21 Instant Pot Chicken Recipes Easy Enough for Beginners (2024)

A pressure cooker or instant pot was MADE with the busy mom in mind! Make creating home-cooked dinners a breeze when you’re facing a time crunch (which for me is nearly EVERY DAY!) You’ll want to have your recipe cards ready for these budget-friendly, instant pot chicken recipes.

If your chicken dinner repertoire could use a facelift, you’ll want to check out these 21 easy Instant Pot chicken recipes!

21 Instant Pot Chicken Recipes Easy Enough for Beginners (1)

Maybe you’re intimidated by your brand new pressure cooker and not quite sure what to do with it? Don’t worry, you’re not alone.I was there too, but honestly, this miracle kitchen gadget is worth the small investment of time to unlock its delicious secrets!

After I gave it an honest try and muddled through a few simple recipes, I gained the confidence I needed to feel like a PRO! These days, you can’t drag me away from my Instant Pot!I recently went on a quest for new recipes to try, and since our family LOVES chicken, that seemed like the best place to start.

Wow, did I find a gold mine of yummy-looking ideas! Here are 21 of my new favorite chicken Instant Pot recipes that are perfect for those new to the pressure cooking lifestyle. WELCOME!

PS: If these recipes don’t fully convince you to all in love with your Instant Pot, be sure to check out Skinny Kung Pao Chicken

21 Instant Pot Chicken Recipes Easy Enough for Beginners (2)

Easy Chicken Instant Pot Recipes That Anyone Can Make (Really!)

Cooking with an Instant Pot is certainly a massive time-saver. You should understand that preparing your favorite recipes with a pressure cooker is different from other traditional cooking methods. It takes a bit of adjusting but it’s worth it in the end.

Most Instant Pot recipes are one-pot stops. Yes, you read that correctly. When it comes to those marathon dish cleaning sessions and the usual need to rotate kitchen stations a hundred times per meal… this is literally a life (and back) saver!

(Pssst! If you have leftover food, be sure to try these leftover ideas! Modify seasonally or based on what’s taking up room in your fridge.)

“Winner-winner-chicken-dinner” Recipes, Instant Pot style!

1) Rotisserie Chicken

Right off the bat, this one is a GAME CHANGER! You can make a whole rotisserie chicken (okay, a faux-tisserie chicken) in the Instant Pot! WHAT!? No more frantic 4:30 Costco runs?! That’s right, folks, you can cook your own in just about 30 minutes.

Instant Pot Rotisserie Chicken from Cooking With Curls yields tender, juicy, lick-your-fingers good meat for dinner now! It also makes for fabulous salad or wraps as leftovers. *chef’s kiss*

21 Instant Pot Chicken Recipes Easy Enough for Beginners (3)

2) Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps

If you’re watching carbs or calories, these Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps from Glue Stick & Gumdrops make a healthy lunch or even a light dinner idea. If carbs are not an issue for you, this instant pot buffalo chicken recipe can be served on a bun or baked potato.

This tasty chicken is easy to make…takes literally no time and has buffalo sauce on it. I can’t even ask for more…

21 Instant Pot Chicken Recipes Easy Enough for Beginners (4)

3) Sweet and Sour Chicken Wings

For game days or summer weekends, try Sweet and Sour Chicken Wings from My Stay At Home Adventures and serve up a smash hit! They’re tangy, delicious, and the perfect appetizer for any party. Pair them with blue cheese or ranch for a truly delectable experience.

21 Instant Pot Chicken Recipes Easy Enough for Beginners (5)

4) Instant Pot Orange Chicken

Get the ease of Asian takeout without blowing half your food budget. Instant Pot Orange Chicken from A Fork’s Tale can be ready in about 15 minutes, and your family will gobble it up even faster than that. ?. All you need are chicken breasts, sweet barbecue sauce, soy sauce, orange marmalade, cornstarch and green onions.

21 Instant Pot Chicken Recipes Easy Enough for Beginners (6)

5) Chili Lime Chicken

This AMAZING Chili Lime Chicken from Our Best Bites is a staple in our home!! Think tacos, salad, enchiladas… the works! And let’s not just gloss over the “SIX MINUTES” part. Who doesn’t have six minutes to make dinner?

DID YOU KNOW? If your pressure-cooked chicken isn’t turning out quite the way you’d hoped, you’re probably cooking it too long. I found out this nugget and lots of other helpful tips in this Chili Lime Chicken recipe.

21 Instant Pot Chicken Recipes Easy Enough for Beginners (7)

6) Cream Cheese Chicken Pasta

I’ve never gone wrong with a recipe from Six Sisters’ Stuff. This Cream Cheese Chicken Pasta from Six Sisters Stuff is on this month’s menu for our family. With lots of cream cheese and zesty Italian seasoning, it’s a must-try dish! Ingredients include chicken breasts, cream of chicken soup, cream cheese, italian dressing dry mix, chicken broth and pasta.

