As someone who owns a Ninja Foodi, you may be wondering how best to utilize this versatile appliance’s pressure cooking function for cooking chicken breasts. With the right techniques, your Ninja Foodi can produce perfectly cooked, juicy and tender chicken breasts in a fraction of the traditional cooking time. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to master cooking chicken breasts in your Ninja Foodi pressure cooker.
Benefits Of Pressure Cooking Chicken Breasts
Pressure cooking offers some great advantages when it comes to cooking chicken breasts
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Speed – The pressurized environment allows chicken to cook up to 70% faster than traditional oven cooking, Dinner can be on the table quickly!
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Juiciness – The sealed pressurized chamber traps steam and moisture, preventing chicken breasts from drying out. The result is succulent, tender meat.
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Enhanced flavor – Pressure cooking forces seasonings and spices into the chicken, infusing it with more flavor.
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Convenience – You can cook chicken straight from frozen in the Ninja Foodi! No need to thaw.
With the press of a button, you can achieve incredibly moist, flavorful chicken breast perfection. Time to get cooking!
Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooking Tips For Chicken Breast
Follow these handy tips when using your Ninja Foodi to cook chicken breasts:
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Prepare even-sized pieces – Try to cut chicken breasts into uniform sizes for equal cook times. Pound thicker pieces to an even thickness.
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Use at least 1 cup liquid – The liquid creates steam which is necessary for pressure cooking. Use chicken broth for extra flavor.
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Season well – Season chicken with salt, pepper and spices or marinate prior to cooking. Flavor gets infused deeply.
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Cook times – For fresh boneless breasts, cook for 8-10 mins. Bone-in and frozen takes 10-15 mins.
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Natural release – Let the pressure naturally release for 5 mins before quick release. Helps chicken retain moisture.
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Rest chicken – Let chicken rest for 5 minutes after cooking so juices redistribute evenly.
Step-By-Step Guide To Pressure Cooking Chicken Breasts
Follow these simple steps for perfectly cooked pressure cooked chicken breasts every time:
1. Prepare The Chicken
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Trim and pound the chicken breasts into even thickness. Season both sides with salt, pepper and desired spices.
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For extra flavor, consider marinating for a few hours or up to overnight.
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Optionally, you can sauté seasoned chicken breasts in Ninja Foodi on high for 3-4 minutes per side to brown.
2. Add Liquid
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Pour 1 cup chicken broth or water into pot. The liquid helps cook chicken evenly.
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If sautéing, deglaze the pot by scraping up browned bits from bottom.
3. Pressure Cook
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Place chicken breasts in pot, making sure not to overcrowd.
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Seal lid, ensure valve is set to ‘seal’.
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Select ‘Pressure Cook’ and set time based on thickness.
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Allow natural release for 5 minutes before quick release.
4. Check Doneness
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Test chicken breasts for doneness using a meat thermometer. Chicken should reach 165°F internally.
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If needed, pressure cook for a few more minutes to reach safe temp.
5. Let Chicken Rest
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Remove chicken from pot and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
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Juices will redistribute through meat for juicy texture.
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Slice or shred chicken and serve, enjoy!
Ninja Foodi Chicken Breast Recipes To Try
The Ninja Foodi truly shines when it comes to cooking moist, flavorful chicken dishes. Here are some must-try recipes:
Balsamic Chicken with Vegetables – Pressure cook chicken and vegetables in a balsamic vinegar sauce for a quick, healthy dinner.
Jerk Chicken Rice Bowl – Infuse chicken with jerk seasoning then serve over rice with sliced avocado.
Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps – Toss pressure cooked chicken in buffalo sauce and serve in lettuce cups for a low carb option.
Chicken Tortilla Soup – Combine pressure cooked chicken, black beans, corn and seasonings for an easy, hearty soup.
Chicken Parmesan – Bread chicken cutlets then pressure cook before topping with sauce and cheese for the classic Italian dish.
Don’t be afraid to get creative with seasonings, sauces and sides! Your Ninja Foodi can cook a whole world of chicken recipes.
Handy Tips For Juicy Chicken Success
Follow these useful tips and tricks to ensure your Ninja Foodi chicken breasts turn out perfectly cooked and crazy juicy every time:
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Resist the urge to open the lid during cooking. This releases pressure and steam necessary for even cooking.
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Preheat your Ninja Foodi before adding ingredients to speed up pressure buildup.
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Use a trivet in the pot to elevate chicken above liquid, improving air circulation.
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Brine chicken in saltwater solution for added moisture and flavor.
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Coat chicken in olive oil before cooking to help retain natural juices.
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Stir in a spoonful of sauce (BBQ, soy, etc) after cooking for bonus flavor.
Common Ninja Foodi Chicken Mistakes To Avoid
It’s easy to over or undercook chicken in the pressure cooker if you are not careful. Here are some common mistakes to watch out for:
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Not releasing pressure – Always quick release after natural release to prevent overcooking.
