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!
Table of contents
- Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Ingredients You Will Need
- What Types of Chicken Can I Use?
- How to Make Instant Pot Chicken and Potatoes
- How to Cut Up Whole Chicken for Stew
- Optional Add-In’s and Variations
- Tips for Best Results
- FAQs
- Serving Recommendations
- How to Store
- More Chicken and Potatoes Recipes
- More Instant Pot Chicken Recipes
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.
Why not to stir chicken and potatoes in Instant Pot? Most often I say don’t stir because we want to avoid the dreaded Burn message. In the case of this dinner, though, it is to allow the liquids on the bottom to circulate. Liquids circulating creates the steam that is needed to pressurize your dinner.
- 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.
At the same time you are adding your finishing touches, separate the chicken meat off the bone (or shred boneless chicken breasts). This helps divide the meat more evenly among the thick stew.
How to Cut Up Whole Chicken for Stew
- Trim fat on both sides of the cavity and remove the tail.
- Now it’s time to remove legs and wings.
- Cut a bit, pull leg (wing) until you hear a crack and bone is exposed.
- Then cut next to the bone.
- Pull the skin off with your hands on the breast side. Or leave it on.
- Trim skin with a knife on the back side. If you want.
- Cut to remove each breast along the center bone.
- That’s it. Use chicken pieces in this recipe and save some for another recipe. Or use all of them at once.
- 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
Yes, I go into detail above how to use frozen chicken but to recap, be sure your chicken pieces are not touching and cooking time will be the same, but your Instant Pot will take longer to come to pressure.
Yes. You can make chicken stew in slow cooker. It should take about 3-4 hours on high heat and 6-8 hours on low setting.
Yes! Just follow the instructions for my stovetop version of chicken stew.
Sure is! As long as everything is cooked fully by the time you eat it, it is safe!
Use boiling water (or warm broth/wine) to bring your pot to pressure faster.
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
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
Instant Pot Chicken and Potatoes
Ingredients
- 2 lbs any chicken pieces no need to cut or cube
- 3 lbs potatoes cubed
- 1 large onion chopped
- 2 large carrots sliced
- 1 fresh rosemary sprig or 1 tbsp dried
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- Ground black pepper to taste
- 1 cup water
- 1 garlic clove grated
- 1 small bunch dill Italian parsley or green onion, finely chopped
Instructions
- In Instant Pot, add chicken, potatoes, onion, carrots, rosemary, bay leaves, salt, pepper and water. Do not stir.
- Close the lid, turn pressure vent to Sealing and press Pressure Cook on High or Manual for 15 minutes for boneless chicken and 20 minutes for bone-in chicken pieces.
- After Instant Pot has finished cooking, release pressure using Quick Release method by turning valve to Venting and open the lid.
- Add garlic and fresh herbs. Stir gently. I like to separate meat off the bone at same time. It helps to divide meat more evenly among the family members.
- Serve warm with our favourite addition of cucumber and tomato salad or a green smoothie recipe.
Video
Notes
- Store: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Cover and simmer on low heat for about 5 minutes or until warmed through.
- Freeze: 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.
- Kinds of chicken that works: Chicken thighs, chicken breasts, chicken drumsticks, cut up whole chicken.
- Using frozen chicken: Cook time will stay the same depending on type of meat you use. Instant Pot will take a bit longer to come to pressure thus cooking chicken longer. Make sure to separate chicken pieces!!! You can’t throw in a blob of frozen meat pieces because they will never cook through in 20 minutes.
- 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.
Love Love this stew with fresh herbs. dill -rosemary-bay leafs yum!
When I returned the shredded chicken to the pot , I then added 3/4 can Coconut Milk and fresh 1cup Kale,& Spinach torn, mixed in . Sooo Great ! Love all your recipes this is my first time with reply.
Mahalo !
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the wonderful review! Those are very fun and delicious additions. Thank you very much for taking your time for leaving a review.
PS. I meant to write “your original homeland” at the end of my review. Sorry, and I hope you are not offended.
I have tried a number of Olena’s recipes and certainly intend to try more. But THIS, Instant Pot Chicken and Potatoes, is a truly splendid “starter” recipe that can readily be used as the base for so many variations.
I didn’t want to use so many potatoes — just four chopped — and two skinless bone-in chicken thighs, which as you’ve suggested in other recipes could be simply put in the pot as is (although in the future I will probably put some seasoning directly on them). And complemented the one large onion with two more onions. And some celery. And a can of drained and rinsed no-salt-added chickpeas. Instead of water I used unsalted chicken stock, and a variety of seasonings in addition to the rosemary, bay leaves, salt, and pepper (although as suggested I didn’t put the garlic in until the end of the cooking, which worked out well). The 20 minutes cooking plus several minutes of “natural release” (i.e., I was doing other stuff when the cooking time ended) before a quick release. Don’t forget to stir before serving.
A couple of further comments.
— As predicted, the bone from the chicken thigh separated itself very readily from the meat.
— The stew really does need more seasoning than the small amount of salt and pepper suggested (and rosemary, etc.) suggested.
— Putting in the minced garlic at the end did work out.
— In the future, I will probably add some frozen peas and also pepper strips, at the end.
Definitely a keeper!!!
Slava Ukraini! Слава Україні! Praying and hoping and doing what little I can for peace restored in your homeland.
Absolutely delicious! I added a turnip!
Thank you for the beautiful recipe!
My pleasure, Mary!
This was absolutely one of the best recipes I have mad in the Instant Pot — or ever! Very savory. I share some with a friend and she loved it, too. Thank you!🤗
Yay, so happy to hear it!
I was nervous 3lbs of potatoes along with the chicken was going to be too much and it wouldn’t cook well. Nope, wrong! This recipe is perfection and I plan to make it regularly, my two year old ate the chicken and carrots out of it 🙂
That is the best when kids (& the rest of the family) love what we moms make. That’s so great!
Absolutely the best and easiest way to make delicious chicken stew in an instant pot! My family LOvES this wholesome meal. Thank you so much!
I’m so happy to read this! Thanks for your positive feedback!
I don’t have a pressure cooker so would you advise air-frying the chicken legs before using and sautéing the veg first? Or perhaps browning the chicken and onion and cooking a lot longer in the oven or on the hob?
You can cook it all in one pot on the stove. This chicken stew is pretty much same stovetop recipe. Enjoy!
Made this last night and it was delicious. I have more confidence in using my Instant Pot now so I can try more of your recipes. Thank you!
Great! Instant Pot is so helpful and I am so happy to hear you get to use it more!
Hi, I’m finally leaving a comment after cooking this sooo many times! I keep coming back to it because it’s so simple, easy, and amazingly good! I’ve cooked it up and brought the closed instant pot to my friends’ and relatives’ houses, and everyone gobbles it up with many compliments. THANK YOU.
Sometimes I add some chopped celery, or an ale or white wine with the water for a different, rich flavor – it never turns out bad!
You’re the best!
So glad you and others you share it with love it!