This Barbecue Pulled Chicken recipe made in the Instant Pot is incredibly tender, juicy, packed with flavor, and super easy to make! It's perfect for sandwiches, tacos, or salad toppings when you're looking to feed a crowd or want something ideal for busy weeknight dinners.
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What's best is that it's incredibly versatile and you can use it to make quesadillas or even have it on top of some delicious stovetop rice or mashed potatoes! The options are endless and it tastes amazing every single time.
It's the perfect recipe to try if you have picky eaters at home, and it goes great for potlucks too. I love making it on a busy weeknight or when I'm craving a delicious meal without having to spend hours in the kitchen. It's quick and easy, and before you know it, you'll have a delicious dinner ready to serve!
What is Instant Pot Barbeque Chicken?
IInstant Pot BBQ chicken is a popular recipe that uses an electric pressure cooker known as an Instant Pot to rapidly and efficiently cook chicken. The chicken is pressure cooked with BBQ sauce, water and a seasoning mixture to make it juicy and tender.
Once the chicken is done cooking, it can be shredded and served on buns with a variety of toppings and condiments. This recipe is ideal for a quick weeknight meal or entertaining guests at a summer BBQ.
Plus, this dish is incredibly versatile. You can use a different sauce or seasonings to change the flavor entirely. Once you learn this technique, you'll be able to make endless pulled chicken sandwiches and dishes that everyone in your family will love!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Easy to make: This instant pot BBQ chicken recipe couldn't be easier to make and takes almost no prep time! All you have to do is throw all the ingredients in a pressure cooker and enjoy it a short time later.
Delicious blend of spices: Chicken is only as good as what it's seasoned with, and this instant pot BBQ chicken has just the right blend! Plus, you'll only need pantry staple ingredients for it.
Easily customizable: One of the best parts about this instant pot recipe is how easy it is to customize it to your tastes. Swap or add seasonings or adjust the toppings for a whole new sandwich.
Key Ingredients
All you need are some simple, pantry staple ingredients to make this deliciously easy Instant Pot BBQ Chicken recipe at home. Let's look at each of these in more detail:
- Chicken breasts: We'll need a few boneless skinless chicken breasts to throw in the pressure cooker. You can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs, just watch for the bones.
For the Seasonings:
- Smoked paprika: This kind of paprika gives the chicken a delicious barbeque-like taste. It has a distinctive smoky flavor and aroma.
- Garlic salt: We'll use garlic powder to give the chicken a subtle garlic flavor. It will add a really nice depth of flavor when combined with the other ingredients.
- Salt: We don't need much, but a little salt will help bring out the flavors in the other ingredients.
- Mrs. Dash seasoning: This seasoning blend has so many tasty ingredients I can't list them all here! The taste combination of herb and vegetable powders is hard to beat.
- Black pepper: We're going to use black ground pepper to add a subtle heat and earthy flavor. It pairs really well with the other seasonings.
- Cumin: Cumin has a slightly bitter and nutty taste that goes really well with the smoky paprika. It also adds a warm flavor and aroma to the chicken.
- BBQ sauce: We're going to use this tangy sauce as a chicken marinade while it's cooking. I like to use Sweet Baby Ray's barbecue sauce, it has a very nice sweet taste.
For the BBQ Chicken Sandwich:
- Bread buns: We'll need some bread buns to load all the ingredients on. Grab your favorite from the store or make your own homemade burger buns.
- Lettuce: A leaf or two of lettuce will add a nice crunch and earthy flavor to our sandwiches. Go for organic lettuce if you can!
- American cheese: You can use your favorite kind of cheese for this recipe, but I like American cheese. It has a nice mild taste that isn't too sharp.
- Avocado: A slice of avocado will add a creamy and buttery flavor to the sandwiches. They're also loaded with healthy vitamins and minerals!
- Cucumbers: For an added crunch on top of the lettuce, I like to use cucumbers. They're earthy and semi-sweet.
- Instant Pot: And of course, you'll need a standard Instant Pot to make this delicious easy instant pot bbq chicken recipe!
How to Make Barbecue Pulled Chicken
Making this delicious Instant Pot Barbeque Chicken at home is easier than you think. Here's how to make it step by step:
How to Prepare Ingredients:
Start by measuring out all the seasoning ingredients, mix them well together, and set aside until ready for use.
Next, trim the fat from the boneless chicken breasts, then rinse and place them into a glass bowl. Sprinkle them with the prepared seasoning, add 1 cup of BBQ sauce, and mix everything to combine.
How to Cook Instant Pot Barbecue Pulled Chicken
Add ½ cup water to the instant pot, then place the coated and seasoned chicken in it. You can also use chicken broth instead of water.
Turn the instant pot on, press the Poultry button, adjust it to high pressure, and set the timer to 20 minutes.
Close the instant pot with the lid, turn the valve to the sealing position, and it will start heating automatically. This process takes about 15 minutes and the light will say “ON”, refer to your product manual if you need help.
The instant pot will beep when heated and a 20-minute cooking time will start.
