Instant Pot Whole Chicken Recipe - iFoodReal.com (2024)

Instant Pot Whole Chicken Recipe is juicy, flavorful, and fall apart tender. Even the breast is moist! The easiest way to cook rotisserie style chicken with 5 minutes of prep and finish under the broiler for that beautiful crispy skin!

We rely heavily on Instant Pot recipes for dinner when life gets busy. One pot meals like Instant Pot chicken and rice and Instant Pot chicken alfredo are on regular rotation around here!

As if cooking Instant Pot frozen whole chicken wasn’t already one of my favorite kitchen hacks, this Instant Pot whole chicken recipe is right up there with exactly why I love an electric pressure cooker.

It’s so much faster than cooking whole chicken in crock pot or oven and it’s made with simple pantry staples you’ve probably got on hand.

With 5 minutes of prep, simple dry spices like paprika, salt, and pepper, and under 60 minutes of cook time, you can enjoy the juiciest and most flavorful chicken for dinner with enough time to make all the sides you need and plenty of leftovers throughout the week!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Quick and easy:The Instant Pot cooks a whole chicken in a fraction of the time as any other method. You may seriously never go back to roasting a whole chicken in the oven!
• Juicy and succulent: Pressure cooking tenderizes the meat and captures all the moisture inside the pot.
• Make ahead:Plan and make this chicken early on and have quick easy lunches and dinners throughout the week.
• Versatile: There’s never a shortage of ways to use leftover chicken! See below for ideas.

This Instant Pot rotisserie chicken is perfect for cooking fresh right after grocery shopping, perfect for sandwiches, meal prep, salads, and even soup using leftover broth and bones. But if you would like to separate it into pieces, here is a quick tutorial how to cut a whole chicken.

Ingredients for Instant Pot Whole Chicken Recipe

• Whole chicken: I find 3 lbs is a perfect size. If possible, aim for free-run, organic chicken. You’ll notice the difference in taste!
• Seasoning: Garlic cloves, paprika, salt, and pepper.

How to Make Instant Pot Whole Chicken

• Prep the chicken. Remove the twine and giblets from inside the cavity. If you want to cook the giblets, remove them from the bag they come in and place them back inside the cavity.
• Season the chicken:Place whole chicken in a large glass bowl and rub with grated garlic all around, inside the cavity, and even under the skin where possible. Combine the paprika, salt, and pepper in a small bowl, and sprinkle it over top and around the entire chicken.

Tip: Hold the chicken by one leg and rotate it around as you sprinkle the rub with your other hand.

• Get Instant Pot ready for cooking:Place trivet inside, with or without handles. If you don’t have a trivet, you can still cook the chicken without it. The bottom will be very moist, which is fine, it’s still cooked. Add 1 cup of water.
• Add chicken to the pot: Place seasoned chicken breast-side up on the trivet. 2/3 max fill line is applicable only for liquids. Don’t worry if the chicken is sitting above that.

• Pressure cook chicken:Close the lid and set release valve to Seal. Press Manual or Pressure Cook on High for 6 minutes per lb. Allow the pressure to come down naturally on its own. In 6 quart Instant Pot, the pin drops by itself after 11-12 minutes.
• Remove chicken: Hold onto the handles of the trivet to lift it out. If no handles, use 2 long spoons, tongs, or stick a long fork into the cavity and lift.

• Broil in the oven for crispy skin:This step is optional but so good and essential to rotisserie style chicken! Place whole chicken on a baking sheet, brush with juices and broil at 500 degrees F for about 5-10 minutes depending on size. Watch closely not to burn.

How Long to Cook Whole Chicken in Instant Pot?

The rule of thumb for cooking a whole chicken in Instant Pot is 6 minutes per lb. If chicken breasts seem very thick, increase cooking time to 7 minutes per lb. If you live at an altitude above 2,000 ft, increase pressure cooking time by 5% for every 1,000 ft above 2,000 ft elevation.

