Published 4/2/2024 Shredded chicken is something we batch-cook every week because it’s such a fantastic protein to add to bowls, salads (er, have you tried our dill pickle chicken salad?!), and soups. We’ve tested pretty much every way to cook shredded chicken and the Instant Pot comes out on top. Your chicken will come out evenly cooked and tender every time. The best part about this method is that you can cook chicken in the instant pot from frozen OR thawed! Thawed chicken breast only takes 8-10 minutes on high and frozen takes 18-20 minutes.
What You Need to Make Instant Pot Chicken Breast
Instant Pot: we use a 7.5 qt. Instant Pot, but any size works. Trivet: we recommend using the trivet to prevent the burn notice from happening. Chicken Breast: our #1 tip when purchasing chicken breast to shred is to make sure they’re relatively similar in thickness so that they cook evenly. Water: water helps add moisture to the chicken while it’s pressure cooking. Seasonings: we kept things very basic with salt and pepper.
Cook Times for Instant Pot Shredded Chicken
According to the USDA, you know your chicken is fully cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165ºF. From Fresh: If you are using thawed chicken breast, cook on high pressure for 8-10 minutes. If your chicken breasts are larger than 4 oz. each, cook time may be longer. From Frozen: If you are using frozen chicken breast, cook on high pressure for 18-20 minutes (medium chicken breasts will be cooked after 18 minutes, but another larger will need a longer cook time). Note: It will take around 10 minutes to build up enough pressure before your Instant Pot starts to count down.
Flavor Variations for Instant Pot Shredded Chicken
Seasonings: instead of just salt and pepper, feel free to use different seasonings such as taco seasoning, ranch, Italian, and classic chicken seasoning. Sauces: if you’re a sauce person, you can cook your chicken right in the sauce in the Instant Pot and then shred it. Here are some ideas: honey garlic, bbq sauce, and hot honey.
Can I overcook chicken in the Instant Pot?
Yes, it is possible to overcook chicken in an Instant Pot because you are unable to check the temperature of the chicken throughout the cooking time. Thermoworks Thermapen If you are using thinner chicken breast or chicken tenders, you’ll likely need to reduce the cooking time to avoid overcooking.
Do I have to use the trivet while cooking chicken in the instant pot?
We recommend using the trivet to prevent the burn notice from happening AKA to prevent the chicken from sticking to your pot. So, yes, please use it!
Can I stack chicken breast in the instant pot?
The beauty of pressure-cooking shredded chicken is that you can double or triple this recipe with no problem!
What types of chicken can I use for shredding?
This shredded chicken recipe is for boneless skinless chicken breasts. If you’re looking for Instant Pot recipes for chicken thighs, we recommend our Moroccan-Style Instant Pot Chicken Thighs or our Honey Garlic Instant Pot Chicken Thighs.
How do I shred chicken?
Shredding chicken is actually very easy! When the chicken is done cooking, take two forks and gently pull the chicken apart until the chicken is fully shredded! Voila! You have Instant pot shredded chicken. We’ve also had readers comment that they like to use their stand mixer with the whisk attachment to easily shred chicken!
Can I use frozen chicken in the instant pot?
You can cook fresh or frozen chicken breasts in the Instant Pot for this Instant Pot shredded chicken! Believe it or not, chicken breasts turn out the same whether you pull them right out of the freezer or fresh chicken breasts.
For frozen chicken breasts: cook on high pressure for 18-20 minutes. While the frozen chicken breast is cooking, you prepare a side and a sauce for your chicken and BOOM. 18 minutes later your chicken is ready to be chunked or shredded! For fresh chicken breasts: cook on high pressure for 8 minutes before shredding.
Storage
Store your shredded chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.
Oven Slow Cooker
Shredded Chicken Recipes
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How to Serve Shredded Chicken
Chicken Salad: whip up any of our chicken salad recipes: Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad, Southwest Chicken Salad, or Creamy Pesto Chicken Salad. Shredded Chicken Tacos: follow our Chicken Salsa Taco recipe, but use the Instant Pot instead. Shredded Chicken Burritos: make our freezer-friendly Shredded Chicken Burritos! Nachos: swap out the ground beef for shredded Instant Pot chicken breast in our favorite Nachos recipe.
