14 Easy Instant Pot Chicken Dinners for Busy Weeknights

The Instant Pot turns chicken into dinner in a fraction of the time — juicy, flavorful, and mostly hands-off.

These 14 easy Instant Pot chicken dinners cover every craving: creamy, spicy, tangy, and classic comfort, all ready in 30 minutes or less of pressure time.

Below you’ll find 14 reader-favorite recipes, each with a photo, ingredients, and step-by-step instructions. Save your favorites and enjoy!

1. Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken

Sticky-sweet garlic chicken that shreds beautifully over rice.

Ingredients

• 2 lb chicken thighs
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/3 cup soy sauce
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 2 tbsp water
• Sesame seeds and green onions

Instructions

1. Add chicken, honey, soy sauce, garlic, vinegar, and sesame oil to the pot.
2. Pressure cook on HIGH 10 minutes; quick release.
3. Remove chicken and shred.
4. Whisk cornstarch with water; stir into the pot and sauté 2 minutes to thicken.
5. Toss chicken in the sauce; top with sesame seeds and green onions.

2. Instant Pot Chicken Taco Bowls

Dump-and-go taco chicken with black beans and corn for the easiest bowls ever.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lb chicken breast
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 1 cup salsa
• 1 cup chicken broth
• Cooked rice
• Toppings: cheese, sour cream, avocado

Instructions

1. Add chicken, seasoning, beans, corn, salsa, and broth to the pot.
2. Pressure cook on HIGH 12 minutes; quick release.
3. Shred the chicken right in the pot and stir.
4. Spoon over rice.
5. Add your favorite toppings and serve.

3. Instant Pot Creamy Tuscan Chicken

Sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and Parmesan in a luscious pressure-cooked cream sauce.

Ingredients

• 2 lb chicken breast
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 3/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, sliced
• 3 cups baby spinach
• 3/4 cup grated Parmesan
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning

Instructions

1. Sear chicken in olive oil on SAUTÉ; add garlic and broth, scraping the bottom.
2. Pressure cook on HIGH 8 minutes; quick release.
3. Remove chicken; stir cream, sun-dried tomatoes, and seasoning into the pot.
4. Sauté 2 minutes, then wilt in the spinach and Parmesan.
5. Slice chicken, return to the sauce, and serve over pasta.

4. Instant Pot Chicken & Rice

A one-pot classic: tender chicken and fluffy seasoned rice, together at last.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lb chicken thighs
• 1 1/2 cups long-grain rice
• 1 3/4 cups chicken broth
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp thyme
• 2 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

1. Sauté onion, carrots, and garlic in olive oil 4 minutes.
2. Stir in rice, broth, paprika, and thyme.
3. Nestle chicken on top; pressure cook on HIGH 10 minutes.
4. Natural release 5 minutes, then quick release.
5. Fluff rice, shred chicken, and serve.

5. Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Chicken

Smoky-sweet pulled chicken for sandwiches, nachos, and sliders.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 lb chicken breast
• 1 1/2 cups BBQ sauce
• 1/4 cup chicken broth
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• Brioche buns and coleslaw, for serving

Instructions

1. Whisk BBQ sauce, broth, brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, and vinegar in the pot.
2. Add chicken and turn to coat.
3. Pressure cook on HIGH 12 minutes; quick release.
4. Shred chicken and stir back into the sauce.
5. Pile onto buns with coleslaw.

6. Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

A zesty, brothy soup loaded with chicken, beans, and corn — ready in 20 minutes.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lb chicken breast
• 1 can (15 oz) black beans
• 1 can (15 oz) fire-roasted tomatoes
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• Juice of 1 lime
• Tortilla strips, avocado, and cheese, for topping

Instructions

1. Add everything except lime and toppings to the pot.
2. Pressure cook on HIGH 12 minutes; quick release.
3. Shred the chicken in the pot.
4. Stir in lime juice.
5. Ladle into bowls and load up the toppings.

7. Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken

Glossy homemade teriyaki chicken, better than takeout and twice as fast.

Ingredients

• 2 lb chicken thighs
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp grated ginger
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 2 tbsp water
• Steamed rice and broccoli, for serving

Instructions

1. Whisk soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, garlic, and ginger in the pot.
2. Add chicken and turn to coat.
3. Pressure cook on HIGH 10 minutes; quick release.
4. Remove chicken; thicken sauce with cornstarch slurry on SAUTÉ.
5. Slice chicken, toss in sauce, and serve over rice with broccoli.

