Instant Pot Whole Chicken Recipe (2024)

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Instant pot whole chicken recipe is so fast and the chicken is tender and flavorful. Each bite is juicy on the inside and the outside is coated with the best seasoning.

Instant Pot Whole Chicken Recipe (1)

Instant pot whole chicken recipe

I’m always tempted to buy those whole rotisserie chickens at the grocery store. They always smell so good and make for an easy dinner. I wanted to try making a whole chicken at home to save money and I like the idea of being able to monitor the seasonings being used and such.

I make a really delicious Crockpot Whole Chicken. It is simply amazing but sometimes you need something a little faster. Anyone else have days they just don’t plan dinner early enough? For those days, this Instant Pot Whole Chicken recipe is a quick and tasty solution.

We stock up on whole chickens when they go on sale at the grocery store. This helps us save a lot of money by buying when prices are the lowest. Plus, it is nice to just grab what you need out of the freezer.

Let’s get started. Make sure you have an instant pot. We have a 6 quart pressure cooker and love it.

Instant Pot Whole Chicken Recipe (2)
Instant Pot Whole Chicken Recipe (3)

Ingredients:

  • whole chicken– I use the 4-6 lb size chicken.
  • Chicken Broth
  • olive oil
  • paprika
  • Italian seasoning
  • garlic powder
  • salt and pepper
Instant Pot Whole Chicken Recipe (4)

How to make Instant pot Whole Chicken:

First, put the trivet rack that comes with the instant pot inside the pot. You need this so the chicken is not sitting in the broth and juice.

Second, pour the chicken broth in the pot.

Next, add the whole chicken on top of the trivet. Place it so the breast is racing up.

If you have a basting brush, rub the olive oil all over the skin of the chicken.

Get a small bowl and mix the seasonings together. Take the seasoning mixture and sprinkle it all over the chicken.

You can use the basting brush to help coat the chicken. Make sure to get the seasoning all over.

Finally, seal the instant pot and cook on high pressure. Do this for 6 minutes per pound of the whole chicken you use for this recipe with a 15 minutes natural release.

For example, the chicken I used was 5 pounds so I cooked my chicken on high pressure for 30 minutes with a 15 minute natural release.

Instant Pot Whole Chicken Recipe (5)

Once finished, let the chicken rest for 10 minutes. Slice and enjoy! Then slice and serve. Enjoy!

Side ideas:

  • Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
  • green beans
  • Instant Pot Twice Baked Potatoes Casserole Recipe
  • Parmesan Pasta
  • Instant pot white rice
  • Steamed Broccoli – This is so fast and easy in the microwave.
  • Baby Carrots you will love the glaze on these carrots. Even my kiddos that don’t care for carrots will eat these.

These are just a few of our favorites. Any of these side dish ideas would be amazing and they are all so quick and easy. Check out 28 Best Rotisserie Chicken Sides.

Instant pot whole chicken leftover ideas:

The chicken is perfect to use in other recipes. We look forward to having leftovers so we make new meals out of the chicken.

  • chicken noodle soup– Shred the chicken and use it for soup.
  • Jalapeño Popper Chicken Casserole– Make this easy casserole with leftover chicken
  • Chicken Salad – Add it to your salads for a delicious chicken salad.
  • Make chicken and cheese quesadillas
  • Make chicken burritos
  • Add it to make a quickchicken tortilla soup
  • Make Crock Pot Chicken Stock with the Chicken Carcass.

Save money and make pressure cooker whole chicken!

This rotisserie style chicken is really simple to make. I think your family will love it. The electric pressure cooker makes dinner so quick and easy.

More Whole Chicken Recipes

  • Crockpot Whole Chicken Recipe
  • How to Roast a Chicken
  • How to Make Rotisserie Chicken Recipe
Instant Pot Whole Chicken Recipe (6)

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Review

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Instant pot whole chicken

4.89 from 9 votes

Instant pot whole chicken recipe is easy and the chicken is tender and flavorful. Each bite is juicy on the inside and the outside is crispy.

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Natural Release 15 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Servings 8

Cuisine American

Course Main Course

Calories 327

Author Carrie Barnard

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place trivet rack that comes with the instant pot inside the pot and pour in the chicken broth.

  • Then put the whole chicken into the instant pot on top of the trivet breast side up.

  • Use a basting brush to rub the olive oil all over the skin of the chicken.

  • Mix all the seasonings together in a small bowl.

  • Sprinkle the seasoning mixture over the chicken and use the basting brush to coat the chicken with the seasonings.

