Need something quick and easy for dinner? As a mom myself, I get it! Sometimes we just need to get dinner on the table. This Instant Pot Poached Chicken recipe is just what you need for a quick and easy dinner that everyone will love!
This poached chicken pressure cooker recipe is a real game changer and one of my favorite things to cook in the Instant Pot.
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Why This Recipe Works
- Great for picky eaters. Season this poached chicken any way you like. For picky eaters, you can just use salt and pepper.
- No special ingredients. Besides a little garlic, broth and bay leaves, you won’t need any special ingredients to make poached chicken.
- It's super quick. Poached chicken breasts can be cooked and on the table in less than 30-minutes. So, if you are in a hurry, this is the perfect recipe. You will also have time to slice it beautifully. Usually, I use a knife or meat slicer. If you don’t have one, you can choose the best meat slicer here.
📋 Ingredients
- Chicken: Provide a lean and protein-rich base for the dish.
- Chicken Broth: Using broth adds flavor and moisture to the poached chicken, making it even more delicious.
- Poached Chicken Seasoning: A simple combination of salt, pepper, crushed garlic, and a bay leaf is used to season the chicken.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
- Broth & Liquid Options: Instead of plain water, use chicken broth, coconut milk, or a mix of white wine and broth for extra depth of flavor.
- Aromatics & Seasoning Variations: Infuse the chicken with fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, or bay leaves. Add garlic, ginger, or a splash of soy sauce for an Asian-inspired twist.
- Protein Alternatives: Swap chicken breasts for bone-in thighs for a richer flavor and juicier texture. You can also use turkey breast for a leaner variation.
- Serving & Flavor Boosts: Shred the poached chicken for tacos, salads, or sandwiches. Drizzle with a lemon-garlic butter sauce or toss with a light vinaigrette for added taste.
🔪How To Make Instant Pot Poached Chicken
- Step 1: First, season your chicken breasts with salt and pepper, and any additional seasoning you choose.
- Step 2: Place the chicken in the Instant Pot, pour the chicken broth or chicken stock over it, crush the garlic, and add the bay leaves to the pot.
- Step 3: Next, secure the instant pot lid, put the sealing vent on the lid into the “sealing” position, and push the “manual” or “pressure cook” button for 12 minutes.
- Step 4: Now release the pressure. This recipe yields juicy poached chicken, whether you pressure release naturally or do a quick release. It depends on your time. I find that a natural release keeps the chicken breast more tender than a quick release. Once the pressure is released, carefully remove the chicken from the Instant Pot.
- Step 5: Slice the poached chicken up for sandwiches or salads, make shredded chicken for tacos or soup, or use it in your favorite chicken recipes. Serve and enjoy your chicken breast recipe!
Other Seasonings To Add When Poaching Chicken
Feel free to experiment with different seasonings for added flavor. Some options include:
- Italian seasoning blend
- Cajun seasoning blend
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Curry powder
- Lemon pepper seasoning blend
- Chinese five-spice blend
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Use Flavorful Liquid: Poach chicken in broth with aromatics like garlic, onion, bay leaves, and peppercorns for tender, well-seasoned meat.
- Gentle Pressure Cooking: Cook on high pressure for 5 minutes (for boneless) or 10 minutes (for bone-in), then allow a natural release for 10 minutes to keep the chicken juicy.
- Rest & Slice: Let the chicken rest for a few minutes after removing it from the Instant Pot to lock in moisture before shredding or slicing.
💭 FAQs
Poached chicken is chicken that is completely covered or submerged in liquid. It is not boiled chicken. Instead, it is a gentler technique that keeps the chicken at a set, constant temperature.
Poached chicken is generally cooked at a lower temperature in flavored liquid, resulting in a tender and delicately flavored dish, while boiled chicken is cooked at a higher temperature in plain water, often yielding a firmer texture.
When using the Instant Pot, there are two options for cooking chicken: the pressure cook function and the steam function. Both of these can be used to poach chicken breasts in the Instant Pot. But why use one over the other?
Poaching chicken with the pressure cook function creates a more tender and moist chicken that falls apart easily, making it great for shredding and adding to dishes like tacos or a chicken salad. Poaching the chicken with the steam function creates a firmer, more intact cooked chicken that can be used in dishes like sandwiches or stir-fries.