8. Instant Pot White Chicken Chili

Creamy, mildly spicy white chili with chicken, white beans, and green chiles.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lb chicken breast
• 2 cans (15 oz) white beans, drained
• 1 can (4 oz) diced green chiles
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp oregano
• 4 oz cream cheese
• 1/2 cup heavy cream

Instructions

1. Add chicken, beans, chiles, broth, onion, cumin, and oregano to the pot.
2. Pressure cook on HIGH 12 minutes; quick release.
3. Shred the chicken.
4. Stir in cream cheese and cream until melted and creamy.
5. Serve with lime, cilantro, and tortilla chips.

9. Instant Pot Lemon Herb Chicken

Bright lemon-herb chicken with garlic butter pan sauce.

Ingredients

• 2 lb chicken breast
• 1/3 cup chicken broth
• Juice and zest of 2 lemons
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tsp Italian seasoning
• 3 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp chopped parsley
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

1. Sear chicken in olive oil on SAUTÉ until golden.
2. Add broth, lemon juice, zest, garlic, and seasoning.
3. Pressure cook on HIGH 8 minutes; quick release.
4. Remove chicken; whisk butter and parsley into the cooking liquid.
5. Spoon the sauce over sliced chicken.

10. Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo Pasta

One-pot creamy Alfredo with tender chicken and zero extra dishes.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lb chicken breast, cubed
• 1 lb fettuccine, broken in half
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup grated Parmesan
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• Chopped parsley

Instructions

1. Sauté chicken in butter until lightly golden; add garlic.
2. Add broth, cream, seasoning, and pasta (do not stir pasta down fully).
3. Pressure cook on HIGH 6 minutes; quick release.
4. Stir in Parmesan until the sauce turns silky.
5. Rest 3 minutes; garnish with parsley.

11. Instant Pot Salsa Verde Chicken

Tangy tomatillo salsa chicken for tacos, burrito bowls, and enchiladas.

Ingredients

• 2 lb chicken breast
• 1 jar (16 oz) salsa verde
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp oregano
• Juice of 1 lime
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• Warm tortillas
• Diced onion and cotija, for serving

Instructions

1. Add chicken, salsa verde, cumin, and oregano to the pot.
2. Pressure cook on HIGH 10 minutes; quick release.
3. Shred the chicken and stir in lime juice and cilantro.
4. Serve in warm tortillas.
5. Top with onion and cotija.

12. Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie Soup

All the cozy pot pie flavors in a creamy, dunkable soup.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lb chicken breast
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 3 potatoes, diced
• 3 carrots, sliced
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1 tsp thyme
• Biscuits, for serving

Instructions

1. Add chicken, broth, potatoes, carrots, onion, and thyme to the pot.
2. Pressure cook on HIGH 10 minutes; quick release.
3. Shred the chicken.
4. Whisk flour into the cream; stir into the pot and sauté 3 minutes to thicken.
5. Stir in peas; serve with warm biscuits.

13. Instant Pot Orange Chicken

Crispy-edged chicken in a sweet-tangy orange glaze — takeout fakeout.

Ingredients

• 2 lb chicken thighs, cut in chunks
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp oil
• 3/4 cup orange juice
• 1/3 cup soy sauce
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 tbsp grated ginger
• 2 tsp cornstarch
• Sesame seeds and green onions

Instructions

1. Toss chicken with flour and salt; sear in oil on SAUTÉ until golden.
2. Whisk orange juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, and ginger; pour over chicken.
3. Pressure cook on HIGH 8 minutes; quick release.
4. Thicken with cornstarch mixed in 2 tbsp water on SAUTÉ.
5. Top with sesame seeds and green onions; serve over rice.

14. Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore

Rustic Italian braised chicken with peppers, mushrooms, and tomatoes.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 lb chicken thighs
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 8 oz mushrooms, sliced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• Fresh basil

Instructions

1. Sear chicken on SAUTÉ until golden; set aside.
2. Sauté onion, pepper, mushrooms, and garlic 5 minutes.
3. Add tomatoes, broth, and seasoning; return chicken to the pot.
4. Pressure cook on HIGH 12 minutes; quick release.
5. Serve over polenta or pasta with fresh basil.

Love these 14 easy instant pot chicken dinners? Pin this roundup for later and explore more easy recipes at simplymealful.us.