This Instant Pot BBQ chicken recipe is a quick and easy way to make barbecue chicken for your family!
Confessions: I often make BBQ chicken in the Instant Pot even when the weather is nice enough to grill outside.
I love making BBQ Chicken in an Instant Pot! It is quick, easy, and the meat always turns out so tender! Plus there is no chance of it getting charred.
I usually like to use boneless, skinless chicken thighs, but you can also make it with chicken breasts if you wish.
Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Recipe
This Instant Pot Barbecue Chicken is an easy recipe to double when you are serving a crowd. I make a batch of this easy homemade BBQ Sauce to use on the chicken, but you can use your favorite barbecue sauce.
Ingredients:
- 2 – 3 pounds boneless/skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs
- 3/4 cup water
- 3/4 cup barbecue sauce (Easy Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe) + extra for serving
Directions:
- Place the rack in the Instant Pot or multi-cooker.
- Add the water to the Instant Pot.
- Place the chicken pieces on the rack and pour 1 cup of barbecue sauce over the top of the chicken.
- Secure the lid. Choose Poultry or Manual, ensuring that high pressure has been chosen. Set the time for 15 minutes.
- After it is done cooking, release the steam using the valve.
You can serve the Instant Pot Barbecue Chicken as whole pieces or you can shred the cooked chicken and serve Pulled BBQ Chicken. Use the directions below if you want to shred your barbecue chicken.
How to Make Instant Pot Pulled BBQ Chicken
Ingredients:
- 2 – 3 pounds of cooked chicken
- 2/3 cup barbecue sauce for shredding + more for serving
Directions:
Once you have cooked your barbecue chicken in the Instant pot, remove the rack and drain the liquid. Then put the BBQ chicken back in the pot. If your Instant pot is not stainless steel, place the cooked chicken in a large bowl. You do not want to shred the chicken in the liquid as it will dilute the flavor. We will add more barbecue sauce after the chicken is shredded to add more flavor as well as moisture.
Then use either two forks to pull the chicken into pieces or use a hand mixer to quickly shred the chicken.
Stir in 1/2 cup of barbecue sauce and add a little more at a time until the pulled chicken reaches the desired flavor and consistency.
Put more Barbecue sauce on the table so your family and friends can add more if they choose to when making their BBQ Chicken Sandwich.
Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Video Tutorial
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Printable Recipe for Instant Pot BBQ Chicken
Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Recipe
Equipment
- Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 2 - 3 pounds boneless/skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs
- 3/4 cup water
- 3/4 cup barbecue sauce plus more for serving
Instructions
- Place the rack in the Instant Pot or multi-cooker.
- Add the water to the Instant Pot.
- Place the chicken pieces on the rack and pour the barbecue sauce over the top of the chicken.
- Secure the lid. Choose Poultry or Manual, ensuring that high pressure has been chosen. Set the time for 15 minutes.
- After it is done cooking, release the steam using the valve.
Notes
How to Make Instant Pot Pulled BBQ Chicken
Ingredients:- 2 - 3 pounds of cooked chicken
- 2/3 cup barbecue sauce for shredding + more for serving
Shredded BBQ Chicken Recipes
Barbecue Chicken Stuffed Potatoes
Barbara says
The cook time is 15 after coming to pressure or after you turn it on?
Alea Milham says
After it comes to high pressure.
Wendi L says
Nice easy recipe! I sprinkled my thighs with seasoning and then bbq sauce before cooking. Thank you!
Beck Bulow says
lovely