Ultimate Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie: A Quick & Creamy Comfort Food Masterpiece

Discover the ultimate weeknight hero: Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie. This incredibly delicious and satisfying comfort food classic comes together entirely in your pressure cooker in less than 35 minutes, offering a wholesome meal without the fuss of traditional baking. Imagine tender, juicy chicken, perfectly cooked vegetables, and a rich, creamy sauce, all ready to be scooped and savored. Serve it alongside warm, flaky biscuits for an irresistible twist on a beloved family favorite that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Why This Speedy Instant Pot Pot Pie Will Be Your New Favorite

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Chicken pot pie is the quintessential comfort food, evoking feelings of warmth and nostalgia with every creamy bite. However, traditional versions often involve extensive prep, multiple pots, and a lengthy baking time, especially when you factor in making a flaky crust from scratch. That’s where our Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie recipe shines, revolutionizing the way you experience this beloved dish. We’ve captured all the hearty, savory flavors of a classic chicken pot pie but without the lengthy commitment, making it perfect for busy weeknights.

Instead of being encased in a traditional pastry crust, our pressure cooker pot pie is designed for ultimate convenience and speed. It’s served with warm biscuits on the side, allowing you to enjoy that comforting carb element without the extra baking steps. This strategic swap significantly reduces cooking time while still delivering that satisfying texture contrast. The Instant Pot cooks everything under pressure, ensuring that boneless, skinless chicken breasts become incredibly tender and shreddable, while potatoes, celery, and onions soften to perfection, all infused with a rich, savory broth and creamy soup base.

The beauty of this recipe lies in its efficiency and flavor. Tender Russet potatoes, crisp celery, and aromatic onion, combined with the vibrant sweetness of frozen peas and carrots, create a symphony of textures and flavors that perfectly complement the chicken. It’s a complete meal in one pot, minimizing cleanup and maximizing enjoyment. We are always on the lookout for quicker alternatives to our favorite comfort foods, and this Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie truly delivers, offering a cozy and delicious dinner in a snap, making it an indispensable recipe in your weeknight rotation.

Essential Ingredients for Your Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie

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Crafting a truly memorable Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie starts with a selection of fresh, high-quality ingredients that build layers of flavor and texture. Below, you’ll find a detailed breakdown of what you’ll need, along with helpful notes and substitution suggestions to make this recipe your own. For a complete list of measurements and detailed instructions, be sure to check out the printable recipe card located at the end of this post.

Ingredient Info and Smart Substitution Suggestions

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Let’s dive deeper into the components that make this Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie so irresistible, offering insights and flexible options to tailor the recipe to your preferences and what you have on hand.

• CHICKEN: For this recipe, you’ll need 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts. These are ideal as they cook quickly and shred easily, integrating seamlessly into the creamy filling. If you prefer, you can use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for an even richer flavor and slightly moister texture – just ensure they are cut into similar-sized pieces for even cooking. Rotisserie chicken is also a fantastic shortcut; simply shred about 3 cups of cooked chicken and add it in Step 6, reducing the pressure cooking time to just 10-12 minutes to cook the vegetables.
• VEGETABLES: The core of a classic chicken pot pie relies on a hearty mix of vegetables. Russet potatoes, celery, and onion form the foundational aromatics and starch, contributing both texture and depth of flavor. We find that combining these fresh vegetables with frozen peas and carrots simplifies the process considerably. While a blend of frozen peas and carrots is super convenient, feel free to chop up fresh carrots if you prefer their texture – just add them at the beginning with the potatoes to ensure they cook through. For an even easier approach, or to add variety, consider using your favorite frozen vegetable blend. Great additions include corn, green beans, or even diced bell peppers for a touch of color and sweetness. This flexibility allows you to customize the dish based on your family’s preferences or what produce is in season.
• CREAMY BASE: Cream of chicken soup provides a quick and delicious shortcut to a rich and savory base. You’ll also need chicken broth (low sodium is recommended to control the overall saltiness) and whole milk to achieve that classic creamy consistency. For a richer flavor, heavy cream can be used in place of whole milk, or a dairy-free milk alternative like unsweetened almond milk can be used for dietary needs, though the richness may vary.
• SEASONING: A simple combination of sea salt and ground black pepper is all that’s needed to enhance the natural flavors of the ingredients. Feel free to adjust these to taste, and consider adding a pinch of dried thyme, poultry seasoning, or a bay leaf during the pressure cooking phase for an extra layer of herbal complexity.

Mastering Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie: Step-by-Step Guide

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These step-by-step photos and detailed instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this delicious recipe with ease. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with precise measurements and instructions at the bottom.

