This is my tried and true method for making Instant Pot chicken breasts that are tender, juicy and delicious!
This is my method for fresh (not frozen) boneless, skinless chicken breasts. And it might just become your new favorite way to cook chicken breasts.
I’ll report back in another post once I hack the frozen chicken breast! 🙂 They are a little tricker, in my opinion.
If you want to make something similar on the stovetop with a grill pan or cast iron skillet, see my other grilled chicken breasts recipe. It is one of my most popular recipes of all time!
If you want an oven baked chicken breast recipe, I have a fantastic recipe those too. Air fryer chicken breast is also a great recipe to check out.
OR if you want more of a shredded chicken recipe, check out my Instant Pot shredded chicken method.
But back to these instant pot chicken breasts!
It’s fun to get super creative and fancy in the kitchen sometimes. But simple and basic can also be delicious. I come back around to my most simple and basic recipes more often than not.
This particular recipe is such a great basic, easy recipe to have on hand. These chicken breasts are great to enjoy with a couple simple side items (salad and Instant Pot sweet potato, for example) as a simple meal.
I often use these for weekly meal prep as well. Instant Pot chicken breasts are also a great diced up over pasta or salad. You can meal prep and make them ahead, and eat off them for a few days after.
How to make Instant Pot chicken breasts
First, gather your ingredients.
Ingredients
For tastiest results, always use the best quality ingredients you have access to. To make this Instant Pot chicken breast recipe, you will need the following ingredients:
- oil (I use avocado, but you can use coconut or canola – something with a high smoke point is best!)
- boneless skinless chicken breasts (uncooked)
- garlic salt (or you can use garlic powder + regular salt)
- black pepper
- dried oregano
- dried basil
- 1 cup of water (or chicken stock)
Seasoning
I season these up in a pretty basic way, and it is very versatile. This blend goes well with almost anything. I use garlic, salt, pepper, basil and oregano.
You can change up the spices to suit your preference, though. Use the same cooking time, and season with taco seasoning, Italian seasoning or barbecue sauce.
Cooking Instant Pot chicken breasts
First, brown the chicken on both sides to lock in as much juiciness as possible. Cook about 3 to 4 minutes on each side, and remove from pot with the tongs.
Next, you will need a little bit of cooking liquid. Add 1 cup water to the bottom of the pot (may need more for 8 quart models), plus the trivet. Place the chicken on top of the trivet in a single layer.
Lock the lid, and cook on high pressure for a cooking time of 5 minutes. After that pressure cooking cycle finishes, allow the Instant Pot to naturally release for an additional 5 minutes. Then quick release the remaining pressure using the quick release lever.
Remove the chicken from the pot, and allow to rest for about 5 minutes before serving for maximum juiciness.
Pay attention to the size of your chicken breasts to ensure appropriate cook time. If you are unsure, you can always use a meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature is 165 degrees F.
Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 3 to 5 days.
And check out my Instant Pot recipe archives for more easy Instant Pot recipes.
FAQ’s for Instant Pot Chicken Breasts
The most likely cause for this is overcooking. For best results, weight your chicken breasts on a food scale and watch the cook time very carefully, including time left in pot after cooking is complete.
It depends on what type of chicken, and what cut you are making. This recipe resembles a grilled chicken breast, and it takes about 15 minutes of cook time, plus a bit of come-to-pressure time.
Yes, this is easy to do using a quick cooking method like pressure cooking. To avoid overcooking, pay close attention to chicken breast size, and watch your cook time very closely. Even an extra minute can cause the meat to overcook.
I would not recommend it, although several members of my audience have written in, saying they had great results using frozen chicken breasts. I myself have had mixed results. So for consistent results, I recommend using fresh, thawed chicken breasts.
I would not recommend thin cuts, since they will become overcooked. Make sure you use regular whole chicken breasts.
Yes! Just use the minimum fill requirements for the liquid in your particular model/ size.
Sure! That definitely works, and I have used stock a bunch of times. After realizing that the liquid doesn’t touch the chicken, I tried using water and didn’t notice much difference. So I have used water ever since.
This recipe makes chicken with the texture of a piece of grilled chicken. So no, I would not recommend this for shredded chicken. Instead, try my Instant Pot shredded chicken, which uses chicken thighs.
Sure! I have used the poultry button, but I have never noticed much of a difference.🤷🏼♀️ In fact, I use “manual” high pressure in almost all of my IP recipes. 😎
Chicken thighs have a different cook time than chicken breasts. So I would definitely recommend checking out my Instant Pot chicken thigh recipe for that.
What to Serve with Instant Pot Chicken Breasts
If you are not a crazy Instant Pot lady like me who has two Instant Pots, you can wrap your chicken breasts in foil while you make another side to go with it. Or if is a longer cook side (like the black eyed peas), make the side first, and then the chicken breasts. Of course, an extra inner pot comes in handy! Here are my favorite sides to serve:
- Instant Pot “Baked” Sweet Potatoes
- Instant Pot black eyed peas
- Instant Pot mashed potatoes
- Lemon garlic roasted Brussels sprouts
- Quinoa Black Bean salad
- Roasted broccoli and mushrooms
- Tortellini pasta salad
- Spiralizer Greek salad
- Greek quinoa salad
- Green beans with caramelized onions and almonds
- Greek pasta salad
- Classic potato salad (includes Instant Pot instructions)
- Greek potato salad
- Roasted thyme carrots
Salads to top with Instant Pot Chicken Breasts
These make a fantastic make ahead option to make salads all week. Here are my favorite salads using these chicken breasts:
- Greek salad with chicken
- Chicken BLT salad with avocado
- Copycat Newk’s Favorite Salad
- BBQ ranch chopped salad
- Grilled chicken salad with raspberries, walnuts and artichoke hearts
- Cobb salad
My Instant Pot Chicken Recipe Collection
If you love easy chicken recipes to make in your Instant Pot, you might like to check out my recipe collection here (click the image below to go to the post).
