This Instant Pot BBQ Chicken recipe makes easy pulled chicken in the pressure cooker in about 30 minutes with minimal prep. A quick dinner for busy days!
This easy Instant Pot BBQ chicken is one of my favorite Instant Pot recipes for busy days. Seriously, this recipe is incredibly simple and makes the best pulled chicken in just 30 minutes. If you’re looking for quick and easy dinner recipes, this one’s for you!
I have an awesome recipe for pulled BBQ chicken in the Crock-Pot , but making BBQ chicken in the pressure cooker is so much faster. And since I don’t always plan ahead, this is why I love Instant Pot dinner recipes. Well, one reason, anyway!
Barbecue pulled chicken is also a big hit with the kids. Even my picky eater likes it!
Plus, it’s a very versatile recipe. You can use it to make chicken sandwiches, sliders, wraps or quesadillas. You can even use the meat to top nachos, baked potatoes or salads. You get the picture, right?
How to make pulled BBQ chicken in the Instant Pot
This Instant Pot shredded chicken is pretty much a dump and go dinner. All you do is add the boneless, skinless chicken breasts to the pressure cooker, season them and top them with your favorite BBQ sauce.
You’ll have to add water, since BBQ sauce is so thick. I tried to get away with using only a quarter cup of water, but I had a messy pot to clean afterwards. Half a cup works much better!
When the chicken is done, I usually shred it with a hand mixer. You can do it with two forks, but the mixer is much faster. My kids have fun helping with this part!
And that’s all there is to it! You guys, this Instant Pot BBQ chicken is a lifesaver, especially on crazy busy days!
Looking for more easy Instant Pot chicken recipes?
Recipe for Instant Pot BBQ Chicken
Instant Pot BBQ Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- Add olive oil to inner pot of pressure cooker, and place chicken in pot
- Add water, and sprinkle sea salt, garlic powder and pepper over chicken, then pour BBQ sauce over chicken. Do not stir!
- Place lid on pot, turn vent to Sealing position, and hit PRESSURE COOK for 10 minutes. Pot will take a few minutes to pressurize, and chicken will cook for 10 minutes
- After pot beeps, allow a 10 minute natural release, then do a quick release to release remaining pressure. When pin drops, remove lid, and use hand mixer to shred chicken before serving
Video
Notes
Nutrition
I hope you enjoy easy Instant Pot BBQ chicken as much as we do!
Sharon says
What about using a 10 quart Duo Nova? Do you add even more water? Thanks!
Dee says
You just need to have the minimum amount of thin liquid for that model to reach pressure, which includes liquid released from the chicken. I’m not sure what it is for the 10 quart, but I add 1/2 cup water for the 6 and 1 cup for the 8 quart and allow the chicken to release the remaining liquid. You can always add more BBQ sauce at the end to thicken the sauce. Hope this helps.
Emily says
I have been making bbq shredded chicken for over 20 years and it never occurred to me to use a hand mixer. You, M’am, are a genius. Thank you for that tip. The chicken was shredded perfectly and uniformly in under a minute.
Dee says
Thanks, Emily! The mixer makes it sooo easy.
Jean Hamblin says
Made this exactly like the recipe and it is very good! Keeper for sure.
Dee says
Thank you so much, Jean. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Nancy says
Can I triple this recipe?
Dee says
Yes — as long as you have room in the IP. 🙂
BB says
Great recipe! Did 4 thick chicken breasts, 10 minute, 20 natural release (I totally spaced out) and it came out great. It did come out watery but I used a fork to drain it a bit. Kids loved it husband had a second serving so this is definitely a staple now. Oh and the hand mixer, you’re a genius!
Dee says
Aww, thanks — but it does help! Thanks for the sweet comment!
Jessica says
Big hit with the kids.
Dee says
Thank you so much, Jessica. So happy they liked it!
TJ Ford says
Not sure what I’m doing wrong, but I always get the “food burn” warning when I put meat directly into the pot without the trivet. I used the trivet after getting the warning and everything came out fine. Any suggestions on what I might need to do differently to avoid that?
