Prep Your Family's Favorite Protein in Just 20 Minutes
The answer to a working mother's prayer, the Instant Pot allows you to cook thick chicken breasts in 20 minutes or less in an entirely hands-off process. When the chicken comes out of the pressure cooker, the chicken will be juicier than if you cooked it on the stove or in the oven and is ready for slicing, shredding or eating as is. You can even start with frozen chicken breasts, removing the step of thawing the poultry – simply add an extra 5 minutes to the cooking time.
Make a batch of chicken breasts in advance, and use them later in the week in enchiladas, soups or casseroles to eliminate a step from prep time during busy evenings.
Tip
While this recipe makes plain chicken breasts, you can replace the chicken broth with a liquid marinade, such as barbecue sauce or Italian salad dressing, for a flavorful entree. Pair it with a side of veggies and a whole grain, such as brown rice or quinoa (which can be cooked in the Instant Pot alongside the chicken), and you have a full meal in no time flat.
Total Time: 20 minutes | Prep Time: 5 minutes | Serves: 4
Ingredients:
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup chicken broth
Directions:
- Season both sides of the chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
- Place the chicken breasts in the Instant Pot. Add the chicken broth.
- Seal the Instant Pot, ensuring that the valve is also set to sealed.
- Press the "poultry" button, or use the manual setting and add 8 to 10 minutes to the timer.
- When the timer is finished, allow the Instant Pot to depressurize on its own, which will take another 5 to 7 minutes.
Tip
To add a little extra flavor to the chicken breasts, add 1 tablespoon olive oil to the Instant Pot and press the "saute" button. Add the chicken and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, flipping when the chicken is golden brown. Cook for another 3 minutes, and then seal the Instant Pot and cook as normal.
