Easy 2 ingredient Instant Pot BBQ shredded chicken breast recipe that we use to make soft tacos often! Simple pressure cooker dump meal that’s healthy and so cheap it feeds all 5 of us for under $10.00. Use fresh or follow our Instant Pot frozen chicken breast with sauce instructions too.

instant pot bbq chicken
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I’m in love with my Instant Pot! It makes dinnertime so much easier. Last night I made this 4 ingredient Instant Pot shredded chicken “Hawaiian style” and it came out SO very delicious. It’s one of our favorite Instant Pot recipes . (affiliate links present)

Instant Pot Chicken Chicken Boneless

I added a bunch of this into some small soft tortillas I made. Toped them with some cheese and avocado slices, BAM our chicken Instant Pot tacos were served for dinner. Perfect for a Tuesday or any day of the week really. It doesn’t matter what brand you might have at home.

Ninja Foodi Shredded BBQ Chicken

You can use a Crockpot Express or Ninja Foodi because they both have the high pressure function so they’ll work. With this one you’ll use the lid that is anot attached and the high pressure function. Seriously the cheapest meal ever and such a hit with the kiddos.

If you are new to pressure cooking we have a lot of easy one pot meal recipes for you here. To begin with let’s start with a few basic tips:

For reference, this is the model I have (a 6 quart) and use for all recipe creations.

A white Instant Pot with a Star Wars theme sits on the kitchen counter, ready to tackle your favorite beef arm roast recipe. The digital display glows "On." Next to it lie a patterned cloth and some green onions, all against the backdrop of blue kitchen cabinets and a stovetop.

Is shredded chicken the same as pulled chicken?

Very similar but cooked differently. Typically shredded is super soft without any crisp at all on the outside. It is boiled or pressure cooked like our Ninja Foodi shredded chicken is until tender enough to shred with 2 forks. Pulled is typically smoked or slow cooked in the oven until it falls apart easily.

Is barbecue sauce enough liquid for Instant Pot?

Yes and no. You will need a bit of liquid to thin it out but yes most of the cooking is done right in the sauce itself which gives your meat a ton of flavor! Use whatever your favorite bottled or homemade sauce you have on hand BUT don’t use the thick honey variety because that is very thick.

How long does it take to cook fall apart chicken breasts in pressure cooker?

Everyone raved about how good this turned out and it just took 15 minutes to cook in my new favorite appliance. Of course the timing will change a bit if you use very large pieces. I recommend medium size breasts or thighs, organic is our preference as well.

Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Frozen

Instant Pot Frozen Shredded Chicken

Here’s a tip: this is how to cook frozen chicken in Instant Pot just in case you forgot to thaw it beforehand. This is surprisingly wonderful and can use broth or your favorite sauce of choice. The timing really doesn’t change which is amazing. Just choose small pieces in this case and separate before putting into the pot.

What is the best way to cook chicken to shred it?

We say a pressure cooker! We’ll show you how to do it right here if you have one. You can make tender boiled shredded chicken on the stovetop but that takes a lot more time too.

How long do you cook 3 lbs of chicken in an Instant Pot?

15 minutes on poultry setting is sufficient. A whole chicken takes closer to 25 since it is bone in.

It’s great if you are into batch cooking too! You can make a ton of it and divide into freezer bags. Package as much as your family would eat in one meal. Freeze, defrost when ready and reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.

Shredded Instant Pot Chicken

Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Thighs

I used white meat for this example but you could easily use brown or dark meat too. No matter which you choose I would choose boneless and skinless so they fall apart easier. That way it has time to soak up that wonderful sauce and marinate in it in a sense for as long as possible.

Amazing doesn’t even describe this 3 ingredient Instant Pot recipe! Just a few simple ingredients and an Instant Pot and you’re ready to go! But any brand will do. I have them all. A Crockpot Express, Mealthy, Ninja foodi all work the same.

We love it like I said, served in flour tortillas but we’ve served it over rice before too and it’s just as good.

