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How To Cook a Whole Chicken in an Instant Pot

March 2, 2018 by Carmy 35 Comments

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. For more info, please see my privacy policy. Affiliate links may give me a commission on the product but it is of no extra cost to you.

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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! #InstantPot #ChickenRecipe #InstantPotChicken

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!

Click here to pin this whole chicken recipe for later!

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 moist whole chicken in an Instant Pot!

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.

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!

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

Ingredients for making a whole chicken in an Instant Pot: whole chicken, lemon, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic, lemon

  • Whole chicken
  • Oil
  • 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

Oil in Instant | 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!

On sauté mode, drizzle in canola oil or oil of your choice.

Seasoned Whole Chicken in 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!

Place your seasoned chicken (seasoned with oil, salt, pepper, paprika then and inside the cavity, season and place a sliced lemon and garlic inside) breast side down, still on saute mode, into the Instant Pot. Let it cook for 6 minutes.

Flipped whole chicken in 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!

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.

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!

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!


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 moist whole chicken in an Instant Pot!

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!
5 from 14 votes
Print Rate
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 29 mins
Total Time: 39 mins
Servings: 1 chicken

Ingredients

  • 4 lb whole chicken
  • 4 tbsp oil
  • 2 tbsp salt
  • 2 tbsp pepper
  • 2.5 tbsp paprika
  • 1 lemon, sliced
  • 5 cloves of garlic, crushed
  • 1 cup water/chicken stock

Instructions

  • Season your chicken (oil, salt, pepper, paprika) and inside the cavity, season and place a sliced lemon and garlic inside. 
  • On sauté mode, drizzle in 2 tbsp canola oil in your Instant Pot. 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 on manual (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.

Notes

Optional: Rub your seasoning onto the whole chicken and let it sit in the fridge for an hour before cooking.
Tried this recipe?Did you make this recipe? I'm always so happy to hear about it! I'd love to see how it turned out. Tag me at @CarmysHungry on Instagram so I can see it! If you enjoyed the recipe, I'd really appreciate a comment with a 5 star rating! ♥

Nutrition

Calories: 2004kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 167g | Fat: 134g | Saturated Fat: 38g | Cholesterol: 653mg | Sodium: 14593mg | Potassium: 2402mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 9660IU | Vitamin C: 75.8mg | Calcium: 243mg | Iron: 13.5mg
Authour: Carmy
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Instant Pot

Now… What to do with a whole chicken cooked with the Instant Pot?

Curious as to how to make stock in the Instant Pot? This post will guide you through how I make homemade chicken stock in the Instant Pot!Curious as to how to make stock in the Instant Pot? This post will guide you through how I make homemade chicken stock in 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!

Got a whole chicken? Today I have for you a whole chicken meal prep that makes 3 freezer friendly meals!

Here’s 3 other ways to use will all the meat if you Instant Pot a whole chicken!

Do you have some leftover rotisserie chicken? Looking for a way to revive these leftovers into new dishes? Check out these 3 easy leftover rotisserie chicken recipes that's freshen up your leftovers!

 

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
  • Homemade Healthier Instant Pot Hamburger Helper
  • Easy Instant Pot Beef Stew
  • Instant Pot Salisbury Steak Styled Meatballs
  • Spicy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Meal Prep

 


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! #InstantPot #ChickenRecipe #InstantPotChicken

Other places to connect with me
Instagram: @carmyshungry
Twitter: https://twitter.com/runcarmyrun
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carmyycom
Email: [email protected]
Vlogs/Recipe Videos: Youtube


Want more information about meal prepping? Confused and curious about how to start meal prepping? Want to have everything you need in one convenient spot? Check out my new e-book - it is everything you need to know to start meal prepping!  ♥

Filed Under: All Recipes, How To Tutorials, Instant Pot, Recipes Tagged With: instant pot, recipe, whole chicken

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Previous Post: « Sweet Miso Apple Chicken with Roasted Bok Choy + Sweet Potatoes
Next Post: What Is An Instant Pot? Everything You Need To Know About The Instant Pot »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Janice - Salads 4 Lunch

    March 2, 2018 at 11:47 am

    5 stars
    Looks delicious Carmy!! I’m anxious to give this a try for Sunday night’s dinner, yum!

    Reply
  2. Vickie Burkett

    March 2, 2018 at 1:33 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Carmy

      March 2, 2018 at 10:36 pm

      Ah! Apologies for the typo! Thanks for catching that, I’ve updated it now.

      Reply
  3. Amy

    March 12, 2018 at 5:04 pm

    After you saute and flip do you switch to manual? This is a question I find myself asking when I look at many recipes.

    Reply
    • Carmy

      March 12, 2018 at 6:21 pm

      After it is flipped, you change it to pressure cooking setting for 24 minutes.

      Reply
      • Kerrt

        January 7, 2020 at 9:24 am

        Can you cook a whole chicken from frozen? If so how much longer would it take?

        Reply
        • Carmy

          January 8, 2020 at 2:36 pm

          you can but I have not tried it with a whole chicken personally. Sorry!

          Reply
  4. Abbey Sharp

    April 13, 2018 at 1:39 pm

    5 stars
    Love how you compared an Instant Pot chicken vs an oven chicken! You’ve convinced me! I must get an Instant pot

    Reply
  5. Deborah Brooks

    April 13, 2018 at 2:01 pm

    Wow that sure does look super easy! Thanks for sharing this one

    Reply
  6. Rachel

    April 13, 2018 at 4:06 pm

    This just blew my mind a little bit. I had no idea I could cook a whole chicken in there. Thanks!!

