Curious as to how to cook a whole chicken in an Instant Pot? Keep reading to see how you can make a delicious, fall off the bone, and the juiciest whole chicken in an Instant Pot!
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SO WHAT’S AN INSTANT POT?
I have the Duo Plus 9 in 1 Instant Pot (6 qt) and this is the one that this recipe has been tested in. The Duo Plus replaces 9 commonly used kitchen appliances – Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice/Porridge Cooker, Yogurt Maker, Cake/Egg Maker, Sauté/Searing, Steam, Warm and Sterilize. It’s quite the multi-use product! For more info on the Instant Pot, check out my What is an Instant Pot FAQ here!
RELATED: want more Instant Pot Recipes? Check out this Instant Pot Salisbury Steak Styled Meatballs Recipe + Video
Easy whole juicy chicken in an Instant Pot
So this whole chicken made inside an Instant Pot is one of my favourite Instant Pot recipes right now. Made inside the Instant Pot, there is no basting involved or worrying that the chicken will dry out if you take your eye off it for too long. While I enjoy the crispy skin from baking a whole chicken traditionally, the Instant Pot version can have just as if not more crispy skin as I popped the chicken into the oven to broil for 5 minutes. Also, by making the whole chicken in an Instant Pot, the chicken is literally fall off the bone! It’s so freaking tender and moist and so easy to take apart after it’s been cooked.
Note: you can even see one of the drumstick bones practically falling off the meat just from me moving the chicken to the rack!
Tips on Making the Perfect Instant Pot Chicken
- If you have time, season your whole raw chicken and refrigerate for an hour before cooking
- Season the outside and inside of the chicken for maximum flavour
- Do not quick release once the countdown is done, let it release the pressure naturally
- Every pound of chicken should be cooked 6 minutes under pressure – this chicken was 3.8lbs so to make it easy, I cooked the chicken in the Instant Pot for 24 minutes.
What You Need To Make a Whole Chicken in an Instant Pot
- Whole chicken
- Salt
- Lemon Pepper (or regular pepper)
- Paprika
- Lemon
- Garlic
- 1 cup chicken stock/broth or water
How To Cook a Whole Chicken in an Instant Pot
On sauté mode, drizzle in canola oil.
Season your chicken (salt, pepper, paprika) and inside the cavity, season and place a sliced lemon and garlic inside. Then place the chicken breast side down, still on saute mode, into the Instant Pot. Let it cook for 6 minutes.
After 6 minutes, flip your chicken. This was pretty much the hardest part. It took a pair of tongs and a spatula to flip the whole chicken! Then put in a cup of water/chicken stock/broth.
Turn the valve to sealing and set to 24 minutes (if you have a 4lb chicken) then let it natural pressure release before removing the chicken!
Bam! A whole cooked chicken in the Instant Pot! After removing it from the Instant Pot, to make the skin super crispy, I set it in the oven to be broiled for 5-6 minutes. Keep an eye on it!
RELATED: Got leftover chicken? Try this delicious and easy spicy chicken wrap for lunch the next day!
Whole Chicken in an Instant Pot
Curious as to how to cook a whole chicken in an Instant Pot? Keep reading to see how you can make a delicious, fall off the bone, and the juiciest whole chicken in an Instant Pot!
Ingredients
- 4 lb whole chicken
- 2 tbsp salt
- 2 tbsp pepper
- 2.5 tbsp paprika
- 1 lemon sliced
- 5 cloves of garlic crushed
- 1 cup water/chicken stock
Instructions
Optional: Rub your seasoning onto the whole chicken and let it sit in the fridge for an hour before cooking.
On sauté mode, drizzle in canola oil in your Instant Pot.
Season your chicken (salt, pepper, paprika) and inside the cavity, season and place a sliced lemon and garlic inside. Then place the chicken, breast side down into the Instant Pot. Let it cook on saute mode for 6 minutes.
Flip your chicken.
Pour in 1 cup of water/chicken stock or broth
Turn the valve to sealing and set to 24 minutes (if you have a 4lb chicken) then let it natural pressure release before removing the chicken. (6 minutes per pound of chicken)
After removing it from the Instant Pot, to make the skin super crispy, I set it in the oven to be broiled for 5-6 minutes.
Now… What to do with a whole chicken cooked with the Instant Pot?
Check out this post here on my three freezer friendly meals that you can make (and freeze for later!) with a whole chicken! Perfect for a meal prep if you’re freezing it or as a family dinner with the whole chicken!
Lets Chat! What’s your favourite way to use your Instant Pot? Will you try and cook a whole chicken in an Instant Pot?
Want to try another Instant Pot recipes? Check these recipes out
- Healthier Instant Pot Butter Chicken
- Healthy Instant Pot Lasagna Soup
- Easy Instant Pot Beef Stew
- Instant Pot Salisbury Steak Styled Meatballs
- Spicy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Meal Prep
Other places to connect with me
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Vlogs/Recipe Videos: Youtube
Did you make this recipe? I'm always so happy when that happens! I'd love to see how it turned out! Tag me @CarmysHungry and #HealthyIsAttainable on Instagram so I can see it! You can also email me at carmy(@)carmyy.com if you don't have Instagram ♥
Looks delicious Carmy!! I’m anxious to give this a try for Sunday night’s dinner, yum!
In your bullet points at the beginning of the article about how to cook chicken I was confused by the description: for every pound of chicken it should be cooked 6 pounds under pressure. It wasn’t until further along that I found that you meant 6 minutes per pound using pressure.
Ah! Apologies for the typo! Thanks for catching that, I’ve updated it now.
After you saute and flip do you switch to manual? This is a question I find myself asking when I look at many recipes.
After it is flipped, you change it to pressure cooking setting for 24 minutes.
Love how you compared an Instant Pot chicken vs an oven chicken! You’ve convinced me! I must get an Instant pot
Wow that sure does look super easy! Thanks for sharing this one
This just blew my mind a little bit. I had no idea I could cook a whole chicken in there. Thanks!!
I don’t have an instant pot, but this would be so, so convenient! *-* Gonna have to pass this recipe along to my friend! :]