Instant Pot Whole Chicken is an easy recipe that’s always a crowd-pleaser. With a simple cooked chicken, you can make yourself a main dish or you can use the cooked chicken in multiple other recipes!
Use Just Like a Rotisserie Chicken
This fork tender chicken can be used in any recipe that calls for a store bought rotisserie chicken, shredded chicken or cooked chicken
Grab These Ingredients
These simple ingredients are easy to find at the local grocery store — you may even have many in your kitchen already!
- Whole chicken – You need to use a 4 -5 pound chicken. It needs to be small enough that the chicken fits in the pot. Sometimes these are labeled roasters or roaster chickens.
- Water or low-sodium chicken broth – I like to use chicken stock or broth to ass even more flavor to the fresh chicken, but you can certainly use water or vegetable broth, too. Low sodium allows you to better control the saltiness.
- Smoked paprika – You, of course, can use regular paprika if you want. I just really love the smoky flavor that the smoked version adds to the spice rub.
- Salt and pepper – A blend of coarse kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper works beset.
- Garlic powder – Onion powder or fresh garlic can also be used. Onion powder tends to stick well.
- Italian seasoning – This is such a simple seasoning, but man does it make a difference. You could even make your own with my recipe for Italian seasoning.
- Lemon – Cut this into wedges to give the chicken a little extra flavor and brightness.
- Olive oil – Before the chicken cooks in the Instant Pot, you need to sauté it. Olive oil helps it to not stick to the pot.
Variations
Chicken is pretty much a blank canvas so there are tons of ways to change it up!
- Brine – You can use a chicken brine first. Choose between wet brine, dry brine, or no brine. Either way, your chicken will taste great.
- Fresh Herbs – Add herbs like thyme, rosemary, oregano or parsley for a different flavor profile.
- Citrus – Swap out the lemon for orange or lime.
- Spices – Add heat with crushed red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper powder or smoky aleppo chile flakes.
How to Make Instant Pot Whole Chicken
You’re going to love how easy it is to make this Instant Pot whole chicken. You don’t even need to brown it ahead of time!
- Clean chicken. Rinse the chicken and remove the giblets from inside cavity. Rinsing the cavity out is also a good idea. Using a paper towel, pat the chicken dry. Patting it dry helps to achieve golden brown skin.
- Make seasoning blend. In a small bowl combine the salt, pepper, garlic, and Italian seasoning and mix so it spreads evenly on the chicken.
- Season chicken. Season all sides of the chicken, including in between the chicken skin and chicken meat. If you can get it between the skin and meat, it is less likely to fall off during the cooking process.
- Sauté chicken. Set the Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker to the Sauté function and wait until it reads hot. Pour in the olive oil and sauté whole chicken and sear for 4-5 minutes per side. Until browned- this not only jump starts the cooking process but also builds flavor using teh Maillard reaction.
- Add liquid and lemon. After the chicken has been browned, turn off the Instant Pot. Remove the chicken, add the chicken broth, and scrape up any stuck bits off the bottom of the pot. Add the lemon wedges to the cavity of the chicken so it gets seasoned from the inside out.
- Pressure cook. Add the trivet to the pot. Place the chicken breast-side up on the trivet and place chicken back in the pressure cooker. Set to 6 minutes per pound of chicken and allow for a 15-minute Natural Pressure Release.
- Let rest. Remove the chicken and let sit for 5 minutes before serving. Chicken internal temp should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a meat thermometer.
How Long to Cook A Whole Chicken in the Instant Pot
For every pound of chicken, cook 6 mins. A 3lb whole chicken would need to cook for 18 mins, 4lbs for 24 minutes, and 5lbs for 30 minutes. Each will require a 15-minute natural release.
What to Serve With Instant Pot Whole Chicken
This Instant Pot whole chicken recipe is great served with just about as many side dishes as you can think of. For veggies, we like it with green beans or carrots or you can pair it with starches like mashed potatoes or rice. Juicy chicken pairs well with pretty much anything!
You can also use this juicy, tender chicken in sandwiches and wraps as well as other recipes. It’s perfect for making classic chicken salad with grapes, avocado pesto chicken salad, and slow cooker Buffalo chicken dip. You can also use it to top Instant Pot fettuccine Alfredo for some added protein.
Common Questions about Instant Pot Whole Chicken
This can be a matter of personal preference, but if you’re looking for a speedy way to cook a whole chicken, the Instant Pot is the way to go.
Yes, you can cook a whole frozen chicken in a pressure cooker without defrosting. High pressure cooking works differently from a slow cooker which is not recommended for frozen foods.
Storage
Whether you refrigerate it or freeze it, this chicken is great to keep around for when you need it.
Make Ahead
You can season the chicken ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before cooking it in the Instant Pot.
Refrigerator
You can store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge. The leftover meat will stay good for up to 3-5 days.
Freezer
You can also freeze this chicken for up to 3 months. For the best results, I like to cut the chicken off the bones and into pieces before freezing. It’s better than trying to freeze the entire chicken, and the smaller pieces will fit much better into containers and freezer bags.
More Chicken Recipes
If you’re like us and can’t get enough chicken in your life, check out more of these simple recipes that make chicken the star of the show.
Instant Pot Whole Chicken
Ingredients
- 4-5 pound whole chicken
- 1 cup water or low sodium chicken broth
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 fresh lemon , cut into wedges
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Rinse the chicken and remove giblets from inside the cavity. Using a paper towel, pat the chicken dry.
- In a small bowl, mix together the salt, pepper, garlic and Italian seasoning.
- Evenly rub about 1/2 of the seasoning over the chicken exterior, rub the remaining half under the skin.
- Set the Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker to Saute and wait until it reads hot. Add the olive oil.
- Add the whole chicken to Instant Pot and sear for 4-5 minutes per side, front and back. After the chicken has been browned, turn off the Instant Pot.
- Remove the chicken and pour in the chicken broth, scraping up any stuck bits off bottom of pot. Add the lemon wedges to the cavity of the chicken.
- Place the chicken, breast side up, on trivet and place the chicken back in the pressure cooker.
- Set the pressure cooker to 6 minutes per pound of chicken and allow for a 15 minute natural pressure release, then use quick release.
- Remove the chicken and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.
- Chicken should reach internal temperature of 165°F using a digital thermometer.
- If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings!
Nutrition
What do you do with the lemon?
Thank you for noticing that, Marise! Adding now- you cut it and stuff it in the cavity 🙂
I made this and it turns out beautifully. I usually get chicken breast and de-bone them myself. But with the whole chicken I have it all. It is easy and tastes great. I will change the Italian seasoning for just thyme and rosemary next time. I think it would be great for chicken salad. We don’t eat the skin so I rub seasoning under the skin. It is so juicy and favorable. I will use this recipe again and again.
Thanks for the feedback, Mary! Glad you loved it!
I’ve started to prefer making a whole chicken now… I find it preserving so much taste that is otherwise gone. Can’t wait to try your recipe!
Such a fantastic, easy recipe! Love how the instant pot makes the chicken so juicy and tender.
This chicken turned out so juicy! Definitely will be making this again.
The instant Pot is a must have for getting a quick dinner on the table. This recipe is delicious!
We have been doing so much cooking during quarantine. We have been involving the kids in the process. They help us pick recipes, and make them. They have been loving trying new foods and new ways to make foods!. Today we made your instant pot chicken recipe. It was neat to cook the whole chicken! Super easy and super yum!