21 Instant Pot Chicken Recipes Easy Enough for Beginners (8)

7) Chicken Tikka Masala

I can almost smell this recipe from Savory Tooth. Chicken Tikka Masala with lots of sauce can be done in the pressure cooker. Serve it with a big helping of basmati rice to soak it all up. You will need the following ingredients:

  • Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • Plain Greek Yogurt
  • Garam masala
  • Fresh lemon juice
  • Ground black pepper
  • Ground ginger
  • Tomato sauce
  • Cloves of garlic
  • Paprika
  • Turmeric
  • Salt
  • Cayenne Pepper
  • Heavy whipping cream
21 Instant Pot Chicken Recipes Easy Enough for Beginners (9)

8) Chicken Taco Bowls

Instant Pot dump recipes are my current favorites since I’m new to pressure cooking. This recipe for Instant Pot Chicken Taco Bowls from my friend Corinne at Wondermom Wannabe is a super simple, super tasty meal the whole family will love. You will need uncooked, boneless, skinless chicken breasts, taco seasoning, black beans, corn, salsa, jasmine rice, chicken broth, cheddar cheese, cilantro and sour cream.

21 Instant Pot Chicken Recipes Easy Enough for Beginners (10)

9) BBQ Chicken and Potatoes

We are BBQ fanatics in our house. Seriously, slap some barbecue sauce on just about anything, and we’ll eat it! This instant pot BBQ Chicken and Potatoes from Clark’s Condensed is a great way to get our fix fast, and it looks positively scrumptious. Ingredients to make this simple dinner: chicken breast, BBQ sauce, water, Italian seasoning, garlic, potatoes and onion.

21 Instant Pot Chicken Recipes Easy Enough for Beginners (11)

10) Instant Pot Chicken and Rice

Call me lazy, but sometimes I don’t want to fuss with cutting up chicken (and I’m not a big fan of drumsticks, wings, or thighs). With this pressure cooker chicken and rice from The Typical Mom, I don’t have to do any chopping!

It calls for frozen veggies and whole chicken breasts, so this instant pot chicken recipe is definitely easy peasy to prepare.

21 Instant Pot Chicken Recipes Easy Enough for Beginners (12)

11) Teriyaki Rice With Chicken and Broccoli

This Instant Pot chicken recipe from Life Made Sweeter for Teriyaki Rice With Chicken and Broccoli is ready in about 30 minutes. I think that makes it the perfect weeknight meal for the entire family. And hellooo leftovers! To make the Teriyaki sauce you will need: soy sauce, rice wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar, honey, mirin or sherry, arrowroot or corn starch and water. To make the rice and chicken you will need sesame oil or extra virgin olive oil, boneless skinless chicken breast, salt, pepper, garlic cloves, minced ginger, red bell peppers, shredded carrots, Jasmine rice, water, broccoli, edamame beans, sesame seeds and chopped green onions.

21 Instant Pot Chicken Recipes Easy Enough for Beginners (13)

12) 21 Day Fix Chicken Marsala

21 Day Fix Chicken Marsala from Confessions of a Fit Foodie is a healthy meal that works for your low carb or keto diet. It doesn’t hurt that it’s nice enough to serve to company without them feeling like they’re also on a diet.

After all, nothing’s worse than being invited for dinner and then the host reveals that he’s on a lettuce-only diet. Okay, I’m exaggerating, but you get what I mean.

21 Instant Pot Chicken Recipes Easy Enough for Beginners (14)

13) Honey Bourbon Chicken

Add some rice and veggies to this saucy, juicy Honey Bourbon Chicken and it will become a fast favorite for your family. It reheats beautifully, too. Once A Month Meals has done it again! Yum! You will need chicken thighs, salt, black pepper, onion, soy sauce, ketchup, vegetable oil, cloves of garlic, red pepper flakes and honey.

21 Instant Pot Chicken Recipes Easy Enough for Beginners (15)

14) Chicken Faux Pho

This recipe for Instant Pot Chicken Faux Pho is best made with a skin-on, bone-in chicken. The Sophisticated Caveman says this makes for a heartier broth, which is definitely necessary for the soup. Ingredients for this delicious dinner idea: assorted chicken pieces, onions, ginger chopped, coriander seed, green cardamom pods, black cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, cloves, lemon grass stalk, fish sauce, cilantro, bok choy, daikon root and sea salt.

