How To Cook A Whole Chicken In The Instant Pot Recipe

Ever wondered how to cook a whole chicken in the Instant Pot? Prepping a chicken at the beginning of the week is perfect for meal planning for the week!

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Chicken instant pot recipe, Easy Instant Pot Recipe, Instant Pot, Whole Chicken

Servings:

Calories: 273kcal

Equipment

Instant Pot
Steam Rack
Sheet pan

Ingredients

1 Whole Chicken
Seasonings of Choice
1 cup water

Instructions

Place one cup of water in your Instant Pot and place your chicken right inside. You can place your chicken on a steam rack depending on how big your chicken is.
Add any seasonings you want on top of your chicken (this is optional).
Put the lid on and set the Instant Pot to Manual (if you don't have a manual button, put it on pressure cook or high pressure) and adjust the time.
For a thawed 3 to 4 pound chicken set the time for 30 minutes.
For a frozen 3 to 4 pound chicken set the time for 50-60 minutes.
Sometimes I like to let my chicken stay in the pot and steam to release naturally for 15 minutes. But if you are in a hurry, turn the knob to venting and let the steam release.
Then pull out the chicken. If you want your chicken to be browned, put it in the oven on broil for a few minutes until the skin is browned and crisp.

Notes

TO BAKE IT IN THE OVEN!

You will need:

whole chicken
roasting pan
meat thermometerAll you need is a roasting pan (or a baking sheet in a pinch) and an instant-read thermometer.
Using a roasting rack set over the pan will help the chicken cook more evenly, since air can circulate freely. With a roasting rack, the chicken won’t be resting in its own drippings, which will give you crispier skin. For easier cleanup, you can line the pan with aluminum foil. Use this chart to determine how long to roast your chicken: (high heat method is the second time listed)2.5-3lbs=1 hour/15 minutes=1 hour3-3.5lbs=1 hour/25 minutes=1 hour/10 minutes
3.5-4lbs=1 hour/35 minutes=1 hour/20 minutes
4-4.5lbs=1 hour/45 minutes=1 hour/30 minutes
4.5-5lbs=1 hour/55 minutes=1 hour/40 minutes
5-5.5lbs=2 hours/5 minutes-1 hour/50 minutes
5.5-6lbs=2 hours/15 minutes=2 hours
6-6.5lbs=2 hours/25 minutes=2 hours/10 minutes
6.5-7lbs=2 hours/35 minutes=2 hours/20 minutes
7-7.5lbs=2 hours/45 minutes=2 hours/30 minutes

Nutrition