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    Popular » Recipes » Instant Pot

    Instant Pot BBQ Chicken

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information. Published: Jan 12, 2023 by Dee

    This Instant Pot BBQ Chicken recipe makes easy pulled chicken in the pressure cooker in about 30 minutes. A quick dinner for busy weeknights! Your whole family will love this easy recipe, and it's also perfect for meal prep! via @meamel

    This Instant Pot BBQ Chicken recipe makes easy pulled chicken in the pressure cooker in about 30 minutes. A quick dinner for busy weeknights! Your whole family will love this easy recipe, and it's also perfect for meal prep!

    Jump to Recipe -
    instant pot pulled bbq chicken sandwich on brioche bun on the table
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • How to make BBQ chicken in Instant Pot
    • Cooking Time
    • Recipe Variations
    • Use Frozen Chicken
    • How to Store
    • Cooking Tips
    • FAQ
    • Recipe
    • Reviews

    This easy Instant Pot BBQ chicken is one of my favorite Instant Pot recipes for a busy day. 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, especially easy chicken recipes, this one's for you! Barbecue pulled chicken is also a big hit with the kids. Even my picky eater likes this easy dinner recipe!

    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.

    Plus, it's a very versatile recipe. You can use it to make chicken sandwiches, sliders, wraps or quesadillas. You can even use the shredded meat to top nachos, baked potatoes or salads.

    If you love pulled chicken, try our Instant Pot salsa verde chicken and salsa chicken -- to make Instant Pot chicken tacos (delicious tacos) -- and our Instant Pot Buffalo chicken and Instant Pot Buffalo chicken dip! Be sure to check out all of my Instant Pot recipes.

    Ingredients

    You only need a handful of simple ingredients for this Instant Pot barbecue chicken recipe. If you don't already have them at home, you can find them in your grocery store:

    • Olive oil -- or non stick cooking spray to prevent the BBQ sauce from sticking
    • Boneless skinless chicken breasts
    • Sea salt
    • Garlic powder
    • Pepper
    • Your favorite barbecue sauce -- Use 1 cup BBQ sauce plus more after cooking, if desired
    • Water or chicken broth -- to help the pressure cooker reach pressure
    chicken breasts, seasoning, sweet baby ray's bbq sauce and water on the counter

    How to make BBQ chicken in Instant Pot

    This Instant Pot shredded chicken is pretty much a dump and go dinner. First, add a little olive oil or non stick spray to the bottom of the pot.

    Next, add water or broth to your electric pressure cooker. You can also add the water first, if you prefer.

    Then, all you do is add the boneless skinless chicken breasts to the pressure cooker, season them and top them with your favorite BBQ sauce.

    Do not stir the sauce--leave it on top of the chicken breasts. Otherwise, the sugars in the BBQ sauce could burn at the bottom of the pot.

    You have to add water or chicken broth, since BBQ sauce is so thick. I tried to get away with using only a quarter cup water the first time, but I got the dreaded burn notice and had a messy pot to clean afterwards.

    Half cup water works much better! If you are using an 8 quart Instant Pot, add 1 cup of water.

    I have made this chicken recipe hundreds of times now, and I have never gotten another burn notice!

    chicken breasts and bbq sauce in instant pot electric pressure cooker

    You can always drain the extra liquid out of the pot after pressure cooking, but if you don't add enough liquid, the pot won't come to pressure.

    Cooking Time

    Pressure cook the chicken for 10 minutes on high pressure followed by a 10 minute natural pressure release.

    You can do a quick release for the remaining pressure after that or allow a full natural release.

    If your chicken breasts are very thin, you can cook the chicken for 8 minutes with an 8 minute release.

    shred bbq chicken with mixer in Instant Pot

    When the chicken is done, I usually shred it with an electric hand mixer. You can do it with two forks, but the mixer is much faster. It's my favorite way to shred chicken!

    My kids have fun helping with this part!

