Instant Pot Shredded Chicken

Learn how to make Shredded Chicken in Instant Pot that is tender, flavorful, and shreds easily. This Instant Pot Shredded Chicken is a quick, no-fuss recipe that is ideal for meal prep.

Suitable for gluten free, low carb, paleo, keto, and Whole30 diets. Post includes Weight Watchers points.

Looking for an easy way to cook the shredded chicken you need for all of your favorite recipes? Then this Instant Pot Shredded Chicken recipe is the answer to your easy weeknight dinner and meal prep needs.

This simple method for cooking shredded chicken in Instant Pot is a real game-changer when it comes to affordable and simple means.

It’s the perfect ingredient for all your favorite recipes: use it to make delicious casseroles, soups, salads, sandwiches, and more. 

Just toss in a few ingredients and let the Instant Pot do the rest. The chicken cooks perfectly, turning out tender and juicy every single time. And you can easily customize this recipe by adjusting the seasonings to suit your taste.

If you like this then please do check out this Instant Pot Salsa Chicken, this Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Tacos and this awesome Instant Pot Chicken Breast Recipe.

Why Make This Recipe

• Perfect for Meal Prep – It’s easy to use this chicken in recipes all week long or freeze it for easy meal prep later on. 
• Easy – Just seasoning, chicken and broth and it’s done in minutes. 
• Versatile – Shredded chicken in instant pot can be used in so many recipes!

Ingredient Notes

• Chicken – Use 2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts. You can also use chicken tenders or chicken thighs. 
• Salt – This basic seasoning brings out the chicken’s natural flavor.
• Garlic Powder – If use garlic salt instead, skip using any additional salt.
• Smoked Paprika – Add delicious flavor and great color. 
• Chicken Broth – Liquid is necessary to allow the Instant Pot to pressurize. You can use water instead of chicken broth. 

How To Make Shredded Chicken In Instant Pot

Get full ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

1. Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and seasoning blend of choice.
2. Pour broth into the insert of the Instant Pot.
3. Set the chicken breast inside the broth.
4. Put the lid on the Instant Pot, turn the valve to the sealing position, and set it to cook at manual pressure/high pressure for 10 minutes.
5. When done, allow for a 5-minute natural pressure release, then perform a quick pressure release to remove any remaining pressure.
6. Remove the chicken and shred using your preferred method (see section below).

Note: 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.

How To Shred Chicken

When you make shredded chicken in Instant Pot, it is incredibly easy to shred. Use any one of these methods to get perfectly shredded chicken:

• Forks – Use two forks to gently shred the chicken in to pieces. 
• Mixer – Place the cooked chicken in a bowl and give it a whirl with a hand-held mixer. Alternatively, you can toss the chicken into the bowl of a stand mixer. 
• Hands – Allow the chicken to cool and then use your hands to manually shred the meat.

Tips For Success

• Select similar sized cuts of chicken for even cooking.
• Trim any excess fat off the chicken before adding it to the Instant Pot. 
• Season your chicken well before cooking. 
• Be sure not to skimp on the liquid. 
• Add leftover liquid to the shredded chicken to keep it nice and moist. 
• Or, you can use the flavorful cooking liquid to make gravy or add it to soup. 
• The cooking time listed does not include the time it takes for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure. 
• Before shredding, check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer to make sure it is is at least 165 degrees F / 74 degrees C.

Variations

• Swap The Seasoning – You can easily swap the smokerd paprika for dried rosemary, oregano, thyme, or your favorite seasoning blend. 
• Add Diced Tomatoes – Add one 15-ounce can of diced tomatoes (try fire roasted) and two-thirds cup of chicken broth in place of the 1 cup of chicken broth. 
• Add a Bay Leaf – Adding a bay leaf adds so much flavor. Be sure to remove before shredding the chicken. 

Budget-Friendly Tips 

• Buy Chicken In Bulk – Stock up on chicken when it is on sale. Buy in bulk and freeze for later use. 
• Double The Batch – You can easily double the amount of chicken for this shredded chicken in Instant Pot recipe and make enough for multiple recipes. There is no need to double the amount of liquid. 
• Freeze In Small Portions – Freeze extra Instant Pot shredded chicken in small usable portions to make it more user-friendly. 

Prep Ahead And Storage

• Store – Store the chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. 
• Freeze – Freeze shredded chicken for up to 3 months. I like to store it in one-cup portions to make it easy to add to my favorite recipes. 

Meal Prep

• Serve for dinner, then enjoy the leftovers for up to 4 more days. 
• Make chicken salad for any easy lunch option. 
• Portion into 1 cup servings for easy use in your favorite recipe. 

FAQs

More Recipes You May Like

• Instant Pot Chicken Enchilada Rice.
• Easy Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas.
• Instant Pot Chicken Breast.
• Instant Pot Salsa Chicken.
• Instant Pot Shredded Chicken.
• Instant Pot Stuffed Chicken Breast.
• Instant Pot Chicken Tenders.
• Easy Instant Pot Whole Chicken.
• Instant Pot Rosemary Chicken Thighs.
• Instant Pot Chicken Curry.

Serving Suggestions

• Pico de Gallo – Chipotle Copycat.
• Instant Pot Enchilada Rice.
• Fold Over Black Bean Quesadillas – TikTok Viral Recipe.

Weight Watchers Points

There are 0 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.

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