Instant Pot Chicken and Potatoes

Set and forget Instant Pot Chicken and Potatoes recipe is a savory one pot chicken stew just like my Ukrainian grandma used to make! Break out your pressure cooker and make this mouthwatering dish tonight.

This stew along with Instant Pot chicken and rice and Instant Pot chicken pasta is in our regular dinner rotation. Makes meal time easy!

I made this Instant Pot chicken and potatoes on Sunday night after we got back from a weekend away at kids’ hockey tournament. This thick stew is a version of my Ukrainian grandma’s chicken stew and is a dinner lifesaver, just like Instant Pot potato soup and Instant Pot baked potatoes recipe.

While chicken and potatoes were cooking in an Instant Pot, I painted kids’ bathroom. Now tell me Instant Pot is not a miracle when it comes to one pot meals?!

Make Instant Pot meatloaf and mashed potatoes next, it’s another one pot wonder! Be sure to check out all my healthy Instant Pot recipes, aka weeknight dinner time savers!

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• 5 stars: Instant Pot chicken and potatoes recipe has been reviewed over 100 times with amazing results! 
• Balanced meal: Protein, carbs and vegetables all in one pot.
• Fast: 10 minutes prep, 20 minutes cook time and ready in under 45 minutes including pressure build up time!
• Hearty: Chicken infuses the vegetables with flavor and potatoes add a natural starch, making this thick stew a comforting cold weather dinner.
• Healthy: Potatoes are high in potassium, B vitamins and vitamin C (hello immune support!) while carrots are high in vitamin A and chicken high in amino acids.

Ingredients You Will Need

• Chicken: Chicken breasts, chicken thighs, chicken drumsticks, chicken legs or even whole chicken will work. Frozen chicken too, yes!
• Vegetables: Potatoes, onion, carrots.
• Pantry seasonings: Dried rosemary or fresh rosemary, bay leaves, salt and pepper.
• Fresh seasonings: Garlic and fresh dill.

What Types of Chicken Can I Use?

Chicken Thighs or Drumsticks

Chicken thighs and potatoes would be delicious because dark meat is more juicy than the breast.

• Cook time: Boneless skinless chicken thighs – 15 minutes to cook, bone-in chicken thighs and chicken drumsticks – 20 minutes.
• Cut back on saturated fat: If you buy chicken thighs with skin on, I like to trim the fat and remove the skin from all or at least half of them. North American chicken thighs are pretty fatty.
• Save the bones: Discard bones after or save for Instant Pot chicken stock to make Instant Pot chicken wild rice soup. The gift that keeps on giving.

Boneless Chicken Breast

• Cook time: Boneless chicken breasts will keep moist under pressure and need 15 minutes to cook through.
• Save money: You can go for more affordable bone in and skin on breast and cook for 20 minutes.
• Do not chop but shred after: There is no need to cut raw chicken breasts into pieces. Shred cooked chicken while gently stirring with a spoon. It’s that tender and saves washing a cutting board.

Frozen Chicken

Instant Pot frozen chicken and potatoes is a reality. Cooking meat from frozen is one of Instant Pot’s best features.

• Cook time: Same 15-20 minutes depending on type of meat cooking time. Instant Pot will take a bit longer to come to pressure thus cooking chicken longer.
• Make sure to separate chicken pieces!!!: This is very important step!!! You can’t throw in a blob of frozen chicken breasts because they will never cook through in 20 minutes.

Whole Chicken

That’s what I used 2nd time – cut up whole chicken. It’s the cheapest cut of chicken.

How to Make Instant Pot Chicken and Potatoes

• Prep: In Instant Pot, add chicken, potatoes, onion, carrots, rosemary, bay leaves, salt, pepper and water. Do not stir.

• Cook for 15-20 minutes: Close the lid, turn pressure vent to Sealing position and press Pressure Cook on High pressure or Manual: boneless chicken – 15 minutes, bone-in chicken – 20 minutes.
• Release pressure: After Instant Pot has finished cooking, release pressure using Quick Release method by turning valve to Venting position and open the lid.
• Season with fresh stuff: Add garlic and fresh herbs. Stir gently.

