Instant Pot BBQ Chicken is so tender, juicy and full of barbecue flavor. Using Chicken Tenders or Breasts, this BBQ Chicken is extremely versatile. Perfect pulled, sliced or served whole! BBQ Chicken is a perfect, quick weeknight meal that everyone in the family will love! Great all year too, it is just as much of a winter dinner as it is a summer meal.
Instant Pot BBQ Chicken – Fast, tender and kid-friendly!
BBQ Chicken is part of dinner at least once every week or so. I love to serve it as is, toss it in a salad, or make sandwiches with it.
This is the one protein I can generally count on my kids eating and wanting more of.
Last week I took some dinner to a friend who just had a (tiny, little, adorable) baby. I about melted to the floor when I saw her. So itty bitty!!
BUT, like usual, I was running out of time. A lunch meeting went (really) late and I had 1 1/2 hours to fix dinner and deliver it.
Thank you, Instant Pot, I made BBQ Chicken, Cheesy Mashed Potatoes, Corn on the Cob, and a yummy slushee for dessert all in 45 MINUTES!! I was early. *fist bump*
But you know what really saved my bacon? Chicken tenders.
I hadn’t cooked with tenders in my Instant Pot before. I just always have bought chicken breasts.
The day before I decided to buy tenders on a whim and OH MY HEAVENS. These little guys cooked up in lightening speed and were so stinking tender!!
Like, it broke while I was trying to get it out of the pot. That is how tender they were! I really might be a chicken tender convert now. I may never go back!
How to make BBQ Chicken in the Instant Pot
There are a lot of recipes out there that have a billion different ingredients but I think BBQ chicken should be one of those recipes that all of the ingredients are in my cupboards at any given moment.
To make BBQ chicken in the Instant Pot, all you’ll need is 4 ingredients.
- chicken broth
- chicken- I love tenders, but you could use breasts too!
- Dried chopped onion- I never have fresh onion on hand. If you happen to have one, go ahead and use that!
- Barbecue sauce- I like Baby Ray’s original)
The chicken broth goes into the Instant Pot first, followed by the chicken and onion.
The BBQ sauce is then squirted on top of the chicken. DO NOT STIR.
The reasoning behind that is because BBQ sauce is a burner. The BBQ sauce needs to be on the top so it doesn’t scorch to the bottom of the pot and give you the dreaded burn notice.
If using tenders (which I strongly suggest you do!!) Cook on Manual HIGH for 3 minutes, NPR 7 minutes.
If using chicken breasts, make sure that the chicken is no thicker than 1 inch. If it is thicker, either pound it to 1 inch thick or ‘butterfly’ the chicken breast by cutting it in half lengthwise. (Think like a hotdog bun.)
For chicken breasts, cook on Manual HIGH for 5 minutes, NPR 7 minutes then rest 5 minutes in the pot. If the chicken breasts are overlapping, you may have to add an additional minute or two.
The BBQ sauce is a very thin but flavorful sauce. I personally like the thickness of it.
I don’t like the texture of pulled chicken when it is shredded and then mixed with straight BBQ sauce. I think the BBQ sauce is extremely overpowering that way as well.
This recipe is the perfect balance of flavor and texture in my book!
Instant Pot BBQ Chicken
(Printable Recipe Below)
Instant Pot BBQ Chicken is so tender, juicy and full of barbecue flavor. Using Chicken Tenders or Breasts, this BBQ Chicken is extremely versatile. Perfect pulled, sliced or served whole! BBQ Chicken is a perfect, quick weeknight meal that everyone in the family will love! Great all year too, it is just as much of a winter dinner as it is a summer meal.
Ingredients
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 8 chicken tenders (Or 2 chicken breasts)
- 1 tbsp dried chopped onion
- 3/4 cup bbq sauce
Instructions
- Add the ingredients to the Instant Pot in this order: broth, chicken, onion then bbq sauce on top.
- DO NOT STIR. (see post for more details as to why)
- Cook on Manual HIGH for 3 minutes NPR 7 minutes. (For Chicken Breasts, take 1 inch thick pieces of chicken and cook on manual HIGH for 5 minutes, NPR 7 minutes, rest 5 minutes. See post for more detailed instruction)
- After the NPR, QR the remaining pressure.
- Serve and enjoy!
Try this Instant Pot BBQ Chicken with these other recipes!
Homemade Dinner Rolls
Cheesy Mashed Potatoes
Creamy Fruit Salad
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Instant Pot BBQ Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 8 chicken tenders (Or 2 chicken breasts)
- 1 tbsp dried chopped onion
- 3/4 cup bbq sauce
Instructions
- Add the ingredients to the Instant Pot in this order: broth, chicken, onion then bbq sauce on top.
- DO NOT STIR. (see post for more details as to why)
- Cook on Manual HIGH for 3 minutes NPR 7 minutes. (For Chicken Breasts, take 1 inch thick pieces of chicken and cook on manual HIGH for 5 minutes, NPR 7 minutes, rest 5 minutes. See post for more detailed instruction)
- After the NPR, QR the remaining pressure.
- Serve and enjoy!
Michelle Olah says
That depends on the size of the IP. My 6 quart only needs 1/2 cup of liquid
Chrid says
Can you use water in place of the broth?
Karli Bitner says
Yes, you sure can!