Today, I’m sharing a super simple, mostly hands-off Instant Pot frozen chicken breasts recipe that makes meal prep a breeze.
I love keeping frozen chicken on hand because it’s perfect for last-minute meals when I’m in a pinch. But have you ever wondered if you can cook frozen chicken in your Instant Pot? (<- affiliate link for the one I have)
The answer is a resounding yes! This is a fantastic way to cook chicken. It can’t get easier than cooking from frozen, and the end result is juicy and easy to shred.
Plus, you don’t have to plan ahead at all! No need to thaw or prep your frozen chicken. I repeat: you don’t have to thaw your chicken first! Just toss it in and you’ll have perfectly-cooked chicken in no time.
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How to Cook Frozen Chicken in an Instant Pot
In this recipe, I kept it simple with just chicken breasts, chicken broth, and salt & pepper. But you could easily amp up the spices or liquids to make really flavorful shredded chicken! I include a few variation options below if you want to mix it up.
(Looking for a crockpot option? This crockpot shredded Mexican chicken is easy and flavorful! And here’s how to make shredded Mexican chicken in an Instant Pot.)
For reference, I used about 2 pounds of frozen chicken breasts, which is about 4 small or medium chicken breasts (about 8oz each). If you’re using much larger chicken breasts, increase the cook time by about 2-3 more minutes.
Start by placing the frozen chicken breasts, seasonings, and chicken broth in the Instant Pot insert (no need to use the rack in the bottom). You can use water instead of chicken broth if you’re in a pinch.
Next, put on the lid and turn the pressure release valve to seal.
How Long to Cook Frozen Chicken in an Instant Pot
Set your Instant Pot to the manual setting on high pressure, and cook for 10 minutes. At this point, the Instant Pot should have built to high pressure (this generally takes about 10 minutes) and finished counting down. Turn off your Instant Pot and let the steam release naturally for about 5 minutes.Turn the pressure release valve to release any additional pressure, and remove the lid.
Drain the extra liquid. Use a meat thermometer to check that the chicken has reached at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, let the chicken rest for a few minutes (this helps keep the chicken moist). Lastly, shred the cooked chicken using two forks.
The chicken will release a fair amount of liquid as it cooks, but it should still turn out juicy and delicious! To make it easier on yourself, you can just drain off the extra liquid and shred it right in the pot.
Store your cooked chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Recipe Ideas
There are so many ways to switch up this base recipe with different flavors! Here are a few ideas:- Add taco seasoning and substitute jarred salsa or enchilada sauce for the liquid.
- Season with ground or fresh grated ginger and add substitute soy sauce for 2 tablespoons of the liquid.
- Season with pretty much any spice blend for instant flavor: Italian seasoning, lemon pepper seasoning, Cajun seasoning, etc.
- Add peeled garlic cloves and fresh herb sprigs like thyme and rosemary.
What to Make With Shredded Chicken
I absolutely love having a bunch of cooked, shredded chicken ready to go during the week! There are so many quick and healthy meals you can make. Here are some of my favorites:- Healthy Chicken Enchiladas
- Mix & Match Grain Salad Bowl Recipes
- Thai Coconut Chicken Soup
- BBQ Chicken Sliders with Coleslaw
- Mexican Lasagna
- Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Thai Peanut Sauce
- Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Black Beans (this particular recipe is vegan, but tossing some shredded chicken on top would be delicious!)
- Chicken White Bean Chili Soup
- Mix & Match Healthy Sandwich Recipes
- Instant Pot Farro Risotto with Spring Veggies
- Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash & Vegan Bolognese
- Quinoa Fried Rice (Instant Pot)
- Instant Pot Maple Mustard Chicken
- Instant Pot Vegetable Soup
- Butternut Squash Soup (Instant Pot)
- Chicken Tortilla Soup (Instant Pot)
- Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers
- Instant Pot Pork Roast
The full recipe/instructions are below. I hope it makes meal prep easier for you!
If your chicken breasts are significantly larger than 8 oz each, you can increase the cook time to 12-13 minutes.
Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Breasts
This super simple, mostly hands-off Instant Pot frozen chicken breasts recipe will make meal prep a breeze!
Prep Time
5 minutes
Cook Time
10 minutes
Total Time
15 minutes
Yield
1.5 lb cooked chicken
Ingredients:
- 2 lb frozen chicken breasts (I used 4 small/medium chicken breasts that were about 8 oz each)
- 1 cup chicken broth or water
- pinch of salt & pepper
Instructions:
- Place the frozen chicken breasts, seasonings, and chicken broth or water in the Instant Pot insert (no need to use the rack in the bottom).
- Put the lid on and turn the pressure release valve to seal.
- Set the Instant Pot to the manual setting on high pressure for 10 minutes.
- After the Instant Pot has built to high pressure (which usually takes about 10 minutes) and finished counting down, turn off and let the steam release naturally for about 5 minutes.
- Turn the pressure release valve to release any additional pressure, then remove the lid.
- Drain the extra liquid and shred the cooked chicken with two forks.
