Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Breast
Posted: 03/23/20
Updated: 02/01/22
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Cooking frozen chicken breasts in the Instant Pot is just about the easiest way to get dinner on the table! This method results in super flavorful, juicy, and tender chicken breasts that you don’t even have to thaw. Perfect for quickly cooking chicken for another recipe, too. Check out my recipe for Instant Pot frozen chicken thighs, too!
Why This Recipe Is So Good
- An Instant Pot makes cooking perfectly tender and seasoned chicken breast ridiculously easy. Just season your chicken, pour in some broth and cook.
- We love that this recipe uses frozen chicken breasts — no thawing needed! There’s almost no prep when it comes to cooking your chicken breasts in an Instant Pot.
- This method is perfect for cooking chicken for dinner, but also for recipes that require cooked chicken. We love it for meal prep, too!
How To Make It
- Season the chicken breasts on both sides with all-purpose seasoning or salt and pepper.
- Place the trivet in Instant Pot, then pour in the chicken broth. Place the chicken breasts on the trivet, then close the lid. Turn the vent to sealed.
- Cook on Manual High Pressure for 10-15 minutes. After the time is up, let naturally release 5 minutes then Quick Release remaining pressure.
- Serve as is or use in a recipe that calls for cooked chicken.
Chef’s Tips
- For 6-8 ounce breasts, about 10 minutes should make the chicken nice and tender. 11 minutes will make the chicken just a bit more firm. For a 9-10 ounce breast, cook for 13 minutes, and 15 minutes for 12 ounces.
- If using all-purpose seasoning, don’t use salt, otherwise, your chicken will be too salty.
More Easy Recipes
- Air Fryer Chicken Breasts
- Instant Pot BBQ Chicken
- Air Fryer Tater Tots
- 3 Ingredient Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Chicken
- Instant Pot Dal
- Instant Pot Pulled Pork
- Italian Dressing Chicken
- Creamy Instant Pot Beef Pasta
Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Breast
Cooking juicy, tender frozen chicken breasts in the Instant Pot be the easiest way to make dinner. No thawing needed!
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts
- 1 cup chicken broth or water
- 1 tbsp all-purpose seasoning or salt and pepper to taste
Equipment
- Instant Pot
Instructions
- Season chicken breasts on both sides with seasoning or salt and pepper.
- Place trivet in Instant Pot. Pour in chicken broth. Place chicken breasts on trivet. Close lid and turn vent to sealed.
- Cook on Manual High Pressure for 10-15 minutes (see notes). After time is up, let naturally release 5 minutes then Quick Release remaining pressure.
- Serve or use in a recipe that calls for cooked chicken.
Notes
- Cook Times
- 6-8 ounce chicken breasts: Cook for 9-10 minutes.
- 9-10 ounce chicken breasts: Cook for 12 minutes.
- 12-ounce chicken breast: Cook for 14 minutes.
Video
Nutrition Information
Serving: 8ounces, Calories: 132kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 24g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 72mg, Sodium: 2090mg, Potassium: 465mg, Vitamin A: 34IU, Vitamin C: 5mg, Calcium: 9mg, Iron: 1mg, Net Carbs: 1g
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.
Is there an alternative if I don’t have a trivet? I’m ordering one but would like to make this tonight. Can I up the broth to avoid burning or otherwise do something in lieu of the trivet?
You should be able to place the chicken directly in the pot without a burn notice, yes. The trivet keeps the chicken up out of the broth so it steams rather than boils!
Thank you! We wound up making something else and my trivet arrived today so I’m going to give it a shot tonight!
How did it go with the trivet?
The cooked chicken does not match the recipe. You said just salt and pepper but it looks like there’s some red pepper flakes and some green stuff on the chicken.
Hi! That’s the all-purpose seasoning that you’re seeing in the photos. The ingredients list for this recipe calls for “1 tablespoon all-purpose seasoning or salt and pepper”. You can use 1 tablespoon all-purpose seasoning, or you can use 1 tablespoon total of salt and pepper.
Hope this helps!
My instapot didn’t come with a trivet, but it looks to be nonstick. And where can you get a trivet?
You should be able to find it on Amazon!
What is the purpose of the trivet? I see some recipes call for it, others don’t. Why do you use it?
This helps keep the chicken from sticking to the bottom of the insert and burning. It also helps the steam and heat moving around the chicken to ensure it’s cooked thoroughly in this pressurized environment.