Instant Pot chicken tenders are easy on the wallet but also a treat for your taste buds. Cooking chicken tenders in Instant Pot is such a game-changer when it comes to getting healthy meals on the table fast. Soaked in flavorful Korean marinade, this chicken tenders instant pot recipe is a super flavorful and budget-friendly dish that everyone will love.
Suitable for Gluten Free diets. Post includes Weight Watchers points.
If you like to save time and money, then you will love making chicken tenders in Instant Pot. These juicy chicken tenders infused with a Korean marinade will have your senses doing a happy dance. Not only is chicken affordable, but it’s also a healthy source of protein and loaded with flavor.
And this is a very easy weeknight dinner recipe to add to your list of Instant Pot Recipes.
These Instant Pot Tenders are seasoned with a slightly spicy Korean-style sauce and go perfectly with a slice of fried rice and sauteed veggies. The method, however, is incredibly versatile, so you can swap up the seasonings to match your cravings.
And just like my Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders, the leftovers taste great, so you can cook once and have enough left over for delicious meals and snacks all week long.
Serve them in sandwiches and wraps, make an Asian-style chicken salad, pile them on a salad of mixed greens, or just enjoy them cold. You can have dinner made and lunch prepared for the rest of the week in one easy task.
And for even more awesome Instant Pot chicken recipes, try my Instant Pot Chicken Drumsticks, this really juicy Instant Pot Chicken Breast, and my super easy Instant Pot Whole Chicken.
The Instant Pot is the ultimate kitchen sidekick. This magical contraption takes the classic slow-cooking method and turns it into a lightning-fast process, making it a total game-changer for busy weeknight dinners.
And when you forget to plan ahead – frozen chicken tenders instant pot to the rescue!
Why Make This Recipe
- Easy Meal Prep – Make a double batch of chicken tenders instant pot and use it in recipes all week long. The cooked chicken also shreds well.
- Healthy – Chicken is a healthy source of protein.
- Budget-Friendly – Chicken is affordable and freezes well so you can always have an easy meal on hand.
- Versatile – Serve for dinner, then enjoy the leftovers in wraps, sandwiches, salads and even casseroles.
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken – Look for chicken tenderloins or cut chicken breast into strips. You can also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs but may need to adjust the cooking time.
- Ketchup – This pantry staple is the foundation of this Korean BBQ sauce. Use a low-sugar ketchup if preferred.
- Dried Chilis – Adjust this up and down depending on how spicy you like your food.
- Sriracha – This tangy, spicy sauce is easily found in the Asian section of most grocery stores.
- Honey – Honey adds a touch of sweetness and helps to thicken the sauce. You can use pure maple syrup.
- Garlic Paste – Usually found in a tube in the produce section you can also use finely minced garlic.
- Chicken Broth – Chicken broth imparts more chicken flavor but water is a budget-friendly substitute.
Handy Tip: Use Good Kitchen Tools!
For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Instant Pot Tools on Amazon.
How To Make Instant Pot Chicken Tenders
Get full ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.
- Combine the chicken tenders and the marinade in a bowl or bag and make sure the chicken is well coated.
- Add chicken broth and a trivet to the Instant Pot.
- Place the chicken on the trivet, being careful not to overlap the pieces.
- Cook at high pressure for 6 minutes, followed by a quick pressure release.
Note: Always check for doneness with a meat thermometer. The temperature should be 165 degrees F / 74 degree C when inserted into the thickest part of chicken breasts.
Tips For Success
- If you have time, let the chicken marinate for 30 minutes and up to 8 hours.
- Brown the seasoned chicken in the Instant Pot using the sauté function. This step is optional but will lock in the juices and make the tenders more flavorful.
- If you brown the chicken, be sure to scrape any bits off the bottom when adding the chicken broth.
- Be sure to cook the chicken on a trivet or it may burn.
- Making chicken tenders in Instant Pot is a fast way to meal prep.
- Follow the timing instructions to prevent overcooking the chicken.
- Always check for doneness with a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should be 165 degrees F / 74 degrees C when inserted into the thickest part of the chicken tenders.
- Download the free Instant Pot Cheat Sheet.
Variations
- Use Different Seasonings – This same cooking method can be used with your favorite marinade or dry seasoning mix. Some of our favorite options include onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, BBQ sauce, lemon pepper, parmesan cheese and more.
- Add A Dip – Serve your favorite dipping sauces along with the chicken strips.
- Teriyaki Chicken – Combine soy sauce, ginger, garlic, honey, and a splash of pineapple juice for that sweet and savory teriyaki flavor.
- Mediterranean Chicken – Marinate the chicken in olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic and oregano. Add a sprinkle of feta cheese before serving.
- Mexican Chicken – Spice things up by marinating the tenders in a mixture of lime juice, chili powder, cumin, and a touch of adobo sauce for that smoky kick.
Budget-Friendly Tips
- Purchase Chicken In Bulk – Large, bulk-sized packages of chicken are often less expensive per pound. Chicken stores well in the freezer, so you can stock up when prices are low.
- Purchase Chicken Breast – Chicken tenderloins are often more expensive than chicken breast. The difference in tenderness isn’t overwhelming, so you can save by buying breast and cutting it into strips before cooking or freezing.
- Stock The Pantry – The marinade ingredients are all items that you probably have in your pantry. Keeping a well-stocked pantry will prevent frequent trips to the store and impulse purchases, thus saving you more money.
- Buy Frozen Chicken – Frozen chicken tenders can be more affordable than fresh ones. Plus, they’re just as convenient to use in the Instant Pot. Thaw them first, or cook frozen chicken tenders instant pot.
- Pair With Grains – Pair the chicken with rice, quinoa, or pasta for a filling meal that won’t break the bank.
