Cooking frozen chicken in an Instant Pot is a game changer for weeknight dinners. With an Instant Pot you can skip the step of thawing chicken and cook it straight from the freezer. The pressurized environment allows frozen chicken to cook quickly, while still remaining incredibly moist and tender.
In this article, we’ll look at everything you need to know to perfectly cook frozen chicken breasts thighs and other cuts in an Instant Pot or other electric pressure cooker.
Why Cook Frozen Chicken in the Instant Pot?
There are several benefits to using an Instant Pot to cook frozen chicken:
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It’s fast – Chicken goes from frozen solid to cooked and shred-ready in under 30 minutes. This saves you from needing to remember to thaw the chicken in the refrigerator.
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Juicy and tender results – The moist, pressurized environment prevents chicken from drying out. The chicken turns out very moist and tender.
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Safely cooks from frozen – With traditional slow cooking methods, cooking frozen meat can potentially put it in the “danger zone” temperature range for too long. The Instant Pot quickly brings the chicken up to a food-safe temperature.
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More flavor – Cooking in liquid allows chicken to soak up flavors from broth, salsa or sauce.
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Easy meal prep – Make a batch of shredded chicken to use in meals and salads all week long.
How Long to Cook Different Cuts of Frozen Chicken
The cook time will vary based on the size and cut of chicken:
Frozen Chicken Breasts
- Small (6-8 oz): 11-12 minutes
- Medium (9-10 oz): 13-14 minutes
- Large (12 oz): 16 minutes
After cooking, allow 10 minutes natural pressure release before manually venting. Chicken breasts should reach 165°F internally.
Frozen Chicken Thighs
- Boneless: 13 minutes
- Bone-in: 15 minutes
After cooking, allow 10 minutes natural pressure release before manually venting. Chicken thighs should reach 175°F internally.
Frozen Chicken Tenders/Pieces
- Cook for 6 minutes then 10 minute natural pressure release.
Whole Frozen Chicken
- Small (3-4 lbs): 22 minutes
- Large (5-6 lbs): 30 minutes
Use natural pressure release. Chicken should reach 165°F at the thickest part of the breast.
Tips for Cooking Frozen Chicken in the Instant Pot
Follow these tips for the best results when cooking frozen chicken in the Instant Pot:
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Don’t overfill the pot – For food safety reasons, do not fill the inner pot more than 2/3 full. Overfilling can affect pressurization.
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Use cooking liquid – Chicken needs moisture to cook evenly. Use 1/2 to 1 cup broth, salsa, BBQ sauce or water.
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Layer pieces evenly – Spread chicken pieces out in an even layer on the bottom of the pot.
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Allow natural release – Letting pressure release naturally for 10 minutes before quick releasing ensures the chicken cooks through.
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Check internal temp – Use an instant read thermometer to verify chicken has reached a safe minimum internal temperature after cooking.
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Rest before shredding – Let chicken rest for 5-10 minutes before shredding for maximum juiciness.
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Adjust time as needed – Increase cook time if chicken is not fully cooked through. Decrease time if chicken is drying out.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here is a simple step-by-step method for cooking frozen chicken breasts in the Instant Pot:
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Place frozen chicken breasts in a single layer on the bottom of the Instant Pot inner pot.
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Pour 1/2 cup chicken broth or water around the chicken breasts.
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Secure the lid and set the pressure release valve to “sealing.”
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Select the Manual/Pressure Cook setting and adjust cook time based on size of breasts:
- Small (6-8 oz): 11-12 minutes
- Medium (9-10 oz): 13-14 minutes
- Large (12 oz): 16 minutes
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Once cooking is complete, allow pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes. Then manually release any remaining pressure.
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Carefully remove lid. Chicken is done when it reaches 165°F internally.
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Let chicken rest 5-10 minutes before shredding or slicing.
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Shred chicken as desired to use in recipes. Enjoy!
Flavor Variations
Plain chicken works great as the base for many dishes. But you can also infuse flavors right into the chicken as it cooks in the Instant Pot. Try these creative options:
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Salsa chicken – Substitute salsa for the cooking liquid.
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BBQ chicken – Use barbecue sauce as the cooking liquid.
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Lemon garlic chicken – Add lemon juice, garlic and herbs to the cooking liquid.
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Jerk chicken – Use Caribbean jerk seasoning on the chicken.
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Chicken tikka masala – Add spices like garam masala, cumin and coriander.
Tips for Using Cooked Chicken
Once you’ve cooked up a batch of tender, juicy chicken in the Instant Pot it’s time to put it to use! Here are some serving ideas:
- Shredded chicken tacos, burritos, quesadillas
- Chicken salad sandwiches or wraps
- Chicken soup – noodle soup, tortilla soup, ramen soup
- Chicken casserole with rice or pasta
- Queso chicken dip
- Chicken fried rice or stir fry dishes
- Chicken enchiladas or tamales
Pre-cooked chicken is wonderful to have on hand for quick, easy meals. Just reheat and add to your favorite sauces, soups and dishes for dinner on busy nights!
