13 Instant Pot Chicken Recipes Every Busy Mom Can Nail Tonight
Let’s be real—dinnertime can be chaos, especially when you’re trying to make something everyone will actually eat with a pressure cooker .
That’s where the Instant Pot swoops in, turning wild evenings into “look at us, we made dinner!” moments.
We’ve rounded up 13 Instant Pot chicken recipes that are super easy and actually taste good, so we can all breathe a little easier when that “what’s for dinner?” panic hits.
No need to stress about hours in the kitchen or dirtying a mountain of pans.
We’re all about keeping it simple, getting food on the table fast, and maybe even having a few laughs while we’re at it.
1) Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken – sweet, sticky, and ready in a flash
Can we all agree dinnertime should be way less dramatic?
This Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken with chicken broth is the kind of low-stress, high-reward recipe we need.
Just mix up a simple sauce, pour it over the chicken, and let the Instant Pot do its thing.
In about 20 minutes, you’ve got tender, flavorful chicken everyone actually wants to eat.
Serve it over rice, noodles, or even steamed veggies for a super easy win.
It’s sweet, sticky, and honestly makes us look way more on top of things than we really are (no shame).
Hungry? Check out all the details from this tasty honey garlic chicken recipe.
2) Juicy Instant Pot Chicken Breasts – tender perfection every time
We all know the pain of dry cooked chicken breast, right?
Not today!
The Instant Pot makes chicken so juicy and tender, it almost feels fancy—without any extra effort.
This method keeps things easy and quick but still delivers big on flavor.
The kids never complain—win for all of us!
For easy step-by-step tips, check out these juicy boneless skinless chicken breasts recipes.
3) Instant Pot Lemon Garlic Chicken – zesty and super simple
Who doesn’t love a dinner that feels fancier than it is?
We’re obsessed with this Instant Pot Lemon Garlic Chicken because it brings all the fresh, zesty vibes with hardly any effort.
That punch of lemon with the garlic is just a chef’s kiss moment.
Just season the chicken, sear it quick, toss in the lemony goodness, and let the Instant Pot handle the rest.
Cleanup is blissfully easy, too.
Serve it with rice, veggies, or whatever needs using up in the fridge.
Check out this simple step-by-step guide to make it even easier!
4) Creamy Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo – because carbs are life
Let’s be honest, we all need a little comfort food for meal prep sometimes.
Our Instant Pot chicken Alfredo is creamy, dreamy, and packed with flavor.
Everything cooks together, so there’s less mess for us to worry about!
Tender chicken, fettuccine noodles, lots of parmesan, and a seriously satisfying cream sauce—what else do you need?
You can check out this super easy Instant Pot chicken Alfredo if you’re craving some cozy carbs tonight.
5) Instant Pot Chicken and Potatoes – easy one-pot magic
Who loves a “throw everything in and hit start” kinda night?
We do.
Chicken and frozen chicken breasts with potatoes in the Instant Pot is our go-to when we just can’t with all the dishes.
This meal is simple—chicken, potatoes, a few seasonings, and boom, dinner is handled while we yell at someone to put away their shoes.
It all cooks together for max flavor and minimal fuss.
Check out more tips from this instant pot chicken and potatoes recipe we found.
6) Instant Pot BBQ Chicken – smoky and saucy goodness
When we need a crowd-pleaser, pressure cooker chicken BBQ in the Instant Pot is our go-to.
It’s always juicy, loaded with sauce, and pretty much screams summer cookout—without the sweaty grill duty.
We love tossing the finished chicken on buns for super easy sliders or just piling it on a plate with our favorite sides.
Best part? It’s so simple and ready fast.
If you want a no-fail method, check out this easy pressure cooker chicken recipe for BBQ chicken with all the required recipe ratings .
7) Instant Pot Ranch Chicken – flavor bomb alert!
Let’s be real—everyone in our house loves ranch anything.
That’s why Instant Pot Ranch Chicken is our go-to on busy nights.
It’s creamy, cozy, and only needs a handful of ingredients.
We just toss chicken, ranch seasoning, and broth in the pot and let the magic happen.
Check out this easy process over at 365 Days of Slow Cooking and Pressure Cooking.
When the timer beeps, dinner is ready and the kids think we’re superstars.
8) Instant Pot Chicken Tacos – quick, tasty, and fiesta-ready
Who doesn’t love taco night?
We can have these Instant Pot chicken tacos ready in, like, 30 minutes flat for cook time .
Toss chicken, salsa, taco seasoning, and broth into the pot and let it do its magic.
Cleanup is easy—winning!
The chicken shreds up so nice and juicy.
Check out this trick for making Instant Pot chicken tacos without breaking a sweat.
Let’s just admit it. Every night could be taco night with rotisserie chicken hen they’re this simple.
9) Instant Pot Chicken Marsala – fancy dinner vibes made easy
Can we talk about how impressive Chicken Marsala sounds?
With the Instant Pot, we’re skipping the drama and going straight for easy peasy.
Sauté some chicken, toss in fresh mushrooms and Marsala wine, and let the pot do its magic.
It all cooks up in under 30 minutes—no chef hat needed.
Brown the chicken, add the wine and broth, then set that Instant Pot for a quick pressure cook.
This meal feels fancy but really, we’re just winning at dinner time.
Check out this Instant Pot Chicken Marsala recipe if you want to see just how easy it is!
10) Buffalo Chicken in the Instant Pot – spicy, tangy, and addictive
Sometimes we just need a meal with a kick, like chicken thighs .
Buffalo chicken in the Instant Pot is wild, saucy, and totally easy.
Toss in chicken, buffalo sauce, and a few seasonings, then let the Instant Pot do its thing.
The result? Super juicy and packed with flavor.
