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    You Are Here: Home → Chicken

    Instant Pot BBQ Chicken

    August 4, 2022 by Ryan 2 Comments

    32 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    BBQ chicken sandwich on plate
    BBQ chicken sandwich on plate
    overhead shot of BBQ chicken in Instant Pot
    overhead shot of pulled BBQ chicken in Instant Pot

    Chicken quickly cooked with some spices and BBQ sauce makes this Instant Pot BBQ chicken a perfect weeknight meal with minimal prep.

    overhead shot of pulled BBQ chicken in Instant Pot

    I'm all about some good BBQ chicken - from grilled BBQ chicken to BBQ chicken kebabs to BBQ chicken pizza.

    But what about when you're short on time? Well that is where the Instant Pot comes into play. You get a delicious meal without the effort.

    Why This Recipe Works

    • Simple - you let the Instant Pot do the work. While there are quite a few spices they should all be ones you have in the pantry.
    • Flavorful - the flavor really comes from the spices and the BBQ sauce you use. My go-to is Sweet Baby Ray's, but you can use your favorite.
    • Versatile - this Instant Pot BBQ chicken can be made into a sandwich, a quesadilla, served over some rice or even used in a salad.
    Jump to:
    • Why This Recipe Works
    • Ingredient Notes
    • Ingredient Swaps
    • FAQs
    • Serving Ideas
    • Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
    • Other Instant Pot Recipes
    • Instant Pot BBQ Chicken
    overhead shot of BBQ chicken in Instant Pot

    Ingredient Notes

    • Chicken - I like the combination of thighs and breasts as it keeps it moist.
    • Spices - the combination of spices adds a little heat and some sweetness to the chicken.
    • Sauce - you can take the time to make your own BBQ sauce, but store-bought works great.

    Ingredient Swaps

    As with any recipe you can mix up the ingredients. Some variations include:

    • If you want a little different flavor to the dish, you can replace the chicken stock with your favorite beer.
    • To me the combination of chicken thighs and breasts enhances this dish, but you can use one or the other.
    • Light brown sugar adds some sweetness, but honey is good substitute.

    FAQs

    Can I Use Fresh or Frozen Chicken?

    The great thing about an Instant Pot is either works. If using frozen, just add 5 minutes to the cooking time.

    What Pressure Cooker Do You Use?

    I have the 6 quart Instant Pot. It is super simple to use and makes great meals, especially this BBQ chicken.

    Can I Make this if I Don't Have an Instant Pot?

    Yes. Just throw all the ingredients in a slow cooker and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 hours and then shred the chicken and serve.

    Why is it Soupy?

    When cooking in an Instant Pot, you need some liquid, or you'll get the burn notice before it reaches temperature. Once cooked, the chicken and onion releases some water

    If you have this issue, you can remove the chicken, peppers and throw on a pan. Broil for just a couple of minutes.

    How Long Will They Last?

    Leftovers will store well in the fridge for 2-3 days in an air-tight container or be frozen for 3 months.

    How to Reheat?

    If you reheat the chicken in the microwave, it might become slightly rubbery. Just heat the chicken in a skillet with some oil over medium heat until everything is warmed through.

    Serving Ideas

    This BBQ chicken recipe is super versatile and can be used in a variety of ways. Some options include:

    • Add to a quesadilla like this BBQ chicken and peach quesadilla
    • Serve on a sandwich over a brioche or kaiser roll
    • Make a salad like this BBQ chicken salad
    • Serve over some rice and veggies
    • Throw on top of a pizza

    Pro Tips/Recipe Notes

    • Add stock first so it helps avoid the burn notice you might get otherwise in the Instant Pot.
    • If you like heat, add some crushed red pepper flakes.
    • To quickly shred the chicken, use an electric hand mixer. It goes by much faster.
    BBQ chicken sandwich on plate

    Other Instant Pot Recipes

    • close-up of chicken fajita on plate made with Instant Pot
      Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas
    • overhead shot of chicken burrito bowl with fork dipped in it
      Instant Pot Chicken Burrito Bowl
    • speckled bowls of veggie chili
      Instant Pot Veggie Chili
    • overhead shot of Pad Thai on speckled plate
      Instant Pot Pad Thai

    If you’ve tried this Instant Pot BBQ chicken recipe or any other recipe on Chisel & Fork, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube to see more tasty meals and anything else I'm up to.

    BBQ chicken sandwich on plate
    Print Recipe
    5 from 4 votes

    Instant Pot BBQ Chicken

    Chicken quickly cooked with some spices and BBQ sauce makes this BBQ chicken a perfect weeknight meal with minimal prep.
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time25 mins
    Total Time30 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 192kcal
    Author: Ryan Beck

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup low-sodium chicken stock
    • 1 small sweet onion, thinly sliced
    • 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
    • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
    • 2 tablespoon light brown sugar
    • 1 teaspoon chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • 1 teaspoon dry mustard
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt
    • 1 cup BBQ sauce

    Instructions

    • In Instant Pot, add stock, onions, chicken, brown sugar, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, mustard, salt and BBQ sauce in that order. No need to mix.
    • Close lid and turn vent to "sealing." Set Instant Pot to "manual" on high pressure and set for 10 minutes. Allow it to naturally release.
    • Shred chicken and add more BBQ sauce if desired.

    Notes

    • Add stock first so it helps avoid the burn notice you might get otherwise in the Instant Pot.
    • If you like heat, add some crushed red pepper flakes.
    • To quickly shred the chicken, use an electric hand mixer. It goes by much faster.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 192kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 558mg | Potassium: 13mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 9g
    Did You Try This Recipe?I love seeing what you make so mention @ChiselandFork or tag #chiselandfork on Instagram and please give a star rating below!
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    Comments

    1. Sophie says

      June 09, 2021 at 8:26 pm

      5 stars
      Made this tonight! It was really good! Looking forward to leftovers already! I always forget how long the natural release takes, so will plan better next time.

      Reply
      • Ryan says

        June 10, 2021 at 7:06 am

        Glad you liked it!

        Reply

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