Juicy, flavorful and tender Instant Pot Chicken Breast ready in 30 minutes from start to finish, with simple ingredients and no searing required.
Instant Pot Italian chicken breast and Instant Pot BBQ chicken breast are my other go-to on a busy weeknight or a weekend!
This Instant Pot chicken breast recipe is easy, simple and forgiving!
I have been making slow cooker chicken breast for years. It’s a great recipe, the only downside is that you have to remove cooked chicken right away to avoid it being dry. So, this Instant Pot chicken recipe solves the problem because chicken breast is done in 25 minutes or so.
I just love Instant Pot! It makes the best Instant Pot frozen chicken breast or the best rotisserie style Instant Pot frozen whole chicken if you forgot to thaw the meat.
And if you are not a blessed electric pressure cooker owner, check out my baked chicken breast or air fryer chicken breast.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick: All you have to do is rub chicken breasts with spices and cook for 10 to 15 minutes. With pressure build up and bringing it down, you are in for a maximum of 30 minutes of total pressure cooking time.
- Easy: You don’t even have to saute your chicken but you can, if you wish.
- Tender, juicy and flavorful: I can guarantee you will end up with the best chicken breasts ever because the pressure cooker locks in all the moisture inside the meat.
Ingredients for Instant Pot Chicken Breast
To make chicken breast in Instant Pot you really only need chicken breasts and water. Everything else is up to your taste and what you are planning to serve it with.
- Chicken breasts: You can use boneless skinless chicken breasts of any size. Best to cook similar size pieces together for even cooking.
- Salt and pepper: Simple seasonings so your chicken is a blank slate for other recipes.
- Garlic powder: If you wish, but not required.
Seasoning Tip
If you are adding cooked chicken breast to salads, quesadillas or tostadas, I would not worry about seasonings much. If you are planning to eat it alongside grains and veggies, I would pay attention to spices. Rub chicken breasts with some dried oregano, Italian seasoning, chili powder, smoked paprika, all purpose seasoning or taco seasoning. Or this turkey breast rub would be delicious on chicken as well!
How to Cook Chicken Breast in Instant Pot
- Add water: Add 1 cup of cold water and place trivet inside the pot. You want to use cold water so warm water doesn’t reduce the cook time. Some readers like to use chicken stock or chicken broth instead, especially if cooking without a trivet.
- Add chicken: Lay chicken breasts in a single layer, sprinkle with spices and rub onto each other right inside the pot. You can also do so on a separate plate but I find it isn’t necessary.
- Pressure cook: Depending on the model of your Instant Pot, you will have to press either Pressure Cook on High pressure or Manual button. Set timer for 10 minutes – for breasts under 2 inch thickness, 15 minutes – for over 2 inch thick breasts.
- Release the pressure: Now you want to wait 5 minutes aka do Natural Release for 5 minutes. Then turn the pressure valve to Venting position to release remaining pressure. I find you do not have to rest this meat.
Searing Tip
If you would like to sear your seasoned chicken breasts, press Saute and wait until it says Hot. Swirl a bit of olive oil and sear chicken for about 2 minutes per side. You might have to do so in batches. After when you add water, make sure to scrape away all browned bits because they can trigger the Burn notice. Cook seared breasts less than 2 inches thick – for 7 minutes, and over 2 inches thick – for 10 minutes.
How Long to Cook Chicken Breasts in Instant Pot?
I have put together this cooking time chart for your quick reference:
| Chicken breast thickness | Cooking time | Natural pressure release |
|---|---|---|
| Under 2″ thick | 10 minutes | 5 minutes |
| Over 2″ thick | 15 minutes | 5 minutes |
Cooking Tip
As per USDA guidelines, your chicken breast is ready when a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part reaches 165 degrees F. Check the internal temperature in the thickest part of the breast.
Tips for Best Results
- If you don’t have a trivet: It’s OK to place chicken breasts in water and cook without a trivet. I have tried it many times and it makes them even more juicy. I never got a Burn notice.
- Don’t use Poultry button: Poultry setting has preset time that is not customizable to the size of your chicken breasts. Also poultry is a very large concept ranging from chicken tenders to bone-in whole chicken.
- Don’t do Quick Release: If you release pressure right away after cooking, it will make your chicken breast dry. I recommend to wait 5 minutes and then turn valve to Venting.
- Don’t throw away the liquid: It is basically Instant Pot chicken broth and is perfect for making soup recipes and Instant Pot soup recipes.
- Size of Instant Pot you can use: Any size of Instant Pot works. It comes in 3 quart, 5 quart, 6 quart or 8 quart. Same recipe, same cooking time and same water amount. Just make sure chicken breasts fit in a single layer.
- If your Instant Pot is small: If you want to cook large amount of chicken breasts in 3 quart pot, do so in a few batches. Piling up chicken in a few layers will result in undercooked chicken.
- Bone-in and skin-on chicken breasts: Cooking time remains the same. You do not need to cook them longer because 10-15 minutes of cook time along with about 10 minutes of pressure build up time, is enough to cook through thin chicken bones.
Serving Suggestions
It sure is a welcome addition to a variety of recipes like salads, enchiladas, casseroles and sandwiches.
Here are a few ways to turn it into a meal:
- Instant Pot shredded chicken: Shred meat with 2 forks, refrigerate and use to make healthy chicken salad or healthy white chicken chili.
