How To Cook Frozen Chicken Breasts In The Instant Pot [Video]
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Check the easy way of how to cook Frozen Chicken Breasts In The Instant Pot for a quick, easy and very delicious dinner in just about 30 minutes!
Frozen Chicken Breasts In The Instant Pot
When you have an Instant Pot you can make so many delicious recipes in a fraction of the time. One of the best perks of owning a pressure cooker is that you can make many meals without defrosting the meat. With these easy steps on How to Cook Frozen Chicken Breasts In The Instant Pot, you will see how hassle-free cooking with frozen meat can be.
How many times did it happen to you to plan a tasty dinner, and only to realize that you forgot to thaw the meat?! This is the scenario that usually leads to either eating cereal after work or ordering delivery.
Once you see how easy is to cook frozen meat in the Instant Pot, you won’t have this problem again. In this post, I will tell you How to Cook Frozen Chicken Breasts In The Instant Pot and I am sharing with you my easy Herbed Chicken. If you are looking how to cook Frozen Ground Beef in the Instant Pot, you should check my recipe, it definitely saves taco night! Also, I put a short video below to show you step by step instructions on how to do this recipe.
Why cook Frozen Chicken Breasts in the Instant Pot?
- The best part is that you don’t have to thaw the meat! Which is such a time saver, especially when you are in a rush!
- Cooking time is reduced by a lot in comparison to grilling or baking it in the oven, especially if you still need to wait to defrost it.
- The result is very juicy and flavorful chicken breasts that you can either enjoy right away or store and use as protein on salads. Makes meal prep so much easier.
- Minimum prep work for a great dinner!
What you will need to cook Frozen Chicken Breasts in the Instant Pot?
- Instant Pot or any other Pressure Cooker
- Frozen Chicken Breasts – make sure they are not stuck-frozen to each other. This is important, as it may not cook uniformly.
- Water or Chicken Broth
- White Wine – the white wine can be replaced with either water or chicken broth.
- Minced Garlic
- Butter – optional
How long you should cook Frozen Chicken Breasts in the Instant Pot or other Pressure Cooker?
- I like to cook it anywhere between 8-10 minutes. If the chicken breasts are really small, you can see the ones I used in the video, they are on the smaller size, I cook those for 8 minutes with a 10 minute NPR.
- If the chicken breasts are larger and thicker, I cook those for 10 minutes with a 10 minute NPR.
What is Natural Pressure Release (NPR)?
A Natural Pressure Release means that the pressure is released gradually. For a Natural Pressure Release, you click on Keep Warm and wait 10 minutes. After which, you open the valve and let any leftover pressure to release. Another option is to Turn Off/Unplug the pressure cooker, wait 10 minutes and after that open the valve.
A natural release is usually used when cooking soups, meat in a large amount of sauce, pasta or steel cut oats. This method prevents any foam from the dish to shoot out through the valve, which can happen during a Quick Pressure Release.
Can I brown Frozen Chicken Breasts in the Instant Pot?
Now, that’s a no-no. Do not attempt to brown frozen meat of any type. Another way to make the chicken tastier is after you cook it, quickly rinse the pot, select Sauté and brown it a few minutes.
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Herbed Chicken Seasoning:
Chicken doesn’t have to be bland. If you take a few minutes to mix these dried herbs and sauté the chicken, you will end up with a very flavorful and delicious dinner! Also, way quicker than baking the chicken breasts. Here are the herbs that I used:
- Oregano
- Red Pepper Flakes
- Dried Rosemary and Dried Thyme – I also like to add a few fresh thyme sprigs to the pot, they will add great flavor.
- Bay leaves
What do you serve Instant Pot Chicken Breasts with?
Watch recipe step-by-step Video:
How To Cook Frozen Chicken Breasts In The Instant Pot
Check the easy way of how to cook Frozen Chicken Breasts In The Instant Pot for a quick, easy and very delicious dinner in just about 30 minutes!
Ingredients
- 4 frozen chicken breasts boneless and skinless (about 6-8 ounces each frozen)
- 1 cup water or chicken broth
- 1/3 cup white wine
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon butter unsalted
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 5 fresh thyme sprigs
- 3 bay leaves
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Fresh thyme
- Chopped parsley
- Lemon slices
Instructions
- Before you add the chicken to the Instant Pot make sure its not stuck together.
- Add frozen chicken breast to the Instant Pot. It is okay if the breasts overlap.
- Add water or chicken broth, white wine, garlic, butter, salt and pepper. Gently stir to combine.
- Add bay leaves and fresh thyme.
- Place the lid and lock it, make sure to point the valve to sealing.
- Press manual and select 8 minutes for small chicken breasts or 10 minutes, for medium-large chicken breasts. It will take the pot about 10 minutes to come to pressure.
- Once the cooking is done and the Instant Pot beeps, do a 10 minute Natural Pressure Release, after that open the valve to release the remaining pressure.
- Check the internal temperature of the chicken, it should be at least 165 degrees F.
- You can chop it and serve it as it is, or you can shred it for chicken tacos. Or follow the instructions below for my Herbed Instant Pot Chicken:
- Remove chicken from the pot and set aside on a plate, cover with aluminum foil.
