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
Instant Pot BBQ Chicken recipe makes tender pulled chicken in the pressure cooker in about 30 minutes with minimal prep. It's a quick, kid friendly dinner for busy days!
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
Recipe 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.
I hope you enjoy easy Instant Pot BBQ chicken as much as we do!
Anything instant pot you just cannot beat, and this is no exception!
Thanks, Amanda. My family just loves this pulled chicken! 🙂
This chicken looks so juicy!
It turned out exactly the way we like it! 🙂
I need to try this immediately, it looks so good!
Thanks, Erin. I hope you like it! 🙂
So easy and delicious! My family would love this!
What a great a chicken dish! Have to make this one!
What great instant pot recipe! A must make for my family is for sure!
That looks so good! Amazing dinner idea!
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
Thanks, Miz Helen! You would probably love cooking with an Instant Pot!
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.
I usually aim for around 2 pounds when making chicken. Usually, I have to ask the butcher for the right size and weight. 🙂
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!
I hope you like it, Suzie. This is one of our favorites! 🙂
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!
The cook time should stay the same. I hope you enjoy it, Brittany! 🙂
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!
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. 🙂
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!!
So glad you liked it, Liv! I love using the hand mixer to shred chicken — so easy. 🙂