  • Seal the instant pot and cook on high pressure for 6 minutes per pound of the whole chicken you use for this recipe with a 15 minutes natural release. The chicken I used for this recipe was 5 pounds so I cooked my chicken on high pressure for 30 minutes with a 15 minute natural release.

  • Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes. Then slice and serve. Enjoy!

  • Refrigerate the leftovers in an air tight container for up to 5-7 days.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 327kcal, Carbohydrates 1g, Protein 26g, Fat 24g, Saturated Fat 6g, Trans Fat 1g, Cholesterol 102mg, Sodium 494mg, Potassium 291mg, Fiber 1g, Sugar 1g, Vitamin A 258IU, Vitamin C 4mg, Calcium 22mg, Iron 1mg

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More easy Instant pot chicken recipes:

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  • Chicken Spinach Artichoke Pasta Instant Pot Recipe
  • Instant Pot Chicken Fajita Pasta Recipe

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About the Author

Instant Pot Whole Chicken Recipe (17)

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Eating on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you cook delicious meals without busting your budget. Together we are going to cook real food… for real families!

About Carrie Page
Instant Pot Whole Chicken Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How much chicken can you put in an Instant Pot? ›

Add trivet into instant pot, add 1 cup water, add whole chicken or 1-2 chicken legs (in one layer), 2-4 chicken thighs (in one layer), 2-6 chicken drumsticks (in one layer), 1-4 chicken breasts (in one layer), 2-12 chicken wings in one layer.

Does chicken have to be covered in liquid in Instant Pot? ›

Cooking chicken without liquid in a pressure cooker may result in burning, scorching or unevenly cooked chicken. To cook chicken in a pressure cooker, you will need to add at least a small amount of liquid, such as water or broth, to the pot.

Can you put too much chicken in Instant Pot? ›

The cook time will remain the same whether you have a small amount of chicken or a lot, but the time the Instant Pot takes to come to pressure will increase the more chicken you have. The time it takes to come to pressure will also be longer if you're cooking frozen chicken.

Does chicken get more tender the longer you cook it in an Instant Pot? ›

If your boneless chicken breast winds up with a weird, rubbery texture, it probably means that you need to cook it longer. In general, the Instant Pot does better with longer cook times for meat.

How to cook large amount of chicken? ›

Simply add your seasoned chicken to the slow cooker with a bit of chicken broth or water, set it to low heat, and let it cook for about 4-6 hours. Grilling is another tasty option, especially during the summer months.

How much liquid do I need to pressure cook chicken? ›

You can cook chicken breasts in whatever size instant pot you have. Just make sure you add at least 1 cup of liquid, and then place the chicken in the pot in a single layer.

How long does it take to cook chicken in a pressure cooker? ›

chicken requires 18 minutes of high pressure cooking. Add 6 minutes of cooking time per additional pound. Note: You can submerge your chicken directly in the cooking liquid, especially if you want to make chicken stock. However, the steamer basket method ensures crispy skin and won't wash away the seasoning.

Is it better to slow cook or pressure cook chicken breast? ›

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.

Why is chicken dry in pressure cooker? ›

If you quick release, all the pressure in the meat forces the liquid out... resulting in a dry finish. If pressure is release naturally (slowly) equilibrium occurs and the moisture stays in the meat.

Do you cover meat with liquid in pressure cooker? ›

No, just enough to keep moist while cooking - add more if you need to but usually the meat releases liquid as it cooks and it is not necessary to add more liquid.

What is the best meat to pressure cook? ›

You can still pressure cook leaner pieces – like eye of round and top sirloin – but these work best if they've been stuffed, shredded or rolled (with other ingredients). Best cuts of beef to use: Chuck steak, Round Roast, Shoulder, Pot roast, Ribs, Brisket, Oxtail.

Can pressure cooker soften chicken bones? ›

The reason it is so important is that when you pressure cook a chicken the bones become very soft and crumbly like chalk. You can literally take the leg bone of a pressure cooked chicken and pinch it into pieces between your thumb and forefinger. No splinters – and LOTS of calcium and other minerals.

Can you cook chicken in a pressure cooker without liquid? ›

Can a Pressure Cooker Be Used Without Water? It is important to never run a pressure cooker without water. It cannot cook your food properly without water, and the pressure will build to such an extent that the lid, pressure valve, plugs, and hot food could be thrown all over the kitchen.

Does food have to be covered with liquid in pressure cooker? ›

Pressure cookers can use much less liquid than the amount required for boiling or steaming in an ordinary saucepan. It is not necessary to immerse food in water. The minimum quantity of water or liquid used in the recipe to keep the pressure cooker filled with steam is sufficient.

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