The Best Instant Pot Chicken Breast Recipe {Using Fresh or Frozen Chicken}

If you’re looking for the best and easiest way to cook chicken breast (from fresh or frozen) in the Instant Pot, you’re going to be soooo happy you landed on this post.

I spent a lot of time in the kitchen perfecting the PERFECT Instant Pot chicken breast recipe to share with all of you. I know perfect when I see (or should I say taste) it and… yeap, this is it.

This recipe might be perfect, but it’s also flexible (part of its perfection) – you can skip one step if you’re short on time, you can swap one ingredient for another for a different flavour, you can throw in completely frozen chicken breasts if the last thing on your mind today was ‘thaw the chicken breasts.’

No matter what you change in this recipe, the technique produces a chicken breast that is full of flavour, moist (no dry chicken breasts here, folks), and tender. Make these for supper tonight or whip up a big batch to store in the fridge for a quick meal.

And this recipe is perfect for those of you on the Keto diet, Paleo diet, Whole 30 diet, or any diet with a focus on lean proteins and unprocessed foods. The base recipe is so simple and complies with all of those diets.

Instant Pot Chicken Breast Recipe Materials

7 Easy Steps to Perfect Instant Pot Chicken Breast

Here are 7 easy steps to the perfect Instant Pot chicken breast. I have included many potential modifications in the ‘tips and tricks’ section below this one.

Step 1. Mix together mixed herbs (or Italian seasoning), paprika, coriander, ginger, garlic, salt, pepper, 1 tbsp olive oil, and 2 tbsp chicken stock to create a paste. (Note: if your chicken breasts are thicker than pictured, you will need to increase the seasonings so they are fully coated.)

Step 2. Put chicken breasts in a bowl and coat fillets in the paste.

Step 3. Add olive oil to the Instant Pot and turn it on the sauté setting. Brown chicken breasts on each side (about 2 mins each side). Remove from Instant Pot and set aside.

Step 4. Add the rest of the chicken stock to the Instant Pot, and scrape any bits that were stuck to the bottom of the pot from frying.

Step 5. Insert trivet and add chicken fillets to the top of the trivet.

Step 6. Close pot, set valve to sealing, select the manual or pressure cook button (dependent upon IP model), select high pressure and set the timer to 5 mins.

Step 7. Let the steam release naturally for about 8 mins (10 mins for thicker chicken breasts) before quick releasing then opening and rmoving the chicken with your tongs.

There you have it, folks. The perfect Instant Pot chicken breast recipe. So easy to make and soooo good.

Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Instant Pot Chicken Breast

I have sooooo much good info to share about this Instant Pot chicken breast recipe thanks to my ‘must make this the best recipe ever’ attitude. (Okay, and also my slight Instant Pot obsession.)

Tip 1. Season them to your liking. The spices and herbs given in the recipe are just an idea. Add more to your taste or change them altogether. (Good additions include BBQ sauce, salsa, etc.)

Tip 2. Change the cooking liquid for a different flavour. In addition to changing the seasoning, try different cooking liquids. Instead of stock, you can use water, orange juice, pineapple juice, etc.

Tip 3. The browning step can be skipped if necessary. Browning the chicken adds a lot of lovely flavour to the end dish – but if you are short on time or not too worried about this, then skip it.

Tip 4. For shredded chicken, cook directly in the stock. If you want to make shredded chicken, don’t cook the chicken breast fillets in the Instant Pot trivet.

Tip 5. Let the pressure release naturally. Your Instant Pot chicken breasts may smell amazing, but don’t be tempted to do a quick release. A natural release keeps the chicken moist, and it also continues the cooking process. (If you do a quick release, you will have to increase the time under pressure.)

Tip 6. Adjust cook time based on size of chicken breasts. This timing is for thick breast (about 4-4.5 cm thick)  Larger chicken fillets will need a little bit more time. Chicken fillets that have been flattened or cut in half will need less time.

Tip 7. Pressure cooker chicken breasts can be made for a crowd. 5 guests coming over for supper tonight? No problem – you can cook loads of chicken breast fillets in the Instant Pot. Just be sure not to add chicken over the ‘max fill line’ and add extra cook time. (15 mins cook time should take care of about 2.2kg / 5lbs of chicken.)

Tip 8. Don’t throw away the cooking liquid at the end. You’ve created extra-flavourful stock – don’t let it go to waste. Use it as a stock for stews, soups, etc.

Tip 9. To reduce the time it takes for your chicken breasts to get to pressure, preheat the liquid first in the inner pot using the sauté setting on high. Do this before you place the lid on the Instant Pot and before you select the manual setting. (This is a life-changing Instant Pot tip.)

Instant Pot Chicken Breast Video

How to Cook an Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Breast

An Instant Pot frozen chicken breast? Yeap, it’s super easy to cook a completely frozen, hard-as-rock chicken breasts in the Instant Pot. (Just be sure to break up your chicken breasts so you are not cooking several fillets frozen together.)

Here are my tips: to season an Instant Pot frozen chicken breast, you can either season the chicken breasts before freezing them (my preferred method) or you can cook without the spices and season after cooking. For cooking a frozen chicken breast, increase the time under pressure to 10 mins instead of 5 mins.

That’s it. Super, super easy. (So easy it may be tempting to never thaw a chicken breast again…)

You should always check the internal temperature of your chicken breasts (using a meat thermometer) to make sure they’re safe to eat (meat is done when the internal temperature reaches at least 74C (165 F)), but it’s especially important to do so when cooking from frozen.

How to Make Regular Pressure Cooker Chicken Breast

No Instant Pot? Noooo problem. This recipe is also suitable for regular pressure cooker chicken breast. Prepare the chicken fillets as instructed, then brown them on the stove in a large pot before placing them in your pressure cooker.

