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.
I also love making my Chickpea Blondies to have for dessert because they only take 30 minutes to make.
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 ⅓ 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.
Easy Instant Pot BBQ Chicken
Ingredients
Method
- Add one tablespoon olive oil to bottom of Instant Pot.
- In this order, add in chicken breasts, ⅓ cup stock, onion, garlic, paprika, and 1 cup BBQ sauce.
- Lock the lid and manual pressure cook for 10 minutes. Just hit 'pressure cook' then add the time. The IP will need to come to pressure before the timer starts.
- Once the timer goes off, natural release for 10 minutes and then quick release.
- Shred with two forks and let place back in IP and stir in other half cup of bbq sauce.
- Serve!
Cary LaLonde says
High pressure? There are 3 pressure settings 🤔
Erin says
Hi Cary, you can use the highest setting.
Sophie says
How long should I cook this when I double the recipe to 6lbs of chicken? 10 minutes doesn’t seem like long enough. Thank you!
Erin says
Hi Sophie, yes, double the time. Let me know how yours comes out!
Kathryn F. says
Such an easy and delicious recipe. The chicken was very tasty and remained moist!
Erin says
Hi Kathryn, so happy you loved it! 🙂
Allison says
I do not have an onion present nor do I have time to get one? Would onion powder suffice or at I better off not adding any onion product?
Erin says
Hi Allison, yes you can use onion powder or just skip it. Let me know how your chicken comes out!
Kelly says
Delicious! Easy to make. Directions were great. Adding this to my regular rotation. I put on potato buns and served with cole slaw.
Erin says
Hi Kelly, so happy you loved it and great idea! 🙂
Kandy says
Made this for dinner tonight and added it to a wrap with lettuce, cheese, and ranch. Delicious and easy!
Erin says
Hi Kandy, so glad you loved the chicken!! 🙂
Hannah says
Super quick and easy! Would be great on a sandwich or even with a side of veggies!
Erin says
Hi Hannah, so happy you loved it!! 🙂
Danielle Slaney says
Really great, quick meal! So versatile
Erin says
Hi Danielle, so happy you loved it!
Josephine says
Easy, quick and delicious. I used boneless, skinless chicken thighs mainly because I had a package in my freezer but also I like the dark meat better. Also, my husband makes a super BQ sauce which I used.
Erin says
Hi Josephine, I am thrilled you loved them and ah that is awesome!!
Monica from Bestconsumerratings says
Chicken is my family's favorite food, thank you for sharing the great recipe. I have one more delicious on my list, definitely try it your way. Looking forward to seeing more recipes, I will be back.
Erin says
Hi Monica, so happy you loved it so much! 🙂
Kaylie says
This recipe is great! Took less than 30 minutes start to finish. I used about 4.5 lbs of chicken and about 0.5 cups of chicken broth (not stock). I also had less than a cup BBQ sauce on hand and only a red onion (not yellow onion) and it still turned out amazing!! Great for tacos and taco bowls! Thanks, Erin!
Erin says
Hi Kaylie, so happy you loved it so much and made it your own! 🙂
JoAnn says
I used 3 large frozen chicken breasts and added 1/2 seeded jalapeño, 2 tbs apple cider vinegar & a dash of Worcestershire sauce. Added 1/3 cup more chicken stock and cooked for 15 min with a 10 min release. Extra juice was absorbed after shredding-hitting sauté at the end and stirring helped chicken absorb all the yummy flavors. Let it rest a little for extra yum.
Erin says
Hi JoAnn, so happy you loved it!!
Cait says
Not nearly enough liquid. Immediately burned. I even had less chicken.
Erin says
Hi Cait, hmm I haven't had that issue before. You can always add more for next time. Let me know what happens!
Olivia says
I've been trying to use my instant pot more often, and with the recent warm weather I was craving bbq. I was so happy with how tender the chicken was and it was so quick to make! I didn't have quite enough bbq sauce (probably like .8 cup rather than a full cup in the instant pot), but it still turned out great! Enough for leftovers or a group!
Erin says
Hi Olivia, so happy you enjoyed it so much!!
Laura says
I made this for meal-prep - throughout the week I had it in tacos, in a salad, a sandwich and with some rice & veggies and froze some leftovers. So easy, very versatile and it tastes even better after a day in the fridge!
Erin says
Hi Laura, so glad you enjoyed it and great ways to make it all week long!! Thanks for sharing!
Darci says
Made this for the second time the other night and it went over just as well as the first time. It’s quick, easy and delicious!
Erin says
Hi Darci, so glad you loved it!! 🙂
Sam says
Turned out perfectly. Did from frozen so added 5 extra minutes
Great meal!
Erin says
Hi Sam, so glad you enjoyed it!
Lindsay Nolte says
So so good!! Quick and simple, yet delicious!
Erin says
Hi Lindsay, so glad you liked it!!
Flo says
The chicken texture is amazing and soft. So delicious and so easy! I found the sauce too watery even when I added the extra half cup at the end. I might have added too much chicken bone broth. Would that make it more watery or change the texture? I’m new to the instant pot/cooking game so I’m excited to try more of your recipes! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Erin says
Hi Flo, glad you liked it and possibly. Next time try adding a little less and see how it comes out!
Courtney says
My first ever recipe that I made in the instant pot and it was so easy to follow. Thanks Erin for making the recipe incredibly easy to follow.
Erin says
Hi Courtney, so glad you loved the recipe! 🙂