in the Instant Pot| cleaneatingveggiegirl.comRemove the chicken from the Instant Pot and pat dry with a towel.  If desired, use forks to shred the chicken.  At this point you can then use the chicken in any recipe that calls for cooked chicken.  Chicken salad is a favorite of mine!

How to Cook Fresh Chicken Breasts in the Instant Pot| cleaneatingveggiegirl.comBefore you dump the bone broth, think again.  I strain mine into a large mason jar and either freeze it or drink it throughout the week.  Since the chicken was cooked in the broth, it will now have even more delicious flavor.

There you have it!  In under 15 minutes, you have a pound of moist, flavorful shredded chicken to cook with and 32 ounces of delicious bone broth.  Weekend meal prep just keeps getting easier and easier!

How to Cook Fresh Chicken Breasts in the Instant Pot #Paleo #glutenfree Click To Tweet

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{ 156 comments… add one }
  • Joanna January 4, 2016, 6:54 am
    Whoa - I've never seen anything like this! How cool (and FAST)! Joanna recently posted...everly: 8 monthsMy Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl January 4, 2016, 4:03 pm
      It is seriously awesome! You may need to invest in both a Vitamix AND an Instant Pot! ;)
  • Carla January 4, 2016, 7:01 am
    Oh. My. Gosh. I. Neeeeeeded. This!!!! #newbie Carla recently posted...4 reasons I advocate nighttime snacking.My Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl January 4, 2016, 4:04 pm
      Yes you sure do! I am convinced that every single person does.
  • Erin @ Her Heartland Soul January 4, 2016, 7:32 am
    This looks amazing and I think I need one!! Erin @ Her Heartland Soul recently posted...Weekend SnapshotsMy Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl January 4, 2016, 4:05 pm
      You most definitely DO need one! It's basically a miracle worker.
  • Liz @ The Clean Eating Couple January 4, 2016, 8:59 am
    I do this EVERY week! Seriously the easiest way to cook chicken :) Liz @ The Clean Eating Couple recently posted...30 Healthy Holiday Desserts You Need to TryMy Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl January 4, 2016, 5:34 pm
      No kidding! I'm obsessed!
    • Paul August 7, 2017, 3:56 pm
      How many can you cook at a time? I want to cook a large batch at the beginning of the week to take for lunches, etc.
      • ClnEatingVegGrl August 7, 2017, 5:34 pm
        You should definitely be able to do at least 2 pounds at a time. You would want to increase the liquid a bit, though.
        • Rhonda September 5, 2017, 4:26 pm
          Would you need to also increase the cooking time? I have a very large family, and we like to cook enough to also use for lunches throughout the week. I would really like to cook a large family package of breasts (usually 6-7).... I'm wondering how to adjust the cooking time & liquid?
          • ClnEatingVegGrl September 7, 2017, 8:31 pm
            Yes, you likely would need to increase it, though I haven't tried it myself so I cannot give you an exact answer. Let me know if you try it and find success!
            • Natalie October 26, 2017, 6:35 pm
              I did a family pack for 12 min and turned out perfect.
              • ClnEatingVegGrl October 28, 2017, 1:23 pm
                That's so good to hear. Thanks for sharing!
          • Lori February 18, 2018, 6:54 pm
            I have the same issue large family. Need to cook 6-8 chicken breasts. Anyone know the time and broth? Much appreciated
  • Ashley January 4, 2016, 1:40 pm
    So interesting! I haven't ever thought about buying an instant pot (largely because I have zero room for another kitchen appliance!! haha)! But this is really cool! Ashley recently posted...Healthy Weekly Meal Plan – 1.2.16My Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl January 4, 2016, 5:36 pm
      I hear you! I have way more kitchen appliances than I care to admit. I guess this just means that I will always need a large kitchen, or at least one with a lot of storage space ;)
      • trish burns July 16, 2016, 7:16 pm
        Now you can get rid of your slow cooker, rice cooker, stove top pressure cooker if you have one. Also, you don't have to use a separate pan to brown your meat in. It's a one pot process.
        • ClnEatingVegGrl July 17, 2016, 1:40 pm
          It's a pretty darn amazing machine, don't you think?!
        • Pati April 12, 2018, 2:24 am
          I would recommend either KEEPING your rice cooker, or getting an extra pot for your IP. Often I want rice AND a meat dish in the same meal, and while I COULD cook the rice first, then dump out the rice into another container, and reheat it if necessary, it's just easisr having both.
          • ClnEatingVegGrl April 12, 2018, 10:31 am
            Yes, having an extra pot would be so nice for certain situations!
