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Leigh Anne Wilkes

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Home / Latest Posts / Recipes / Instant Pot Shredded Chicken

Instant Pot Shredded Chicken

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By: Leigh Anne WilkesPosted: 1/17/22Updated: 2/08/24

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure policy here.

Instant Pot Shredded Chicken is easy, delicious and the perfect way to meal prep.  It freezes wonderfully and is ready when you need it.

Instant Pot Shredded Chicken

Meal Prep Tips

To make meal prep easy, I love to keep a container of shredded chicken in my freezer.  It is the ingredient in so many of our favorite quick and easy family favorite recipes. Today I want to share with you how I make shredded chicken.  I’m not sure this really qualifies as a recipe.  It is more of a “technique.”  You are going to love how easy this is.  Make up a big batch of instant pot shredded chicken at the beginning of the week and use it all week long in your meal planning.

Recipes that Use Shredded Chicken

 A couple of our favorite ways to use it are chicken noodle soup and chicken enchiladas  and it is perfect for salads like this BBQ Chicken Salad.   There are so many possibilities!

If you don’t have an Instant Pot, don’t worry!  You can also do this in your crock pot by following these directions, or even in your microwave.

bowl of Instant Pot shredded chicken

How to Cook Shredded Chicken in the Instant Pot

  • Use chicken breasts that are similar in size and weight.  I usually buy the skinless, boneless chicken breast pack at Costco and have found that those breasts are large, and weigh about 10 oz each.  If you are using smaller chicken breasts you can decrease your time by a couple of minutes (see recipe below).  I used six of the large 10 oz. chicken breasts.  Do not overfill your Instant Pot, it should not be filled more than 2/3 full.  If you are using 8 oz. breasts, cook for 8 minutes, 6 oz. breasts, cook for 6 minutes.
  • Use one cup of water or chicken broth.  Broth will add more flavor to the chicken.
  • Season the chicken with salt, pepper and some garlic powder if you like.
Chicken breasts in Instant Pot.
  • Set the Instant Pot to manual high pressure and set timer for 10 minutes.  Remember it will take 10-15 minutes to come to pressure, depending on how full the pot is.  Allow for a 10 minute natural release.  It will take a total of 30-40 minutes.
Adding liquid to instant pot shredded chicken
  • Use a thermometer to check the temperature and doneness of the chicken.  It should be 165 degrees F.  If it is not cooked all the way, put the lid back on and set timer for a couple more minutes.

How to Shred Instant Pot Shredded Chicken

  1. The first way to shred chicken is to use two forks and pull the meat apart.  The chicken should be really tender and pull apart easily.  You can drain off most of the liquid from the Instant Pot and then shred the chicken right in the pot.  I like to reserve some of the liquid and add it back into the chicken when I am done shredding to keep the chicken moist.  If it is easier, remove the chicken to a baking sheet or pan and shred it there.  You just end up with an additional dirty dish this way.
Shredding chicken in the Instant Pot

2.  The second way is to use your hand mixer.  Drain most of the liquid like the first method and then just put your mixer into the Instant Pot and let it do the work.  Add some of the                liquid back in.

Shredding chicken with a hand mixer

If you are not using all the chicken right away.  Store it in an airtight container and freeze it.

How long will Instant Pot Shredded Chicken last in the freezer?

You can store the shredded chicken in an airtight container or bag for about four months.  I like to freeze it in 1-2 cup quantities, just perfect for throwing into soup or adding to a salad.

Instant Pot Shredded Chicken in a blue bowl

Check out more of my instant pot recipes:

  • Instant Pot Pork Carnitas
  • Scalloped Potatoes Instant Pot Recipe
  • Instant Pot Brown Rice

For all my other favorite kitchen products and tools visit my Amazon Store.

Did you know I wrote a cookbook?  Check out the Holiday Slow Cooker Cookbook for 100 delicious recipes.

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5 from 1 vote
Instant Pot Shredded Chicken

Instant Pot Shredded Chicken

Recipe From: Leigh Anne Wilkes
Instant Pot Shredded Chicken is easy, delicious and the perfect way to meal prep.  It freezes wonderfully and is ready when you are.
serves: 12 servings
Prep:5 minutes minutes
Cook:20 minutes minutes
Up to Pressure:10 minutes minutes
Total:25 minutes minutes
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Ingredients

  • 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 cup chicken broth or water low sodium
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic powder optional

Instructions

  • Place chicken breasts into Instant Pot.  Season with salt and pepper.
  • Pour in liquid.
  • Put on lid and set to manual, high pressure for 10 minutes.  Allow to natural release for 10 minutes.
  • For 8 oz. chicken breasts, cook for 8 minutes.  For 6 oz. chicken breasts, cook for 6 minutes.  Meat should be at 165 degrees F to be fully cooked.

Nutrition Facts:

Calories: 68kcal (3%) Protein: 12g (24%) Fat: 1g (2%) Cholesterol: 36mg (12%) Sodium: 265mg (12%) Potassium: 229mg (7%) Vitamin A: 15IU Vitamin C: 0.7mg (1%) Calcium: 3mg Iron: 0.3mg (2%)
* Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. Read full disclosure here.
Course:Chicken
Cuisine:American
Instant Pot Shredded Chicken
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  1. Eva Dankers says

    Posted on 1/24 at 11:44 am

    Should the chicken be placed on the trivet or directly on the bottom of the pot?

    Reply

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