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Home » Recipes » 30-Minute Meals

Instant Pot BBQ Chicken

By Erin · January 11, 2021 · Updated October 11, 2021 · Leave a Comment

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Gluten FreeDairy FreeWhole30Paleo
cooked bbq chicken in bbq sauce in a pressure cooker

This easy Instant Pot BBQ Chicken is perfect for meal prepping! It's made with only a few ingredients, is perfectly juicy and tender and is ready in under 30 minutes!

shredded chicken with bbq sauce in a pressure cooker

To me, January is the perfect time to set new goals. One thing I hope to improve on is meal prep. I love my vegan meal prep bowls and make them often, but I also want to have prepped and ready-to-go proteins available in my refrigerator for quick and easy lunches.

This Instant Pot BBQ chicken is just that, and it truly couldn't be easier to prepare. Once it's made, you could easily eat it on a sandwich, or even add it to this corn kale salad.

Recipe features

  • The Instant Pot makes this chicken juicy and tender
  • You can use your favorite kind of BBQ sauce
  • It's ready in under 30 minutes!
ingredients on a table with text

Ingredient notes

Chicken - The recipe calls for 2 lb. of chicken, so feel free to use chicken breasts, thighs or a combination of both. Just make sure you're using boneless, skinless chicken.

BBQ sauce - I tested this recipe two ways: one using Stubb's original BBQ sauce, and one using The New Primal Whole30-approved BBQ sauce. I preferred the Stubb's, but if you're doing Whole30 or are looking for a low sugar sauce, The New Primal was pretty good.

Chicken broth - The broth is what allows the chicken to become tender and juicy, so I don't recommend omitting or substituting it.

Spices - Technically, the spices are optional, but they do provide extra flavor to the chicken/bbq sauce.

Method

First: Add ingredients to your Instant Pot. Begin by pouring the chicken broth into the pot, then lay the chicken on top. Next, pour the barbecue sauce over the chicken, and then add the spices.

chicken, chicken broth, bbq sauce, and spices in a pressure cooker

Second: Pressure cook. Close the lid and make sure the valve on top is in the "seal" position. Pressure cook the chicken for 15 minutes, then allow it to manually release for 10 minutes before switching the valve to "vent".

cooked chicken in a pressure cooker with bbq sauce

Third: Shred the chicken. Remove the chicken and place it onto a cutting board. Use two forks to shred it, then place it back into the Instant Pot and stir everything together, making sure the chicken is coated in the sauce.

Tips and tricks

-This isn't an absolutely "must", but I like purchasing two different kinds of BBQ sauces and seeing which one I like better. This is BBQ chicken after all, so you want to make sure you really like the BBQ sauce you're using.

-You don't have to add the spices -- I think they add extra flavor to this recipe, but if you're out of garlic powder/onion power, don't sweat it.

How should leftover chicken be stored?

Store any leftover chicken in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. If you're not going to consume it within that time frame, store it in the freezer for up to 4 months.

To reheat: You can either microwave the chicken until it reaches your desired temperature, or you can place it in a baking dish and into the oven at 350° for approximately 20 minutes. If the chicken seems dry at all, add ½ cup chicken broth to the baking dish.

Is this recipe Whole30-approved?

Yup! As long as you use a Whole30 barbecue sauce (like The New Primal), then this recipe is Whole30-friendly.

shredded chicken on a sandwich

More easy chicken recipes

  • BBQ Chipotle Wings
  • Instant Pot Whole Chicken
  • Creamy Coconut Lime Chicken

If you made this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and star rating below. Thanks!

shredded chicken with bbq sauce in a pressure cooker

Instant Pot BBQ Chicken

This easy Instant Pot BBQ Chicken is perfect for meal prepping! It's made with only a few ingredients, is perfectly juicy and tender and is ready in under 30 minutes!
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4
Author: Erin

Ingredients

  • 2 lb. chicken breasts or thighs
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup bbq sauce any kind
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt plus more to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper plus more to taste

Instructions

  • Pour broth into your instant pot, then place the chicken on top. Pour bbq sauce on top of the chicken, then add the spices.
  • Close the lid, and make sure the valve on top is in the "seal" position. Pressure cook for 15 minutes, then natural release for 10 minutes before manually releasing the rest of the pressure.
  • Remove chicken and place it on a cutting board. Use two forks to shred the chicken, then place it back into your Instant Pot and stir everything together. Enjoy!

Notes

*Calories are an estimation and are per serving
*Serving size is 4-6 
*To keep this Whole30, be sure to use a Whole30-approved BBQ sauce.
Storage: store leftover chicken in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. If you're not going to eat it within that time frame, wait for the chicken to cool, then transfer it to the freezer and store it there for up to 4 months. 
 

Nutrition

Calories: 453kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 43g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 170mg | Sodium: 1292mg | Potassium: 627mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 478IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 3mg
Did you Make this Recipe? Tag me Today!Leave a comment below and tag @thealmondeater on Instagram!
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About Erin

Erin is the recipe developer, writer and photographer behind the healthy food blog, The Almond Eater. She's been blogging since 2014 and loves to create food for many different diets, including vegan, gluten free and/or Whole30 recipes.

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I share recipes for ALL diet types because I believe that healthy food should be incredibly delicious without being complicated. Learn more

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