- Diced chicken breast: Chop it up to add protein to cottage cheese pasta, vegetable soup or borscht.
- Low carb meal: Make my favorite ratatouille recipe to have with chicken for a complete meal.
- With sauce: Combine shredded chicken with healthy barbecue sauce or teriyaki sauce.
- With salad: Serve with spinach avocado salad.
How to Store
Store: Refrigerate leftover chicken in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Freeze: Fully cook, cool completely and freeze in an airtight container or resealable freezer bags for up to 3 months. Thaw in fridge or on a counter.
FAQs
Many recipes online ask you to saute chicken breast before pressure cooking in an effort “to lock in most of juices”. I can assure you I have cooked chicken breast in Instant Pot over 20 times and it comes out juicy if you follow my recipe.
But you can saute it if you wish, of course. See notes above how to do so.
No. You can cook as many or as little chicken breasts as you need, as long as they fit into a single layer. If you stack them, your chicken will end up with uncooked spots.
Because the Instant Pot steam provides a moist environment for your chicken breast, this is difficult to do. If you are worried, be sure to measure your chicken breast’s thickness at its widest point so you know exactly how long to cook it.
If your Instant Pot chicken breast came out tough it could be due to the breast itself. Find the brand you like and use it. To fix tough chicken, shred it with two forks and mix with some cooking liquid from the bottom of the pot.
More Instant Pot Chicken Recipes to Try
- Instant Pot chicken and rice
- Instant Pot chicken and potatoes
- Instant Pot white chicken chili
- Instant Pot chicken pasta
- Instant Pot stir fry
Also be sure to browse 45 other healthy Instant Pot recipes and our entire category of Instant Pot recipes.
Instant Pot Chicken Breast
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup cold water
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- To the Instant Pot, add cold water and place trivet inside.
- Lay chicken breasts in a single layer and sprinkle with garlic powder, salt and pepper. Toss to coat evenly with tongs or hands.
- Close the lid and set pressure vent to Sealing. Press Pressure Cook on High or Manual for 10 minutes – breasts under 2" thickness or 15 minutes – breasts over 2" thick.
- After, wait 5 minutes and do Quick Release by turning sealing valve to Venting position.
- Open the lid and your chicken breasts are ready for meal prep, casseroles, salads etc. Shred or cube, and save broth at the bottom for soup.
Video
Notes
- Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freeze: Fully cook, cool completely and freeze in an airtight container or resealable freezer bags for up to 3 months. Thaw in a fridge or on a counter.
- Feel free to use chicken broth instead of water.
How do you cook in batches? Do you have to restart with cold water?
Yes.
I turn to this recipe whenever I cook chicken in the instant pot. So far it has worked everytime!
That’s so awesome to hear Cheryl. Thanks for sharing 🙂
I didn’t have chicken breasts on hand but had bone in chicken thighs. I put them on the trivet. I sprinkled with onion powder, garlic powder and thyme. For the liquid, I used 1/2 cup chicken broth and 1/2 cup water. I set the setting for 15 minutes and then did the release. The chicken was delicious!!!
Awesome!
My favorite “Go To” supper – Instant Pot and Costco/Kirtland individually frozen chicken breast. I place then on vegetables with heaping teaspoon of Better Than Chicken Bouillon. The natural release is best on meats. Great way to make green chile chicken enchiladas.
My first new go-to recipe. I just bought my Instant Pot, so I was very happy that this dish came out tender, tasty, and healthy.
Finding ifoodreal.com is like opening a treasure chest of ideas, recipes, inspiration, entertainment, and upbeat presentations by this very confident and accomplished cook. Thank you, Oleana! You are a pro, whether you claim to be or not.
Thank you so much for the kinds words, Jocelyn. You have have no idea how much I appreciate it.
It doesn’t say when to add the 2 cups chicken broth in the instant pot chicken alfredo. Maybe the 2 cups of milk is suppose to be the chicken broth. I am so confused. Please help. I interpret 2 cups of chicken broth and 2 cups of milk.
Hello Sandra. Which recipe are you needing help with? You commented on the instant pot chicken breast (which calls for water).
For the IP Chicken Alfredo, you add the broth in the first step (1.
To Instant Pot, add chicken, stock, oil, salt and pepper.) Hope that helps.
Last week I used this recipe with frozen breasts and tonight I used it with thawed, turned out PERFECT both times! Thank you for making my life easier. ?
You don’t know how happy this makes me 🙂
Loved your video. You are so natural. Easy! Thanks
Thanks for the kind feedback Signe!
I i always use this recipe! It works! When I want shredded chicken I just throw my breast in the KitchenAid with the paddle and it’s shredded in about 1 minute!
Awesome tip Connie!
This was the first thing I cooked with my new Instant Pot, and it turned out great! I cooked one chicken breast (it’s just me), and I just added a seasoning blend I already had. It was so juicy and delicious! I just wanted a basic recipe for cooking chicken breast because I knew nothing about how to use it, and all the recipes in the app were more complicated. I couldn’t find anything to tell me step-by-step how to cook just a chicken breast! So I got on Google, as you do now, and this was one of the first things that came up. I think I will be back very soon to learn how to cook other things!
Awesome. Welcome to Instant Pot Cooking! I hope you find my other instant pot recipes helpful!