    • Pat January 20, 2018, 6:54 pm
      I use my so much that it just stays on the counter.
  • John January 4, 2016, 2:25 pm
    Looks interesting, I've never even thought of using an instant pot for chicken! I'll definitely have to consider this for myself in the future. John recently posted...How to Build MuscleMy Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl January 4, 2016, 5:37 pm
      I just LOVE the Instant Pot, and it is awesome for cooking chicken. I'd highly recommend looking into getting one for yourself!
      • Jackie February 13, 2018, 12:28 pm
        I just bought an instant pot and want to cook chicken breasts to make chicken pot pie. What is the best way to do this without chicken broth?
        • ClnEatingVegGrl February 13, 2018, 12:39 pm
          You can use water in place of the broth, it just may not be quite as flavorful.
          • Jackie February 13, 2018, 12:55 pm
            Thank you so much I'm so new at this.
            • ClnEatingVegGrl February 13, 2018, 1:16 pm
              No problem. I'm happy to help!
          • Liz February 13, 2018, 1:18 pm
            Since you need to make a sauce for a pot pie, why can't you use chicken broth to cook the meat and veggies and when done, switch to saute mode and stir in the starch to make the sauce. You can then pour into your pie pans and add your pasty top and bake to brown the top. Here is a recipe I found - https://www.keyingredient.com/recipes/5892060/pressure-cooker-chicken-pot-pie-with-puff-pastry/
            • ClnEatingVegGrl February 13, 2018, 1:20 pm
              I love this idea!
            • Jane March 12, 2018, 6:23 pm
              Sounds like a great idea. Love the suggestion! I'm still learning to use the Instant Pot.
  • Morgan @ Morgan Manages Mommyhood January 4, 2016, 3:59 pm
    I'm SO intruiged by the Instant Pot. Thanks for fueling my want for my own!!! Morgan @ Morgan Manages Mommyhood recently posted...Best of the Weekend: New Year and RelaxingMy Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl January 4, 2016, 5:41 pm
      You should probably just break down and get yourself one!! ;) You won't regret it.
  • Amy March 30, 2016, 12:08 pm
    Thanks for this recipe. So, if I want to do more than 1 lb of chicken do I need to add more broth/liquid? Thanks!
    • ClnEatingVegGrl March 31, 2016, 7:18 am
      I would say yes. Generally, if you double the amount of chicken you use, you'd want to double the amount of broth. Let me know how it goes! I've never done more than a pound.
  • ben May 3, 2016, 11:13 am
    Thanks for this recipe! Just curious, what does it mean to be AIP compliant? As a pressure cooker newbie, I've looking for a simple (1 ingredient) recipe like this, in order to cook a couple drumsticks to shred into a salad.. Interestingly, some recipes with many ingredients, don't add water, which seems kind of strange. I've read InstantPot recommends at least 1 cup, but from what I've seen many use as little as half a cup, and as much as 3 cups! With my smaller portions (2 little drumsticks), would a 1/2 cup water work? Also what happens if set for too long, for example what could happen if set for 35 minutes, instead of 12?
    • ClnEatingVegGrl May 3, 2016, 12:38 pm
      AIP simply means that it follows the Autoimmune Paleo Protocol diet. While I am not exactly sure about the liquid amounts since I have never cooked chicken drumsticks in the Instant Pot, I would think you would need at least 1/2 cup of liquid. There is no way to know for sure except for trying it out. Same goes for the amount of time, though I imagine cooking it for twice as long would dry it out a bit.
  • Meagan May 10, 2016, 1:33 am
    Thank you for writing instructions for FRESH chicken breast! Currently tracking my Intant Pot on my Amazon app... Should arrive tomorrow!!! ***Googling a bagillion recipes***
    • ClnEatingVegGrl May 10, 2016, 8:17 am
      Yay! I hope you love your Instant Pot as much as I do. It is amazing what it can do!
  • Jeri June 16, 2016, 4:37 pm
    I use my instant pot almost daily. Today for instance I'm slow cooking a pork roast. Yesterday I made dog food and the day before I cooked chicken breasts and finished them on the grill. One of my favorites though is if I forget to thaw a roast. Throw it in frozen with beef broth and depending on weight, my last one was quite large so I pressure cooked it for 75 minutes and used natural release. Made the most tender roast with enough liquid for awesome gravy. I do believe I'm going to wear it out. I've made mac and cheese, hard boiled eggs (which strangely enough are super easy to peel after pressure cooking. Suffice it to say I'm a fan!!
