Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Thighs (Fresh or Frozen)

Plate full of instant pot bbq chicken thighs, rice and slaw.

Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Thighs (Fresh or Frozen)

These Instant Pot BBQ chicken thighs are made with fresh or frozen chicken and your favorite BBQ sauce for an easy, hands-off dinner. The Instant Pot does all the work, making this a reliable option for busy nights.

Course dinner

Cuisine American

Keyword instant pot barbecue chicken, instant pot bbq chicken, instant pot bbq chicken thighs, pressure cooker bbq chicken

Prep Time 1

Cook Time 15

Come up to pressure 10

Total Time 26

Servings servings

Calories 229kcal

Author Samantha Rowland

Equipment

Instant Pot

Ingredients

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs you can also use boneless, skinless chicken breast, just add 2 minutes to the cook time.
1/4 cup bbq sauce
1 cup water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon paprika optional
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (or dried chives) optional
1/2 cup bbq sauce

Instructions

Add the chicken to the instant pot. It can be fresh or frozen.
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Season the chicken with salt, paprika and garlic powder (optional but adds flavor). Then pour 1/4 cup of bbq sauce directly over the chicken.
Pour 1 cup of water into the instant pot around the chicken (not over the bbq sauce). The bbq sauce can cause a burn noticed if it goes on the bottom of the instant pot so we are trying to avoid that.
1/4 cup bbq sauce, 1 cup water, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (or dried chives)
Cook on high pressure for 13 minutes from fresh or 15 minute from frozen.
If you are using chicken breast, add 2 minutes to these cooking times.
After the instant pot comes up to pressure and cooks for 15 minutes, you can manually release the pressure or allow it to naturally release.
Take the chicken breast out of the instant pot and shred them on a plate with two forks or take the chicken out and dump the liquid then return it to the instant pot to shred.
You don't want to shred the chicken in the water or the flavor will get diluted.
After shredding the chicken, pour 1/2 cup of bbq sauce over top and serve hot.
1/2 cup bbq sauce

Video

Notes

Cooking Burnout Club Meal Idea:

In addition to the chicken and bbq sauce, you will also need:

4 cups frozen rice (this is 2 packages of the Trader Joe's frozen rice)
1 bag of slaw mix
1/4 cup of ranch dressing
a pinch of salt
1/4 teaspoon dried chives or garlic powder.

While the chicken is cooking, cook the frozen rice (use the microwave or stove top, just follow the instructions)

Make the slaw: combine the shredded cabbage with 2 tablespoons ranch dressing, a pinch of salt and dried chives or garlic powder. Add more dressing as needed until it has the flavor/consistency you love in slaw.

Storage: Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Nutrition