Instant Pot Chicken Breast
Tender, juicy Instant Pot chicken breast seasoned with paprika and Italian spices, ready in 25 minutes with natural pressure release.
Ingredients
- 3 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts about 5 medium
- 1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth or water
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp sweet paprika optional
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning or dried oregano optional
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder optional
- 1/2 tsp onion powder optional
- 2 Tbsp olive oil or another neutral oil optional, only for searing
Instructions
Mix Spice Blend:
Mix together the salt, pepper, paprika, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and onion powder in a bowl. Using your hands, coat the chicken breasts evenly with the spice blend.Sear Chicken Optional:
Optional searing: Select the Sauté function on the Instant Pot and heat the oil. Once hot, sear the chicken for 2–3 minutes per side until browned. This step adds color but can be omitted if the chicken will be shredded for other dishes.Add Broth and Trivet:
Pour the chicken broth into the Instant Pot, scraping up any browned bits to prevent a burn notice. Place a trivet inside and arrange the chicken breasts on top. Alternatively, cook the chicken directly in the liquid for a more boiled texture.Pressure Cook Chicken:
Secure the lid, set the valve to Sealing, and pressure cook on Manual High Pressure: 4 minutes for 1 lb, 5 minutes for 2 lb, 6 minutes for 3 lb, 8 minutes for 4 lb, or 10 minutes for 5 lb.Natural Pressure Release:
After the cooking time ends, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then carefully turn the valve to release any remaining steam.Check Temperature and Rest:
Verify the internal temperature reaches 160–165°F (71–74°C) using a meat thermometer. Remove the chicken and let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing or shredding.Cook Frozen Chicken:
For frozen chicken: skip the searing step and increase the cooking time by roughly 50%. For 3 lb, cook for 10 minutes.