Name: Easy Instant Pot BBQ Chicken
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3lbs chicken breasts; 1 tbsp olive oil; 1/3 cup chicken stock; 1 medium yellow onion diced very small – I used a cheese grater; 2 cloves garlic; 1 tsp paprika (I used smoked); 1.5 cups BBQ sauce, divided – I used Tessemaes.

By: ErinPosted: 1/28/20Updated: 9/17/20

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Easy shredded Instant Pot BBQ Chicken is a healthy dinner or meal prep idea for your busy work week! This simple recipe uses boneless chicken breasts and your favorite BBQ sauce. Use the meat to put on sliders, sandwiches, salads, and potatoes!

Even when you are running home with no time to make dinner, you have time to make my Instant Pot BBQ chicken.

This entire meal only takes 20 minutes to make, from start to finish. And the meal prep couldn’t be any easier! Seriously, pin this post. You are going to want to make this again.

Easy Instant Pot BBQ Chicken

I save this recipe for those weeks when I don’t feel like planning anything complicated. I’ve memorized the recipe at this point. If you make it a few times, you’ll have it memorized too.

Ingredients

You probably already have these in your fridge.

Chicken breasts
Olive oil
Chicken stock
Onion
Garlic
Paprika
BBQ Sauce

How To Make BBQ Chicken in the Instant Pot

I love how simple my Instant Pot recipes make dinner time. The Instant Pot is an incredible tool! It cooks food so fast that by the time you put the dishes away, the food is ready.

The entire recipe is in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post. But here’s a really easy overview so you know what to expect.

1. Add All The Ingredients To the Instant Pot

Be careful to put them in the Instant Pot in this order: chicken breasts, stock, onion, spices, and BBQ sauce.

2. Lock Lid & Manually Cook

Next, lock the lid and cook it manually for 10 minutes. Let the Instant Pot come to pressure before starting the timer.

3. Natural Release

When the timer goes off, use the natural release for 10 minutes. Then use the quick release.

4. Shred and Serve

Then just shred the chicken and add in more BBQ sauce to completely cover the chicken. Yum! It’s read to eat!

It really is that easy.

Can you use chicken broth instead of chicken stock?

The recipe calls for 1/3 cup of chicken stock. This is because the chicken will lose some moisture in the steaming process.

Yes, you can certainly use chicken broth instead. The reason I love chicken stock is that it has a bit more flavor than broth.

Chicken stock is typically made by boiling the bony parts of the chicken in water. Chicken broth, however, is made by boiling meat in the water. The differences are almost not discernible.

BBQ Chicken Serving Ideas

There are so many ways you can serve the chicken after it’s cooked. Try any one of these fast and easy ideas.

BBQ Chicken Sandwiches – serve with some french fries
BBQ Chicken Bowls – put the shredded chicken on top of a bowl of mashed potatoes
Cookout – Serve with grilled corn on the cob
Pasta Dish – Shred the chicken and serve with pasta for a new main dish

BBQ Chicken Side Dish Ideas

These are my favorite side dishes that taste the best with this scrumptious meal.

How To Store the BBQ Chicken

Store this correctly because you can use it in so many different recipes. It’s delicious as leftovers.

Refrigerator – Store in the fridge for up to 5 days
Freeze – Freeze in an airtight container or a resealable bag for up to 6 months.

Can You Make BBQ Chicken in The Slow Cooker?

Yes, it’s pretty easy, actually. Just put all the ingredients (except the chicken stock) in a slow cooker.

Set the slow cooker to “low” and cook for 6-8 hours. Then, it’s ready to shred and put on your sandwich buns.

★★★★★ 4.7 from 26 reviews