I love making chicken breasts in my Instant Pot because it’s so quick and simple, I can do it any night of the week with ease! This Instant Pot chicken breast recipe creates perfectly juicy and tender chicken every time, and the simple seasoning mix makes them unbelievably tasty. It’s ready in 15 minutes for truly easy chicken dinners!
Why we love this Instant Pot Chicken Breast Recipe
These Instant Pot chicken breasts have totally transformed my weeknight dinners! Here’s why this recipe is worth plugging in the pressure cooker for:
- Quick: It takes minutes to prep the chicken and it’s ready to serve in less than 15 minutes. Just a few simple ingredients too!
- Great for meal prep: Delicious as apart of a main meal, but the chicken can also be made ahead of time for easy lunches and dinners all week.
- Healthy: Seasoned with herbs, this is a great high protein, low carb and low fat recipe that fits into almost any diet.
Ingredients
All you need to cook chicken breasts in an Instant Pot is chicken, a liquid, and some seasonings!
- Chicken Breasts: You can use fresh or frozen chicken for this recipe. I recommend thawing frozen chicken before cooking it, but you can pressure cook it straight from frozen–you’ll just need to increase the cook time.
- Chicken Broth: Broth is my liquid of choice because it adds flavor and keeps the chicken juicy. You can use water if that’s all you have.
- Seasonings: I like to use a simple and savory mix of Italian seasonings with garlic and onion powder. But it’s so easy to switch up the the herbs and spices to change the flavor.
Do I have to brown the chicken?
I recommend browning the breasts before adding them to the Instant Pot because it gives the chicken extra flavor and texture. But browning is totally optional, so skip this step if you prefer.
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How to Store and Reheat
Let them cool completely before storing in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep for 3-4 days. Reheat quickly in the microwave, or covered in the oven at 350F.
Instant Pot chicken breasts are easy to make ahead of time and store, which makes them great for meal prep! I like to use them to top salads or slice for sandwiches throughout the week for easy lunches.
How to Freeze
If you really want to get ahead of things, once the chicken breasts are cooled, you can freeze them for up to 3 to 4 months.
Thaw the chicken in the fridge before reheating. Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 15 to 20 minutes.
Serving Suggestions
The possibilities are endless when it comes to serving these easy Instant Pot chicken breasts! The simple seasonings means they pair with all of your favorite side dishes for a healthy dinner.
Instant Pot Chicken Breast Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 3 pounds chicken breasts
- 1 cup chicken broth
Instructions
- Combine seasonings in a bowl, then season both sides of each chicken breast to taste.1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, 3 pounds chicken breasts
- Set the Instant Pot to 'saute' (you can also do this on the stovetop, then brown the chicken breasts on each side for 1-2 minutes. This step is optional but seals in flavor.
- Place trivet inside the Instant Pot.
- Pour chicken broth into the pot (directly over the chicken).1 cup chicken broth
- Seal cooker and set to HIGH pressure for 8 minutes. SEE NOTE
- When it’s done, release the pressure valve and wait for pressure to release, then let the chicken rest another 5 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- I browned the breasts to give the chicken extra flavor and texture. Browning is optional.
- The chicken was cooked nicely at 8 minutes. However, if you’re planning to shred, I prefer a 12 minute cook time to make it more tender and more shreddable.
- If using frozen chicken breasts, ensure that they are fully defrosted before seasoning and cooking.
- Mix up your seasonings! I used a simple seasoning blend, but you can use your favorite herbs and spices.
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving. This allows the juices to redistribute.
How to make Instant Pot Chicken Breast Step by Step
Season the Chicken: In a bowl, combine 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon of onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of blac pepper. Season both sides of the chicken breasts evenly.
Sear Chicken Breasts: Set the Instant Pot to sauté, then brown the chicken breasts on both sides, for about 1-2 minutes each. You can also brown them in a pan on the stovetop if you prefer.
Pressure Cook Chicken Breasts: Place the trivet in the Instant Pot, and place the chicken breasts on the trivet. Pour 1 cup of chicken broth into the pot, directly over the chicken. Seal the cooker and seat to high pressure for 8 minutes. Then, release the pressure valve. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving.
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