    Reply
  7. Farrah

    April 13, 2018 at 9:47 pm

    5 stars
    I don’t have an instant pot, but this would be so, so convenient! *-* Gonna have to pass this recipe along to my friend! :]

    Reply
  8. Ann

    August 5, 2018 at 7:47 am

    Is your calorie count a typo?

    Reply
    • Carmy

      August 5, 2018 at 9:53 am

      Hi Ann,

      The calories is not a typo. The calories listed is for the entire chicken, not per serving.

      Reply
  9. Jacqueline Debono

    October 7, 2018 at 11:40 am

    5 stars
    I’m still on the fence about getting an Instant Pot but when I come across recipes like this I feel inspired to order one. Looks like such an easy, no mess way to cook a whole chicken!

    Reply
  10. Eden

    October 7, 2018 at 11:57 am

    5 stars
    Just another (delicious) sign that I need to get an Instant Pot ASAP!

    Reply
  11. kim

    October 7, 2018 at 12:31 pm

    5 stars
    I love it! This looks super easy and I can’t wait to give it a try!

    Reply
  12. Amanda

    October 7, 2018 at 2:20 pm

    5 stars
    Is there anything the Instant Pot can’t do? This looks like such a great way to cook chicken. Definitely giving this a try soon!

    Reply
  13. Ginny McMeans

    October 7, 2018 at 2:48 pm

    5 stars
    The instant pot has become so popular. Your instructions are really good as well as the photographic instructions.

    Reply
  14. Holly

    December 18, 2018 at 8:30 pm

    5 stars
    Wow- yet another way to use my Instant Pot! I’ve got to try this! Love the step by step photos, thanks!

    Reply
  15. Pam

    December 28, 2018 at 10:59 pm

    5 stars
    I bought an instant pot just to try this recipe and was not disappointed. It was so easy, quick, and the chicken was unbelievably juicy!

    Reply
    • Carmy

      December 29, 2018 at 2:26 pm

      I’m so glad to hear! I hope you try out the other recipes!

      Reply
  16. Carey

    December 29, 2018 at 1:56 pm

    Hi, I just got an instant pot for Christmas and wanted to make a whole chicken….I like your recipe but wondered, can the chicken be frozen or does it have to be thawed?
    Thanks,
    Carey

    Reply
    • Carmy

      December 29, 2018 at 2:27 pm

      Hi Carey,

      This recipe is for a thawed chicken as I seared it on both sides. I haven’t tested it with a frozen chicken unfortunately.

      Reply
  17. Lori

    August 8, 2019 at 5:12 pm

    Is pressure high or normal for this? Thanks

    Reply
    • Carmy

      August 9, 2019 at 3:08 pm

      High pressure :)

      Reply
      • Al

        December 3, 2020 at 3:43 pm

        5 stars
        Love the recipe and I’ve made it a few times, always successfully. Maybe I’m a little OCD, but I think you should update the directions to indicate “manual, HIGH pressure”. I find myself always scrolling down to the comments for this crucial clarification ;)

        Reply
        • Carmy

          December 3, 2020 at 6:37 pm

          Thanks for your comment Al! I’m just so used to always cooking on high pressure that I forget people use the other settings as well :)

          Reply
  18. Jimmy Morrison

    October 4, 2019 at 2:40 pm

    5 stars
    If I want to make bean soup with the whole chicken, what would you suggest ?

    Reply
    • Carmy

      October 4, 2019 at 2:42 pm

      Hi Jimmy! Here’s a bean soup that would go well with chicken: https://www.budgetbytes.com/vegetarian-15-bean-soup/

      Reply
  19. Kat Mahon

    December 22, 2019 at 10:14 pm

    5 stars
    I made this but I didn’t brown it first. I was wanting cooked chicken for chicken and noodles. I had a 4 pound whole chicken and put the seasoning under the skin. Then I put it in the instant pot and cooked it for almost 8 min per pound so 30 minutes. It turned out perfect! The chicken was so tender I had a hard time not eating it before I got it pulled off the bone. It had a lot of flavor. It made wonderful chicken and noodles.

    Reply
  20. Rick

    October 20, 2020 at 7:34 pm

    Tried and was yummy and was as u said; off the bone. Keep up the gr8 recipes

    Reply
    • Carmy

      October 20, 2020 at 10:15 pm

      So glad you enjoyed, Rick!

      Reply
  21. Monica Lewis

    October 23, 2020 at 10:25 am

    I think the carb count is wrong.
    Should read 13 carbs (not 31).
    5 cloves of garlic: 5g carbs
    1 lemon: 7.8g carbs

    Reply
    • Carmy

      October 26, 2020 at 11:21 am

      Thanks, Monica. All nutritional data is estimated by the recipe plugin but I’ll take a look!

      Reply
  22. Dawn Johnson

    January 17, 2021 at 7:58 pm

    5 stars
    Bird comes out very juicy and tender. I would suggest cutting the spices down to a 1/2 or 1/4 amount in the recipe. I made gravy out of the drippings and it was way too peppery. Or maybe substitute with a different spice combination. I also suggest putting the chicken on a trivet we pressure cooking,

    Reply

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meet carmy

Carmy is a healthy-ish living blogger based in Toronto. Here you can find healthy-ish meal prep recipes, Instant Pot recipes, and lightened up family favourites! Follow along on as she shares what she learns along the way!

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Click here to check out her Meal Prep: Learning the Basics ebook.



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