    You can add more BBQ sauce if you need to. I usually serve BBQ sauce on the side in case people want to add more.

    instant pot bbq pulled chicken in tongs

    And that's all there is to it! Serve BBQ pulled chicken with Instant Pot potato salad or corn on the cob for a delicious meal.

    You guys, this easy Instant Pot BBQ chicken recipe is a lifesaver, especially on crazy busy days!

    Recipe Variations

    You can use boneless skinless chicken thighs instead of boneless chicken breasts, if you prefer. The cook time for boneless thighs remains the same.

    Make Instant Pot BBQ chicken breasts instead of pulled chicken. Just serve the pieces whole instead of shredding them.

    You can also vary the seasonings. Sometimes, I add minced onions or onion powder, brown sugar or smoked paprika or chili powder.

    Use Frozen Chicken

    You can also make tender Instant Pot BBQ chicken using frozen chicken breasts or frozen chicken thighs. Frozen chicken in the Instant Pot works best if it is in a single layer and not a large clump.

    Pressure cook frozen chicken for 15 minutes. If you do have frozen chicken stuck together, cook it for to 20 minutes.

    Be sure that the internal temperature is at least 165 degrees. If not, you can add another 5 minutes to the cooking time.

    pulled instant pot bbq chicken slider on plate

    How to Store

    Store any leftover BBQ chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where it'll last for about 4 days. For longer storage, freeze it an a freezer safe container.

    Reheat individual portions of pressure cooker BBQ chicken in the microwave. Leftover shredded chicken tastes great sandwiched between brioche buns, as part of a BBQ chicken salad, or enjoyed on its own!

    Cooking Tips

    Never stir the BBQ sauce and water together before pressure cooking. This will prevent the burn notice.

    If there is a lot of liquid in the pot after pressure cooking, remove some of the liquid before making pulled BBQ chicken in Instant Pot. You can add it back in while shredding if needed.

    Add more BBQ sauce after you shred chicken if needed.

    Use a hand mixer or stand mixer to shred chicken. It's the easiest way!

    FAQ

    Does BBQ sauce count as liquid in Instant Pot?

    Not really. You need a thin liquid like water or broth along with the BBQ sauce to help the pot build pressure.

    Do you put BBQ sauce on chicken before cooking?

    You add a little bit of BBQ sauce before cooking. You can add more BBQ sauce after pressure cooking. This is the best way to prevent the burn notice.

    Recipe

    pulled instant pot bbq chicken sandwich on brioche bun with coleslaw on black plate

    Instant Pot BBQ Chicken

    Published by Dee
    This Instant Pot BBQ Chicken recipe makes easy pulled chicken in the pressure cooker in about 30 minutes. A quick dinner for busy weeknights! Your whole family will love this easy recipe, and it's also perfect for meal prep!
    5 from 60 votes
    Print Recipe Share by Text Share by Email
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 3 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    pressure release 10 mins
    Total Time 23 mins
    Course Main
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8
    Calories 127 kcal

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot Pressure Cooker

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts about 2 pounds
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon pepper
    • 1 cup barbecue sauce
    • ½ 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 or 2 forks to shred chicken before serving

    Video

    Notes

    Recipe was made in 6-quart Instant Pot electric pressure cooker. For an 8 quart, add 1 cup water, but keep other ingredients and cook time the same.
    Chicken may need a longer cook time at higher elevations. Try 12 minutes with 10 minute release, and check that internal temperature is 165 before serving.
    Cook frozen chicken breasts for 15 minutes or 20 if extra thick or stuck together.

    Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 127kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 9gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 708mgPotassium: 246mgFiber: 1gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 93IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 15mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe? Please comment and rate it! Show me your dish on Instagram!Mention @meatloafandmelodrama or tag #meatloafandmelodrama!

    Recipe first published in 2018 and updated in 2023 with more information and tips.

    instant pot bbq chicken sandwich with pickle on plate

    I hope you enjoy easy Instant Pot barbecue chicken as much as we do! This easy weeknight meal is a family favorite chicken dish--it's a super simple recipe that packs a tasty barbecue flavor and makes the best BBQ chicken sandwiches.

