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Some of my favorite staples to prepare ahead of time are large batches of shredded chicken, barbecue beef, or shredded pork. I used to make shredded chicken in the slow cooker, but then I found that it’s much faster to make Instant Pot shredded chicken breast. It has become my favorite healthy Instant Pot recipe. And while that’s my favorite pressure cooker, you can also make this pressure cooker shredded chicken recipe using other brands of pressure cookers.
I totally love this method now. If you’re not sure about cooking chicken under pressure, now is the time to try it. The preparation is as carefree as a slow cooker, but it is done in less than 15 minutes. And this quick and easy Instant Pot chicken breast recipe is not only simple, but also versatile for any use.
chicken in the instant pot.” />
Ingredients you’ll need
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for the crumbled chicken in pressure cooker, what each does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
- Chicken breast – Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Fresh or frozen will work very well; The cooking time will be different (see time table below). Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are also fine to wear.
- seasoning – I like to make my own homemade Italian seasoning, but shop bought is also fine. This is technically not necessary, but it is highly recommended for the tastier Instant Pot shredded chicken, and I find that most recipes benefit from these flavors. If you’re going to use chicken for a recipe where Italian seasoning wouldn’t go well, feel free to skip it.
- Sea salt and black pepper: You only need 1/2 teaspoon of salt, because the chicken broth (below) has salt added. If your broth is low in sodium, you will need more salt.
- Chicken Broth – The Instant Pot requires a minimum of 1 cup of water or liquid for enough pressure to build up, plus the broth adds flavor and makes your chicken moist and juicy. Some people make shredded chicken with water, but you get a lot more flavor using chicken broth. You can also use any other type of broth you have on hand, or even bone broth.
Italian
TIP: Feel free to customize the spices in this Instant Pot shredded chicken recipe. I used Italian seasoning because it goes with almost anything, but you can also try garlic powder, taco seasoning, or dried herbs.
of shredded chicken in pressure cooker.” />How to make shredded chicken in the instant pot This section shows how to cook chicen breast in the
instant pot to make shredded chicken
,
with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For complete instructions, including quantities and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Place the chicken at the bottom of the instant pot. Season with Italian seasoning, sea salt and black pepper (or any other spice you want). Pour the chicken broth around the sides of the chicken (no need to stir).
TIP: Pour the broth around the chicken, not over it. This way, there’s enough liquid for the Instant Pot, but you won’t wash off the seasonings.
- Pressure cook. Close the lid and select the “Poultry” or “Manual” setting (for high pressure). Set the time based on how much chicken you have: use the time table below in this post.
- Release pressure. Let the pressure release naturally for at least 5 minutes. After that, you can turn the valve to “vent” for a quick release if you are in a hurry, or continue the natural release to get the most tender texture.
- blade. There are a few different ways to crush chicken – see options below.
in the instant pot.” /> How long to cook the chicken breast in the instant pot? People have been asking me how long to
cook chicken breast
in a pressure cooker to make various amounts of shredded chicken. Surprisingly, I couldn’t find this information anywhere, not even directly from Instant Pot.
After testing every amount of weight (and over 20 pounds of shredded chicken later!), I’ve created an Instant Pot chicken breast time chart to show you exactly how long to cook chicken in an Instant Pot depending on how much you have
: What these times mean:
- These are the times you enter your Instant Pot, and do not include the time required to generate pressure.
- The table above includes a column for “#Servings on the recipe card”: here’s what you’d set on the recipe card (at the end of this post) in the Portions section, to scale the ingredients to the amount of chicken you have.
- Do not adjust the amount of broth. You always need 1 cup of chicken broth for this pressure cooker chicken recipe, whether you’re making a pound, five pounds, or anything in between.
- A note on chicken breast size: The time to cook chicken under pressure can vary a bit depending on how big your chicken breasts are. This recipe is based on typical 8-ounce chicken breasts. If yours are bigger, you’ll need to increase the time by a couple of minutes.
How to scale the recipe:
I’m so excited to have this Instant Pot chicken breast board, and I hope you are too. It is very convenient to be able to make the right amount you need.
How long to cook frozen chicken breast in the instant pot?
The time table above includes the times for the Instant Pot frozen chicken breast as well as fresh. For 4 pounds of chicken, set the time to 13 minutes.
How much instant chicken can you make at once?
Assuming a 6-quart Instant Pot, I recommend making no more than five pounds of shredded chicken in the Instant Pot at a time, preferably no more than four. Five pounds actually pushes it, as it fills the Instant Pot and takes a long time to reach pressure.
FYI: One pound of chicken will produce 2 to 2 1/2 cups of shredded chicken. That’s the same as five 1/2-cup servings.
How to crush chicken breast
?
Once you’ve made your Instant Pot chicken breast, it should already be very tender and easy to crush. You can use these methods to do this
: Two forks
- : You can use forks to crush chicken breast directly into the Instant Pot. Hold a piece of firm chicken with one fork, then pull and tear off the shredded pieces with the other fork. Repeat the process until all your chicken is crumbled. (You can also use meat-grinding claws like this, which work the same way as forks but faster, as they’re larger and have more spikes.)
- Hand Mixer – A hand mixer is faster than using forks, and you can also use it directly in the Instant Pot. Drain some of the liquid temporarily, to avoid splashing, then place the whisks in the instant pot and turn on the mixer to crush. If your handheld mixer has a slow start feature, like this one I have, that’s helpful in reducing splashes.
- : A floor mixer works the same way as a hand mixer, except you’ll need to transfer the chicken to the mixer bowl.
Standing mixer
TIP: The pressure release mechanism will affect how easy it will be to crush your chicken Instant Pot. The natural release results in the tenderest meat and easier crushing, so use it if you can. At a minimum, use natural release for five minutes before using the quick release option.
Storage instructions
Store cooked chicken breast in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. To retain moisture, store it with broth or juices. I like to prepare a large meal and keep one-pound portions in the refrigerator to use in different recipes.
Can you freeze shredded chicken?
Absolutely, Instant Pot shredded chicken is the ultimate freezer staple! Let it cool to room temperature first, then spread it into plastic bags and freeze it flat. Once solid, you can store the bags upright in the freezer for 3-6 months. (Alternatively, you can freeze in batches using a vacuum sealant to make it last even longer without burning from freezing.)
Ways to use shredded chicken Once you make this Instant Pot chicken breast, it will be very convenient to have
shredded
chicken
on hand for all kinds of recipes. Here are some of the best ways to use
it:
- Soups – Chicken breast can often be cooked as part of a soup recipe, but it saves time if you already have shredded chicken on hand. Try it in chicken soup with spaghetti pumpkin or chicken detox soup.
- Salads: Use shredded chicken for hearty chicken salads, such as Mediterranean chicken salad or avocado chicken salad, or use it to top leaf salads, such as green goddess salad.
- Sandwiches: Use shredded chicken on your favorite sandwich (melting cheese on top can help hold it together).
- Mexican dishes: Shredded chicken is great for chicken tacos, a bowl of burritos or enchiladas. Serve with your favorite sauce. If you’re going to use chicken for many Mexican recipes, you can change the Italian seasoning in this crumbled chicken recipe with taco seasoning, but I usually make it neutral and add the Mexican spices separately for dishes that need them.
- Casseroles: Chicken should be precooked for virtually any chicken casserole, and cooking chicken breast in the instant pot is one of the quickest ways to do it. Try it in chicken bacon or chicken divan ranchera casserole.
- Main dishes: Try peppers stuffed with chicken, chile de pollo blanco or chiles poblanos rellenos.
- Sauces – Add some protein to your crack sauce or cheese sauce, or use it in your buffalo chicken sauce.