21 Instant Pot Chicken Recipes Easy Enough for Beginners (16)

15) Instant Pot Chicken Recipe for Mexican Shredded Chicken

Rebooted Mom’s version of Shredded Mexican Chicken is a must-try for the Instant Pot. Use it for tacos, burritos, enchiladas, or serve it over warm rice. It’s so versatile! To make this grab: boneless skinless chicken breasts, EVOO, salsa, brown sugar, diced tomatoes, chili powder, ground cumin, garlic powder, smoked paprika, sea salt, black pepper and liquid smoke.

21 Instant Pot Chicken Recipes Easy Enough for Beginners (17)

16) Chicken Tortilla Soup

In the fall and winter, nothing will warm you up faster than A Pinch of Healthy’s Chicken Tortilla Soup in the pressure cooker. Even kids love it! You simply can’t miss it, especially when you need dinner in about 30 minutes. Here is what else you will need: chicken stock or chicken broth, diced tomatoes, onion, garlic cloves, chili powder, cumin, paprika, coriander, salt, black pepper, boneless skinless chicken breasts, black beans, corn kernels, lime juice, cilantro, tortilla chips, avocado, cheese, sour cream or guacamole.

21 Instant Pot Chicken Recipes Easy Enough for Beginners (18)

17) Indian Butter Chicken

Make this delicious Indian Butter Chicken from Raegun Ramblings when you’re in the mood for something with a spicy kick. Adjust the spices to your family’s liking, such as adding more jalapeno for a dish with a little more bite to it. All you need: boneless skinless chicken thighs, diced tomatoes or juice, jalapeno pepper, fresh ginger, butter, cumin, paprika, kosher salt, heavy cream, greek yogurt, garam masala and corn starch.

21 Instant Pot Chicken Recipes Easy Enough for Beginners (19)

18) Chipotle Chicken Tacos

Tacos don’t have to be just for Tuesdays! These Chipotle Chicken Tacos from A Dash of Herbs are fabulous! Not only are they kid-friendly, but they’re Weight Watchers friendly, too. Can you believe they’re only 4 SmartPoints?

21 Instant Pot Chicken Recipes Easy Enough for Beginners (20)

19) Spicy Sweet and Sour Chicken

If you’re looking for a way to use frozen chicken breasts in the Instant Pot, try this Spicy Sweet and Sour Chicken from Aunt Bee’s Recipes. It’s crazy good, and frozen chicken is so convenient!

21 Instant Pot Chicken Recipes Easy Enough for Beginners (21)

20) Instant Pot Chicken and Rice

Here’s A Pinch of Healthy’s version of Instant Pot Chicken and Rice that I’ve tried personally, and my family thinks is delicious! We add a little oregano and rosemary to ours, but this instant pot chicken recipe is yummy as is, too. You will need boneless skinless chicken thighs, cooking spray, shallots, carrots, sliced mushrooms, cloves fresh garlic, uncooked white rice, chicken stock or chicken broth, fresh thyme leaves, salt and black pepper.

21 Instant Pot Chicken Recipes Easy Enough for Beginners (22)

21) Skinny Kung Pao Chicken

Savor Sweet C’sSkinny Kung Pao Chicken in less time than it takes to order takeout! Just look at all the boxes it checks:

  • It’s paleo compliant.
  • It’s a Whole-30 complaint
  • It tastes good!

Win, win, win!

21 Instant Pot Chicken Recipes Easy Enough for Beginners (23)

With this library of go-to instant pot chicken recipes, soon you’ll be basking in the joy and simplicity of cooking with your pressure cooker. From classic Instant Pot chicken and rice to Instant Pot Chicken dump recipes – and beyond, you’ll never want to go back!

Be bold, try new things, and the next thing you know, your Instant Pot will be your new favorite kitchen gadget.

21 Instant Pot Chicken Recipes Easy Enough for Beginners (24)

More Great Instant Pot Recipes To Try!

  • 40+ Instant Pot Dinners to Feed Your Family Fast
  • 15 Instant Pot Soup Recipes for Busy Families
  • 15 Delicious Instant Pot Desserts You Have to Try
21 Instant Pot Chicken Recipes Easy Enough for Beginners (2024)

FAQs

What is the best first thing to cook in an Instant Pot? ›

When it comes to breaking your Instant Pot in, it's a good idea to start with some basic foods and simple meals you're already familiar with, then slowly expand your Instant Pot repertoire from there. Try making staples like eggs, sweet potatoes, rice, or lentils using just the pressure cooker function.

Is Instant Pot good for beginners? ›

The Instant Pot is a fantastic small kitchen appliance for beginners as well as those who want to cook simple meals, like stews and oatmeal. But it's also excellent for more advanced cooking projects that involve tougher cuts of meat like baby back ribs or other proteins that usually require a long cook time.

