Quick and Easy Instant Pot Chicken Recipe for Busy Nights

Introduction

When time is tight but you still crave a satisfying homemade dinner, this Quick and Easy Instant Pot Chicken Recipe delivers. In just a fraction of the time, you’ll have tender, flavorful chicken that tastes like it simmered for hours—all with minimal prep and cleanup. It’s a lifesaver for busy nights when you want a wholesome meal without spending all evening in the kitchen.

Why This Instant Pot Chicken Recipe Is a Busy Night Hero

With the power of the Instant Pot, you can enjoy succulent chicken in under 30 minutes. This recipe is flexible, allowing you to use what’s on hand, and the finished dish is juicy and bursting with flavor thanks to a savory seasoning blend. It’s a crowd-pleaser, pairs effortlessly with any side, and even the leftovers are delicious tucked into salads, wraps, or grain bowls.

The Secret to Tender, Flavorful Instant Pot Chicken

The Instant Pot’s sealed cooking environment locks in moisture, ensuring that chicken breasts or thighs emerge tender and never dry. By seasoning the chicken before searing and using just a cup of broth, the flavors penetrate deeply and create a delicious cooking liquid you can spoon over rice, pasta, or veggies for extra flavor.

How to Serve Your Instant Pot Chicken

This versatile chicken can be sliced and served atop steamed rice, tucked into tacos, or paired with roasted vegetables for a balanced meal. Spoon some of the flavorful broth over the top, or shred the leftovers for easy lunch prep. It’s meal-prep friendly and adapts well to your weekly menu.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields approximately 4 servings. Each serving of chicken (without extras) typically contains around 200-220 calories, depending on the cut used, and provides a lean source of protein perfect for active families or individuals. Pair with your favorite sides to round out the meal.

Quick and Easy Instant Pot Chicken Recipe (Recap)

This dish is proof that convenience doesn’t mean sacrificing flavor. Fast, easy to prep, and adaptable—this Instant Pot chicken will quickly become your go-to on hectic evenings.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients, sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and planning a week’s worth of meals!

Instructions

1. Pat the chicken dry and season evenly on both sides with garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
2. Turn the Instant Pot to the sauté function and add olive oil. Once hot, sear the chicken for 2–3 minutes per side, working in batches if needed. This step adds extra flavor but can be skipped if you’re in a rush.
3. Pour in the chicken broth and use a spatula to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
4. Return the chicken to the pot, secure the lid, and set the valve to “Sealing.” Pressure cook on high for 8–10 minutes (8 minutes for breasts, 10 for thighs).
5. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes, then do a quick release for any remaining pressure.
6. Use tongs to remove the chicken. Let rest for a couple of minutes before slicing, shredding, or serving whole. Spoon some of the hot broth over the top and finish with a squeeze of lemon or sprinkle of fresh herbs, if desired.

Weekly Meal Planning

This Quick and Easy Instant Pot Chicken is a meal-prep superstar. Save and schedule this recipe to efficiently plan which nights to cook and automatically generate a smart shopping list that combines ingredients from all your planned meals.

Planning Benefits:

• Automatically calculates total ingredient quantities across all recipes
• Organizes shopping lists by grocery store sections for speedier shopping
• Cuts down on repeat purchases and forgotten essentials
• Makes prepping weeknight dinners easier and more organized

Pro tip: When you schedule multiple recipes, CookifyAI will consolidate overlapping ingredients (like chicken or broth), so your list is accurate—saving you money and reducing food waste!

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Enjoy how simple dinner can be with this superfast, flavor-packed Instant Pot chicken—your new go-to recipe for busy nights!