- Quickly discard the liquid, thyme and bay leaves from the pot. Wash it and dry it with a paper towel.
- Add the pot back to the Instant Pot and select Sauté.
- Once Hot add the olive oil, let the oil heat up for 1 minute. Add the chicken to the pot in one layer, if needed cook it in batches.
- Sprinkle over the seasoning: dried thyme, dried rosemary, dried oregano and red pepper flakes. Brown the chicken on each side without turning it for about 2-3 minutes or until golden brown.
- Remove chicken from pot and add it to a cutting board. Using a spoon, baste the chicken with the juices from the pot, top it with all the delicious browned herbs.
- Cover with foil and let it rest for 5 minutes.
- Slice the chicken and serve.
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Not having to thaw is a big time saver. Sounds like a wonderful recipe for those who have an insta pot.
I LOVE my instant pot! This is exactly why! You can make SUCH awesome meals in half the time! I can’t wait to try this one!
Wow … 8-10 minutes from frozen is crazy! I don’t own an Instant Pot but I have been looking into them because I keep hearing so many good things about it.
I will have to try this out. We do have a lot of chicken, that’s for sure. I don’t think I’ve ever tried to cook them in the Instant Pot yet.
This is such a great guide! I ALWAYS have frozen chicken so I am going to try this asap.
I love cooking chicken in my Instant Pot. I will shred those breasts and put them in freezer baggies for other recipes. So easy.
The InstantPot is a life saver!! This looks so delicious. I’ll have to try it.
The instant pot has changed my life! This recipes is going on my must try list! It looks so yummy.
I am dying to get an Instant Pot! It seems so practical and there are so many recipes you can make in it.
This is a great way to cook chicken and without thawing it is so convenient. It came out looking moist and tender so it must be a good method.
This is the perfect meal for when I’m in a hurry and once again, forgot to defrost the chicken in the fridge. I need to use my Instant Pot and make this – it looks delicious.
I am so glad you shared this recipe with us as I need to use my Instant Pot as it just sits on the cabinet as I didn’t know what to use it for or how to cook in it.
This is such a helpful recipe!
Looks so simple and super flavorful!
This recipe looks tummy! I still have to invest in a Instant Pot. I love trying recipes that don’t require too much prep work.
Something that I have yet to try and I appreciate the tips that you’re sharing about cooking frozen chicken using an instant pot. I think this recipe is really lovely and one that we’ll enjoy!
I never knew you could use frozen chicken! This is such a time saver!
This is so helpful! Sometimes I get a craving for something and realize I haven’t taken anything out to defrost. Perfect!
That turned out perfectly! This is why I need an instant pot. I cooked chicken tonight that was perfect on the outside, but raw on the inside…I had to cut it open and allow all the juices to escape to cook it and then it became chewy. I really need one of these!
We don’t have an instant pot. From all the people I’ve seen writing about them on various blogs and social media feeds though I’m thinking it may be time to make a purchase. The chicken I cook up in our kitchen can be kinda rubbery at times LOL … so I’m interested from your write up and how an instant pot may improve upon that.
This looks incredibly delicious!
Thank you for this, I never knew I could cook it frozen in the Instant Pot. I always forget to take out chicken for dinner and thaw it, so we end up eating pizza or microwave food, lol. Now I know that I can make chicken even when I forget!
I actually think that cooking from frozen adds juiciness to the meat! I had forgotten about this and summer is a great time to use the instant pot.
I’m going to send your post to my sister who uses her Instant Pot for everything. She’s talked me into getting one myself so I’m sure I’ll try this too when I make my purchase (I’m looking for the best deal). We eat chicken breasts often and there are many times when I’ve forgotten to take them out of the freezer in time.
This is such a great idea! would love to try it soon!
Just made this last night and it’s amazing!!!!!! I bought an Instant Pot in the first place because it does frozen chicken, and I am so so happy.
Didn’t have wine (sad) so did extra broth, plus the oil and as many of the herbs as I had lying around. (No rosemary shockingly; only dried thyme not fresh; added some fresh lemon zest cuz why not; otherwise as described). I have a mini pot and two rock-hard frozen breasts just fit. Pressure cooked for 10 minutes, 10 minute natural release like you said, and they were PERFECT. The red pepper flakes really came through, which I love! Next time I might thicken the leftover liquid (there was a lot) for a sauce and serve it over pasta.
I don’t have a manual button? What do it do?! I’m so upset ? I got to the actual cooking after my test run and now I’m stuck
Don’t be upset, Manual and Pressure Cook are the same.
I don’t have a manual either…when I press Pressure Cook button do I want Less, Normal, or More?
Normal.
My mother got me an instant pot for Christmas this year (came early so of course I didn’t wait to open it). I have so many cooking devises so am sceptical if it will get regular use. I’m very excited to try the frozen chicken recipe tonight. Fingers crossed?. If I like mine she will get one for herself. Guess I’m the guinea pig?
My husband loves this recipe especially with the herbs! I’ve done this recipe twice just this week. I’m just wondering where are the juices coming from with sauteeing the chicken with the herbs? Where is the baste coming from besides the oil?