Dee says
It could be several things. Some of the newer models are more sensitive. There could be residue on the bottom of the pot, which triggers the warning. The sauce may have stuck to the bottom of the pot. You can try adding the water first, and then, the chicken and remaining ingredients next time. Also, try to make sure the sauce is only on the chicken. You can also add the sauce after pressure cooking if that’s easier. Hope this helps! 🙂
Lisa says
This was super good!! Only thing is it was a little more liquidy than I expected!! So I drained the chicken afterwards, shredded it and poured some sweet baby rays over the chicken! Super delicious.
Dee says
Thanks for sharing, Lisa. I’m glad you liked it!
TN says
HAND MIXER SHREDDING TECHNIQUE FOR THE WIN!
Sarah says
Do I need to adjust the cooking time if I’m using thin sliced chicken breasts?
Dee says
It depends how thin they are, but I sometimes do 8 minutes with 8 minutes slow releases when they’re really thin, and they come out perfect.
Victor says
Really liked the recipe as the chicken was delicious.
Dee says
Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed the BBQ chicken!
Elena says
Do you the weight of the 3 breasts approximately? I’m using 2 breasts and need to adjust the ingredients.
Dee says
I usually have around 1.5 pounds of chicken, sometimes 2.
Nik says
I tried this last night for my two kids and it was hit! So quick and easy.
Dee says
So glad you all liked it. Thanks, Nik!
Lori Bizjak says
This was easy and delicious! I wanted thicker BBQ sauce so I set the instapot to sauté and added cornstarch to thicken it.
Dee says
Thanks, Lori! So glad you enjoyed it!
SUZANNE HARLEN says
Fantastic! Was easy and delicious. Great dish for a crowd.
Dee says
Thanks, Susan! So glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Billie says
It wasn’t bad but if you are not a fan of garlic, I recommend doing a half of a teaspoon
Kait says
Hi there,
Do you need to keep the trivet in while cooking this recipe?
Dee says
The chicken goes directly in the pot — no need to use the trivet.
Andi says
Rave reviews! I am a newbie to Instapot. I did high pressure for 10 minutes, but the meat still seamed tough. I did steam for another 10 minutes, and it was perfect. Not sure what I did wrong initially, but it came through! Thanks for the great recipe!
Dee says
I’m glad you enjoyed the chicken, Andi. If the chicken is extra thick or frozen, it may take a little more cooking time. Or if you’re at a higher altitude, it can also take longer to cook.
Erika Slater says
Delicious and it t was so easy! I actually used 8 chicken breasts (house full of teenage boys coming over) and increased the recipe accordingly. 13 minutes on high and 10 minutes natural pressure release did the trick. The hand mixer hack was AMAZING! I cannot believe how easy it made shredding the chicken into perfect pulled chicken consistency. THANK YOU!!!!
Dee says
I am so glad everyone liked the chicken, Erika. Never underestimate the appetite of teen boys! Thanks so much for the review! 🙂
Joanne says
Made this in my 8 quart, used frozen chicken breasts, and just did 15 minutes on high, and 10 minutes natural release pressure. Worked great. It was a bit liquid-y for my taste, so I just discarded some of the runny liquid, and put a little more just bbq sause in after it was done.
Dee says
Frozen chicken will add more liquid, but I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks, Joanne!
Sarah says
So delicious and easy! I think I need to use a thicker bbq sauce next time but we loved it. Also can’t believe I’ve never shredded chicken this way – saves so much time!
Dee says
Thanks so much, Sarah — glad you liked the BBQ chicken!
Robin says
I just made this yesterday. I had six chicken breasts so I doubled the sauce ingredients. The breasts were fairly thick. 10 minutes at high pressure wasn’t quite enough, so I cooked them for an additional two, which was perfect. I shredded the meat in my kitchenaid mixer in about 30 seconds – what a game changer from the 2 forks method!! Easy and delicious – a real hit with everyone!