Bring the pressure cooker up to pressure, then lower the heat to the point where the pressure can be maintained. Cook for about 4-5 mins (this will depend on your pressure cooker)*, then turn off the heat and allow the pressure to reduce naturally. Voila – regular pressure cooker chicken breast.

*Electric pressure cookers like the Instant Pot cook at a lower pressure than regular pressure cookers. Regular pressure cookers cook a bit faster (but you have to babysit them – a trade-off).

 Instant Pot Chicken Breast Meal Plan Ideas

I have a few ideas for you:

• Instant Pot chicken and rice: Make this easy Instant Pot brown rice for a quick side (or any of my Instant Pot rice recipes).
• Instant Pot chicken and potatoes: How about a little potato soup made in the Instant Pot on the side of your Instant Pot chicken breast?
• Instant Pot shredded chicken lettuce wraps: Try Instant Pot shredded chicken in these Spicy Yoghurt Chicken Lettuce Wraps.
• Instant Pot chicken on a salad: Serve sliced Instant Pot chicken breast over a bed of mixed greens and whatever toppings you desire. I served mine with pomegranate seeds and chilli oil (olive oil and a squeeze of lemon/lime is another good choice). The perfect healthy meal.

Instant Pot Chicken Breast Marinade

Looking for some easy marinade recipes? Then check out these 7 Chicken Marinades for chicken breasts.

Weight Watchers Points in Instant Pot Chicken Breast

If you replace the 1 tbsp olive oil used for frying with a calorie-controlled cooking spray, there are:

• 0 Freestyle points per serving
• 3 PointsPlus points per serving

Reader Feedback about Instant Pot Chicken Breast

• Daniel said: ‘It really is some of the best I have had.’
• Amy suggested cooking directly in the stock for great shredded chicken. ‘I sliced the breast in half horizontally, and put the meat directly in the liquid. Used maybe 1.5 cups water? 5 min again, all natural release.’

I love hearing your feedback. Please let me know how you like Instant Pot Chicken Breast.

The Ultimate Guide to the Instant Pot

To learn everything you need to know about the Instant Pot, check out my post: Instant Pot Review – The Ultimate Guide to the Instant Pot.

Instant Pot Chicken Breasts Recipe

Thank you for reading my Instant Pot Chicken Breast recipe (and Instant Pot frozen chicken breast recipe) post. And please come visit again as I continue dreaming up recipes, traditional African recipes, African fusion recipes, Sierra Leone recipes, travel plans and much more for you. Thanks for visiting Recipes from a Pantry, UK food blog.

**This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission, but it won’t cost you a penny more)! Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

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The Best Instant Pot Chicken Breast Recipe {Using Fresh or Frozen Chicken}

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

5 mins

Total Time

14 mins

 

Make perfect Instant Pot chicken breast with this simple recipe.

Course: Main

Cuisine: American, Western

Keyword: Healthy, Instant Pot

Servings: 3

Calories: 282 kcal

Ingredients

• 1 tsp dried mixed herbs (or Italian seasoning)
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp ground coriander
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp ground garlic
• Salt
• Ground black pepper
• 180 ml chicken stock divided
• 2 tbsp olive oil divided
• 500 g (3) skinless boneless chicken breast fillets

UK Measures - **Convert to US Measures**

Instructions

1. In a small bowl mix together the mixed herbs (or Italian seasoning), paprika, coriander, ginger, garlic, salt, pepper, 1 tbsp olive oil and 2 tbsp. chicken stock into a paste.

2. Put the chicken breasts in a bowl and coat the fillets in the paste.

3. Select the sauté setting of the Instant Pot, add in the oil into the instant pot insert and when hot brown the chicken fillets on both sides (about 2 mins on either side).

4. Remove the chicken fillets from the Instant Pot insert, and set aside on a plate.

5. Add the remaining 2/3rds cup of chicken stock into the Instant Pot insert, and scrape any bits stuck to the bottom of the pot from frying with a silicon or wooden spoon.

6. Place the trivet inside before adding the chicken fillets on top of the trivet.
7. Cover your Instant Pot and set the valve to the SEALING position.

8. Select the manual or pressure cook button (dependent upon IP model), select high pressure and set the timer to 5 mins. 

9. Let the steam release naturally for about 8 mins (10 mins for thicker chicken breasts) before quick releasing then opening.

Recipe Notes

Thicker chicken breasts will require you to increase the seasonings to ensure they're fully coated.

The total cook time does not include the time it takes for the Instant Pot to get to pressure and the time for the natural pressure release. Plan for additional time.

To cook from a frozen chicken breast, increase the time under pressure to 10 mins.

For best results, do a natural release. If you want to do a quick release, increase the time under pressure to 10 mins.

Weight Watchers Points in Instant Pot Chicken Breast

If you replace the 1 tbsp olive oil used for frying with a calorie-controlled cooking spray, there are:

• 0 Freestyle points per serving
• 3 PointsPlus points per serving

What to Serve with Instant Pot Chicken Breast

I have a few ideas for you:

•  Make this easy Instant Pot brown rice for a quick side (or any of my Instant Pot rice recipes).
•  How about a little potato soup made in the Instant Pot on the side of your Instant Pot chicken breast?
• Or you can try these Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes or Scalloped Potatoes.

Nutrition Facts

The Best Instant Pot Chicken Breast Recipe {Using Fresh or Frozen Chicken}

Amount Per Serving

Calories 282 Calories from Fat 117

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 13g 20%

Saturated Fat 2g 10%

Cholesterol 106mg 35%

Sodium 202mg 8%

Potassium 630mg 18%

Total Carbohydrates 2g 1%

Protein 35g 70%

Vitamin A 6%

Vitamin C 4.1%

Calcium 3.9%

Iron 15.2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.