This quick and easy Instant Pot BBQ chicken is the perfect dinner for a busy weeknight. Ready in under 30 minutes, this moist and tangy chicken is delicious on sandwiches, in a salad, or even on pizza. You’ll want to make extra so you can enjoy it tomorrow too!
I know meal planning saves money. I know that if I just take 15 minutes to figure out what we’re having for dinner for the next 7 days, the rest of my week goes SO MUCH SMOOTHER.
But I also know that sometimes, things don’t always work out as planned.
That’s why there’s Instant Pot BBQ Chicken!
This easy Instant Pot Barbecue Chicken is the perfect recipe for busy weeknights when you’re short on time. With just a few simple ingredients, you can make this easy recipe the entire family will love, even the pickiest eaters!
P.S.…Having a quick and easy backup plan for dinner is one of the tips I teach in my course Grocery Budget Bootcamp. You’ll be prepared when the unexpected happens and save money by not heading to the drive-thru! Grocery Budget Bootcamp enrollment is currently closed, but you can join my FREE 5-day Crush Inflation Challenge and start saving money on groceries tomorrow!
INSTANT POT BBQ CHICKEN
Here’s why we love this Instant Pot BBQ chicken:
- Fast. We know the Instant Pot gets dinner on the table fast, but depending on the type of chicken you use, dinner can be ready in under 30 minutes.
- Easy. You only REALLY need two ingredients – can it get any easier?
- Tasty. If your favorite BBQ sauce tastes as good as my Homemade BBQ Sauce, then you can’t go wrong!
- Need a backup plan for dinner? Instant pot barbecue chicken recipe to the rescue! You can use skinless chicken breasts, skinless chicken thighs or legs, and it even works with frozen chicken.
- Versatile. Serve this Instant Pot pulled chicken on its own, in a sandwich, on a salad, or even on pizza! It’s delicious no matter how you serve it, and that makes it a great choice for different dietary needs as well.
INSTANT POT PULLED CHICKEN INGREDIENTS
- BBQ Sauce. Use any good BBQ sauce you like! Aim for a lower-sugar barbecue sauce to help avoid getting the dreaded burn notice.
- Chicken. You can use boneless skinless chicken breasts, boneless skinless chicken thighs, or chicken legs. You’ll just adjust the time depending on the cut of chicken you choose.
- Apple Cider Vinegar (optional) and Liquid Aminos (optional).
- The ACV and liquid aminos give a little bit of extra tang and flavor to the Instant Pot pulled chicken. They also help thin the sauce if it is on the thick side.
- You can thin the BBQ sauce with water, chicken broth, or apple juice instead (or use leftover juice in the pickle jar if you like a pickle flavor!).
- Onion (optional). Again, you can add this for extra flavor, or leave it out if your family isn’t a fan.
Psst! Want to kick this Instant Pot pulled chicken up a notch? Try finishing this recipe with a pinch of finishing salt! I love Ava Jane’s Kitchen because it doesn’t have microplastics (gross, right?), and it’s SO GOOD! Plus, you can get a free 8oz. bag of sea salt (just pay shipping and handling!). Just add a pinch to the top of the chicken before serving for extra savory flavor.
HOW TO MAKE INSTANT POT PULLED BBQ CHICKEN
Instant Pot BBQ pulled chicken is so easy! Follow these easy steps:
Step 1. Place ingredients in the Instant Pot, chicken (and onions, if using) first, topped with the sauce.
Step 2. Close the Instant Pot lid and turn the sealing valve to the sealing position.
Step 3. Press “pressure cook” or “manual”, make sure it’s on HIGH PRESSURE, and set the cooking time for 6-25 minutes. See below for specific cooking times.
Step 4. When the timer beeps, let the remaining pressure naturally release for 10-15 minutes. Don’t use the quick-releasing option because the natural release time allows the chicken to fully cook.
Step 5. Remove the chicken from the Instant Pot and place on a plate.
Step 6. Shred the chicken with two forks and place the meat back into the pot, and stir with the sauce.
Step 7. Serve the barbecue shredded chicken hot!