Dee says
So glad you liked the chicken, Robin. Thanks for sharing how it went! 🙂
Pauline says
This recipe was super easy and delicious.
What a great idea to use a hand mixer to shred the chicken, I’ll definitely be making this again!
Dee says
So happy you enjoyed the recipe! Thanks, Pauline.
Nicole says
I can’t wait to try this!
If I double the chicken, do I double the rest of the ingredients? Is cook time affected? 🤔
Dee says
You should double the ingredients since you’re adding extra chicken, but the cook time should stay the same. Hope you like it!
Robin says
I had to give it an extra two minutes cooking time when I doubled the recipe, but after that it was perfect. I made this with homemade bbq sauce last week and it was a huge hit. Thanks for a great – and simple! – recipe :).
Dee says
Thank you, Robin! I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed the chicken! 🙂
Suzy says
Do you use frozen or thawed chicken?
Dee says
I always use fresh, but you can use frozen. I would add a couple of extra minutes to the cook time, and the pot will probably take a little longer to reach pressure.
Noreen says
Omg so very easy, I added a little spicy sauce with the BBQ. I love these recipes, thank you!
Dee says
Thank you so much, Noreen! I’m so happy you liked the recipe!
Jessica Lindsey says
WOW! First time trying this recipe and it was a home run! I followed the recipe to a “t” and it turned out great. We used 1/2 cup honey chipotle and 1/2 cup regular Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce, and 1 cup of water as per the directions for an 8 qt. pot. SOOOO GOOD!! This is definitely a keeper. YAY!
Dee says
Thank you so much, Jessica! I’m so glad you liked it!
Dora says
I’ve made this with chicken thighs a couple of times and it’s unreal! Thank you!
Dee says
This makes me so happy, Dora! Thanks so much!
Tony D says
I made this last night! And OH BOY!! Was it good! It came out so perfect! Thank you for such a great recipe!
Lori says
I just bought an instant pot and this was the second recipe I tried using it. I’m starting to wonder why didn’t I get one sooner! This recipe was very easy and delicious! My super picky husband devoured the sandwiches and had seconds! The only thing was my meat wasn’t as tender as I had hoped. I had to put some muscle into shredding the chicken. There was no way a hand mixer would’ve helped. Anyone know why this could be? Should I have let it cook for a little longer or did I cook too long? I followed the instructions to a T. Regardless it was still so good! Thanks for a delicious and easy recipe!
Dee says
So sorry the chicken wasn’t as tender as you wanted. Are you at a higher altitude? Was it extra thick? Did it release for a few minutes on its own? There are many reasons why it could have been on the tough side. But the hand mixer really does make it easier to shred. 🙂
Zoe says
Use zesty Italian dressing instead of water and this is wonderful!
Dee says
That sounds like a delicious combo. Thanks for sharing!
Tony D says
I made this last night and it came out sooo good! I put it on King’s Hawaiian Sweet Sub Rolls, and added pickled jalapeno’s, and it was perfect for me and my friends!
Valerie S says
Wow!! It doesn’t get any easier than this!! I was a little nervous because I’ve never made pulled anything before but this was literally dump and walk away! This came out perfect! I used 6 big chicken breasts, 1 cup of water, 2 cups of bbq sauce, seasonings as suggested and it couldn’t taste any better! Thank you for sharing!!
Dee says
Thanks so much, Valerie! Glad you enjoyed this — you made my day! 🙂
Bridget Kevin-Myers says
So good and so easy. Leftovers could go in lettuce wraps or quesadillas!
Dee says
We have made the leftovers into quesadillas before! Thanks so much, Bridget — glad you liked it! 🙂
mikah testa says
I want to try this for a BBQ I’m having and wondering if you can make this in advance and what’s the best way to reheat.
Dee says
You can definitely make this ahead of time. For a large crowd, I would heat it up and keep it warm in a slow cooker, but you can also use your oven or even your IP if you want.
Star Bury says
Can this meal be frozen? Made to much and want to save for later
Dee says
Yes, you can freeze the leftovers. 🙂
James says
Made this last night since it was too windy to BBQ. Awesome and the clean up is simple. Another hit with the kids too! You have to try this!