How to Cut Up Whole Chicken for Stew

1. Trim fat on both sides of the cavity and remove the tail.
2. Now it’s time to remove legs and wings.
3. Cut a bit, pull leg (wing) until you hear a crack and bone is exposed.
4. Then cut next to the bone.
5. Pull the skin off with your hands on the breast side. Or leave it on.
6. Trim skin with a knife on the back side. If you want.
7. Cut to remove each breast along the center bone.
8. That’s it. Use chicken pieces in this recipe and save some for another recipe. Or use all of them at once.
9. Carcass is great for making soups!

In how to cut a whole chicken I have a step by step photo tutorial that is very helpful in learning the correct cutting method!

Optional Add-In’s and Variations

• Fresh dill substitute: Any fresh herbs like Italian parsley (I don’t love curly parsley), green onion or even basil adds amazing layer of flavor. Don’t use dried dill weed, completely different taste.
• Substitute rosemary with: Dried oregano, thyme or Italian seasoning substitute.
• No fresh herbs? Still make this Instant Pot chicken and potatoes recipe. It will be good without them as well.
• Creamy: Some readers have added heavy cream at the end after cooking for a delicious creamy chicken stew.
• Fresh greens: Kale or spinach not only add nutritional value but a pop of color.
• Splash of white wine: Reader tested and as the saying goes; I like to cook with wine, sometimes it ends up in the food. 🙂
• Additional vegetables: Add frozen peas or cauliflower rice at the end of cooking time. Frozen green beans would be lovely too.
• Finishers: In addition to dill and garlic, a squeeze of lemon juice to enhance flavors or hot sauce if you like a little heat.
• Sweet potatoes: Pressure cook 8-10 minutes and be sure to use boneless chicken as your protein option.

Tips for Best Results

• You don’t have to saute the onion or sear chicken: It’s not necessary when making chicken and potatoes in Instant Pot because food cooked under pressure comes out more flavorful. 
• Add garlic after Instant Pot chicken potatoes is done: 5 cloves added before cooking are way less powerful than 1 clove added after. It makes all the difference in the world.
• What are best potatoes to use? Russet potatoes will fall apart more – use if you like more chicken stew like dish. Yellow, red and especially baby potatoes will stay whole better.
• If you really want your potatoes to stay whole as much as possible: Place chicken on a trivet and potatoes on top, so they are not sitting in liquid.
• Liquids: You can add 1 cup water. You can also use chicken broth instead but I like to save money. Chicken cooked with water turns it into a broth.

FAQs

Serving Recommendations

Instant Pot chicken and potatoes really is a one pot meal, but if you are like me and have very hungry boys at your table (all those sports!) here are some additional healthy side dish options:

• Fresh salads: Spinach salad or lettuce salad are two easy salads that would pair perfectly.
• Keep this dish authentic Ukrainian and serve with cucumber and tomato salad or vinegar coleslaw.

• Roasted vegetables: Roasted cauliflower or roasted asparagus recipe are delicious.
• Sautéed sides: Sauteed zucchini for something light or brussels with bacon for some added decadence!
• Bread: A loaf of crusty bread or cauliflower breadsticks for lower carbs.

How to Store

Storing: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. I do not recommend to freeze potatoes as they change colour and texture. It is my personal preference and I know some people do not mind. So, if you freeze other potato dishes, then you can freeze this Instant Pot chicken and potatoes as well.

Reheating: To reheat, add desired amount of chicken stew in a pot, cover and simmer on low heat for about 5 minutes or until warmed through. A little more fresh dill would bring more freshness.

More Chicken and Potatoes Recipes

• Slow cooker chicken stew
• One pan chicken and potatoes
• Roasted chicken thighs and potatoes

More Instant Pot Recipes to Try

• Instant Pot potato salad
• Instant Pot chicken noodle soup
• Instant Pot BBQ chicken
• Instant Pot Italian chicken
• Instant Pot shredded chicken tacos