Can you make frozen chicken in the Instant Pot? Absolutely! This quick and easy Instant Pot frozen chicken breast with just 2 ingredients will be ready in under 30 minutes! Pair this hands-off main dish with an easy side and dinner is served.
Have you ever walked into the kitchen to make dinner, only to realize you COMPLETELY FORGOT to thaw the chicken?
I’m embarrassed to admit that this happens fairly often in my house, but now that I’ve learned how to cook frozen chicken breast in the Instant Pot, dinner is saved! Cooking frozen chicken is a lifesaver.
INSTANT POT FROZEN CHICKEN BREAST
If you’ve ever forgotten to pull out the chicken for dinner, you’re not alone. No matter how much we plan, things come up and sometimes dinner is the ball that gets dropped!
Even when I DO remember to thaw meat for dinner, I still love making this Instant Pot frozen chicken breast recipe for a few reasons:
- Hands-off
- FAST
- Super Easy
- Minimal Ingredients
Plus, knowing that I need FROZEN boneless chicken breasts from the get-go means I can stock up when fresh chicken breasts or chicken thighs are on sale. I don’t even have to worry about taking them out of the package or coming up with a marinade for them!
(Although if you DO want a marinade, these chicken marinades are pretty stinkin’ good.)
INSTANT POT FROZEN CHICKEN INGREDIENTS
I love my chicken to be moist and tender, and that’s why I personally prefer to roast a whole chicken in the oven and then make chicken broth.
However, I live in the real world, and not only do I sometimes forget to pull the chicken out to thaw but sometimes I don’t WANT to cook in the oven!
So, if you choose to make frozen chicken in the Instant Pot AND you want your chicken to be moist and juicy, you need just two ingredients:
- Frozen skinless chicken breasts (not thawed!)
- Pineapple juice
Most Instant Pot frozen chicken recipes call for water, but I found that it creates a very boring and lackluster chicken.
This may not be a big deal if you’re making something like Chicken Enchiladas or Chicken Southwest Salad where the Instant Pot shredded chicken will get mixed in with other things.
But, if you’re making something where you’ll notice the texture and flavor of the chicken, definitely use pineapple juice!
You could also add a seasoning blend like Poultry Seasoning or Cajun Seasoning or simply salt and pepper to your Instant Pot frozen chicken breast, but I tend to leave that out since I make a bigger batch at once to have leftover chicken for other meals, and they may not have the same flavor.
Psst! Want to kick this 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!)
HOW TO COOK FROZEN CHICKEN IN THE INSTANT POT
Step 1: Place the pineapple juice, trivet, and frozen chicken in the Instant Pot.
Step 2: Set the pressure to HIGH, set the pressure release valve to “seal”, and set the timer for 9 minutes.
Step 3: After the pressure cook timer has beeped, let the pressure naturally release (do nothing until the pressure valve drops on its own).
Step 4: Shred the chicken with two forks (or follow this method with a stand mixer) and mix the chicken back into the juices in the Instant Pot.
Step 5: Serve warm, or cool and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days for future meals.
Pretty easy, right? And completely hands-off!
FROZEN CHICKEN BREAST INSTANT POT TIPS
I tried a few different methods when I was figuring out how to cook frozen chicken breast Instant Pot style.
I tried using natural release, quick release, and a combination of the two…
And as much as I love the speed of the quick pressure release, that made the chicken kind of rubbery.
Hands down, the best way to cook frozen chicken in the Instant Pot is to use the natural pressure release.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH PRESSURE COOKER CHICKEN
Since your pressure cooker chicken will be ready in under 30 minutes (once you include the time it takes the Instant Pot to pressurize, the cooking time, and the time for the pressure to naturally release), you also need side dishes that you can get done fast! These quick and easy sides fit the bill!
- Coconut Rice
- Pan-Seared Broccoli
- Lemon Butter Asparagus
- The Best Stovetop Mac & Cheese
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
- Crispy Potato Wedges
- Easy Dinner Salad
FROZEN CHICKEN IN INSTANT POT FAQS
How long does it take to cook frozen chicken in Instant Pot?
After testing several methods, I’ve found that 9 minutes on high is perfect!
Can you cook chicken breast from frozen?
Yes! Simply follow the directions in this post and you’ll have a perfectly cooked chicken breast – from frozen – in just a few minutes!
Which instant pot do you use?
I love my 8-quart DUO 7-in-1 Instant Pot. Having the larger Instant Pot gives me more room to double recipes if I need to so that I can cook once and eat twice!
Do you need to put the chicken on top of a trivet?
You don’t HAVE to use the trivet, but if you just place the chicken in the Instant Pot with the pineapple juice, the pieces on the very bottom will cook directly in the liquid and may turn out a little bit mushy and soggy rather than perfectly moist.
What do you do if the Instant Pot chicken breasts aren’t cooked?
I’ve found 9 minutes on high pressure with a natural pressure release gives me perfectly cooked chicken every time, but if yours is still a little bit under temperature (chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165F), you can put the lid back on and cook for 1-2 additional minutes on high pressure.
INSTANT POT CHICKEN RECIPES
Making frozen chicken in the instant pot is a great way to batch-cook and meal prep an ingredient to eat for a few days in a row! Add these to this week’s menu plan to get the most out of your Instant Pot frozen chicken breast.
- Bacon Chicken Caesar Salad Wraps
- Sweet and Sour Chicken (with homemade sauce!)
- Chicken & Spinach Enchiladas
- Chicken Creole
- Buffalo Chicken and Bacon Ranch Salad
- Southwestern Salad
- Chicken Tacos
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Can you make frozen chicken in the Instant Pot? Absolutely! This quick and easy Instant Pot frozen chicken breast with just 2 ingredients will be ready in under 30 minutes! Pair this hands-off main dish with an easy side and dinner is served.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 9 minutes
- Total Time: 14 minutes
- Yield: 16 oz of cooked chicken 1x
- Category: Main Meals
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 lb frozen chicken breast
- 1 cup pineapple juice (or water)
Instructions
- Place pineapple juice and trivet inside the Instant Pot. Place the frozen chicken breast on top of the trivet.
- Set the pressure to HIGH, set the pressure release valve to “sealing” and the timer to 9 minutes. Allow the IP to come to pressure, cook, and let the pressure release naturally (i.e. do nothing until the pressure popper comes down on its own).
- Shred the chicken with two forks (or follow this method with a stand mixer) and mix the chicken back into the juices in the Instant Pot.
- Serve warm, or as desired.
Notes
- Hands down, the best way to cook frozen chicken in the Instant Pot is to use the natural pressure release.
Nutrition
- Calories: 416
I thought you had to use at least 3 cups of liquid in the 8qt?
The suggested minimum liquid for the 8 quart IP to come to pressure is 1 1/2 cups.
How would you make this with unfrozen chicken? I’d like to try it.
Janet, you should be able to follow the recipe but just shorten the instant pot cook time.
I will DEFINITELY try this and soon as in this weekend! My problem is always that I did not thaw the meat. This is crazy simple. Thank you for also providing the various ways to use, and the sides.
You are most welcome, Joy!