Do you need to add water when cooking chicken in an Instant Pot? ›

Add 1 cup of liquid to the instant pot (water, chicken broth, pineapple or apple juice). Place chicken breasts on top of the trivet in a single layer and season with salt, pepper or any seasonings you like. Secure the instant pot lid and make sure the vent is set to “sealed”.

What are the 5 steps for perfect chicken? ›

Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 450°F. ...
  2. Remove the giblets. ...
  3. Pat the chicken dry. ...
  4. Rub the chicken with olive oil or butter. ...
  5. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. ...
  6. Place flavorings inside the chicken and truss (optional). ...
  7. Place the chicken, breast-side up, in the pan. ...
  8. Lower the heat to 400°F and roast for 60 minutes.

Which chicken is easiest to cook? ›

Boneless chicken breasts are a go-to because they cook quickly, faster than chicken thighs and bone-in chicken breasts. They're often found skinless, which makes them leaner than their bone-in counterpart, which usually comes with the skin on.

What not to use in Instant Pot? ›

6 Things You Should Never Cook in an Instant Pot
  1. Creamy Sauces. If there's one food group you should avoid in the Instant Pot, it's dairy. ...
  2. Fried Chicken. The best fried chicken is crisp on the outside, juicy on the inside and perfectly golden brown. ...
  3. Cookies. ...
  4. Burgers. ...
  5. Pie. ...
  6. Steak.

What is the 5 5 5 method for Instant Pot? ›

It takes about 5 minutes for the cooker to come up to high pressure, 5 minutes to cook the eggs, and then 5 minutes of natural pressure release before removing the eggs from the cooker—hence the "5-5-5" method.

What liquid to add to Instant Pot? ›

First, you must add liquid to the Instant Pot before cooking. Without sufficient liquid, pressure won't build — and you'll likely get the dreaded “burn” error. Unless otherwise specified in the recipe, you'll need just enough liquid (usually water or broth) to bring the cooker to pressure.

What is the disadvantage of Instant Pot? ›

Con– The Instant Pot uses steam under pressure to cook food and not everything is meant to be cooked in the Instant Pot. I attempted a crustless quiche which turned out well but it was too wet and moist to my liking and I prefer to cook it in the oven with dry heat.

Is an Instant Pot better than a crockpot? ›

Ease of use: Crockpots are generally easier to use because you just adjust the time and heat (low, high, and warm). Instant Pots have many more functions and steps, which add more potential points of confusion. Cleanup: This depends on the brand and model.

Why is my Instant Pot chicken so tough? ›

Why is my Instant Pot Chicken rubbery? If your chicken is rubbery it's overcooked. Choose to cook chicken breasts that are similar in size and weight to ensure the cooking time is appropriate for your IP chicken. An inexpensive kitchen scale is extremely helpful in preventing overcooking IP chicken breast meat.

How do you know when chicken is cooked in an Instant Pot? ›

Open the pot, then use a digital thermometer to check the thickest part of a piece of chicken—it should be at least 165oF. If the chicken is not quite up to temperature, put the lid back on with the vent closed and cook for another minute or two.

Can you use oil instead of water in Instant Pot? ›

You can safely pan fry with small amounts of oil in the Instant Pot. You can also stir fry. But do not attempt deep frying. You cannot use an Instant Pot in the pressure cooking setting with large amounts of oil.

What is the best cooking method for chicken? ›

What Is The Best Way To Cook A Chicken Breast? Cooking a boneless and skinless chicken breast in a hot cast iron pan is by far the easiest and most tasty way to cook the breast. You are far less likely to overcook the chicken breast compared to baking it in the oven or poaching it in water.

What is the general rule for cooking chicken? ›

For chicken breasts, the temperature should be 165 degrees F to be fully cooked. When you're cooking a whole bird, you can check between the thigh and back-breast for clear juices: pink juices are an indication that the chicken is not cooked through. Clear juices indicate that it is cooked.

What is the secret to cooking chicken? ›

Never cook it cold. By allowing chicken breast to come to room temperature, you'll ensure it cooks more evenly once it hits the pan.

How do you eat chicken for beginners? ›

Eat chicken with utensils.

Usually, sautéed or boneless chicken is eaten with a fork and knife. Use the knife to cut the meat into smaller, bite-sized pieces. If you're eating chicken with bones in it, use the knife to hold the chicken in place while you pull the meat off with the fork.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Kerri Lueilwitz

Last Updated:

Views: 6116

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (67 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kerri Lueilwitz

Birthday: 1992-10-31

Address: Suite 878 3699 Chantelle Roads, Colebury, NC 68599

Phone: +6111989609516

Job: Chief Farming Manager

Hobby: Mycology, Stone skipping, Dowsing, Whittling, Taxidermy, Sand art, Roller skating

Introduction: My name is Kerri Lueilwitz, I am a courageous, gentle, quaint, thankful, outstanding, brave, vast person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.