Instant Pot Whole Chicken

This is how to cook Instant Pot whole chicken or in Ninja foodi perfectly. Placed on potatoes for trivets, the whole meal is cooked in 30 minutes. We have directions for a fresh as well as pressure cooker frozen whole chicken in this same machine too.

I will say that cooking a whole chicken like this is like no other with how moist the meat turns out. You can then crisp the skin under the broiler, with their air fryer lid. Another favorite tender and juicy Instant Pot recipes we made just today! 😉

I have made a Crockpot whole chicken before and I figured I could use the same philosophy. But I knew it would get done much faster in my new favorite appliance! Totally true and it literally falls apart when you lift it out as you can see here above.

What I do is plan to have chicken tacos one night each week. Makes things easier on me to know I can make this with a fresh bird from the store or one right out of the freezer. That’s right, it can be rock hard to begin with, will talk more about that later on.

Ninja Foodi Whole Chicken

You can use other brands of electric pressure cookers too. The instructions work the same way with a Crockpot Express or as an easy Ninja Foodi recipe (using the lid that is not attached) too of course. With the latter you have the choice of air frying the skin at the end.

With this one you can use the other lid to make air fryer whole chicken too. Seriously, there is no other method where you can get the meat as fork tender as it will like this. So much so that the best way to serve this is to just shred it. That is right, it will likely NOT stay together when lifted out.

Instant Pot Whole Chicken without Trivet

When you’re using a pressure cooker you want to elevate your meat so it isn’t sitting in the juices. The machine comes with a trivet of course but we use potatoes instead! They work great, and are edible at the end! Better yet they soak up the juices and taste so amazing you won’t want to share.

Seriously, we fight over them because they have so much flavor. I’ve learned to try and fit one for everyone at the bottom so we can all enjoy a bit.

BUT you can in fact just use a metal trivet instead if that is what you prefer, both work it is just that you can get a side dish and protein done together this way.

Ingredient Notes

When you are choosing a Whole chicken keep in mind the size of your pot. We have a 6 quart pot and used a 4.5 pound bird which fit nicely as you can see here. I might go to 5 pounds but no larger. Organic is smaller but leaner with more meat per the size so I suggest that variety.

1. Red potatoes – you can use a trivet but seriously these are better.
2. Olive oil is best to coat the skin for seasonings
3. Chicken broth or chicken stock / bone broth 
4. Spices – use whatever you would normally use to cook a whole chicken
   1. I use 1 tsp. Lawry’s seasoning
   2. 1 tsp garlic salt
   3. Sprinkle of oregano and maybe some basil

For this timing you’re going to need a defrosted or fresh bird that is 4-5 lbs. Much larger won’t fit in with the lid closing so check the weight when you buy it. If you only have a frozen chicken that is still hard, follow our frozen whole chicken recipe linked at the top of this post instead. It turns out just as good, you’ll be surprised.

Then you can follow our pressure cooker gravy recipe when your chicken is done. Using the drippings for a wonderful sauce to pour on top. You just need a bit of a thickener like some cornstarch roux and a bit of seasoning to create.

The steps below will work just the same. 😉 Both machines have the poultry button so there’s really no difference. If you bought the air fryer lid with it you can crisp the outside when done at 400 for just a few minutes too.

We probably cook a whole chicken every week, and use leftovers to make Instant Pot chicken and rice later. It used to take a minimum of an hour and a half, now your chicken will be done in a snap. Leftovers save super well too if packaged up properly. I hate waste so I will go over that at the bottom as well.

How Long to Cook a Whole Chicken in Instant Pot with Potatoes

You can do this two ways. You can set to poultry, normal setting, for 30 minutes.  (if your chicken is abnormally large it may need longer, always check internal meat temperature when done) or hit high pressure for 30, it works the same way. When it beeps allow to naturally release steam for 5 minutes, then do a quick release. 

How to Get Crispy skin on your Chicken

If you love the skin but don’t want it to be rubbery you can totally “fix it” at the end a few different ways. We don’t really care about it and usually remove it either way before serving but I know many insist on a bit of crunch like you see below. You can put it in a pan and on the broiler setting in your oven at 350 for 3-5 minutes or so or until it browns as much as you wish on the top.

If you have a Ninja Foodi, air fryer or Instant Pot air fryer lid set it to 400 for about 10 minutes with the chicken breast side up.

Know that the basket for the IP lid is kinda’ small and it may not fit if you have a larger size. I would season the outside well before doing this step as most of what you added at the beginning will have kinda’ sluffed off.

This is what it looks like if you choose to turn your Instant Pot into an air fryer with this the newest lid you see here! It isn’t a must to move it off of the potatoes or trivet really. If it makes you super nervous to have liquid at the bottom just transfer into the air fryer lid basket.

Tips

Let’s talk about how to pick a bird for a moment shall we? I am a big organic and free range chicken fan. Yes it costs a few more dollars but is so much better. The texture, flavor, and of course health benefits are all better. They have less fat too so you can fit a smaller bird in your pot but has the same amount of protein on the bones. Whole or as Instant Pot teriyaki chicken, it is just better.

Oven is great but this one is better during the summertime. When it is 90’s or over 100 degrees there is like NO way I am heating up my house to cook dinner. Why would you right?? A great way to cook in an RV or very small apartment too. I can’t remember my life without this thing y’all.

Note that it will likely not stay together and will just become a lot of pieces all jumbled together. Will still work with a bit of olive oil spray and like Lawry’s on the top for lots of flavors. It takes less than 15 minutes to have it warm up and get the outside crispy like you like it.

If yours is larger I would increase the time by just a few minutes. You don’t have a huge risk of drying it out as you’re essentially steaming it to tender, it will just fall apart more easily. Always check the internal temperature in the breast before eating.

• If you have leftover chicken, use it in this easy chicken pot pie recipe.

If you want to try cooking a slow cooker whole chicken, our dutch oven whole chicken or air fryer whole chicken you should (link at the top of this post)! You might find a new favorite. A bunch of options that all turn out just as good, just using a different appliance.

This is a great method if you want to lift the bones right out and shred to use inside tacos or something. Here is how you make it. Crisp any way you’d like at the end if you want. If you’re just making shredded chicken for tacos you may not care about that added step.

Why does my Instant Pot chicken come out rubbery?

You didn’t cook it long enough, period. The longer you cook under high pressure the more tender it will get, seriously. You can set the lid on it again and add another 10 minutes AND always allow for some natural release pressure at the end to keep it moist as well.

You can use an air fryer or CrispLid at 400 degrees for about 5-10 minutes to crisp as well if you have that. Use what you wish or none of it at all, right out of the pot is fantastic so don’t discount that option as well. We typically just do that and enjoy.

How to save leftover meat from a whole chicken

Make sure you allow it to cool completely first. I usually shred or slice on a cutting board and then just leave it for maybe 20 more minutes after serving. I like freezer bags the best. They are cheap, keep the air out so it stays moist, and I can throw it away when done so an easier clean up. Smaller pieces are best for Instant Pot chicken and dumplings or something.

It will stay well for up to 4 days but I usually use it all up the next day for dinner. Throwing it into some sort of casserole works well or we have a bunch of leftover chicken recipes here you can check out. I mean then you get two meals out of one which saves a bunch of money.

Ok so you totally loved this and want to try a few others. Or maybe you have some meat left and want to know what to use it in. I have a lot of options to try. We will continue to add more so make sure you subscribe at the bottom of this post so they’re emailed to you too. Looking for more Instant Pot chicken recipes?