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Cooking a whole chicken has never been easier than this Instant Pot roasted chicken! The chicken cooks in just 30 minutes and produces a moist and juicy bird that’s the perfect simple dinner option!
I love to make roasted whole chickens – they’re economical, taste great and the leftovers make countless other delicious meals. I don’t always have the 90+ minutes it takes to roast a whole chicken, so I tried cooking one in my Instant Pot and I am hooked! In just 30 minutes I had dinner on the table and it was a hit with the whole family!
The first step to cooking a chicken in your Instant Pot is to mix together some spices to season your bird with. I like a combination of salt, pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder and onion powder. You can also try a Mexican style chicken with chili powder, cumin, garlic powder and coriander; there are so many flavor possibilities! The chicken is first browned in the Instant Pot, then pressure cooked for 25 minutes. I like to put together my side dishes while the chicken cooks. I typically make a simple pasta or rice and a green veggie to go on the side.
You’ll be amazed at how juicy and tender your Instant Pot chicken is! It tastes like rotisserie chicken, but you can make it at home for a fraction of what it would cost to buy one at the grocery store.
The best part about cooking a whole chicken is that there’s bound to be lots of meat leftover! The leftover meat is perfect shredded and served in tacos, soups or salads.
If you’re looking for chicken with extra crispy skin, you can always stick your fully cooked bird until the broiler for 5-6 minutes as a final touch. However you serve your Instant Pot chicken, it will most definitely be on the dinner time rotation on a regular basis!
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Instant Pot Roasted Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 4-5 lb whole chicken
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup chicken broth
Instructions
- Place the salt, pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder and onion powder in a small bowl; stir to combine.
- Rub the spice mixture all over the outside of the chicken.
- Press the Saute function (Normal setting) on the Instant Pot and add the olive oil to the pot.
- Place the chicken in the pot, breast side down and cook until browned, 4-5 minutes.
- Flip the chicken over and add the chicken broth to the pot.
- Seal the Instant Pot.
- Select the Manual pressure and adjust the timer to 25 minutes.
- Let the Instant Pot naturally release the pressure at the end of the cooking time.
- Remove the chicken from the pot and serve.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Hi, I am just getting to know my 8 qt instant pot. Is 1 cup broth enough liquid for the instant pot to be able to pressurize?
Instant pot manual was adamant about 2 cups liquid for a 6 qt pot and 3 cups for an 8 qt.
Thank You for all the great recipes 😋 Carole
Yes, that is great information. You will want to make sure that you are using the right amount of liquid according to your instant pot. If you have a larger instant pot then adding more liquid would be best.
Do you think that putting an extra half cup of chicken broth to the pot (1 1/2 cups total) would be a problem? Just worried about the chicken being dry!
That is a great idea if you are worried. You also don’t want other ingredients to become mushy in the instant pot.
This was delicious and so easy, almost too easy and fast. We had always bought the cooked supermarket chickens, never again. This is so much better. Look forward to playing around with the spices and fixins. Only the second time we had used our new IP. THANK YOU!!
How long should I cook for a frozen whole chicken?
I have not tried it with a frozen chicken. I would recommend making sure it is fresh or thawed before using the instant pot. If that is not possible I would suggest adding another 30 to 45 minutes for the cooking time.
Really tasty and easy. I’ll make this again.
i bought my IP just last month from amazon…maybe its a newer version but i don’t have a manual or poultry button??
Hi, I just got mine at Christmas. I don’t have a poultry or stew or yogurt button either.
Manual just means that you select your function ( in this case pressure cook) and manually set the time with the + and- buttons
My chicken stuff to the bottom of the pot during the Saute phase. Did I try to turn it too soon? Thanks!
Hi. I made this dish and it was delicious. But after waiting 45 minutes for the natural release, I finally hit the quick release. There was no steam and the button popped down right away.
What is the reason for the natural release? Is the chicken supposed to continue to cook during that phase? How long should I wait before using the quick release?
What size pot did you use?
I have a large family so I like to use the 8 quart Instant Pot. Hope that helps and you enjoy your meal! XOXO
Can you add potatos and carrots/root vegetables too?
Yes, of course! That sounds delicious! I am so glad that you are making it your own! Enjoy! XOXO
Thanks again Robert. Very informative . . .