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close up shot of shredded chicken in the instant pot
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5 from 4 votes

Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Breast

This all purpose Instant Pot shredded chicken breast comes out juicy and flavorful each and every time. Enjoy it as is, or use it up in other recipes through the week!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time8 minutes
Time to pressurize10 minutes
Total Time23 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Diet: Diabetic, Gluten Free
Servings: 8
Calories: 132kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups stock
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon onion
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts see note 1

Instructions

  • Combine- In the stainless steel insert of your Instant Pot, combine the stock, thyme, paprika, onion powder and paprika. Add the chicken breasts and turn to coat.
    uncooked chicken breast in the instant pot with liquids and spices
  • Pressure cook- Place the lid on your Instant Pot, and make sure the steam release valve is set to the 'sealing' position. Pressure cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. When the cooking cycle has completed, perform a quick pressure release: carefully transition the steam release handle to the 'venting' position.
    instant pot with 8 minutes on the timer
  • Shred chicken- Using a set of tongs, transfer the cooked chicken to a clean bowl. Use two forks to pull the chicken apart, or an electric hand mixer (which accomplishes it in seconds!).
  • Toss in cooking liquid- After shredding the chicken, you can pour the cooking liquid over the chicken, or return the shredded chicken to the Instant Pot and stir it up.
    shredded chicken in the instant pot

Video

Notes

1- adjust cook time as needed for:
  • frozen chicken breasts (separated) cook for 12 minutes with a quick pressure release
  • frozen chicken breasts (in a clump) cook for 5 minutes with a quick pressure release, then pry apart the chicken. Cook for another 7-10 minutes (total of 12-15 min) with a quick pressure release
  • boneless chicken thighs- 10 minutes with a quick pressure release
 
Storage
Store in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 132kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 453mg | Potassium: 424mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 201IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg