Cooking Frozen Chicken In Instant Pot

Cooking frozen chicken in Instant Pot is the best way to cook frozen chicken! This easy method results in perfectly cooked, juicy chicken breasts every time.

Cooking Instant Pot Chicken Breasts from Frozen

If you ever wondered how to cook chicken breast from frozen, then this post is for you! It’s so simple to do and comes in handy when it’s 5 o’clock and you forgot to get the chicken out to thaw.

Pressure cooking the chicken to a fall-apart tender, juicy chicken breast is perfect for shredding and using on rice, salads, in Instant Pot chicken tacos, chicken burritos, in soups, and more. It’s also great for making big batches for meal prep for the week and portioning it out to freeze what you’re not going to use right away.

If you already know how to use the Instant Pot, well you know what a game-changer it is. If not, this easy-to-follow guide will take you there step by step and you’ll never look back!

How to Cook Frozen Chicken Breasts in the Instant Pot

• Add chicken breast to Instant Pot: Add your seperated frozen chicken breasts into the Instant Pot in a single layer. Pour in chicken broth and sprinkle salt and pepper on top.
• Pressure cook: Place the lid on top and turn valve to sealing. Press the ‘Manual’ or ‘Pressure Cook’ button and cook for 12 minutes on high pressure. Add an additional 3 minutes for thicker breasts.
• Natural release for 10 minutes: Once the Instant Pot beeps, let it release naturally for 10 minutes (don’t touch it). Once the display read L0:10 it has been ten minutes. Turn valve to venting to let any remaining pressure out and when the float pin drops open the Instant Pot lid.
• Remove: Remove tender chicken breasts and any extra fat from the bottom of the pot. Let your chicken rest for 5 minutes if you would like to redistribute the juices. I also like to remove about 1/2 cup liquid. Slice your chicken or shred the chicken then place back in the Instant Pot until ready to serve.

Cooking Times for Frozen Chicken Breast in Instant Pot

• 1-2″ thickness – 12 minutes with 10-minute natural release.
• 2″ and up – 15 minutes with 10-minute natural release.
• Bone-in breast – 18 minutes with 10-minute natural release.

Tips for Cooking Frozen Chicken in Instant Pot

• Separate breasts. Be sure to place the frozen breasts in there separately and not in a clump. You risk parts uncooked if they’re left stuck together.
• Trivet or not. You can choose to use the trivet or place the meat directly in the broth.
• Salt and pepper. It’s really all you need if you plan on using a barbecue sauce or Buffalo sauce which already has a ton of flavor.
• Other seasonings. Add in whatever herbs and spices you like, for example, garlic powder, ranch powder, chili powder, onion powder, taco seasoning, paprika, fajita seasoning, and Italian seasoning.
• Cook time. Be sure to check out the times based on fresh or frozen chicken breast. The thickness matters as well.
• Liquid. Instead of the broth, you can use water or pineapple juice for a little sweetness. The meat is frozen, so it’s harder for the flavors to penetrate the meat right away but it sure makes for a delicious sauce or gravy afterward!
• Bone-in or boneless chicken breasts: If you plan on shredding your chicken, don’t use bone-in chicken breast. You’ll get much more bang for your buck if you use a thick boneless chicken breast. It’s also much easier to shred without having to tear it off the bone.

How to Shred Cooked Chicken Breast

There are a couple of different ways to do this once you’ve transferred the meat from the pot into a bowl.

1. Use 2 forks to shred meat, pulling the pieces that naturally fall apart. Working your way from the outside in, pulling apart as you go until it’s all shredded.
2. Using a hand mixer with beaters, beat away! There is a bit more splatter with this one, but I kid you not, it’s super easy (kind of fun!) and it gets the job done quickly.

Dishes that Use Shredded Chicken:

• BBQ Chicken Salad
• Mexican Chicken Casserole
• Shredded Chicken Taco Salad
• Buffalo Chicken Sliders
• Creamy Chicken Enchiladas
• BBQ Chicken Pizza

Storing Suggestions

To store: Depending on the size of your Instant Pot you could potentially have a big enough batch to portion out meals for the week! Keep chicken stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

To freeze: Place meat in a freezer bag (or keep in a freezer-friendly container) and keep frozen for up to 4 months. If you are freezing a lot, portion them out first and thaw only what you’ll be using later on.

More Instant Pot Chicken Recipes

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