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Instant Pot Whole Chicken

Making an Instant Pot Whole Chicken is one of the easiest ways to get a juicy, tender chicken on the table without heating up the oven. With a simple blend of seasonings and a little help from the pressure cooker, you can have a flavorful whole chicken ready in a fraction of the time it takes to roast one.

This is one of those recipes that works just as well for a Sunday dinner as it does for weekly meal prep. Serve the chicken with your favorite sides for dinner, then use the leftovers for sandwiches, wraps, soups, casseroles, or salads throughout the week.

And don't throw away those bones! Once you've removed the meat, you can use the chicken carcass to make homemade chicken stock.

Why You'll Love This Instant Pot Whole Chicken

Cooking a whole chicken can sometimes feel like more trouble than it's worth, but the Instant Pot makes the process incredibly simple.

There's no basting and very little hands-on cooking time. Pressure cooking also helps keep the meat moist and tender, including the breast meat, which can easily dry out when roasting a chicken in the oven.

It's also a great budget-friendly option. Buying a whole chicken is often less expensive than purchasing individual cuts, and you can stretch one chicken into several meals.

Ingredients for Instant Pot Whole Chicken

You only need a handful of basic ingredients to make this easy pressure cooker whole chicken.

• 1 whole chicken, about 4 to 5 pounds
• 1 cup chicken broth or water
• 2 tablespoons olive oil or softened butter
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

You can easily change the seasonings to suit what you have on hand. Italian seasoning, poultry seasoning, Cajun seasoning, lemon pepper, or your favorite chicken rub would all work well.

How to Make a Whole Chicken in the Instant Pot

Start by removing the chicken from its packaging. Check the cavity and remove the neck and giblets if they're included.

Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.

In a small bowl, combine the salt, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, thyme, rosemary, and black pepper.

Rub the chicken with olive oil or softened butter, then sprinkle the seasoning mixture all over the chicken. For even more flavor, gently loosen the skin over the breast and rub a little of the seasoning underneath.

Pour 1 cup of chicken broth or water into the bottom of the Instant Pot.

Place the trivet inside and set the seasoned chicken on top, breast side up.

Secure the lid and make sure the valve is set to sealing.

Cook on High Pressure for approximately 6 minutes per pound.

For example:

• 3-pound chicken: about 18 minutes
• 4-pound chicken: about 24 minutes
• 5-pound chicken: about 30 minutes
• 6-pound chicken: about 36 minutes

When the cooking time is complete, allow the Instant Pot to naturally release pressure for 15 minutes before carefully releasing any remaining pressure.

Remove the lid and check the chicken with an instant-read thermometer. The thickest part of the breast and thigh should reach a safe internal temperature of 165°F.

Carefully lift the chicken from the Instant Pot and transfer it to a cutting board or baking sheet.

Allow it to rest for about 10 minutes before carving.

How to Get Crispy Skin on an Instant Pot Whole Chicken

One thing the Instant Pot doesn't do is give you the crispy skin you'd get from roasting a chicken.

Thankfully, there's an easy fix.

Transfer the cooked chicken to a baking sheet and place it under the broiler for about 3 to 5 minutes, watching it closely.

The skin will brown and crisp quickly, so don't walk away from it.

You can also brush the chicken with a little melted butter or olive oil before broiling to encourage even more browning.

How Long Does It Take to Cook a Whole Chicken in the Instant Pot?

A good rule of thumb is about 6 minutes per pound on High Pressure, followed by a 15-minute natural pressure release.

Keep in mind that the Instant Pot also needs time to come to pressure before the cooking countdown begins.

A 4- to 5-pound chicken will generally take around 45 minutes to an hour from start to finish when you include the time required to come to pressure and release pressure.

Always use the internal temperature rather than cooking time alone to determine whether your chicken is done.

Make an Easy Chicken Gravy

Don't pour out that flavorful liquid left in the bottom of the Instant Pot!

After removing the chicken and trivet, switch the Instant Pot to the Sauté setting.

In a small bowl, whisk together:

• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons cold water

Bring the liquid in the pot to a simmer and slowly whisk in the cornstarch slurry.

Cook for a couple of minutes, stirring frequently, until the gravy thickens.

Taste and add salt, pepper, or additional seasonings as needed.

If you have a lot of fat floating on top of the cooking liquid, skim some of it away before making the gravy.

What to Serve With Instant Pot Whole Chicken

This chicken is versatile enough to pair with just about any side dish.

For a classic comfort-food dinner, serve it with mashed potatoes and gravy, roasted potatoes, macaroni and cheese, green beans, corn, or dinner rolls.

For something lighter, pair it with a simple salad, roasted vegetables, sweet potatoes, or rice.

You can also shred the chicken instead of carving it and use the meat for tacos, quesadillas, chicken salad, casseroles, soups, sandwiches, or meal-prep bowls.

Don't Throw Away the Chicken Bones

One of my favorite things about cooking a whole chicken is getting another recipe out of the leftovers.

After removing all the meat, put the chicken bones and carcass back into the Instant Pot.

Add an onion, carrots, celery, garlic, herbs, and enough water to cover everything without exceeding your Instant Pot's maximum fill line.

Pressure cook to create an easy homemade chicken stock.

Strain the stock and use it for soups, gravy, rice, casseroles, or any recipe calling for chicken broth.

Can You Cook a Frozen Whole Chicken in the Instant Pot?

You can pressure cook a whole chicken from frozen, but a thawed chicken works better for this particular recipe because you can season the entire surface.

If your chicken is frozen, make sure there aren't any giblets or other packaging frozen inside the cavity before cooking.

A frozen chicken will also require additional pressure-cooking time, so check the internal temperature carefully before serving.

How to Store Leftover Chicken

Remove the leftover meat from the bones and place it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Cooked chicken can be refrigerated for 3 to 4 days.

You can also freeze the shredded chicken in freezer-safe containers or bags. I like freezing it in smaller portions so I can grab exactly what I need for a future recipe.

Tips for the Best Pressure Cooker Whole Chicken

Patting the chicken dry before seasoning helps the oil and seasonings stick to the skin.

Don't forget the liquid. Your Instant Pot needs liquid to create the steam required for pressure cooking.

Use the trivet to keep the chicken elevated above the cooking liquid rather than boiling it directly in the broth.

Let the pressure release naturally for at least 15 minutes. This helps the chicken retain its juices.

And most importantly, use a meat thermometer. Whole chickens vary in size and shape, so temperature is the best way to know when your chicken is completely cooked.

More Ways to Use Leftover Chicken

Don't worry if you don't eat the entire chicken at dinner. The leftovers might actually be the best part!

Shred the remaining meat and keep it in the refrigerator for quick meals throughout the week. Add it to chicken enchiladas, quesadillas, wraps, salads, soups, casseroles, or homemade chicken pot pie.

Having cooked chicken already waiting in the refrigerator can make busy weeknight meals so much easier.

This Instant Pot Whole Chicken is simple, flavorful, budget-friendly, and incredibly versatile. Once you see how easy it is to cook an entire chicken in the pressure cooker, you may find yourself skipping the store-bought rotisserie chicken and making your own instead.

Chicken Dinner Ideas

• Chicken Chasseur from Art of Natural Living
• Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta Bake from Creative Cynchronicity
• Chicken Fajita Kabobs from A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
• Tomato Pesto Chicken from That Recipe

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