Published 10/30/2022 • Updated 3/17/2024
Juicy Whole Chicken in Instant Pot
What I love about the Instant Pot is that you can pretty much cook up any cut of meat in the fraction of time it tastes to roast while having it come out super flavorful and juicy. This Instant Pot whole chicken recipe is truly a game-changer for cooking a whole chicken! It might sound/look intimidating, but we promise, cooking a whole chicken in the Instant Pot isn’t hard at all! Our recipe is made with a raw whole chicken, easy spice rub, fresh garlic, herbs, and a little butter for moisture.
What You Need
Whole Chicken: this recipe calls for a 4-5 lb. whole chicken. We always recommend organic, when possible. Great for meal prep Easy to freeze Serves a crowd Spices: you’ll be making a delicious spice blend with black pepper, granulated garlic, light brown sugar, thyme, and kosher salt. Flavors: other flavors include white onion, garlic, lemon, and fresh thyme. Other: chicken broth, butter, corn starch.
How to Make an Instant Pot Whole Chicken (at a glance!)
Make sure to scroll all the way down to the recipe card to get the full ingredient list and written recipe.
To Make the Gravy
Remove the metal rack from the Instant Pot and scoop out ⅓ cup of the gravy from the bottom of the pot. Add 2 teaspoons to the ⅓ cup of gravy and whisk until combined. Pour the cornstarch mixture back into the Instant Pot and bring to a simmer with the saute function. The gravy should thicken quickly. The gravy is optional, but we highly recommend it. It adds so much moisture and it’s so delicious!
Serving Suggestions
Roasted Veggies: serve your Instant Pot Whole Chicken with any of your favorite roasted veggies such as: roasted cauliflower, roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon, garlic roasted Brussels sprouts, or roasted delicata squash. Casserole: sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole with bacon, or broccoli rice and cheese casserole. Salad: apple burrata salad, couscous salad, or strawberry quinoa salad.
What to do with Leftover Whole Chicken
Add to Soup: shred the leftover chicken and add it to one of your favorite soup recipes. Make Homemade Chicken Broth: instead of discarding the chicken carcass, use the bones to make chicken broth! Check out our homemade chicken broth recipe HERE. Shred and Freeze: shred the leftover chicken and then freeze it for up to 3 months. Homemade Chicken Broth Top Your Nachos: love nachos like us? Follow our baked chicken nachos recipe, but use shredded chicken instead.
Storage
Let your chicken cool completely. Then, use your hands to remove the meat from the bones. Transfer the meat into an airtight container and discard the carcass. Seal and store in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.
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