Tools used to make this recipe
This post may contain affiliate links, which pay a referral fee to me at no additional cost to you. My full affiliate disclosure can be seen here.
- Instant Pot – I am using a 6 quart
- Tongs are very helpful when placing the chicken in hot oil, and removing it after cooking. Just be sure and wash the tongs with hot soapy water before you handle the finished product to avoid cross-contamination.
- Measuring spoons
- Trivet that comes with your Instant Pot
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Instant Pot Chicken Breasts
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon oil (I use avocado, but you can use coconut or canola – something with a high smoke point is best!)
- 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (uncooked)
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt per chicken breast (or you can use just garlic powder and regular salt)
- dash black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/8 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 cup water
Instructions
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Preheat the sauté function on the Instant Pot at the highest setting, and add oil to the pot.
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Season one side of the chicken breasts.
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After the display reads “hot,” carefully add the chicken breasts, seasoned side down, to the pot. I use tongs to avoid hot oil splatter.
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Add seasoning on the second side.
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Cook about 3 to 4 minutes on each side, and remove from pot with the tongs.
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Add 1 cup water to the pot (may need more for 8 quart pots), plus the trivet.
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Place the chicken on the trivet.
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Lock the lid, and cook on manual high for 5 minutes.
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Allow the chicken to naturally release for 5 minutes, and then quick release the rest.
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Remove the chicken from the pot, and allow to rest for about 5 minutes before serving for maximum juiciness.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Note: Regarding chicken breast sizes, each breast was between 6 and 8 ounces. (6.7, 7.3 and 7.7 to be exact!) Also, butterflied (halved) chicken breasts or chicken cutlets will not have the same cook time as whole chicken breasts. I recommend using whole boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this recipe.
Note: This recipe originally appeared on A Pinch of Healthy January 11, 2017. It has been updated with better photos and clarified instructions.
Michelle Baird says
Hi, I am puzzled why my chicken breasts came out dry when I did exactly everything you said to do. I have a food/nutrition background so I am not uninformed about cooking. The breasts were large (Costco). I sautéed 4 min on first side, 3 min on second side, pressure cooked on high for 5 min, released after 5 min and let rest 5 min. Any suggestions/comments Marjorie? Thx.
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Hi Michelle! I am not sure why yours are coming out dry.🤔 This timing has worked great for me and others, but I do have a suggestion you could try. The pressure cook time is fast-cooking, and the release time cooks a little slower. So you could shorten the pressure cook time by a minute, and add a minute or so of natural release (slower cook time), until you find your “sweet spot.” Hope this helps!
Michelle Baird says
Thank you. I will try that and will also try reducing the saute time shortly. I was happy to find a recipe that browns first rather than simply poaching or steaming the chicken.
Char says
One other question – I’m not sure if my pot is 6 or 8 qt but right now I have 2 huge chicken breasts. What is the criteria for how much liquid you need?
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
A cup is what I recommend for a 6 quart, and 1.5 cups for an 8 quart.
char says
How can I get a printout of the recipe to take to the kitchen
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Hi Char! If you scroll all the way down to the recipe card, there is a gray button, just below the star ratings that says “print.” Just click on that. You may have to do it from a desktop. Hope that helps!
David says
Super easy and very tasty! This was our first meal with the pot. Looking forward to many more
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
I am so happy to hear that David! Thank you for taking the time to leave feedback too. 🙏🏻
Ankit Kumar Sharma says
This is the best way of making any chicken dish.
Joyce says
I just made this and it came out perfect! If I want to sauté multiple batches of chicken breast at one time do I need to add more oil with each batch? Thanks for sharing!
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Yay! So glad you enjoyed it. Yes, just add a tad more oil to sauté more chicken breasts.
Lauren says
Can I cook more than 3 or 4 breasts at a time, using several layers on the trivet? I have a big family and really don’t want to have to do multiple batches, if I don’t have to? It would kind of defeat the purpose of buying the 8 quart IP.
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Hi Lauren! Great question. Yes! It may take a little extra time to sauté them all, but once you do you can stack them.
Azhar Munir says
What a good chicken recipe. Thanks for your good opinion for the healthy life.
Brenda says
I followed the recipe and my chicken was rubbery. Did I cook to long or not long enough?
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Hi Brenda! It sounds like it cooked a little too long. Do you know what size/ weight your chicken breasts were? Also, you may have already seen this in the recipe notes, but it is a common mistake with this recipe: be sure not to use split or thin chicken breasts for this recipe. Hope that helps!
Tiff says
This happends to me everytime if I do not do natural release! I quit doing quick release on every recipe & it solved my problem. Hope this helps.
RAYMOND says
This is only my second time using my instant pot. the first meal I made in it was a chuck roast with potatoes and carrots. It turned out awesome! Tonight i made two chicken breasts.one was around 8 oz, the other was around 12. the smaller breast was absolutely perfect. the bigger one was not done in the middle. An additional 2 minutes on high pressure made it too done and a little tough. Could the problem have been the fact that I allowed it to rest and then re heated?
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Hi Raymond! I am glad you enjoyed it. On the larger chicken breast, 12 ounces is very, very large. First, I would recommend trying to buy a package where the chicken breasts are around the same size. You can eyeball it. In the future, if you get a pack with all (similar to each other in size) gargantuan chicken breasts (like 12 ounces), I would recommend adding a minute of pressure cook time, and perhaps another 2 or 3 minutes of natural release. Thank you for the feedback!