Dee says
That’s the best thing about IP ribs — you can make them anytime!
Dana says
I made this chicken for dinner last night and put it on a sandwich, and it tastes incredible! Makes great leftovers too
Dee says
We love these sandwiches, too! Thanks so much!
Raven says
Very good, easy to make and delish!
Dee says
So glad you liked it, Raven!
Amanda Poff says
Moist and delicious!!!
Larry Kaminsk says
I will add Mexican Coca Cola to the barbecue sauce which will really sweeten that liquid. I do this on my pulled pork and beef. Thank you
LeighAnne says
Made this today. Have been craving pulled pork, but needed a healthier option. So glad I found this recipe! Turned out great! Did not have to use a hand mixer, the chicken just fell apart. Thank you for sharing!
Dee says
Thank you so much! So glad you liked it!
Beth says
This is a great weeknight recipe. It was as easy as you said it would be, my family liked it, and the tip about “shredding” it with a hand mixer is pure genius. Thanks so much, Dee!
Dee says
I’m so happy to hear this, Beth! Thanks so much!
Lili says
What about boneless chicken thighs? I have 4 of them.
Dee says
You can definitely use thighs if you have them.
Orsola says
I’m doubling the recipe so I just doubled what was needed. I hope it comes out ok!!
Jack says
If I use half of the amount of chicken & ingredients, will cooking time still be the same?
Dee says
Yes! The cooking time is still the same.
Jennie Capps says
This was perfect! Thank you. I had chicken tenders so pressure cooked for 8 minutes. Loved this recipe.
Dee says
I’m so happy you liked it, Jennie!
Julia says
is the time the same for thin cut chicken breasts?? or a little less time?
Dee says
If they are super thin, you can try 8 minutes with 8 minute release and check the temperature at the end. 10 minutes will still work, though. 🙂
H. Nakamoto says
Can you use frozen chicken?
Dee says
You can use frozen, but it may take longer to pressurize. I always recommend adding a couple of minutes to the cook time when using frozen.
Rebecca says
Made this tonight and it was delicious! I made it in an 8qt pot and used 1 cup of liquid as suggested (I used chicken stock). I found the mixture to be just a little too liquidy. I think I will try 3/4 cup next time. I used Baby Ray’s Original Barbecue Sauce. I put the cooked chicken on buns and topped with swiss cheese, then put under the broiler for a minute. Afterwards we garnished them with more BBQ sauce or Ranch dressing – will definitely add to our meal rotation!
Dee says
Thank you SO much, Rebecca! That sounds like an amazing dinner. 🙂
MDK says
Can you double this recipe and still use the same cooking time? New to instant pot cooking…
Dee says
Yes — It should still cook for the same time, but the pot might take a little longer to reach pressure.
Elfia Presta says
yes I doubled it and also doubled the time and it was yummy
~janny says
I tried this tonight, and it was very good~! I didn’t bother to shred it – had it with a baked potato and broccoli. Next time, I will be a little more heavy handed with the seasonings.
Dee says
That sounds like a delicious dinner! Thank you so much. 🙂
~janny says
Hi~! I want to try this. So, you didn’t use the trivet? It looks so good. I don’t want to mess this up.
Dee says
Since I want to shred the chicken, I don’t use the trivet, and it always comes out perfect! 🙂
Holly says
Quick, easy, and yummy! You can’t go wrong! I have made this twice in two weeks. Love it with Sweet and Spicy Sweet Baby Ray’s. I have only shredded it with big shredding forks. Next time I will try the hand mixer.
Dee says
The hand mixer makes shredding it so easy. Thanks, Holly. So glad you liked it! 🙂
amanda Levert says
Very good! Came out perfectly! I used 1 cup of water for a 8qt and it was so moist! I Don’t have a hand mixer, but it didn’t take too long by hand! Thanks for the recipe!
Dee says
You’re so welcome, Amanda! Glad you enjoyed it!