I prefer to use boneless, skinless chicken breasts when making poached chicken, but you don’t have to. If you choose, you can use chicken strips, poached chicken tenders, boneless skinless thighs or another cut you prefer. You can poach chicken breast boneless or bone in. You could switch the chicken breasts for poached chicken thighs or poach a whole chicken.
Just note that cooking time may vary slightly depending on the cut or size of chicken you use. I also recommend adding extra seasoning for bone-in chicken such as herbs, if poaching a whole chicken to help raise the flavor profile. To know exactly how to cook a whole chicken in the Instant Pot, check out this Instant Pot Whole Chicken Recipe.
Yes, you can make this recipe in the slow cooker, but note that cooking times will vary. Cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours, until chicken is cooked through and tender. Make sure to add the garlic and bay leaves during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
Yes, you can easily double this recipe by doubling the ingredients and adjusting the cooking time to 14-16 minutes on high pressure.
Can you poach frozen chicken breast? The answer is yes! If you want poached chicken from frozen then simply follow the instructions for Instant pot poached chicken but increase the cooking time from 12 minutes to 15 minutes. Your frozen chicken breasts will be perfect once cooked. This additional time will enable the frozen chicken to turn out just as juicy and delicious as thawed chicken.
Yes, this Instant pot poached chicken can be frozen for up to 3 months in an airtight container or freezer bag. You may want to shred the chicken before placing it into a freezer bag. Simply thaw before using the cooked chicken in your favorite recipes.
To store poached chicken, allow it to cool to room temperature. Once cooled, place it in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. For longer storage, you can freeze the poached chicken for up to 3 months.
What To Do With Poached Chicken
There are lots of ways to serve poached chicken. You can serve the chicken breast whole, shred chicken, slice the chicken or cut it up into squares. You may want to add flavor such as soy sauce or Italian dressing before serving. Some of my favorite ways to serve poached chicken are:
- With salads or on top of a bed of grains.
- Add Shredded chicken to tacos or burrito bowls.
- After poaching chicken stuff it into pita bread or wraps.
- Slicing chicken for use in Asian dishes such as lo mein
- Add the poached chicken to a Chicken and Feta Pasta Salad.
🍜 Related Recipes
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Instant Pot Poached Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 Chicken Breasts Large
- 1 Cup Broth or water
- 2 Bay Leaves
- 4 Crushed Garlic Cloves
- Salt And Pepper
- Additional Seasoning As Desired
Instructions
- Season chicken as desired.
- Place chicken in Instant Pot.
- Crush the garlic with the back of your knife and add to the Instant Pot along with the bay leaves.
- Pour in the broth and secure the Instant Pot lid.
- Cook at manual or pressure cook for 12 minutes.
- Natural or quick release, as desired
Notes
- Serve your chicken breasts with salads or on top of a bed of grains.
- Add Shredded chicken to tacos or burrito bowls.
- After poaching chicken stuff it into pita bread or wraps.
- Slice for use in Asian dishes such as lo mein
- Add the instant pot poached chicken to a Chicken and Feta Pasta Salad
Nutrition
Not sure what to make with this deliciously juicy poached chicken? Here are some of our favorite pressure cooker recipes and side dish options:
I made the poached chicken breast. I used 4 frozen Costco boneless skinless chicken breast and set the timer for 15 minutes. Other than that, I followed the directions precisely. It worked out perfectly and I will continue to use this recipe to poach my chicken from now on. My one cup of cooking liquid turned into approximately 3 cups which I saved after removing the cooked chicken from the pot. I cleaned everything up while the chicken cooled. I tasted it and needed more seasoning than I used prior to cooking. I shredded it with 2 forks seasoned it liberally with additional salt and pepper. I ended up with 1 lb. 2 oz. of shredded chicken. It's for our Tuesday lunch so I poured the reserved liquid on it so it wouldn't dry out. I think it'll make great chicken salad. It was quick and easy. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
This is my new go to recipe for poaching chicken. I just vary the spices to use it for chicken salad, soups, tacos, any recipe in which I would use cooked or rotisserie chicken. Tonight, it’s Asian soup—I added carrots, green onions, noodles and bok choy after the chicken was done plus Asian spices. Delicious.
Perfect consistency, fast, and easy every time.
I;m sog lad to hear this. I love to poach our chicken this way and it's so fast. Your Asian soup sounds tasty!