This is our easy 2 ingredient Instant Pot shredded chicken recipe that we use to make soft tacos often! It’s healthy and so cheap that feeds 5 of us for under $10.00. Use fresh or follow our Instant Pot frozen chicken breast with sauce instructions too.
Jump To
- BBQ Ninja Foodi Shredded Chicken
- Is barbecue sauce enough liquid to cook chicken in Instant Pot?
- How long does it take to cook fall apart chicken breasts in pressure cooker?
- Instant Pot Frozen Shredded Chicken
- Ingredient Notes
- Variations
- Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Recipe
- Other easy pressure cooker chicken recipes you’ll love
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 .
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.
BBQ Ninja Foodi Shredded 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 not attached and the high pressure function.
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 to cook chicken in 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 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.
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.
Ingredient Notes
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 with barbecue sauce. You can choose your favorite brand and flavor but you don’t want to use the one that says just honey as that is too thick and may trigger the burn notice.
Please read; If you happen to have the burn message displayed on your pot follow the how to deglaze Instant Pot directions here. There’s no need to cook the chicken. It will cook in the sauce and water or use chicken broth for liquid instead.
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.
Variations
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.
- 1 can of chunk pineapple will add a bit of sweet
- Onion sliced is a nice add in
- Smoked paprika is a nice touch
- You can add a pinch of chili powder for heat
- Salt and pepper and/or onion powder or garlic powder when done
- You would want tortillas and all the fixings for tacos
Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 jar barbecue sauce, 20 oz. or so, not honey style or one with a lot of sugar in it
- 3 medium chicken breasts, cut in half or thirds for large pieces, boneless / skinless
- 3/4 cup water, or use chicken broth
- 1 cup pineapple, chunks optional for sweetness
- 1 small 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
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Other easy pressure cooker chicken recipes you’ll love
Instant Pot chicken parmesan casserole is a great one with the noodles and meat all cooked together. Then try our cheap Instant Pot teriyaki chicken
- Easy Instant Pot orange chicken
- Our Instant Pot Hawaiian chicken is the bomb too
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.
This looks yummy but my husband does not like pineapple. What can I substitute?
Just use broth instead of pineapple juice and omit fruit all together.
What ingredients are included in the nutritional facts that you listed?
Everything that is in the recipe card is calculated by the card itself
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!
If you don’t buy a honey style sauce it works just fine as is but yes this is a great alternative cooking strategy.
Thinking of making this with a pork tenderloin. Would the cook time be the same?
In the video, after the pineapple you add something else (it looks kind of like soy sauce). It’s not on the ingredient list. What is it?
Oh yes, sorry. Occasionally I add a tbsp. of soy sauce.
I kept getting the “burn” error. After 3 attempts of stirring and adding more juice , I gave up.
I had the same issue
Did you include the water, if not it will not have enough liquid.
Same issue and i included the water
I’m new to the instant pot. Could I do this with frozen chicken? What would I need to change?
Increase time….maybe 3 more minutes??
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!
Can I make the recipe without the pineapple?
Yes of course
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 sauce–could that be why?
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.
Do I have to use that much bar-b-que sauce? Will it work with half that amount or will that be too dry?
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.