    • ClnEatingVegGrl June 16, 2016, 4:43 pm
      Aren't they awesome? It sounds like I need to put mine to even more use. I am going to have to try the hard boiled egg method because I HATE peeling them!
      • Jeri June 16, 2016, 5:07 pm
        Me too! Fresh eggs are so hard to peel using a traditional boiling method. Haven't had any probs with pressure cooked fresh eggs. I forgot to mention in my earlier post that beef stroganoff is the best I've ever eaten in the instant pot. Not sure if it's paleo but oh boy! Num!
        • ClnEatingVegGrl June 16, 2016, 8:44 pm
          SO good to know. The peeling is the worst!
        • LJ August 2, 2016, 7:06 pm
          Jeri - I am curious about your Instant Pot stroganoff recipe. Would you mind sharing?
        • Kirstin January 7, 2017, 4:40 pm
          you should also try "boiled" eggs in the oven using a muffin tin. takes similarly small amounts of time, is INSANELY easy to peel, and keep more of the nutrients than boiling. forgive me for not having the recipe on my mind, but googling "oven hard-boiled eggs" should suffice. ;) then your pot is free to use for other stuff at the same time!
          • ClnEatingVegGrl January 16, 2017, 9:50 am
            Great idea! I have not tried that, but it sounds super easy (which I love).
        • Connie McBride January 26, 2018, 8:36 am
          Mashed Potatoes are delicious in instapot, potatoes done in 15m
          • ClnEatingVegGrl January 26, 2018, 8:44 am
            I haven't tried that yet, but it sounds great!
    • Tamar July 7, 2016, 1:49 pm
      I'd love to know how you make your dog food in the IP. I'm considering this but some of the recipes I've seen are more difficult than I thought.
      • Jeri July 7, 2016, 8:00 pm
        Recipe : 1.5 lbs ground raw bison or ground beef 1 cup uncooked barley 1 cup wild rice or brown rice 2 cups chopped sweet potato (chopped well as dogs don't chew their food very well) 2 cups chopped celery 16 oz beef broth 8 cups water 1/8 cup olive oil 1/2 tsp sea salt Can add/switch out veggies with cabbage, broccoli, lentils, crushed tomatoes, bell peppers or most greens (add greens towards the end) Cook on low (crockpot mode) 6 hours or on high 4 hours Cool well and store in fridge Serving size will depend on the size of your dog. A 70 lb dog would eat 2 cups twice a day. Smaller dogs 11 to 16 lbs gets 1/3 cup twice a day. I also cut the recipe in half as my little yorkie would take too long to eat a whole batch while it staying fresh.
        • ClnEatingVegGrl July 8, 2016, 8:05 am
          How cool! Thanks for sharing!
          • Casey July 18, 2016, 5:23 pm
            I do the same for my pup every other week. I freeze in quart bags and keep just enough for 5-6 days in the fridge. I sub veggies as well and chop pretty small. I use carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, peas, green beans, and two pounds of meat (1 lb each of bison, chicken, turkey, pork, etc). I always add a cup of steel cut oats, 1 cup water, stewed tomatoes (blended) and 1 can black beans. I feed Penny twice a day - in the morning I add a teaspoon of cottage cheese; in the evening I give a little less of this food and one boiled or scrambled egg.
    • Melissa July 21, 2016, 12:35 pm
      Jeri - I know this is from many months ago, but would you share your recipe for Beef Stroganoff? My recipe for the slow cooker has ingredients that don't do well with pressure cooking. Thanks!
      • Jeri July 21, 2016, 5:44 pm
        Instant pot Beef Stroganoff Serves: 6 Ingredients 2 tbsp. olive oil 2 pounds of beef stew meat ¼ cup of flour salt and black pepper 1 onion, chopped 3 cloves of garlic, minced 1 cup beef broth 3 cups of fresh mushrooms (cut in half or quarters) 8 oz. sour cream 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard or spicy mustard of your choice 16 oz. package of egg noodles, cooked Instructions Place flour, salt and pepper in a large baggie and shake to mix. Add beef stew meat and coat with flour mixture. Set your Instant Pot to "Sauté" setting and add olive oil. Add beef and brown for about 3-5 minutes. Add chopped onion and garlic and brown for about 2 minutes. Add beef broth and place the close up the Instant Pot. Select the "Meat/Stew" setting on the Instant Pot and set the timer for 35 minutes. Make sure the pressure release valve is in the closed position. We want to pressure cook this for 35 minutes to tenderize the meat. When done, quick release the pressure valve, open up the lid carefully, and add 8 ounces of sour cream, 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard, and mushrooms. Stir and let it simmer for about 10 minutes or until the mushrooms are cooked through. Add more salt, pepper, or additional seasonings if desired and thicken the sauce with a little corn starch (or flour) mixed with water. Serve over prepared noodles with some crusty bread.