    If you do try this delicious recipe, please leave a star rating and/or comment.

    For more quick, delicious meal ideas, easy dinner ideas and some of the easiest recipes out there, be sure to subscribe to the newsletter!

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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Derek says

      March 11, 2023 at 11:16 am

      This is great! Tried it out last week and making it again this weekend. Left overs worked great too!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        March 11, 2023 at 8:37 pm

        So glad you enjoyed the recipe. Thanks for the review!

    2. Elzbieta Todd says

      March 08, 2023 at 6:19 pm

      My chicken turned out very tough and chewy, not tender at all.

      Reply
      • Dee says

        March 11, 2023 at 8:36 pm

        I've never had that happen. Did you do a natural release?

    3. Patricia L Stevens says

      February 24, 2023 at 8:21 pm

      Love this recipe but I get frustrated... Any tips for it not saying "BURN FOOD"? It does it everytime and I have to release it, mix it and then start all over again... It's fine after that but it's super frustrating to have it burn at first every time

      Reply
      • Dee says

        February 24, 2023 at 8:40 pm

        That is so frustrating. I can't say exactly what happened, but some reasons for the burn notice may be not enough thin liquid or stirring the BBQ sauce and water prior to cooking. I find spraying the pot with non stick spray helps, too. I'm not sure what model you have, but I have heard the newer models are more sensitive and burn easier than the old ones. Hope this helps. 🙂

    4. Kennetj Jackson says

      January 24, 2022 at 7:53 pm

      My husband loved it so much. Needs a little sweet bbq sauce on the bun..great recipe..also, used all the add ons..minced onion, paprika and brown sugar…gonna make this again for sure. Thank you5 stars

      Reply
    5. Juliane says

      January 13, 2022 at 1:48 am

      I am SO excited to give this a try!5 stars

      Reply
    6. Beth says

      January 10, 2022 at 5:15 am

      I made this over the weekend, and it was delicious! It was also super easy, which is a huge plus for me.5 stars

      Reply
    7. Amanda says

      January 10, 2022 at 5:06 am

      My boys loved this! And I loved how easy it was!5 stars

      Reply
    8. Catalina says

      January 09, 2022 at 1:59 pm

      OMG! This is the recipe I was looking for! A must try for sure!5 stars

      Reply
    9. Erin says

      January 09, 2022 at 7:29 am

      This is the perfect weeknight dinner! Yum!5 stars

      Reply
    10. Erik says

      January 08, 2022 at 10:37 am

      Love all the variation tips! Definitely excited about this.5 stars

      Reply
    11. Gracie says

      August 22, 2021 at 12:13 pm

      Making this again tonight, it will be my third or fourth time time, so easy and delicious. Thank you!!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        August 22, 2021 at 1:07 pm

        Thank you so much, Gracie! I'm glad you enjoyed the BBQ chicken!

    12. Emily says

      August 11, 2021 at 8:19 pm

      However much water you use should depend on the thickness of the sauce your using. Not all bbq sauces are made equal. The used the Kinder brand, and with that I only used about 1/4 cup water and it turned out really thin and barely stuck to the chicken shreds.

      Reply
      • Dee says

        August 22, 2021 at 1:06 pm

        Pressure cookers need a certain amount of thin liquid to reach pressure. You can always add more BBQ sauce when shredding the chicken and when serving. People who are familiar with how their pressure cookers operate can adjust the recipes accordingly.

    13. Jill says

      June 22, 2021 at 1:01 pm

      I made this for dinner last night and loved it! It had so much flavor, and the texture was amazing!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        June 23, 2021 at 4:02 pm

        Thank you so much, Jill! I'm glad you liked the chicken!

    « Older Comments

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    I’m the blogger, chief cook, recipe developer and photographer behind Meatloaf and Melodrama. I absolutely love to create easy, budget-friendly, homemade meals and treats for my family. I also love to think of new ways to repurpose leftovers so that my family will actually eat them!

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