It is a pretty inexpensive to make costing only about $10 total for the whole meal which served all 5 of us + leftovers for me to eat it for lunch the next day.

A hand holds a taco filled with guacamole and savory instant pot shredded chicken, offering a delicious bite.

Here is what you’re going to need in order to get started. Of course there are many ways to change this up. Adding onions are optional, you can add sweetness with a small can of diced pineapple, or make it spicy with Sriracha too.

2 Ingredient BBQ Chicken Ingredients

  1. 1 bottle of barbecue sauce
  2. 3 -4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
    1. sliced, fresh frozen small pieces
    2. already cooked shredded chicken is perfectly fine, just adjust time to 3 minutes high pressure

Variations

  1. 1 can of chunk pineapple will add a bit of sweet
  2. Onion sliced is a nice add in
  3. Smoked paprika is a nice touch
  4. You can add a pinch of chili powder for heat
  5. Salt and pepper and/or onion powder or garlic powder when done
  6. You would want tortillas and all the fixings for tacos
Bowl of Instant Pot shredded Hawaiian chicken with pineapple chunks and sauce, labeled Instant Pot Hawaiian Chicken.

You can use dark or white meat for this and the cook time wouldn’t really vary much at all. Use what you prefer and what is on sale.

Please read; If you happen to have the burn message displayed on your pot follow the how to deglaze your Instant Pot directions linked above. There’s no need to cook the chicken. It will cook in the sauce and water or use chicken broth for liquid instead.

Why we Love BBQ Shredded Chicken

  • I have made this many times, but now prefer to dice chicken into bite size pieces. It is done faster, absorbs more of the sauce, and cooks more evenly.
  • You’re also pretty assured it’s cooked through so you don’t have to check the internal temperature.
  • Makes meal prep easy to just cut beforehand, and easier for kids to eat too.
  • Quick release and done!
ninja foodi shredded chicken

I have a printable jump to recipe card at the bottom of this post but here is a quick step by step;

How to Cook Instant Pot BBQ Chicken

  1. Empty 1/2 jar of barbecue sauce on bottom of Instant Pot. (do not use honey variety as that will burn)
  2. Put chicken on top of your sauce. Make sure they are cut in half or thirds so they cook through.
  3. Squeeze the other half of jar on top. 
  4. Pour 3/4 c water or broth inside your bbq sauce jar. Put lid on and shake, pour this on top.
  5. Add chunks of pineapple and sliced onion if you choose to add that. Stir.
  6. Close lid and make sure steam valve is closed. Set to high for 15 minutes
  7. When it beeps allow to naturally release for 5 minutes, then do a quick release and lift lid. Use 2 forks to shred right in the pot.

Add some to small tortillas to make soft tacos with some cheese and avocado, or leave chicken whole and serve on top of Ninja foodi rice.

Other easy pressure cooker chicken recipes you’ll love

If you want to make Crockpot bbq chicken recipe here are recipes using that method too. You can also make boiled shredded chicken on the stovetop.

Tongs grasping tender instant pot shredded chicken in a pressure cooker brimming with rich red sauce.
4.34 from 3 votes

Instant Pot Shredded Chicken

By The Typical Mom
Easy 3 ingredient Instant Pot shredded chicken bbq recipe to make soft tacos! Ninja foodi pressure cooker dump recipe that's healthy and so cheap that it feeds all 5 of us for under $10.00.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 5 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
Servings: 5
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Equipment

  • 1 pressure cooker

Ingredients 

  • 1 jar barbecue sauce, 20 oz. or so, not honey style or one with a lot of sugar in it
  • 3 chicken breasts, cut in half or thirds for large pieces, boneless / skinless
  • 3/4 c water, or use chicken broth
  • 1 c chunk pineapple, optional for sweetness
  • 1 onion, sliced, optional