• 2.5 lbs = 15 minutes
• 3 lbs = 18 minutes
• 3 1/2 lbs = 21 minutes
• 4 lbs = 24 minutes
• 4 1/2 lbs = 27 minutes
• 5 lbs = 30 minutes
• 5 1/2 lbs = 33 minutes
• 6 lbs = 36 minutes

Optional Add-In’s and Variations

• Stuff chicken cavity with half of a lemon, garlic cloves, and any dried or fresh herbs you like. Thyme, oregano, and rosemary are my favorites.
• Instead of water, use chicken broth or vegetable broth just for an additional bit of flavor infused into the meat.
• Other seasonings like onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, brown sugar, lemon pepper, and smoked paprika can be used in the dry rub.

Let’s talk about chicken brine. There’s no denying the difference in taste and texture between a chicken that has been sitting in brine and one that hasn’t when grilled, smoked, or roasted. There is a time and place for a brine, but this ain’t it! There is no need to brine your chicken because the pressure cooking adds enough moisture and flavor and it keeps the chicken juicy, tender, and succulent all on its own.

Tips for Best Results

• Size of chicken and Instant Pot matter: Before you begin, make sure your chicken fits into your Instant Pot. Check the weight on the label before discarding the packaging or simply weigh the chicken. Up to 6 pounds are OK for a 6 quart Instant Pot.
• Chicken should be fully defrosted: No need to bring the bird to room temperature.
• No need to rinse the chicken: Some people do, some don’t. Either way works.
• If you live at an altitude above 2,000 feet: Increase pressure cooking time by 5% for every 1,000 feet above 2,000 feet elevation. For example, at 5,000 feet the cooking time will be 28 minutes for a 4 pounds chicken.
• Different Instant Pot sizes: You will need only 1 cup of water and the same amount of cooking time no matter which Instant Pot you’re using.
• No trivet? You can cook chicken without trivet but you still need the liquid, so the bottom will be soggy.
• To avoid chicken wings falling off etc. (indicates super tender chicken though): Calculate cook time precisely. A larger sized chicken will hold together better.
• Meat resting. It’s always a good idea to rest the meat once it’s been cooked. Whether just out of the Pot or the oven, allow it to rest for 5-10 minutes before cutting into it. This way it will stay moist and the juices won’t run out.

FAQs

What to Serve with Instant Pot Whole Chicken?

Serve Instant Pot whole chicken recipe with:

• Potato side dish: Mashed potatoes, Instant Pot baked potatoes, or low carb friendly cauliflower mashed potatoes recipe.
• Veggie side dish: Roasted cauliflower with parmesan cheese or garlic green beans.
• Salad: I love chicken with fresh herbs and veggie quinoa salad like quinoa tabbouleh or Mediterranean quinoa salad.

Recipes for Leftover Chicken

We cook whole chicken every 2 weeks because it is affordable, requires no cutting, and both dark and white meat lovers are satisfied. In our house, nothing goes to waste!

Use chicken leftovers to make:

• Healthy chicken salad or Thai chicken salad.
• Casseroles like healthy chicken pot pie casserole and chicken broccoli casserole.
• Make chicken tostadas, quesadillas or chicken enchiladas.

Use leftover broth and bones to make:

Do not discard that broth at the bottom of the pot. It is golden and not just for gravy.

• Freeze bones to make Instant Pot bone broth later. I usually collect chicken bones in a resealable bag from 3 birds to make rich Instant Pot chicken broth.
• Make soup the same week with broth and bones – it makes an amazing stock base. Try chicken noodle soup, zuppa toscana, or split pea soup.
• Freeze broth in portions for later use. I use glass jars and leave some room for expansion.

How to Store and Reheat

Store: Keep any leftover chicken stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Reheat: Depending on how much chicken you have left to reheat, you can use the microwave for a single serving, the oven for a few servings, or use the warm function on the Instant Pot to heat through.

Freeze: Transfer chicken to a freezer friendly bag or container and keep frozen for up to 3 months.

More Instant Pot Chicken Recipes

• Instant Pot chicken breast
• Instant Pot frozen chicken
• Instant Pot shredded chicken
• Instant Pot chicken pasta with parmesan

Browse more Instant Pot chicken recipes!