How To Make An Instant Pot Whole Chicken for FAST Healthy Meals

Introduction

Cooking a whole chicken in the Instant Pot is a game-changing solution for busy weeknights and meal preppers alike. With just a handful of ingredients and minimal hands-on time, you’ll have moist, flavorful chicken ready in under an hour—perfect for shredding into salads, sandwiches, wraps, and quick dinners all week long. This method locks in juices, delivers incredible flavor, and frees your oven for other uses.

Why Instant Pot Whole Chicken Is a Meal Prep Superstar

Why choose this recipe? An Instant Pot whole chicken is reliable, fast, and yields incredibly tender results you simply can’t get in the oven or slow cooker in less than half the time. Plus, you’re left with plenty of savory broth as a bonus for soups or sauces. It’s one of the most versatile proteins you can make: meal-prep friendly, budget-conscious, and universally crowd-pleasing.

Flavorful Instant Pot Chicken: Simple Seasonings, Big Results

Start by rubbing your whole chicken with a blend of olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, rosemary, and paprika for a classic rotisserie taste. Rest the chicken on a raised trivet inside the Instant Pot to let the steam circulate and cook evenly in record time. Squeeze a little lemon inside the cavity or toss in some fresh herbs for an aromatic twist.

How To Easily Shred and Serve Your Chicken

After cooking, let the chicken rest for a few minutes before shredding. Using a dedicated Chicken Shredder Tool Twist for Kitchen, Elegant Black helps pull apart the succulent meat in seconds—no more burning your fingers or awkward fork wrestling. The shredded chicken stores beautifully and is ready to be added to salads, tacos, or grain bowls throughout the week.

For crispier skin, pop pieces under your broiler or use your COSORI Air Fryer 9-in-1, Compact & Large 6-Qt, Grey for 5 minutes—just brush with a little olive oil first for the best crunch.

Sides, Storage, and Meal Ideas

Pair your chicken with quick-steamed veggies or a vibrant salad. Use a Mueller Pro-Series 10-in-1, 8 Blade Vegetable Chopper to prep a week’s worth of fresh vegetables efficiently. Store leftovers in airtight Rubbermaid Brilliance Food Storage Containers, Set of 5 (3.2 Cup) to keep them moist and flavorful.

This method ensures you’re never more than a few minutes away from a nourishing, protein-packed meal.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

Depending on the size of your bird (3½–5 lbs), this recipe serves 4–6, with each serving delivering lean protein, healthy fats, and plenty of micronutrients. Remove skin before shredding for even lighter fare.

Instructions

1. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Rub olive oil all over the skin and sprinkle generously with salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and rosemary.
2. Stuff the chicken cavity with lemon halves and any fresh herbs you like.
3. Pour chicken broth or water into the base of your Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, 6 Quart. Place the trivet into the pot and lay the seasoned chicken, breast-side up, on top of the trivet.
4. Secure the lid, set valve to “Sealing,” and cook on HIGH Manual Pressure:
   • 6 minutes per pound (24–30 minutes for most chickens)
5. When cook time ends, allow a Natural Release for 10–15 minutes, then Vent carefully to release any remaining pressure.
6. Remove chicken using tongs. Let rest 5–10 minutes. Use a Chicken Shredder Tool Twist for Kitchen, Elegant Black or two forks to shred or carve into pieces. For crisper skin, transfer cut pieces to a preheated COSORI Air Fryer 9-in-1, Compact & Large 6-Qt, Grey for 5–6 minutes at 400°F.
7. Store any leftovers in Rubbermaid Brilliance Food Storage Containers, Set of 5 (3.2 Cup) in the fridge up to 4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 25–35 minutes (varies by chicken size)

Total Time: 50 minutes (including pressurizing and rest time)

Recap: Fast, Healthy Instant Pot Chicken

In less than an hour, Instant Pot whole chicken delivers incredibly juicy, tender meat plus rich homemade broth for easy and healthy meals all week. With adaptable seasoning and minimal cleanup, it’s a go-to recipe that makes eating well effortless, meal after meal.