Instructions 

  • Empty 1/2 jar of barbecue sauce on bottom of Instant Pot. (do not use honey variety as that will burn)
  • Put chicken breasts on top of your sauce. Make sure they are cut in half or thirds so they cook through. Then squeeze the other half of jar on top of the chicken. 
  • Pour 3/4 c water or broth inside your bbq sauce jar. Put lid on and shake, pour this on top of chicken followed by chunks of pineapple and onions (if you choose to add those). Gently stir so chicken is well coated.
  • Close Instant Pot and make sure steam valve is closed. Set to poultry setting, high for 15 minutes (automatically sets to this time when you hit the poultry function, very thick breasts may take longer to become very tender to shred). 
  • When it beeps allow to naturally release for 5 minutes then do a quick release, lift lid.
  • Use 2 forks to shred chicken right in the pot. Add some to small tortillas to make soft tacos with some cheese and avocado, or leave chicken whole and serve on top of rice. 

Video

Notes

Ninja Foodi BBQ Shredded Chicken

You will follow the same directions but use the lid that is not attached with the pressure cook button. Set to high pressure for 15 minutes on the screen.

Nutrition

Serving: 8oz, Calories: 170kcal, Carbohydrates: 20g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 20mg, Sodium: 165mg, Potassium: 167mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 16g, Vitamin A: 230IU, Vitamin C: 10.6mg, Calcium: 193mg, Iron: 0.7mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Entree, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @thetypical_mom or tag #thetypicalmom!
Shredded chicken in the Instant Pot

About The Typical Mom

Justine is the creative mind behind The Typical Mom and The Typical Family on YouTube. She began blogging about easy recipes, budget friendly activities for kids, and fun family travel destinations in September 2012.

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24 Comments

  1. This looks yummy but my husband does not like pineapple. What can I substitute?

  2. Great recipe but to avoid the burn error do NOT add the bbq sauce to the pot. Instead add your chicken to a steamer basket or oven safe bowl along with onions and drained pineapple, reserve the juice. Add 1 cup of water, close the lid and lock steam valve. Hit pressure cook and adjust time to 10 minutes. Let pressure naturally release for 10 minutes. after the 10 minutes is up do a quick release and remove the lid. Remove chicken and shred. Heat the half the bottle of bbq sauce, the reserved pineapple juice and soy sauce in a medium pot on the stove on medium heat. Heat to just barely bubbling. Remove from heat and add desired amount to shredded chicken. Enjoy!

    1. If you don’t buy a honey style sauce it works just fine as is but yes this is a great alternative cooking strategy.

  3. Thinking of making this with a pork tenderloin. Would the cook time be the same?

  4. In the video, after the pineapple you add something else (it looks kind of like soy sauce). Itโ€™s not on the ingredient list. What is it?

  5. I kept getting the โ€œburnโ€ error. After 3 attempts of stirring and adding more juice , I gave up.

      1. Did you include the water, if not it will not have enough liquid.

  6. I’m new to the instant pot. Could I do this with frozen chicken? What would I need to change?

    1. Your frozen foods will thaw as the IP comes to pressure, so you don’t want to increase the cook time, or you risk over-cooking the chicken and making it dry. Using frozen foods takes a little bit longer to cook because it takes a little bit longer for the IP to fully pressurize. But thawing in the IP for a few minutes is a lot less time than thawing in the sink or refrigerator, so you’re still saving time!

  7. I just made this and the bottoms of the chicken breasts ended up completely burnt. I removed the burnt parts and shredded the rest and it was still delicious, but any idea what I did wrong? I followed the instructions exactly. I used Sweet Baby Rays Hickory & Brown Sugar BBQ sauceโ€“could that be why?

    1. Could be the brown sugar sauce or you pushed chicken down instead of laying on top of sauce so it was too close to bottom. Ours was browned but definitely not burned.

  8. Do I have to use that much bar-b-que sauce? Will it work with half that amount or will that be too dry?

    1. I did it with half the amount of bbq sauce and a large can of pineapple. The only thing I would change is use half the juice from the larger can of pineapple.