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Shredded chicken breast in instant pot.
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Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Breast

Pulled chicken in the instant pot is so easy to make and turns out perfectly every time. You are not going to believe how simple it is with just 2 ingredients. The chicken breast cooks in the instant pot in about 40 minutes total, all hands off time. Perfect for meal prep.
Course dinner
Cuisine American
Keyword instant pot pulled chicken, instant pot shredded chicken breast, meal prep chicken, shredded chicken for meal prep
Prep Time 1 minute
Cook Time 15 minutes
Pressure Cooker (up to pressure, natural release) 20 minutes
Total Time 36 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 129kcal
Author Samantha Rowland
Cost $5.72 Recipe/$1.63 Serving

Equipment

  • Pressure cooker

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Add the chicken directly to the instant pot. Sprinkle with salt and optional spices and pour the water around the chicken.
  • Put the lid on and make sure the instant pot is set to sealing.
  • Cook high pressure for 15 minutes, allow pressure to naturally release for at least 10 minutes.
  • Once pressure has released, open the instant pot. Shred the chicken directly in the instant pot with 2 forks or take out and shred in a bowl with forks or a hand mixer/kitchen aid mixer.
  • Use immediately or store in fridge 3-4 days or freezer up to 3 months.

Notes

How to add seasoning to the chicken
Sprinkle the chicken liberally with the seasonings of your choice. Try to pour the water around the chicken instead of over it so the seasoning can stay with the chicken as much as possible. Here are some great ideas on seasonings you can add before or after cooking:
  • Taco – liberally sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons of taco seasoning and ½ teaspoon salt over the chicken
  • Cajun – liberally sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons of cajun seasoning  and ½ teaspoon salt over the chicken
  • Ranch – add 1 tablespoon dried chives, 1 teaspoon dried parsley, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon dried dill, and ½ tsp. salt.
  • Italian – add 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon garlic powder to the chicken
  • Greek - add 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon garlic powder to the chicken.
You can also add sauces to the instant pot shredded chicken breast to add flavor after cooking. Some delicious sauces to add include:
Do you have to increase cooking time when you double the recipe?
If you will be cooking more than 2 pounds of chicken at once in the instant pot, increase the cooking time 1-2 minutes to ensure all the chicken has time to cook through. You do not need to increase the water though.
How to make shredded chicken with frozen chicken breast
Follow the same instructions above but add 3-5 minutes to the cooking time. For 1-2 pounds of chicken, add 3 minutes. For more than 2 pounds of chicken, add 5 minutes.
Storing shredded chicken
  • Fridge: Chicken can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days after cooking in an airtight container.
  • Freezer: You can store cooked shredded chicken in the freezer for up to 3 months. I like to freeze the chicken in individual servings (4-6 oz) so that I can defrost just one serving or 4 at a time depending on what I’m making. I use Soupercubes to make freezing leftovers easy. 
    • Defrost frozen instant pot shredded chicken in the fridge overnight or in a small saucepan with about ½ cup of water over low to medium low heat until defrosted and warmed through.

Nutrition

Calories: 129kcal | Protein: 24g | Fat: 3g