This is perfect for quick sandwiches, tacos, or just because we deserve something spicy and fun.
Bonus: it’s great for parties or game nights!
For tips and pairing ideas, check out this Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken recipe.
11) Instant Pot Chicken and Rice – comfort food on turbo mode
We all know those nights where we just want something easy but filling—this is our go-to! Instant Pot chicken and rice checks every box: quick, tasty, and super straightforward on cleanup.
Bonus points if the kids actually eat it! We just toss in chicken, rice, and a few seasonings, then let the Instant Pot work its magic.
Dinner’s done in about 30 minutes, but it totally feels like we put in way more effort. For all the details, check out this easy Instant Pot chicken and rice.
12) Instant Pot Chicken Soup – cozy vibes for days
Chicken soup is a lifesaver on those super long days. With the Instant Pot, we can have that warm, cozy feeling in under an hour—no babysitting the stove.
It’s packed with chicken, carrots, celery, and all the classic good stuff. Super easy, super yummy, and perfect for picky eaters—or anyone who needs a little comfort!
Check out more ideas for Instant Pot chicken soup.
13) Instant Pot Chicken Curry – warm, spicy, and soul-soothing
Okay, hit pause on dinner stress because we can make chicken curry in the Instant Pot, and wow, it’s actually easy. We’re talking about chicken that’s juicy and soaks up warm, cozy flavors with every bite.
Just toss in diced onion, a good scoop of curry powder, and some garlic and ginger. Our whole kitchen ends up smelling amazing.
Check out this Instant Pot chicken curry recipe for step-by-step help if you need it. Honestly, it’s like a hug in a bowl—totally doable for even our craziest weeknights!
Tips For Rocking Your Instant Pot Chicken Game
Cooking with an Instant Pot and skinless chicken breasts can change the dinner game for any busy family. We can save serious time in the kitchen and still end up with chicken that’s juicy, flavorful, and not dry or rubbery (because nobody wants that!).
Time-Saving Hacks For Busy Parents
Let’s be honest—none of us have hours to spare when those hungry kids start circling. One of our favorite tricks? Use pre-cut or frozen chicken straight from the freezer.
The Instant Pot is a literal lifesaver here, because it cooks frozen meat safely and quickly. No more panic-thawing at 5 pm!
Another game-changer: Batch prep! We can toss in a few pounds of chicken in bite size pieces with basic seasonings, then shred or cube it for tacos, salads, or even tossing into a quick pasta later in the week.
Store extra portions in the fridge or freezer for grab-and-go meals. Here’s a quick table of average times to keep handy:
Chicken Type | Fresh | Frozen |
|---|---|---|
Breasts (boneless) | 8 min | 12 min |
Thighs (boneless) | 9 min | 13 min |
Legs/Wings | 10 min | 14 min |
If we want extra flavor with no extra effort, just throw a store-bought sauce or dressing and some garlic powder in the pot with the chicken. Done. Boom. Dinner with no dirty extra pans!
Getting Perfectly Juicy Chicken Every Single Time
Raise your hand if you’ve ever ended up with dry, sad Instant Pot chicken (ugh, so disappointing!). We’ve figured out a few ways to dodge that drama.
First off, add enough liquid—water, broth, or sauce—so the pressure can build but not so much that the chicken drowns. We usually stick to about 1 cup for most recipes.
Always use the trivet if we want to stop direct contact with the bottom and help the meat steam gently. Natural release is our BFF—let the Instant Pot sit for 5–10 minutes before opening the lid.
This keeps the meat from tightening up and turning chewy. Last tip: Season smartly. Salt, pepper, and a splash of acid (think lemon or vinegar) do wonders.
Want more ideas? Check out this lineup of Instant Pot chicken recipes that totally save dinner every week.
Creative Serving Ideas Even Picky Eaters Will Love
Making Instant Pot chicken is a mom win, but getting our kids to actually eat it? That’s a whole different game!
We’re sharing our favorite tricks for revamping leftovers and picking sides that won’t leave anyone pouting at the table.
Turn Leftovers Into Kid-Approved Lunches
Leftover chicken doesn’t have to be boring. We love to slice up last night’s chicken and roll it into wraps with a little shredded cheese, lettuce, and a swipe of ranch.
Those wraps disappear crazy fast at lunch! Mini chicken quesadillas are another hit.
Just mash up the chicken, toss on some cheese, and sandwich it between tortillas. Quick toast in a pan and done!
No one has to know we’re using leftovers—they think it’s totally brand new. Chicken pizza is a winner, too.
Pile the chicken on flatbread with a bit of pizza sauce and mozzarella. Pop it in the oven and, boom, lunch that makes us feel totally Pinterest-y (with none of the stress).
If you want even more ideas, we’ve seen some super easy tricks for using shredded Instant Pot chicken in sandwiches and even over rice bowls that kids actually eat, too. See more ideas at Easy Chicken Recipes for Picky Eaters.
Winning Sides To Pair With Instant Pot Chicken
Sides can totally make or break dinner, especially with picky eaters lurking around. Some of our best go-to’s? Simple steamed rice and whatever veggie your crew likes most.
Baby carrots and green beans usually get the green light here. Cheesy mashed potatoes are always a “yes!” in this house.
Seriously, just mash, stir in shredded cheddar, and it’s like magic for the kiddos. Not into potatoes?
Easy canned corn with a little butter is a lifesaver. We love fresh fruit on the side too—apple slices or orange wedges keep things colorful and fun.
For a little extra flair, try rice and simple veggies like in this honey garlic Instant Pot chicken meal. Mix and match to keep things interesting.
And honestly, if someone just eats the chicken and a roll tonight, so what? We’re all just doing our best!
