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Home » 30 Minute Meals » Instant Pot Shredded Chicken

Instant Pot Shredded Chicken

Published on March 15, 2022 by Bintu. 1 Comment

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SHREDDED CHICKEN IN AN INSTANT POT
SHREDDED CHICKEN IN A BOWL

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.

the completed instant pot shredded chicken recipe

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.

the finished instant pot shredded chicken inside the instant pot

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. 
the ingredients for making shredded chicken instant pot recipe

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.

image collage showing the steps for making instant pot shredded 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.
the completed instant pot shredded chicken in a serving bowl with a cloth napkin

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. 
close up of the finished instant opt shredded chicken

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. 
instant pot shredded chicken in a glass meal storage container

FAQs

Can I Make Frozen Shredded Chicken In Instant Pot?

This recipe is so easy that you can begin with frozen chicken breasts. Follow the recipe as directed adding 2 extra minutes to the high-pressure cooking time. 

How Can I Use Instant Pot Shredded Chicken?

The beauty of this recipe is that it is so versatile. Serve with a few sides for a complete meal, pile it on a salad, serve it in tacos, burritos, casseroles, quesadillas or mix it into a tasty chicken salad. The possibilities are practically limitless. 

How Many Pounds of Chicken Can You Cook At Once?

It is so easy to double this recipe. For an 8-quart Instant Pot I don’t recommend cooking more than 6 pounds of chicken at once. For a 6-quart Instant Pot, 4 pounds will probably be the maximum without overfilling. 

close up view of the instant pot shredded chicken

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.

Get The Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Recipe:

a bowl filled with instant pot shredded chicken

Instant Pot Shredded Chicken

The best way to make delicious shredded chicken!
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate Save RecipeSaved!
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Western
Diet: Gluten Free
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 17 minutes
Total Time: 22 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 183kcal
Author: Bintu Hardy | Budget Delicious

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds (907g) chicken breasts boneless and skinless
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
  • salt to taste
  • 1 cup (235g) chicken broth

Instructions

  • Season chicken breast with salt, garlic powder and smoked paprika.
  • Pour broth into the insert of the Instant Pot, then set the chicken inside the broth.
  • 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.
  • When done, allow for a 5-minute natural pressure release, then perform a quick pressure release to remove any remaining pressure.
  • Remove the chicken and shred using your preferred method.

Video

Notes

  • 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 at least 165 degrees F / 74 degrees C.
  • Storage – keep shredded chicken in an airtight container inside the fridge for up to 5 days.
  • There are 0 WW Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.

Nutrition

Calories: 183kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 97mg | Sodium: 321mg | Potassium: 650mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1195IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg
« Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Breast
Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Tacos »

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Comments

  1. Lou

    April 16, 2022 at 9:44 pm

    5 stars
    This is such a quick and easy meal, will be making it time and time again.

    Reply

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