  • Beverly Babarovich June 24, 2016, 1:52 pm
    Wish your recipes were printable-- without the tons of photos, etc.
    • ClnEatingVegGrl June 24, 2016, 2:14 pm
      I don't use a printable plug-in at this time, but that could be something I look into in the future. Until then, you can always copy and paste the ingredients/directions into a Word doc and print!
      • Beverly Babarovich June 24, 2016, 2:17 pm
        That's exactly what I did. I reduced the size of the 7 photos and was able to print back to back on one sheet. It's a lot of work to do but if it's a good recipe, one doesnt mind.
        • ClnEatingVegGrl June 24, 2016, 7:52 pm
          I'm glad you were able to make it work and that you're enjoying the post!
  • Ashmi June 29, 2016, 2:07 pm
    Can you use the resulting broth to cook in the next time? I'm a meat-cooking newbie so I know nothing about broth...
    • ClnEatingVegGrl June 30, 2016, 9:06 am
      I guess it would depend on how long you wait to cook your next batch. I will often use the leftover broth in soups or strain it and drink it!
  • walt July 2, 2016, 5:51 pm
    I don't know what I'm doing wrong, but the chicken came out tasting bland and like nothing.
    • ClnEatingVegGrl July 4, 2016, 3:36 pm
      You can always add salt or additional seasonings when you cook it. This is really meant as a way to cook chicken to then use within a recipe (chicken salad, soup, etc.). I rarely ever just cook it and eat it straight out of the instant pot.
      • Marilyn February 21, 2017, 3:49 pm
        Thanks so much for this recipe for chicken breasts. Haven't tried Pacific Bone Broth, but looks really good to use as you suggested after cooking. Will you please share Paleo chicken salad recipe? Thanks again
        • ClnEatingVegGrl February 22, 2017, 8:33 am
          Here is a link to a Paleo Turmeric Chicken Salad from my site. It has a bit of a twist to it with the turmeric, but I love it! http://cleaneatingveggiegirl.com/2016/01/12/aip-paleo-avocado-turmeric-chicken-salad/
      • Ashley August 7, 2017, 3:31 pm
        Hi! I'm super pumped for this. I have a similar question, though-do any of these recipes allow you to cook chicken or meat without them being "wet" or covered in a broth? I was curious if I could cook similarly to how I would in a crockpot with a flavored sauce or dry rub, but more quickly.
        • ClnEatingVegGrl August 7, 2017, 5:33 pm
          I honestly have not tried this, but it sounds promising. Let me know if you give it a go!
  • Verena July 5, 2016, 2:58 pm
    Thank you, the fresh cooking instructions were helpful! However, at the end you say you have bone broth, but if you didn't start with bone broth or use bone in breasts (yours look like boneless), you don't have bone broth at the end. So perhaps you need to update that so as not to confuse people new to bone broth creation. Again, thank you!
    • ClnEatingVegGrl July 5, 2016, 4:56 pm
      Thank you for your comment, Verena. I am glad you found the instructions helpful! As you will see in the pictures in the post, I did start with bone broth as the cooking liquid. I hope that helps clear it up.
  • Mia July 9, 2016, 3:56 pm
    How would you modify cook time with three large chicken breasts that fit at bottom of IP (weighing 2.5 lbs)? Have your tried cooking more chicken than 1 lb?
    • ClnEatingVegGrl July 9, 2016, 4:00 pm
      I have not tried cooking more than a pound. You may only need to add a few extra minutes if they all fit at the bottom. Let me know if you try it out!
  • Sue July 16, 2016, 4:09 pm
    I just got my Instant Pot - hooray for Amazon Prime Day with an additional $50 off!! I want to try cooking chicken this way for chicken salad etc but which way is the steam release set to on the Meat/Stew setting? Steam or vent? The book doesn't mention it either. Thanks! :)
    • ClnEatingVegGrl July 17, 2016, 1:42 pm
      It was so a great deal on Amazon Prime Day! You definitely do not want the release valve set to vent until after it is done cooking because that will release too much of the heat. I hope that helps!
  • Michelle July 19, 2016, 6:11 am
    Have you ever made fresh chicken in the instant pot with the bone-in chicken?
    • ClnEatingVegGrl July 19, 2016, 8:21 am
      I have not tried it, though I'm sure it would be just as easy. You may just need to add a few extra minutes to the cooking time? Let me know if you try it out! I'd love to hear how it goes.