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Overcrowding – Chicken pieces need room to cook evenly. Don’t overload.
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Skipping resting – Letting chicken rest ensures tender, juicy meat.
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Using quick release – Natural release is best to maintain moisture in chicken.
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Underseasoning – Pressure cooking requires more seasoning than other methods.
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Not enough liquid – One cup liquid is needed to create sufficient steam.
Perfectly Cooked Chicken Every Time
Mastering the art of cooking moist and tender chicken breasts in your Ninja Foodi pressure cooker just takes a little practice. With the right cook times, preparation, and pressure release method, you’ll be serving up restaurant-quality chicken dishes in no time.
Remember to use natural release, cook chicken thoroughly to safe temperatures, and never open the lid during the cooking process. With the tips and guidance above, you can avoid common mistakes and enjoy the convenience of fast, juicy chicken meals any night of the week using your Ninja Foodi!
Tips for making Slow cooker Chicken and Veggies:
Boneless skinless chicken breasts were used for this recipe, but if you prefer, you can use boneless skinless chicken thighs, however the cooking time will need to be adjusted. Use an instant read thermometer to make sure that the chicken does not overcook or undercook. The USDA recommends that poultry be cooked to 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you don’t like red potatoes, or don’t have them on hand, you can use Yukon gold potatoes, russet potatoes, or sweet potatoes. You can even use fingerling or petite potatoes, but based on their size, they may need to be added later in the cooking time as smaller potatoes cook faster than larger potatoes.
Leftover chicken and veggies can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 3 or 4 days. When you are ready to eat the leftovers, remove from the refrigerator and microwave until warm. You can also reheat in the oven. However, the chicken is more likely to dry out when reheated in the oven, so you may want to put the chicken in a baking dish with a little water or chicken broth and cover with foil to reheat.
Yes, you can cook raw chicken and vegetables in a slow cooker or crock pot at the same time. Just make sure that the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit before serving.
The time to cook chicken and veggies in a slow cooker will vary based on the cut of chicken that you are using and whether you are cooking on slow cook low or slow cook high. Generally, boneless skinless chicken breasts take about 1½-2 hours on slow cook high and about double that time on slow cook low.
Ingredient substitutions for Ninja Foodi Possible Cooker Pro Chicken and Veggies:
The full ingredient list is found at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts- The cook time will vary if you use a different cut of chicken. Smaller pieces of chicken breasts like tenders can be used but they will cook much quicker than the breasts. You can use bone in chicken breasts but they will take a bit longer to cook. Whatever type of chicken you use, be sure to keep an eye on the temperature of it. Use an instant read internal thermometer to check the temperature of the chicken. The chicken will be done cooking when it has reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Garlic (Minced)- I like to use the minced garlic that you can buy in the produced department. Fresh, jarred, or even frozen garlic can be used.
Garlic Powder-If you don’t have garlic powder, add in a little extra minced garlic.
Onion Powder– If you don’t have onion powder, you can add in a small amount of diced onion. You want to add flavor with the onion, not texture to the meal.
Salt– Modify the amount salt based on your dietary preferences.
Pepper– Freshly ground black pepper
Rosemary (Dried or fresh)- It’s always best to use fresh herbs when available, but dried will work with this recipe too.
Chicken Broth (or 3 cups water and 3 teaspoons of chicken Better Than Bouillon. )
Red Potatoes (Washed and quartered)- Russet, Yukon gold, sweet potatoes, or fingerling potatoes can be substituted for the red potatoes.
Green Beans (Washed and trimmed)- I prefer to use fresh green beans but frozen can be used. I would not recommend using canned green beans as they are already cooked and will get mushy very fast.
Carrots (Peeled, trimmed and cut into 3 inch pieces)- Full size carrots or baby carrots can be used. Parsnips are a great substitute for carrots.
Butter (Salted)- No substitute- if desired you can omit the butter.
Corn Starch Slurry– Water and corn starch
How to Make Roasted Tendercrisp Chicken Breast! | Ninja Foodi Pro Pressure Cooker Recipe
FAQ
How long do chicken breasts take to cook in the pressure cooker?
How Long to Cook Chicken in a Pressure Cooker. Boneless chicken breasts and thighs cook in the same amount of time—just 10 minutes at high pressure will do it!
How long to cook chicken breast in Ninja Ninja Foodi?
- Prep Time5 mins.
- Cook Time18 mins.
- Total Time23 mins.
How long to pressure can raw chicken breast?
- Raw or hot pack with 1 teaspoon salt per quart, if desired. To raw pack: Fill jars loosely with raw meat pieces, leaving 1 ¼ inch headspace. Do not add liquid. …
- Secure lids and process in a pressure canner (90 minutes for quarts) following the recommended pressures below.