After the chicken is done cooking, the timer will beep.
Using a kitchen glove, turn the valve to the venting position. Make sure not to lean over the instant pot or the coming out steam will burn your face.
After the steam is released, drain any excess liquid out of the pot.
Next, press “Sauté” to adjust the timer to 20 minutes.
While the chicken is in “Sauté” mode, get one cooked chicken breast out of the pot, place it onto a plate, pull or shred the meat apart with forks and transfer it back to the pot.
Repeat that with all 6 chicken breasts and you should hear the sizzling/sautéing sound. Stir every 5 minutes so the meat doesn't burn on the bottom of the pot.
After 15 minutes of sautéing, add another cup of BBQ sauce. Stir it in and let it sauté for another 5 minutes.
The cycle will turn off and switch to “Keep Warm” mode.
Your delicious Instant Pot Barbecue Pulled Chicken is ready to be served! For an extra tip, I've included instructions on exactly how you can make a delicious pulled BBQ chicken sandwich from these.
You can also freeze leftovers to make more chicken sandwiches later on, which makes this recipe great for meal prep.
How to Assemble Instant Pot Barbecue Pulled Chicken Sandwiches
While the chicken is cooking and sautéing I usually prep everything for sandwiches.
Start by toasting the buns, then rinse and dry the vegetables with a paper towel before slicing them.
Place cheese on the bottom of the bun, then add 1 cup of shredded chicken, and top it with sliced cucumbers, avocado, and leaf lettuce.
You can add any other vegetables you like to the sandwich as well. Place the bun on top of the sandwich and enjoy!
NOTE: This Instant Pot Pulled BBQ Chicken Recipe makes 12 sandwiches (even though I showed only 4 sandwiches in the post). You can make as many as you need and use leftovers the next day on tacos, quesadillas, salads, etc.
You can also freeze leftovers to make more chicken sandwiches later on, which makes this recipe great for meal prep.
Use any bread or buns of your choice for this pulled BBQ chicken recipe. Also, it's great to serve over salad, mashed potato, pasta, or rice.
Barbecue Pulled Chicken Recipe Tips
Use cold water: Be sure to use cold water instead of hot water. Cold water will help to bring the Instant Pot up to pressure properly, and it'll make sure that your chicken cooks evenly without ending up being undercooked.
Use a good quality BBQ sauce: The flavor of your delicious instant pot barbeque chicken depends a lot on the type of BBQ sauce you use. That's why, make sure you use a good-quality one that has a flavor you love and enjoy. I personally like to use Sweet Baby Ray's barbecue sauce since it has a very nice sweet flavor.
Toast the buns: For an extra touch of flavor and texture, toast the bread buns before assembling the sandwiches. This will give them a nice crispy texture and enhance the overall flavor of the dish.
Let the pressure release naturally: Once the cooking time is up, it's best to let the natural pressure release for about 10-15 minutes before using the quick release for the remaining pressure. This will help to prevent the chicken from becoming tough or dry.
Substitutions and Variations
The great thing about this Instant Pot Barbeque Chicken is that you can easily change it up to create different flavors. Here are some ideas:
- Spicier: If you like a bit of heat, add some chili powder or red pepper flakes to the seasoning mix. You can also cook it with a spicier BBQ sauce or add some hot sauce to the sandwiches.
- Seasonings: You can change up the seasonings or add other ones you like to this delicious recipe. Garlic and onion powder work great with the flavors in this chicken recipe.
- Chicken salad: If you want to skip the bread buns, you can turn this recipe into a barbecue chicken salad. Chop up the chicken and serve it over a bed of lettuce, topped with your favorite salad toppings and a drizzle of BBQ sauce.
- Chicken sliders: Instead of using regular-sized buns, you can use slider buns to make smaller sandwiches. This is a great option if you're serving a crowd or want to offer more variety.
How to Store Leftovers
Once the chicken has been cooked and assembled, store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. If you’d like to freeze it, transfer the chicken to a freezer-safe container or wrap well with plastic wrap and store it for up to 2 months.
When ready to eat, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
More Recipes You'll Enjoy
- Instant Pot Creamy Mashed Potatoes Recipe
- Easy Instant Pot Roast Beef Recipe
- Instant Pot Garlic Parmesan Ranch Potatoes Recipe
Check out the DINNER archive for more dinner recipes.
Recipe Card
Barbeque Pulled Chicken (Easy Instant Pot Recipe!)
Ingredients
- 6 large organic chicken breasts
Seasoning Ingredients
- 1 tbsp. smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp. garlic salt
- 1 tsp. sea salt
- 1 tsp. Mrs. Dash seasoning
- ½ tsp. black ground pepper
- ½ tsp. cumin
- ½ cup cold water
- 1 cup BBQ sauce + 1 cup after sautéing
- 4 bread buns
BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwich Topping Ingredients
- 4 organic leaf lettuce
- 4 slices cheddar cheese
- 1 organic avocado
- 2 cucumbers (I used homegrown cucumbers)
- Instant Pot
Instructions
How to Prepare Instant Pot Barbecue Pulled Chicken
- Start by measuring out all the seasoning ingredients, mix them well together, and set aside until ready for use.