  • Melissa July 21, 2016, 12:40 pm
    I'm new to Instant Pot since I just got mine during Amazon Prime day! Happy to find an easy fresh chicken recipe. I plan on cubing the chicken afterwards to use in recipes like Poppyseed Chicken - this will make that recipe easier and faster to make!
    • ClnEatingVegGrl July 21, 2016, 2:02 pm
      Yes! That is my favorite way to use this cooking method. I often turn mine into chicken salad!
  • liz July 23, 2016, 7:35 pm
    I got an instapot during the Amazon Prime day - I think it will be wonderful. I did the test and realized that it does take a bit of time to boil the water. But it helped to know what might happen when I cooked the breasts. I usually get a large package of chicken (5-6 breasts, about 5 #) and cook all of them. I'll cut them up and either vacuum seal or freeze the pieces. In the past, I would put the breasts in chicken bouillon with herbs and veggies and cook, but I would always have to keep checking. Using the Instapot will be great. I had 6 breasts (5.25#), 4 cups of bouillon (covers the breasts), 2 celery stalks, bunch of baby carrots, garlic & onion powder. It took 25 minutes to heat up, 15 minutes to cook, and I let it cool down for 15 minutes. It took about 3 additional minutes to release the steam. I used the poultry option. The chicken was cooked to point where it was easy to shred. Most of the chicken is cooling off to see if I can slice and cube for salads. If it still is in the shred mode, I'll decrease the cooking time. The broth is cooling off and I'll use it to cook rice, as a soup base or just heat up and have as soup before dinner. It's also easy to fill ice cube trays to freeze and save for when broth is needed. Since I bought the pot as a splurge purchase, I didn't think about what else to get. So, I'll be getting a couple of additional seals (for savory, plain and spare ring) as well as the glass lid and the yogurt straining bags. I'll hold off on getting a cookbook and initially check out recipes & techniques on the web.
    • ClnEatingVegGrl July 24, 2016, 9:09 am
      It is truly an amazing machine, and it sounds like you are already off to an awesome start!
  • MaryCherry August 11, 2016, 10:09 am
    Thanks so much for this great how to! Yes, chicken breasts seem to be the way to go. I just unboxed my InstantPot.. and of course, started looking around for help to figure this out. Thanks again! You rock.
    • ClnEatingVegGrl August 11, 2016, 11:02 am
      You are so welcome. Have so much fun with your new kitchen toy!
  • DONNA August 14, 2016, 9:24 am
    I also purchased my instapot during the Amazon Prime day and I am really enjoying it. We love to cook ribs in it and I will never hard boil eggs any other way. Does anyone know how long to cook 2 lbs. of frozen vs. thawed chicken thighs? Thanks in advance for any help.
    • McDonna September 12, 2016, 2:37 pm
      Just found this on Instant Pot's website. Please note that they say on the site that the weight of the meat doesn't affect the cooking time, but the size of the chunks of meat is a variable. They said to use only a 10% variance in cooking time based on the size of the meat chunks. (Love their somewhat broken English on Instant Pot's site. Very charming.) http://instantpot.com/cooking-time/meat-poultry-beef-pork-and-lamb/ Hope this helps!
      • ClnEatingVegGrl September 12, 2016, 3:20 pm
        Thanks so much for sharing this!
  • Mary J August 14, 2016, 11:19 pm
    Have you ever frozen the chicken after cooking it this way? We're trying to set up some freezer meals for friends.
    • ClnEatingVegGrl August 15, 2016, 8:06 am
      Unfortunately I have not, but I would think it would work fine since it's essentially just like cooking the chicken any other way and then freezing it. Let me know if you try it out!
  • Tasha August 19, 2016, 12:30 am
    Here's a couple life hacks I have learned that I thought I would share. When the chicken breasts are cooked, rather than take the time shredding them with a fork either pop them in your kitchen aide mixer with the dough hook or use regular beaters. Put the beaters in the chicken and kind of mash it down, then put it on low (make sure the beaters are totally submerged or you will splash yourself with chicken). Seriously, in three minutes its shredded.
    • ClnEatingVegGrl August 19, 2016, 8:04 am
      Yes! I have heard of people doing this! Unfortunately, I don't have a stand mixer, but I have a hand mixer that I'll have to try it with.
  • Callan September 16, 2016, 12:24 pm
    Do you do quick release or NPR? Thank you!
    • ClnEatingVegGrl September 16, 2016, 1:02 pm
      I use the quick release feature.