Robyn says
I made this using an 8 QT, so I did the one cup water. I bought a package of two organic breasts that were 1.25 pounds total, but REALLY thick. I cooked as directed, but they were still tough and rubbery. I cooked for another 2 minutes with 5 minutes before releasing pressure, and I could shred them with some effort. Family enjoyed, I just wanted to mention that thicker breasts will likely take more cooking time. Don’t assume that if they are up to temperature and tough that they are over cooked. You actually need to cook them more.
Clif says
This is insanely good. Awesome recipe. I add more BBQ sauce after shredding btw.
Dee says
Thank you so much, Clif! More sauce at the end is the way to go. 🙂
Loann says
Thanks for the recipe and the tip on the hand mixer! Just made this tonight and it was delicious! I used my own homemade bbq, and the flavors were wonderful! Using the hand mixer saved me 20 minutes of shredding time. I doubled the recipe since I had a party of 14 people, and this came out perfect! Paired it with Hawaiian buns and dill pickles 🙂 this recipe is a keeper!
Dee says
Thank you so much, Loann! The hand mixer really does save a ton of time! 🙂
Ashton says
So, if I’m using an 8 qt instapot, would i use 1 cup of water or 1 1/2 cups of water? I wasn’t sure according to the notes.
Dee says
I would use 1 1/2 cups for the 8 quart. You can always add more BBQ sauce after cooking. 🙂
Erin says
I’ve made this a few times and absolutely love it! I’m planning on making it again for a party this weekend, with 25 guests. I’m wondering what I would need to do to modify- triple all of the ingredients, even the water? Adjust the cooking time? Thanks!
Dee says
I’ve never made a huge batch of this, but the cooking time and water should stay the same. I would at least double the ingredients — just be careful with the BBQ sauce. You can always add more when you’re shredding it, but you don’t want to add too much in case it’s too thick for pressure cooking. Let me know how it goes! 🙂
Patricia Hagar says
I doubled everything and kept the cook time the same. Got burn warning. Just opened it and got chicken off the bottom . Then put it on again for 12 minutes. 12 minute slow release. Sooooooo good!!!!
Dee says
Thanks for letting us know, Patricia. Glad you liked it! 🙂
Lisa says
I just made this for dinner tonight. It was the first thing I have made with my new Instant Pot. I was terrified to use it (lol) so I really appreciate your simple but detailed cooking instructions. The chicken turned out phenomenal! It shredded like a breeze (I use my hand mixer too!) and was so tender and flavorful! I will definitely be making this again and again. Thank you!
Dee says
Thank you so much, Lisa. I’m so glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Caroline says
Tried this and got the burn notice. I’m super disappointed as this happens every time I try using bbq sauce. I didn’t stir it in. Any ideas on what went wrong?
Dee says
The only time I have ever gotten the burn notice when using a thick sauce was when I used too much sauce and didn’t add enough water, although it still came to pressure. I try to make sure the sauce is right on top of the chicken so it doesn’t spread too much. Also, you can get the burn notice if there is any residue or build-up on the bottom of the pot from previous meals. Not saying there is, but it’s just something to consider. Maybe it’s something in the sauce itself? I understand how frustrating this can be — hope this helps.
Sherry says
This is the second time I’ve used my instant pot and this was outstanding. I love dump and go recipes like this. This chicken was so tender and I never would have thought a hand mixer would shred this so all. My toddler loved his sandwich and I couldn’t get enough too. This is definitely going into our weekly rotation!
Dee says
Thanks so much, Sherry! I love using my hand mixer to shred chicken — so easy. 🙂
Deb says
I am so excited to try this tonight! Just wondering – why do you say ‘do not stir’ after the BBQ sauce is entered? I’ll be sure to follow your directions but curious what happens if you do stir at that step.
Looks so good – can’t wait to try!
Dee says
Hi Deb. Sometimes, if you stir heavy sauces like tomato or BBQ, you might get the burn notice from the sugars in the sauce. That’s why you want to add those sauces last, on the top of whatever you’re making. You can stir it in after the pressure cooking and use the Saute function to reduce and thicken the sauce after that.
