Description
This Instant Pot Shredded Chicken recipe delivers tender, flavorful chicken breasts cooked quickly under pressure and shredded for versatile use in salads, tacos, sandwiches, and more. Infused with lemon, smoked paprika, garlic, and herbs, it’s an easy and healthy protein option.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasonings
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (fresh or frozen)
- 2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Juice of 1 lemon, divided
Aromatics and Cooking Liquid
- 4 cloves garlic, smashed
- 1 sprig thyme
- 1 sprig rosemary
- 1 cup water or chicken broth
Instructions
- Prepare Instant Pot: Place the trivet inside the Instant Pot, then add 1 cup of water or chicken broth to the pot. This liquid generates the steam needed for pressure cooking.
- Season the Chicken: Arrange the chicken breasts evenly on the trivet. Sprinkle kosher salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and lemon zest all over the chicken to infuse it with bright and smoky flavors.
- Add Aromatics: Squeeze the juice from half a lemon over the chicken breasts. Add the smashed garlic cloves, thyme sprig, and rosemary sprig into the pot to enhance the aroma and depth of flavor.
- Seal and Cook: Close the Instant Pot lid and twist to lock it. Set the steam release valve to the “sealing” position. Select the High Pressure cooking mode and cook for 14 minutes if using frozen chicken breasts or 12 minutes if using fresh ones.
- Pressure Release: Once the cooking time ends, allow the pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes to keep the chicken tender. Afterwards, carefully turn the steam release valve to “venting” to manually release any remaining pressure.
- Shred the Chicken: Remove the chicken breasts from the pot and transfer them to a bowl. Using two forks, shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces, perfect for various dishes.
- Optional Flavor Boost: For additional flavor, squeeze the remaining half of the lemon over the shredded chicken. Toss with about ¼ cup of the reserved cooking liquid from the pot to keep the meat moist and flavorful before serving.
Notes
- Use chicken broth instead of water for richer flavor.
- Frozen chicken breasts require slightly longer cooking time.
- Reserve cooking liquid to keep shredded chicken moist during serving.
- Avoid opening the lid immediately after cooking to ensure juiciness via natural pressure release.
- Try adding other herbs like parsley or cilantro for variation.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-14 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: American
