The Instant Pot is such a versatile kitchen tool! It took me a little while to get the hang of it, but as I’ve been committed to using mine more and more, I’ve realized that you can make THE MOST Instant Pot dinners! From chicken tacos, chicken soups, one pot meals, and more, the possibilities are limitless. With so many ways to make use of an Instant Pot, who could go back to pre-Instant Pot times? Seeing as chicken is one of my favorite things to make in the pressure cooker, I thought it was high time to compile and share a list of my best Instant Pot chicken recipes. You can find more of my best Instant Pot tips and tricks down below these recipes.
Best Instant Pot Chicken Recipes
What it’s the Difference Between an Instant Pot and a Pressure Cooker?
There are a few key differences between an Instant Pot and most pressure cookers:
An Instant Pot is an all-in-one multicooker, with pressure cooking as just one of its functions. Instant Pots are used for slow cooking, rice cooking, sauteing, steaming, and warming, the main goal being to speed up the cooking process. A Pressure Cooker is also designed to reduce cooking time. Pressure cookers are single-function and trap steam inside in order to cook the food more quickly. In general, they’re a little more technical and not as user-friendly.
Since it’s so easy to use, the Instant Pot is basically the novice’s pressure cooker (among other things)! The main difference between the two though is in the multi-function set up of the Instant Pot.
Why Instant Pot Recipes Are Perfect for Weeknights
Not only does the Instant Pot save time during the actual cooking process, it makes the overall meals just so much easier! Considering you can cook, saute, and keep everything warm in one pot, it really is the best. Here are just some of the ways that the Instant Pot is perfect for weeknight meals:
It has completely changed the game when it comes to weekly meal prep. I can whip up all dinners (and even some lunches) for the week in a single evening, done and dusted! This one-pot wonder cuts out TONS of clean-up time. Since the Instant Pot does it all, there’s no need for loads of dirty pots and pans. Instant Pots are perfect for meals in a hurry. Busy weeknights often call for having dinner on the table, pronto! A multicooker makes it easy to have a whole family meal ready to go in no time. You can even cook frozen chicken breasts in the Instant Pot, making it the ultimate time saver.
Tips for Success Every Time
Here are a few helpful tips for how to cook the best chicken in the Instant Pot:
Instant Pots are forgiving. With other cooking methods, chicken can become dry when overcooked. In the Instant Pot, because it’s such a moist environment, I’ve found that it stays perfectly juicy a lot longer. Do your best to get the timing right, but if you do add a couple of extra minutes to the cooking time, that’s probably okay. Add creams and thicker sauces later on. The Instant Pot needs a certain amount of liquid to come to pressure, so thick sauces like BBQ sauce or cream-based sauces alone may risk burning. It can help to combine thicker sauces with a bit of broth or water before adding them into the pot. You can also set aside some of the sauce to add in after the chicken is cooked. Pay attention to cooking times. If you’re making a one-pot meal with chicken and veggies, try to find ingredients with similar cooking times. Adding the vegetables part way through will take extra time, since the Pot will have to come back up to pressure to cook again. So be prepared and read recipes carefully.
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