- Next, trim the fat from the boneless chicken breasts, then rinse and place them into a glass bowl. Sprinkle them with the prepared seasoning, add 1 cup of BBQ sauce, and mix everything to combine.
How to Cook Instant Pot Barbecue Pulled Chicken
- Add ½ cup water to the instant pot, then place the coated and seasoned chicken in it. You can also use chicken broth instead of water.
- Turn the instant pot on, press the Poultry button, adjust it to high pressure, and set the timer to 20 minutes.
- Close the instant pot with the lid, turn the valve to the sealing position, and it will start heating automatically. This process takes about 15 minutes and the light will say “ON”, refer to your product manual if you need help.
- The instant pot will beep when heated and a 20-minute cooking time will start.
- After the chicken is done cooking, the timer will beep.
- Using a kitchen glove, turn the valve to the venting position. Make sure not to lean over the instant pot or the coming out steam will burn your face.
- After the steam is released, drain any excess liquid out of the pot.
- Next, press “Sauté” to adjust the timer to 20 minutes.
- While the chicken is in “Sauté” mode, get one cooked chicken breast out of the pot, place it onto a plate, pull or shred the meat apart with forks and transfer it back to the pot.
- Repeat that with all 6 chicken breasts and you should hear the sizzling/sautéing sound. Stir every 5 minutes so the meat doesn't burn on the bottom of the pot.
- After 15 minutes of sautéing, add another cup of BBQ sauce. Stir it in and let it sauté for another 5 minutes.
- The cycle will turn off and switch to “Keep Warm” mode.
- Your delicious Instant Pot Barbeque Chicken is ready to be served! For an extra tip, I've included instructions on exactly how you can make a delicious pulled BBQ chicken sandwich from these.
How to Assemble Instant Pot Barbecue Pulled Chicken Sandwiches
- While the chicken is cooking and sautéing I usually prep everything for sandwiches.
- Start by toasting the buns, then rinse and dry the vegetables with a paper towel before slicing them.
- Place cheese on the bottom of the bun, then add 1 cup of shredded chicken, and top it with sliced cucumbers, avocado, and leaf lettuce.
- You can add any other vegetables you like to the sandwich as well. Place the bun on top of the sandwich and enjoy!
Notes
- This Instant Pot Pulled BBQ Pulled Chicken Recipe makes 12 sandwiches (even dough I showed only 4 sandwiches in the post). You can make as many as you need and use leftovers the next day on tacos, salads, etc... You may as well freeze leftovers to make more sandwiches later on.
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This recipe was originally posted on June 1, 2018, and updated for a better user experience. The post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure.
Olga says
Just made this using a slow cooker and my family loved it!
Valya of Valya's Taste of Home says
I'm so glad to hear that! Thank you for the amazing review! 🙂
jessica says
Would you recommend freezing it after its been cooked for later use? as i think i will have some left overs. Thanks
Valya of Valya's Taste of Home says
I’ve never froze it before. But this chicken is great for couple of days after it was made and can be served over salad.
Susan says
What’s the estimated pounds of chicken used?
Valya of Valya's Taste of Home says
About 5 lbs. of chicken breast.
Jill Woodcock says
I’m cooking for a party. If I double or triple the recipe what should the cook time be?
Valya of Valya's Taste of Home says
If you double the recipe I would add 10 more minuets of cooking time.
Juli Textor says
I have the 8 quart InstaPot. I thought I was supposed to have 3 cups of liquid to safely use the InstaPot. How do I accommodate for that with this recipe?
Valya of Valya's Taste of Home says
Use as much liquid as instructed in the recipe. You do not need 3 cups of liquid to safely use the instant pot, or maybe I understood you wrong...
Miranda says
Would the cooking time be the same if I just use two or three breast instead of 6?
Valya of Valya's Taste of Home says
I would think so but have not tried it.
Peter's Food Adventures says
I dont have an Instant Pot, but this looks delicious and easy to make! Maybe I should get one if its this easy! 🙂
www.valyastasteofhome.com says
Thanks Peter! I was pleasantly surprised how easy and quick it is to make meals with instant pot. My slow cooker will probably retire, lol. 😀
Melissa Griffiths says
Looooove my Instant Pot for quick dinners like this that make it seem like they took much longer! The buns you used look so good, too!
www.valyastasteofhome.com says
I know! Instant pot is a life saver! I’m so in love with it, lol. Thank you for stopping by! 🙂
Everly says
I tried this recipe and it was BOMB! NEw family favorite! Thx.
www.valyastasteofhome.com says
I’m so happy to hear that! My kids ask me to make it over and over again! ? Thank you for such an amazing review! 🙂
Karly says
Love how super easy this is with the instant pot!
www.valyastasteofhome.com says
Yes, for sure! This bbq chicken takes 5 hours on high in slow cooker to reach same results. What a difference! Love my instant pot!