Have you ever craved something that would take you hours to make? This weekend I was craving barbecued chicken, which I usually make in the slow cooker in the winter, but I didn't want to wait 6 hours for my barbecued chicken. So I pulled out the pressure cooker and was absolutely delighted with not only how fast I was able to make barbecued chicken, but with how tender and flavorful it was.
The chicken is so tender you do not need a knife. If you want, you can easily shred it and add more barbecue sauce to create shredded barbecue chicken.
How to Make Barbecued Chicken in a Pressure Cooker
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Author: Alea
Recipe type: Meat
Serves: 8
Ingredients
- 2 - 3 lbs. bl/sl chicken
- ¾ cup your favorite barbecue sauce
- ¾ cup water
Directions
- Pour water in the pressure cooker.
- Place the chicken pieces in the pressure cooker.
- Pour barbecue sauce over the top of the chicken.
- Place the lid on the pressure cooker; Bring to high pressure, reduce heat to stabilize pressure and cook for 15 minutes.
- Release pressure by putting the pressure cooker in the sink and running cool water over it.
- Serve while warm.
Notes
You can shred the chicken with two forks to make shredded barbecue chicken.
More Easy Pressure Cooker Recipes:
Cooking Beans in a Pressure Cooker
mjskit says
December 5, 2012 at 8:38 amI’ve never made chicken in a pressure cooker before. This looks SO simple and what a quick and easy meal! Thanks!!!!
Jo Fuller says
January 19, 2017 at 1:38 pmI’ve done this several times; never fails. It’s really good.
Judy@Savoring Today says
December 5, 2012 at 9:31 amAlea, I do not have a pressure cooker and have wondered if it was worth storing another pot. I’ve seen them demonstrated and have wanted one, but the price has been more than I’ve been willing to do. Always looking for one at yard sales, maybe one will turn up — your chicken looks great!
Liz says
March 8, 2017 at 5:50 amHi Judy. Look in Walmart. You don’t need to spend a lot and you will love it!
Katherine Robinson says
February 12, 2019 at 3:59 amMy Insta pot is SOOOOO worth the price. I brought mine on QVC. They actually allow you to pay it off in parts. It’s worth the investment. I work so many hours and by time I get home. I don’t feel like cooking. I throw my ingredients in the pot. And by the time I shower..feed the cat and check my mail… Dinner is done.
Barbara says
March 23, 2017 at 3:02 pmTry the Instant Pot my friend. You will fall in love!! The best pot in the house.
Annie says
February 20, 2013 at 11:08 amPressure cooking a couple of pork chops this way now so that we can have BBQ Pork quesadillas tonight. Thanks for the recipe!
Jewell says
June 2, 2013 at 2:45 pmI love my pressure cooker, but I have an electric one I ordered from HSN, so I don’t have to put it in the sink and run water. I had the traditional kind, but I was always scared of it after hearing of explosions from not tightening the lid good. I will try this with mine. Cooking greens in it for a few minutes is wonderful. I would recommend a pressure cooker to anyone. If your scared of the stove top kind, get an electric one. Can’t afford it in one lump sum. Get it on HSN which you make 4 or 5 easy payments. It’s so much faster than a crock pot if I’m at home. Now I still use the crock for overnight cooking or if I”m at work.
Jo Vi says
September 13, 2016 at 1:57 amI strongly agree and recommend the HSN plan, that’s exactly what I did, and love it!!!
Cheryl says
August 21, 2017 at 2:11 pmI got mine from QVC, it’s a Cooks Essentials 6qt it’s on sale for 49.98 now with 6 easy payments, can’t beat that!
Katherine Robinson says
February 12, 2019 at 4:04 amYesssss. I brought mines from QVC as well. Mine is the electric one as well. Best Christmas gift to myself ever. Lol It’s a MUST HAVE INVESTMENT!!!!
Erika Barbara says
January 5, 2014 at 12:48 pmI love my electric pressure cooker also and I hate to cook! I got it from HSN also. Mine is the Wolfgang Puck one, it is a little pricey, but worth it for the time saved.
Terri says
January 31, 2014 at 10:44 amwhat is bl/sl? Thanks for the recipe! My mail order Instant Pot came yesterday and I used this recipe to make BBQ ribs. Delicious and way so easy! Making thighs now for my sons lunch. Love my pressure cooker.
Alea Milham says
January 31, 2014 at 10:46 ambl/sl = boneless, skinless chicken. Have fun with your pressure cooker!
Paul says
August 24, 2014 at 9:47 amthanks for the recipe, will be the first thing I cook in my new pressure cooker.
Jenn says
June 26, 2015 at 3:28 pmNew to pressure cooking. Love to try your recipe. My question is your recipe says it serves 8 and cooks in 18 mins if I double the chicken do I double the time to 36 mins and double the water
Ed says
July 31, 2016 at 6:25 pmHi,
I’m new to pressure cooking, but from what I’ve read I don’t think you need to double the time. It’s different than a microwave, and more like an oven. Also, you shouldn’t need to add water. I’m using an electric instant pot and water does not escape, so increasing the cooking time wouldn’t require more water. I think if you use a stove top type and you added time, more water would be necessary as they do release steam while cooking. I’m cooking this dish as I type…
Annie says
August 8, 2016 at 6:44 pmIf you add the chicken frozen can you omit the water?
Rick says
September 5, 2016 at 12:06 pmHi, I expect new to pressure cooking, do u actually put the chicken in the water? Or, our pressure cooker came with a steaming rack, do I put the chicken on that! I’m confused!!!
Thanks
Alea Milham says
September 5, 2016 at 12:50 pmYou don’t want the meat to sit on the bottom of your pot. Put the chicken on top of the rack.
Katey says
February 20, 2017 at 3:51 pmMade this tonight but mine does not look like the picture. The barbecue sauce ran off the chicken and there’s a watery base in the pot. Any recommendations?
Alea Milham says
February 20, 2017 at 11:05 pmI would try a thicker barbecue sauce.
Sherri says
March 15, 2017 at 1:30 pmThis was the very 1st thing that I made in my electric pressure cooker! I still make it but I place the chicken on a cooling rack that is on a rimmed pan and broil for a few minutes on each side until crispy-ish. While that is going on I reduce my leftover bbq liquid in the electric pressure cooker until it thickens. YUMMY! Your recipe rocks!
Linda says
July 26, 2017 at 3:57 pmInstapot-fabulous-Got rid of rice cooker, slow cooker, pressure cooker(worn out) and at least 1 other Item… Great recipe! I all so do Shreded pork loin (barbecued this way). Does great Lamb meatballs…
Corey says
January 18, 2018 at 1:07 pmI’m using an 8-quart Cosori that says never use less than 2 cups of water. Would I need to change the amount of water (or bbq sauce) to accomodate this?
Alea Milham says
January 18, 2018 at 5:59 pmI would alter both and use 1 cup of barbecue sauce and 1 cup of water.
Cynthia says
March 26, 2018 at 11:03 amI’m so glad I pulled out my mom’s vintage pressure cooker! I’m making this asap. So easy and fast!
Thanks!
Linda says
May 3, 2018 at 5:07 amPlace the lid on the pressure cooker; Bring to high pressure, reduce heat to stabilize pressure and cook for 15 minutes.
I have an instant pot. How do I reduce heat after it’s on high pressure?
I’m excited to try this one!
Alea Milham says
May 4, 2018 at 12:31 amYou don’t have to reduce the heat to stabilize the temperature in an electric pressure cooker or in an Instant Pot. Just set it to high pressure for 15 minutes. Then use the quick release button to release the steam.