  • MaryBeth October 2, 2016, 10:27 pm
    Hi, just wondering why you don't use the poultry setting? I have been using it with about 2#s of bscb for about 8 minutes and they have turned out great.
    • ClnEatingVegGrl October 3, 2016, 8:09 am
      I have just always done it with the manual setting (call me crazy).. BUT maybe I'll have to give your method a try ;) Thanks for sharing!
  • Paul November 13, 2016, 4:23 pm
    I tried this method but I messed it up. Thankfully I was pretty lucky... My tip is, make sure you check the vent is definitely sealed ;-) My instant pot was venting for about 6 minutes before I noticed, so effectively the chicken was just poaching in the stock rather than being pressure cooked. Once I noticed, I wasn't sure whether to try and pressure cook it, so I probed the chicken to see. Luckily it was already a perfect 65C, so took it out at that point and it was very tender and juicy. Next time maybe I'll remember to seal the vent and hopefully try it properly!
    • ClnEatingVegGrl November 13, 2016, 6:48 pm
      I have totally done that before! I'm glad to hear it all ended up working out.
  • Shelley November 15, 2016, 4:07 pm
    I love this recipe! You gave chicken a new life for me!
    • ClnEatingVegGrl November 15, 2016, 6:37 pm
      Yay, that's so great! I'm glad you are enjoying it.
  • Amy @ Running on Faith & Coffee December 17, 2016, 10:47 am
    Thanks for this tutorial! I can't wait to get my new InstaPot and start playing!
    • ClnEatingVegGrl January 16, 2017, 9:56 am
      Woohoo! I love my Instant Pot and I hope you love yours. I'll be using mine today to make pulled pork!
      • Amy @ Running on Faith and Coffee January 16, 2017, 2:01 pm
        I got it for Christmas and I am loving it!!! I use it almost every day! Today I made hard boiled eggs for lunch, one of my favorite things to make in it, and tonight we're using it to steam fish for dinner
        • ClnEatingVegGrl January 16, 2017, 3:00 pm
          I haven't tried either of those two in the Instant Pot yet, but I need to!
  • Henry Swanson January 17, 2017, 6:38 pm
    Trying it now exactly as you described. Fingers crossed!
    • ClnEatingVegGrl January 17, 2017, 6:58 pm
      I hope it turns out exactly how you hoped!
  • David January 26, 2017, 4:47 pm
    Okay this is probably silly but can you stack the chicken breast or press it into the bottom of the instant pot to make 2 lbs? Or should I make two batches and use the same stock? It's a guy thing...more is always better especially for a crowd on Super Bowl Sunday...Hello Buffalo chicken salad!
    • ClnEatingVegGrl February 3, 2017, 8:09 pm
      That is honestly a good question and not something that I have tried. I'm guessing that if you double the amount of chicken you would want to add more broth and also extend the cooking time. Let me know if you try it out!
  • Paul January 26, 2017, 7:01 pm
    Turned out great! Thank you!
    • ClnEatingVegGrl February 3, 2017, 8:09 pm
      Fantastic! I am so glad!
  • Jacki February 7, 2017, 1:00 am
    Is it safe to drink or reuse the Broth since Raw Chicken was cooked in it? I had this with the Sauce I used yesterday? Thanks in advance for any help on this.
    • ClnEatingVegGrl February 7, 2017, 9:18 am
      I always have once I have strained it. The way I look at it, it is a lot like making chicken soup or broth and starting with raw chicken. It should reach a high enough temperature to kill any bacteria.
  • Julie February 15, 2017, 6:20 pm
    Is it possible to set the Instant pot on 12 minutes? My minutes only seem to change in increments of 10?
    • ClnEatingVegGrl February 17, 2017, 8:23 am
      I suppose it is possible that maybe you have a different version? Mine allows me to change the minutes in 1 interval increments.
  • Roger Eriksen February 20, 2017, 8:21 am
    My wife and I cooked two chicken breasts for 12 minutes in our Instant Pot exactly as you suggested and they were perfect. Question: Can we put them in while frozen and if so, how much time do you suggest we add? Thank you, Roger
    • ClnEatingVegGrl February 20, 2017, 12:45 pm
      Roger, you should absolutely be able to cook frozen chicken breasts in the Instant Pot. However, I am not certain on the amount of time to add since I have never cooked them from frozen. Have you checked your manual? I am sure you could find the correct cooking time for frozen meat in there.
  • Erika February 22, 2017, 5:44 pm
    Cyber Monday 7 qt instantpot was $80 I had to get it !! The past 3 months I've used it about 3 times a week and I'm so in love. 30 minutes for fall apart tender beef cubes heck yeah. Best money I've spent in a long time.
