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Forgot to thaw the chicken? No problem! This instant pot frozen chicken recipe turns rock-solid breasts into tender, juicy perfection in no time. Dinner crisis averted!
Reasons You’ll Be Hitting Repeat on This One
Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Ingredients
- Frozen Skinless Chicken Breasts: Just take these straight from your freezer, no need to thaw them beforehand!
- Chicken Broth: If you don’t have chicken broth, then you can use water as your liquid instead. The chicken broth adds a bit more flavor.
- For Extra Flavor: Add your favorite spices and herbs to the chicken before cooking to add flavor. Try Italian seasoning, Cajun, or Lemon Pepper.
How to Make Instant Pot Frozen Chicken
This instant pot chicken breast recipe is so easy and one you’ll want to keep in your back pocket. It’s perfect for everything from quick dinners to meal prep, and once you try it, you might never bother with thawing fresh chicken again!
- Season and Cook Frozen Chicken: Pour the chicken broth into the Instant Pot, then add the frozen chicken breasts. Season with salt and pepper. Close the lid, select seal, and cook on high pressure for 12 minutes. Cook time depends on the thickness of your chicken breasts. I prefer thinner cuts so they cook evenly in the Instant Pot. For medium to large breasts, increase the cook time to 14–16 minutes (instead of 12), but keep the natural release at 10–15 minutes.
- Natural Release and Slice: Once the steam is naturally released, open the lid and remove the chicken, then season with salt, pepper, and any other seasonings you desire. Let the chicken cool slightly, then slice or shred while it’s warm for the perfect texture. Enjoy immediately or use for meal prep. Tip: Save the leftover liquid to use in soups, sauces, or even to cook rice in.
Alyssa’s Pro Tip
Natural Release: DON’T SKIP THIS STEP! Allowing the Instant Pot to release pressure naturally for 10–15 minutes after cooking is crucial for tender, juicy chicken! Once the 10–15 minutes have passed, you can carefully turn the valve to release any remaining pressure manually.
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Instant Pot Frozen Chicken
Equipment
- 1 6-quart instant pot
Ingredients
- 2 pounds frozen boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup chicken broth or water
- ½ teaspoon salt more or less to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper more or less to taste
Instructions
- Add 2 pounds frozen boneless skinless chicken breasts to the bottom of the Instant Pot in as even a layer as possible.
- Add 1 cup chicken broth, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper evenly to the pot.
- Close the lid securely and seal the venting valve. Set the cook time on "manual" to 12 minutes, adjusting the cooking time a minute or two, depending on the thickness of the chicken.
- Once the cook time has elapsed, let the instant pot naturally release for 10-15 minutes. After that, you may manually release the rest of the steam.
- Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before chopping, shredding, or serving. Season with additional salt and pepper, or any other seasonings you prefer, before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Easy Instant Pot Recipes
Isn’t the Instant Pot the best? You can cook so many things in it! Try some of my favorite dinner recipes like this instant pot lasagna, this meatloaf, or this delicious beef stroganoff! Here are a few more ideas.