Cook times:
- Fresh chicken breasts or boneless chicken thighs: 6 minutes + NPR (If your chicken breasts are on the thicker side, you may need a few additional minutes of cooking time)
- Frozen chicken breasts: 10 minutes + NPR
- Fresh bone-in chicken: 15 minutes + NPR
- Frozen bone-in chicken: 25 minutes + NPR
For slow cooker BBQ chicken, load all ingredients into the slow cooker and cook for 4-6 hours on high, or 6-8 hours on low.
INSTANT POT PULLED CHICKEN BBQ TIPS AND TRICKS
- Try a BBQ sauce with a lower sugar content to avoid getting the burn notice on your Instant Pot. If your sauce is quite thick, add ½ cup to 1 cup of water before starting the Instant Pot.
- Load the onions (if using) into the Instant Pot, followed by the chicken, and then the sauce for best results.
- You can double this freezer-friendly recipe to have plenty of leftovers, or easy meal prep for the future. Make sure you don’t fill the Instant Pot past the max line, and keep the same cooking time for a double batch.
- Don’t forget to save the chicken skin and bones from your Instant Pot pulled chicken for homemade chicken stock (your choice, Slow Cooker Chicken Stock or Instant Pot Chicken Stock!)
- I usually get my chicken from Costco since they tend to have great prices on organic chicken. But I’ve also tried chicken from Butcher Box and it was really good! It’s a great option if you want organic pastured chicken and can’t find it locally.
- Store any leftovers in the refrigerator. Use an airtight container for the best storage!
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TO SERVE INSTANT POT BBQ CHICKEN
Now that you’ve got your easy Instant Pot pulled BBQ chicken, here are some yummy ways to serve it:
BEST BBQ CHICKEN SANDWICHES
- Both Instant Pot BBQ chicken and homemade buns freeze well, which means BBQ chicken sandwiches for dinner now AND later.
- Serve Creamy Coleslaw on top of your Instant Pot BBQ chicken sandwich or on the side.
- Or try it with a side of Roasted Cabbage Wedges, classic Crispy Potato Wedges, or corn on the cob – yum!
- You can also go the grilled cheese route – a few slices of No-Knead Artisan Bread, a scoop of BBQ chicken, and a couple of slices of cheddar? YUM. This is one of my favorite ways to use leftover Instant Pot BBQ chicken.
- Make any of those sandwiches into a wrap!
BBQ CHICKEN SALAD
Doesn’t a BBQ chicken bacon ranch salad sound SO GOOD?! Use this salad recipe with the Instant Pot pulled chicken BBQ from this post!
PIZZA
Use the same substitution here as in the barbecue chicken salad. If a regular BBQ chicken pizza doesn’t win you over, try one of these other yummy pizza variations:
- New York Style Thin Crust
- American-Style Thick Crust
- Easy Homemade Pizza Bagels Recipe
- Cast-Iron Skillet Pizza
Don’t forget about bbq chicken nachos, quesadillas, or tacos!!
PULLED BBQ CHICKEN INSTANT POT FAQS
Does BBQ sauce count as the liquid in an Instant Pot?
Yes, but the BBQ sauce should NOT be placed in the Instant Pot first. The sauce can burn on the bottom, so put the chicken in first, then top with the sauce. If you are using a higher sugar BBQ sauce, or your BBQ sauce is pretty thick, you’ll want to dilute it with ½ cup to 1 cup of water, broth, or apple juice to avoid getting the burn notice.
Why is my pulled BBQ chicken Instant Pot rubbery?
If your chicken breast winds up with a rubbery texture, it most likely means that you need to cook it a bit longer. In general, the Instant Pot does better with longer cooking times for meat. A natural pressure release also helps with the texture when cooking chicken in the Instant Pot.
Can you put raw chicken in an Instant Pot?
Yes, you most certainly can!
Can you make Instant Pot BBQ Chicken with frozen chicken?
Yes, you can make Instant Pot BBQ chicken with frozen chicken! See the recipe notes to adjust the cooking time for frozen chicken.
How to store leftover BBQ chicken?
Place any leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. When you’re ready to eat it, simply heat it up in the microwave or on the stovetop.
EASY INSTANT POT BBQ CHICKEN
This easy Instant Pot BBQ Chicken recipe is the easiest way to cook a delicious dinner on a busy day. After one bite of this tender chicken, the whole family will be hooked! If you tried this recipe, please rate the recipe card to help out the next reader!