    • ClnEatingVegGrl February 23, 2017, 10:05 am
      It is an amazing machine and SO worth the money!!
  • Jo March 19, 2017, 3:56 pm
    Yay! I was nervous to ruin the chicken breast. This worked beautifully:) I used the knorr chicken "gel" pack & 4 cups of water. So juicy!!
    • ClnEatingVegGrl March 20, 2017, 8:14 am
      I'm so glad it worked out for you! Thanks for sharing!
  • Laura May 14, 2017, 5:22 pm
    Question: why did you cook on the meat/stew setting and not the poultry setting?
    • ClnEatingVegGrl May 15, 2017, 8:21 am
      That is just the method I have always used, and with good results, so I stick with it. Certainly if you would like to try the poultry setting, you should go for it and let me know how it goes!
  • Jen May 23, 2017, 12:50 pm
    Do you double the cook time if you put in two pounds of chicken instead of one pound?
    • ClnEatingVegGrl May 24, 2017, 8:21 am
      I have not cooked more than one pound at a time. I don't know that you would need to double the cooking time, but I would probably add at least 5-6 minutes and try that out. Let me know how it goes if you do!
    • Liz May 24, 2017, 1:24 pm
      Hi - see my comment on 7-23-2016. I've cooked a large pack of breasts (about 5 lbs) , covered with broth, and use the poultry setting (15 min). I usually let the pot sit for 10-15 minutes before releasing the pressure. I have opened the pot sooner than that and the meat is cooked. Don't forget that the chicken is also cooking during the pressure-up phase as well during the cooling down phase. I usually use one breast for dinner and put the rest in the fridge to cool. It is easier to slice or cube when the meat has cooled. Then I can store what I want for lunch the next day and freeze the rest to make future meals. I strain the broth to cook rice or noodles and then use any leftovers to make soup the next day with veggies and more of the chicken.
      • ClnEatingVegGrl May 24, 2017, 6:24 pm
        Thanks for sharing!
  • Kimberli May 27, 2017, 9:09 am
    My boyfriend sent me a Instant Pot for my birthday because I cook chicken breasts each week. I could not figure out how to use it so it has been sitting for a month. This REALLY helped me realize it is as easy as the manual suggested.. :) Chicken is fantastic and so fast!!
    • ClnEatingVegGrl May 31, 2017, 8:41 am
      I'm so glad you gave it a try and that it turned out great! The Instant Pot is amazing :)
  • Sandra August 17, 2017, 5:42 am
    I'm looking to cook 3-4 pounds of chicken(about 7 breasts). Is it possible to do all at same time? And still 12min? Not sure how much broth either. Help! Thanks
    • ClnEatingVegGrl August 18, 2017, 12:41 pm
      I honestly have not tried this, so it'd be trial and error for you. Two pounds should definitely fit, but I'm not sure of upwards of 4 pounds. Let me know if you try it out, though. I'd love to know how it goes!
  • Julia Pazzi Clements September 3, 2017, 2:32 pm
    Thank you! This is the first thing I have cooked in my InstantPot and it was perfect! Its been record breaking hot for us, over 100 degrees when we are usually in the low 70s. AC broke. Needed to cook dinner, and used this to make my hot weather chicken salad. The kitchen didn't get hot boiling chicken! Thank you!
    • ClnEatingVegGrl September 7, 2017, 8:31 pm
      Gotta love the Instant Pot, right?!
  • kathryn September 10, 2017, 7:13 pm
    OMG! Thank you for this post. I made 2 pounds of organic chicken: 2 skinless chicken breast and 4 drumsticks. I poured a marinade in the instant pot with 1/2 cup chicken broth and all the chickens. I cooked on stew/meat for 15 minutes instead of 12 minutes. I really could have done the 12 minutes cause the chicken temperature was 189 degrees. My 2 year old picky twins who don't like chicken LOVED it cause it was so soft and tender :). They said "good mama good good" :))). An instant pot should be on every wedding AND baby registry!!!!!
    • ClnEatingVegGrl September 17, 2017, 7:55 pm
      Yay, so glad you and your family enjoyed it!
  • Amy September 17, 2017, 12:48 am
    I love my Instant pot! Got the smaller one for Christmas and decided to send it back to Amazon for the bigger one. It has changed how quick we eat at dinner time and everything is so flavorful. When the valve releases pressure my whole house smells fabulous. My dog cries...for some food! I will try your chicken recipe. It sounds great! Soups are fabulous in the Instant pot as well. Thank you for your post.