Is It Safe to Cook Frozen Chicken in the Instant Pot?
Yes, it is completely safe to cook frozen chicken in the Instant Pot as long as basic food safety guidelines are followed:
- Don’t overfill the inner pot beyond the max fill line
- Make sure the chicken is not stacked or overlapping
- Use an instant read thermometer to verify the chicken has reached 165°F minimum temperature after cooking
- Avoid opening the lid before pressure cooking time is complete
- Allow the full natural pressure release time before opening lid
The moist heat environment allows the frozen chicken to safely thaw as it comes up to temp. The chicken also cooks very quickly under pressure, limiting time in the “danger zone.”
As when cooking chicken by any method, proper handling and refrigeration after cooking are important. Leftover chicken should be refrigerated within 2 hours.
More Delicious Instant Pot Chicken Recipes
- Easy Instant Pot Whole Chicken
- Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
- Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala
- Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
- Instant Pot Chicken Tacos
- Instant Pot Chicken Parmesan
The possibilities are endless when cooking chicken in the Instant Pot. With a little trial and error, you’ll have perfectly cooked frozen chicken every time!
How to Cook Frozen Chicken in the Instant Pot
- 2 lbs frozen chicken
- 1/2 cup water
- salt, pepper, other seasonings as desired*
- Spray the Instant Pot insert with cooking oil.
- Place the chicken in the pot, season generously with salt and pepper and any other seasonings desired. .
- Pour 1/2 cup water around the sides of the chicken in the pot.
- Make sure the sealing ring (inside the lid) is in the proper position.
- Place the lid on the pot and set to the lock or SEAL position.
- Turn the Instant Pot to the MANUAL setting for 12 minutes. If the chicken is not frozen, 8 minutes will work.
- Press the MANUAL button to start the cooking process.
- When the timer goes off and the chicken is cooked, the pressure may be released manually by carefully turning the valve on top of the Instant Pot to the VENTING position (be careful to not position your face over the pot while steam is releasing), or simply allow the pressure to naturally release for about 10-15 minutes before removing lid.
- Remove chicken from the pot, shred or chop and use as needed.
How to Cook Frozen Chicken in the Instant Pot
FAQ
How long to cook chicken from frozen in an Instant Pot?
Pour your liquid of choice into the Instant Pot. Place the frozen chicken breasts, in a single layer, into the Instant Pot. Add your seasonings of choice. Seal the lid and set the Instant Pot to Manual on High for 10-12 minutes (larger breasts will need more time to cook.)Feb 16, 2025
How long for 2 chicken breasts in Instant Pot?
It will take about 12 minutes for the Instant Pot to come up to temperature and then another 10 to 15 minutes of cook time. Be sure to use medium chicken breasts (about 8 ounces) each. If you have larger or smaller, you may need to play around and adjust timing accordingly.Jun 28, 2024
How long do you cook frozen chicken?
How long to cook frozen chicken thighs in Instant Pot?
To cook frozen chicken thighs in the Instant Pot: Following the method outlined in this post, cook frozen boneless chicken thighs for 13 minutes at high pressure, followed by a 10 minute natural release. Frozen bone-in thighs will take 15 minutes at high pressure, followed by a 10 minute natural release.
Can you cook frozen chicken in Instant Pot?
This is the BEST way to cook frozen chicken breasts in the Instant Pot! It is so easy and they turn out so well, I almost never take the time to thaw chicken before cooking it. Add seasonings, sauces, broth, or just water, salt and pepper and the result is always amazing.
Can you cook frozen chicken tenders in the Instant Pot?
To cook frozen chicken tenders in the Instant Pot: Following the method outlined in this post, cook frozen chicken tenders for 6 minutes at high pressure, followed by a 10 minute natural release. To Store: Cooked chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
How long does shredded chicken take to cook in Instant Pot?
Shreddable chicken does take a little bit longer in the Instant Pot than sliceable chicken, but still significantly less time than it would to slow cook chicken (think: 45 minutes *max* vs. 4-8 hours). We don’t recommend making more than 2 pounds of frozen chicken breast if you’d like your chicken breast to be sliceable.
How much chicken can you cook in an Instant Pot?
We don’t recommend cooking more than 4 pounds of frozen chicken breast in a 6 quart Instant Pot or more than 6 pounds of frozen chicken in an 8 quart Instant Pot – if you go higher than this you likely won’t be able to close the lid and will need to defrost it first. The time here definitely varies based on the amount of chicken you’re cooking!
How long does it take to pressure cook chicken in Instant Pot?
The Instant Pot will take about 10 minutes to come to pressure and start counting down from 10. When the cook time is up, let pressure release naturally for 5-10 minutes before releasing the remaining pressure. Check that the internal temperature of the chicken is 165 degrees F — mine is always at least or higher.