How Long Do I Cook Chicken Breast In The Instapot?

Cooking chicken breast in the Instant Pot can be an incredibly convenient and delicious way to prepare a healthy protein-rich meal. However, many home cooks might be unsure of the best way to cook chicken breast in the Instant Pot. Knowing how long to cook chicken breast in the Instant Pot is key to achieving perfectly cooked and juicy chicken breast.
In this blog post, we’ll provide you with step-by-step instructions for how to cook chicken breast in the Instant Pot. We’ll also provide you with helpful tips and tricks for ensuring your chicken breast comes out perfectly cooked every time. We’ll explain how to adjust the cooking time based on the size and thickness of the chicken breasts, as well as the size of your Instant Pot.
By the end of this post, you should have everything you need to know to cook chicken breast in your Instant Pot quickly, easily, and perfectly. So, read on to learn more about cooking chicken breast in the Instant Pot

Instant Pot Chicken Is So Easy!

Poaching chicken works similarly in a pressure cooker or Instant Pot. The primary difference is that less liquid is used, and you can press a button and leave the room while the pot works.

The chicken is cooked in water while being seasoned with salt, bay leaves, and garlic. Depending on how you want to flavor the meat, you can really add any aromatic spices or vegetables to the water. If you intend to use the chicken on top of an Asian-inspired salad, for instance, ginger and green onion would be nice additions.

New to the Instant Pot? Check out our post How To Use an Instant Pot: A First-Timer’s Guide.

Cook Frozen Chicken in the Instant Pot

You can cook chicken from frozen, but you’ll need to slightly adjust the cooking time and method. Take a look at this handy guide for more details:

How Long to Cook Chicken in the Instant Pot

Just 10 minutes at high pressure will do it for boneless chicken breasts and thighs; just make sure to arrange the meat in a single, even layer in the pot as it cooks more evenly that way. It should reach about halfway up the chicken.

For a batch of 1 1/2 to 2 pounds of boneless chicken, this timing is effective. Increase the cooking time to 15 minutes if you’re preparing more meat (3 to 4 pounds) to ensure that it is thoroughly cooked. Reduce the cooking time to 8 minutes for less meat (one pound or less).

FAQ

How long does it take to cook 5 lb of chicken breast in the Instant Pot?

Amount of Chicken Breast by Weight# Servings on Recipe CardInstant Pot Cook Time (Frozen Chicken)2 lbs. 10 minutes, 3 lbs. 15 minutes, 4 lbs. 2013 minutes, and 5 lbs. 25 minutes

How much water do you add to Instant Pot for chicken breast?

Add roughly one cup of water to your Instant Pot insert to cook the chicken breasts. When the pressure cooker is sealed, add the chicken and season with your preferred seasonings. Set the timer for 10 minutes for fresh chicken breasts and 12 minutes for frozen chicken breasts. Then let it do its thing.

How long should I pressure cook chicken?

How Long to Cook Chicken in the Instant Pot. Just 10 minutes at high pressure will do it for boneless chicken breasts and thighs; just make sure to arrange the meat in a single, even layer in the pot as it cooks more evenly that way. It should reach about halfway up the chicken.

Why is my Instant Pot chicken breast rubbery?

You probably need to cook your boneless chicken breast for an additional amount of time if it comes out with an odd, rubbery texture. Longer cook times for meat generally yield better results with the Instant Pot.

Can you overcook chicken in Instant Pot?

The Instant Pot used pressure cooking, an ultra-rapid cooking technique. This makes it very easy to overcook chicken. Rubbery chicken is overcooked.

How long does frozen chicken take to cook in the Instant Pot?

Turn the steam release valve to the “sealing” position. Use the +/- buttons to set the cook time (cook at high pressure) as follows: 11–12 minutes for chicken breasts weighing 6–8 ounces, 13–14 minutes for chicken breasts weighing 9–10 ounces, or 16 minutes for chicken breasts weighing 12 ounces.