- Use the Leftovers – Serve leftovers in salads or sandwiches.
- Check out a few of my favorite things that I love using to make this recipe.
Prep Ahead And Storage
- Prep Ahead – Enjoy these Instant Pot Chicken Tenders right away, but they are also perfect for meal prep because they can be stored for up to 4 days, and they shred easily and taste great cold.
- Store – Place the chicken in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freeze – Follow the handy tips below for how to freeze these;
- Cook the Instant Pot Chicken Tenders as directed and allow them to cool completely.
- Wrap tightly or place them in a freezer-safe bag or container.
- Thaw overnight in the fridge.
- Reheat – reheat thawed chicken tenders in the oven or microwave.
Meal Prep
- Enjoy for dinner, then save the leftovers for easy lunches for the next 4 days.
- Pre-slice chicken breast when you purchase it and store it in the freezer in portioned packages for easy meal prep later on.
- Combine chicken strips and the marinade ingredients in a freezer bag and freeze until ready to use. Move to the fridge to thaw overnight, and your chicken will be ready to cook and full of flavor the next day.
- Make a double batch so you can enjoy these cooked chicken tenders all week long.
FAQs
Yes, chicken tenderloins are healthy, especially when cooked without oil. These instant pot chicken tenderloins contain a variety of vitamins and minerals, and chicken breast is lower in fat than other cuts of chicken.
It takes about 6 minutes to cook chicken tenders in Instant Pot. This does not include the time it takes for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure.
A few minutes in the marinade is fine if you are short on time. Ideally, meat should marinate for at least 30 minutes and up to 8 hours.
If you are wondering why are chicken strips chewy, the most common cause of chewy chicken is overcooking. Always use a meat thermometer to avoid overcooking your chicken.
Chicken tenders are a family favorite, and kids love them, but what are chicken tenders? They are known by many different names, including chicken strips, tenderloins, tenders, tendies, goujons, chicken fingers, and chicken fillets.
Head on over to the what is chicken tenderloins post to find out what they are, how to cut them yourself, and more budget friendly tips and tricks.
The best way to cut chicken tenders is to use a sharp knife and a cutting board dedicated to poultry. Select boneless, skinless chicken breasts, and
use the knife to cut the chicken breast against the grain into tenders of equal length and thickness.
Be sure to wash the knife and board with hot soapy water to prevent the spread of bacteria.
Yes, you can make frozen chicken tenders instant pot. Start by adding the broth to the instant pot and season the liquid if desired. Place the frozen chicken tenderloins directly into the Instant Pot. You don’t need to defrost them.
For frozen chicken tenders instant pot, you’ll typically want to cook them on high pressure for about 12-15 minutes. Cooking time may vary depending on the size and thickness of the tenders. Release the pressure and check for doneness.
More Recipes You May Like
- Honey Garlic Chicken Tenderloins.
- Lemon Oregano Grilled Chicken Tenderloins.
- Buffalo Chicken Tenderloins.
- Oven Baked Chicken Tenderloins.
- Air Fryer Chicken Breast – just because this is so awesome.
- Instant Pot Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup.
- Instant Pot Chicken Fried Rice.
- Easy Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Tacos.
- Instant Pot Chicken Enchilada Rice.
- Instant Pot Chicken Biryani.
- Easy Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas.
- The best Instant Pot Chicken Breast.
- Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Breast.
- Instant Pot Shredded Chicken.
- Instant Pot Stuffed Chicken Breast.
- Easy Instant Pot Fajita Rice.
- Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Breast.
Serving Suggestions
Recommemded Tools
- An awesome Instant Pot.
- Sharp kitchen knife for cutting.
- A fast read thermometer for checking the temperature.
- Helpful Measuring cups and spoons.
- For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Instant Pot Tools on Amazon.
Weight Watchers Points
There are 2 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.
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Did you make this recipe? Then I would love to hear how it turned out. Please leave a comment and star rating below. And I really appreciate you sharing this recipe with your family and friends. Enjoy every mouthful 😊🍲 – Bintu
Get The Chicken Tenders Instant Pot Recipe:
Instant Pot Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
- 2 pounds (907g) chicken breast boneless and skinless
- 3 tablespoons ketchup
- ¼ teaspoons dried chilis add more or less, to suit your desired heat level
- 1 teaspoon sriracha sauce or more, to taste
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon garlic paste
- 1 cup (236ml) chicken broth or water
Instructions
- Slice chicken breast into tenders then place in a zip-top bag or bowl.
- Add the ketchup, sriracha, chilis, honey, and garlic paste, then stir or shake to combine and fully coat the chicken.
- Add the trivet in the bottom of the Instant Pot insert, then pour in the broth or water.
- Place chicken tenders on top of the trivet. The pieces may touch, but should not overlap.
- Put the lid on, turn the valve to the sealing position, and set to manual pressure / high pressure for 6 minutes.
- When done, perform a quick pressure release (QPR), then open the lid and carefully remove the chicken.
Video
Notes
- Use a sharp knife to cut the chicken breast against the grain into tenders of equal length and thickness.
- If you have time, let the chicken marinate for 30 minutes and up to 8 hours.
- Brown the seasoned chicken in the Instant Pot using the saute function. This step is optional but will lock in the juices and make the tenders more flavorful.
- If you brown the chicken, be sure to scrape any bits off the bottom when adding the chicken broth.
- Be sure to cook the chicken on a trivet or it may burn.
- Always check for doneness with a meat thermometer. The temperature should be 165F / 74C when inserted into the thickest part of chicken breasts.
- Note that the cooking time listed does not include the time it takes for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure, or for the pressure to release.
- Storage – keep leftovers in an airtight container inside the fridge for up to 4 days.
- There are 2 WW Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.
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