    • ClnEatingVegGrl September 17, 2017, 7:54 pm
      Yes, soups are amazing in the Instant Pot. But then again, what isn't?
  • Kristina September 24, 2017, 4:30 pm
    I just got mine last week and I've used it for almost every meal since! Thank you for this because it saved my weekly meal prep today! I normally spend all day Sunday cooking chicken, roasting veggies, and making my lunch for the week, but this saved hours of my day to do other things!
    • ClnEatingVegGrl September 28, 2017, 5:58 pm
      That is great! It truly is such a time saver!
  • Giulia December 25, 2017, 8:15 pm
    Well I opened my instant pot this Christmas morning. I did the test and then went looking for recipes. I needed to cook off several chicken breasts for a recipe. Usually I put them in a covered dish and bake them for 30-60 min, cutting into them to check when they are done. Your directions were perfect and right on! No checking! Within 20 min my recipe was done. The chicken was moist and tender and the kitchen was not all heated up from the oven. I can tell this will be the summer of chicken salad! Thanks for your directions. I was not intimidated to use my new appliance for the first time!
    • ClnEatingVegGrl December 27, 2017, 8:52 am
      I am so glad it worked out for you! The Instant Pot is seriously the best!
  • Becky January 5, 2018, 7:36 pm
    Mine were quite thick, and took an extra 8 minutes (repressurized twice!) and they still seemed “boiled” and didn’t shred well. Any tips?
    • ClnEatingVegGrl January 6, 2018, 10:58 am
      My only thought it maybe they weren't quite as moist/easily shredable due to the thickness?
  • Margriet January 23, 2018, 11:55 am
    Did you use the trivet?
    • ClnEatingVegGrl January 23, 2018, 11:55 am
      I do not.
  • Gailee Wells February 3, 2018, 1:06 pm
    Hi, This sounds so easy. Is this really "bone" broth since no bones were cooked to create bone broth? Thank you. Looking forward to trying it this way.
    • ClnEatingVegGrl February 4, 2018, 8:50 pm
      As specified in the recipe, the chicken is cooked in bone broth. So yes, it is still bone broth afterwards. I hope this helps!
  • Mary Jo February 4, 2018, 1:56 pm
    Since we're talking about fast, while the breasts are still hot, dump them in the mixer and the paddles will shred them in a jiffy.
    • ClnEatingVegGrl February 4, 2018, 8:47 pm
      I don't have a stand mixer, but I have heard they are great for that!
  • Jennifer February 11, 2018, 6:38 am
    You mention after cooking the chicken to strain and keep the "bone broth". Isn't this just stock or broth? These are boneless breaststroke aren't they? The bone broth I make is made with the bones and not the meat. Just curious.
    • ClnEatingVegGrl February 11, 2018, 4:31 pm
      I used bone broth to cook it in. If regular chicken broth was used, it would not be bone broth.
  • Melanie March 12, 2018, 6:29 pm
    What am I doing wrong? I put the chicken and broth in my pot, closed it , turned it on and selected meat/stew. I clicked down to 12 and pushed start. The display showed 6:00 and now it’s been 15 min and it’s showing 5:45, like it cooking for 5 hours and 45 min longer! I’m not loving this instant pot.
    • ClnEatingVegGrl March 13, 2018, 1:57 pm
      It sounds like maybe it somehow got on the slow cook function? I'm not sure! I am definitely not a tech savvy person. Sorry!
  • Sandra April 24, 2018, 9:31 am
    Could you double or triple this recipe in order to meal prep?
    • ClnEatingVegGrl April 24, 2018, 3:01 pm
      I have not tried it myself, but I don't see why not. I imagine you wouldn't need to actually double the liquid or time, though. It may take a little experimentation to get the exactness down.
  • Norma August 10, 2018, 5:23 pm
    I just tried this and my chicken turned out tuff. Nor sure why. I followed the instructions. I use my Instantpot all the time so Im not brand new to it. It taste like it was cooked too long. Nor sure what I did wrong?
    • ClnEatingVegGrl October 26, 2018, 10:41 am
      I'm not sure why it didn't work for you. Maybe next time lower the amount of time by a couple of minutes to see if that helps?
  • Cindy Powell August 20, 2021, 4:13 pm
    I found the same Instant Pot at Walmart on sale for 39.99. Love it
  • Xeno Aldencroft November 2, 2023, 7:20 am
    Very well laid out and easy to follow! Xeno Aldencroft recently posted...Empower Your World: 5 Life-Enhancing Hobbies for WomenMy Profile

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