Deb says
I made this last night and followed your directions and it was PERFECT! I only had 1 cup of BBQ sauce so I substituted some vinegar and beer instead then simmered the leftover sauce on the saute function like you suggested. Thanks for the inspiration!
Dee says
Yea! SO glad you liked it, Deb! 🙂
Liv says
This was flippin delicious. I made it exactly as you said and the whole family raved. Served it on small corn tortillas with coleslaw and cilantro. I never have good luck with chicken in the slow cooker, I think it gets too dry. This was perfectly cooked! Maybe I’m a simpleton but I chuckled a little when I saw that you shredded with the hand mixer however, decided I’d better follow what you do and got it out. I can’t wait to see what else I can shred with that thing! I never would have thought to shred chicken with it. It was messy, but well worth it. Thanks!!
Dee says
So glad you liked it, Liv! I love using the hand mixer to shred chicken — so easy. 🙂
Jenny says
Would the cook time change if I’m going to use frozen chicken breasts? I am new when it comes to using an instant pot. But I’m excited to try this recipe!
Dee says
I haven’t made it with frozen chicken, but usually the pot just takes longer to come to pressure, and the cook time remains the same. You can always cook for about 5 minutes longer if the chicken isn’t done. 🙂
Brittany says
Question! If I double the recipe, do you think I need to chance anything with the cook time? Thank you in advance! Cannot WAIT to make this our group-dinners go-to!
Dee says
The cook time should stay the same. I hope you enjoy it, Brittany! 🙂
Suzie Kim says
Came across this recipe and wanted to try it! I just got an Instant Pot, and this is the second time using it. I usually make BBQ shredded chicken in my crock pot, but my husband said “try your Instant Pot instead”, so here we go! Keeping my fingers crossed for a yummy meal!
Dee says
I hope you like it, Suzie. This is one of our favorites! 🙂
Melissa says
How many lbs of chicken do you think you use for the 3 chicken breasts? The chicken breasts I have are almost 1 lb each.
Dee says
I usually aim for around 2 pounds when making chicken. Usually, I have to ask the butcher for the right size and weight. 🙂
Amber says
You have a butcher!?! We buy ours from Costco so they come in a pack and they are usually pretty huge.
I was just going to ask you about weight because size is so relative.
Going to make this tonight!
I used to make this in a slow cooker, but this is even better! Our slow cooker always seemed to cook fast too.
I want to make chili as well soon.
Thanks!
Dee says
Our Frys/Kroger has a butcher, and you can usually pick out individual cuts of meat — They’re usually smaller than the ones that come in the packs. Usually, I try to get around 2 pounds. Hope you like it! 🙂
Miz Helen says
I keep pinning all these wonderful recipes, thinking someday I might actually get an Instant Pot, this recipe sure looks good! Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday.
Miz Helen
Dee says
Thanks, Miz Helen! You would probably love cooking with an Instant Pot!
Toni | Boulder Locavore says
That looks so good! Amazing dinner idea!
Amy says
What great instant pot recipe! A must make for my family is for sure!
Krista says
What a great a chicken dish! Have to make this one!
Jamielyn says
So easy and delicious! My family would love this!
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says
I need to try this immediately, it looks so good!
Dee says
Thanks, Erin. I hope you like it! 🙂
Delaney | Melanie Makes says
This chicken looks so juicy!
Dee says
It turned out exactly the way we like it! 🙂
Amanda says
Anything instant pot you just cannot beat, and this is no exception!
Dee says
Thanks, Amanda. My family just loves this pulled chicken! 🙂
Angela says
Does the cooking time change with frozen chicken?
Dee says
I haven’t made it with frozen chicken, but people who have said it just takes longer to reach pressure. You can always add a couple of minutes if you want.
Pearl says
My chicken wasn’t super tender. Any ideas why?
Dee says
So sorry to hear this! Was it super thick, or are you at a higher altitude?