MORE YUMMY INSTANT POT CHICKEN RECIPES
- How to Cook Frozen Chicken Breast in the Instant Pot
- Instant Pot Chicken Tinga
- Instant Pot Chicken Wings
- Honey Garlic Chicken
- Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
- How to Cook a Whole Chicken in the Instant Pot
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Instant Pot BBQ Chicken
This quick and easy Instant Pot BBQ chicken is the perfect dinner for a busy weeknight. Ready in under 30 minutes, this moist and tangy chicken is delicious on sandwiches, in a salad, or even on pizza. You’ll want to make extra so you can enjoy it tomorrow too!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-25 minutes
- Total Time: 20-30 minutes
- Yield: Varies
- Category: Main Meals
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 cup your favorite BBQ sauce (or make your own)
- 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar (optional)
- 2 Tbsp liquid aminos or soy sauce (optional)
- 2 – 2 ½ lbs chicken (thawed or frozen), skin removed
- 1 onion, sliced into rings (optional)
Instructions
- Place ingredients in the Instant Pot, chicken (and onions, if using) first, topped with the sauce.
- Close the Instant Pot lid and turn the sealing valve to the sealing position.
- Press “pressure cook” or “manual,” make sure it’s on HIGH PRESSURE, and set the cooking time for 6-25 minutes. See below for specific cooking times.
- When the timer beeps, let the remaining pressure naturally release for 10-15 minutes. Don’t use the quick-releasing option because the natural release time allows the chicken to fully cook.
- Remove the chicken from the Instant Pot and place on a plate.
- Shred the chicken with two forks and place the meat back into the pot, and stir with the sauce.
- Serve the barbecue shredded chicken hot!
Notes
Cook times:
- Fresh chicken breasts or boneless chicken thighs: 6 minutes + NPR (If your chicken breasts are on the thicker side, you may need a few additional minutes of cooking time)
- Frozen chicken breasts: 10 minutes + NPR
- Fresh bone-in chicken: 15 minutes + NPR
- Frozen bone-in chicken: 25 minutes + NPR
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 ounces
- Calories: 313
Can I make this in a slow cooker instead? What are the adjusted times/measurements for that?
Thank you!
Hi Miranda! Yes! You can make this in the slow cooker. The general recommendation on BBQ Chicken in the slow cooker is 4-6 hours on low.
Not enough info, how much chicken? What are your measurements?
Hi Teresa, So sorry for our mistake and thank you for pointing it out. It has been fixed above. 🙂
How much of everything do you use for this recipe? There’s no measurements AT ALL!
Hi I noticed you updated the recipe last week, in the new update there are no amounts and I noticed the soy sauce option ingredient and water is no longer listed.
How much chicken does the recipe call for? How much BBQ sauce? How much apple cider vinegar? How much soy sauce used to be listed?
This is one of my families favorite IP recipes for and I’m bummed I didn’t write it down somewhere with the ingredient amounts before it was updated without it :/
Can please we get it corrected or can you reply with the amounts for each ingredient?
I plan to make it as a quick 4th of July meal tomorrow (:
Hi Samantha, thanks for catching our mistake and so sorry for the inconvenience! It has been fixed now.
Hello Julia,
We’re very happy to hear that you enjoyed this recipe!
Hmm, I followed it exactly for fresh chicken breast and I also had the IP give me the BURN notice. I opened it up and the bottom was burned. I stirred it up and added 1/2 cup of water and tried again and it worked out just ok. Was very liquidy and lacking flavor. I would have poured out most of the liquid in the end and just mixed with fresh BBQ sauce but I was all out. I think it would be helpful to add more notes to the recipe. I had to read the comments to find tips.
(I used Sweet Baby Rays, ACV onions and soy sauce.)
Sorry to hear that, Leonardo. How long was it cooked for on manual or pressure? I do not know how over a cup of liquid would evaporate so quickly. Adding the extra water would make the recipe have more liquid and dilute the flavor. I hope it works better if you try it again.
You mention 2-2.5lbs chicken. Is that for bone in chicken legs? How much frozen chicken breast would you use in place of that?
It is a recipe based on chicken breast.
I made your recipe at home very tasty. Please add more.