Description
Make tender, flavorful BBQ pulled chicken quickly using your Instant Pot. This recipe provides fast results perfect for easy weeknight sandwiches.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups your favorite BBQ sauce
- 8 hamburger buns or rolls
- Optional toppings: coleslaw, pickles
Instructions
- Place the chicken breasts or thighs into the inner pot of your Instant Pot.
- Pour the chicken broth and apple cider vinegar over the chicken.
- Sprinkle the smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper evenly over the chicken.
- Secure the lid and set the vent to sealing.
- Cook on Manual/Pressure Cook setting on High for 10 minutes.
- Allow for a Natural Pressure Release (NPR) for 5 minutes, then carefully switch the valve to venting to release any remaining pressure.
- Remove the chicken from the pot and place it in a large bowl. Reserve the cooking liquid in the pot.
- Shred the chicken using two forks.
- Pour 1 cup of the reserved cooking liquid and 1 cup of the BBQ sauce into the Instant Pot. Stir to combine.
- Return the shredded chicken to the Instant Pot. Add the remaining 1/2 cup of BBQ sauce. Stir well until the chicken is fully coated.
- Set the Instant Pot to Sauté mode (Low or Normal) for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly and the chicken is heated through.
- Serve the pulled chicken immediately on toasted buns with your preferred toppings.
Notes
- For thicker sauce, remove the chicken, then use the Sauté function to reduce the remaining liquid until it thickens before adding the chicken back.
- If you use frozen chicken, increase the pressure cooking time to 15 minutes at High pressure.
- This chicken freezes well for meal prep; store shredded chicken separately from the buns.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 25 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Pressure Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich (approx 4 oz chicken)
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 28
- Sodium: 750
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Unsaturated Fat: 8
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 38
- Cholesterol: 110