1. Layer the Ingredients: Begin by placing the boneless, skinless chicken breasts evenly on the bottom of your Instant Pot insert. This ensures they cook thoroughly and absorb the flavors of the liquid. Next, layer in the cubed Russet potatoes, followed by the cream of chicken soup, chicken broth, and whole milk. Finally, add the chopped celery, onion, sea salt, and ground pepper. There’s no need to stir at this stage; simply layering helps the ingredients cook properly under pressure.
2. Pressure Cook to Perfection: Secure the Instant Pot lid, making sure the “seal” is engaged or the sealing valve is set to the “sealing” position. Set the Instant Pot to cook on manual (or pressure cook) for 25 minutes. This duration allows the chicken to become incredibly tender and the vegetables to cook through without turning mushy. The pressure cooking process infuses all the ingredients with rich flavor.
3. Prepare Your Biscuits: While the Instant Pot works its magic, preheat your oven to the temperature recommended on your biscuit package. We find that baking biscuits for about 1 minute less than the suggested time yields perfectly soft and slightly underdone centers, which are ideal for soaking up the creamy pot pie filling. If using homemade biscuits, prepare and bake them according to your recipe.
4. Release Pressure and Shred Chicken: Once the Instant Pot has finished its cooking cycle, carefully open the seal or turn the sealing valve to the “venting” position for a quick pressure release. Allow all the pressure to drop naturally or manually release it if you’re in a hurry. When the float valve has dropped, signifying it’s safe to open, remove the lid. Carefully transfer the cooked chicken breasts to a bowl large enough for shredding. You can easily shred the chicken using two forks, or for a super-fast method, use a hand mixer or stand mixer with the paddle attachment on low speed for about 30 seconds. This creates perfectly shredded chicken with minimal effort.
5. Add Frozen Vegetables and Adjust Consistency: Now, pour the frozen peas and carrots directly into the Instant Pot with the cooked chicken and vegetable mixture. Stir gently to combine. The residual heat from the pot pie mixture will quickly warm the frozen vegetables.

TIP: If you find the consistency of the pot pie mixture is thinner than you’d like at this stage, you can easily thicken it. Turn on the “Sauté” setting on your Instant Pot (on low or normal). Stir the mixture consistently for a few minutes until it thickens to your desired consistency. Be sure to stir regularly to prevent sticking. For a thicker consistency, you can also create a cornstarch slurry (1-2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with an equal amount of cold water) and stir it into the simmering pot pie until it thickens. This step gives you full control over the final texture of your delicious filling.

6. Combine and Serve: Finally, add the shredded chicken back into the Instant Pot with the warmed vegetable and creamy sauce mixture. Stir everything together gently until well combined, ensuring the chicken is evenly distributed. Your Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie is now ready to serve! Ladle generous portions into bowls and serve immediately with your warm, fresh-from-the-oven biscuits. Enjoy this hearty and comforting meal that tastes like it took hours, but was ready in a fraction of the time.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips for Your Pot Pie

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Here are answers to some common questions and a few extra tips to ensure your Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie is a resounding success every time.

Serving Suggestions for Your Cozy Meal

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The beauty of Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie is its versatility and inherent ability to make a meal feel special, even on a busy weeknight. While serving it with warm, store-bought or homemade biscuits is our top recommendation – as they provide that perfect, soft vessel for soaking up the creamy filling – there are many ways to complete this comforting meal.

For those who love a little something extra, pair your chicken pot pie with a fresh, crisp dinner salad on the side. A simple green salad with a light vinaigrette offers a refreshing contrast to the rich and savory pot pie, balancing the meal beautifully. Other excellent side dish options include a quick batch of roasted asparagus, steamed green beans, or even a simple fruit salad for a hint of sweetness.

Don’t forget the ingenious tip for leftovers! As mentioned in our FAQs, you can easily use any remaining pot pie mixture to create a more traditional, crust-enclosed pie. Simply add a splash of milk or broth to loosen the filling slightly, then spoon it into a deep-dish pie crust. Top with an additional crust, crimp the edges, create a few steam vents, brush with an egg wash, and bake in a 425°F oven for about 35 minutes until golden brown and bubbly. This clever trick gives you a whole new meal experience from the same delicious base, proving just how adaptable and satisfying this Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie truly is.

More Comforting & Related Recipes to Explore

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If you love the heartwarming goodness of chicken pot pie and easy, family-friendly meals, you’re in luck! We have a treasure trove of similar recipes that bring comfort and flavor to your table with minimal effort. Explore these fantastic variations and related dishes to expand your culinary repertoire:

• Pumpkin Chicken Pot Pie: A seasonal twist on the classic, perfect for autumn.
• Classic Chicken or Turkey Pot Pie: For those who crave the traditional, fully crusted version.
• Beef Stew Biscuit Pot Pie: A hearty, beefy alternative with biscuit topping.
• Chicken Pot Pie Tater Tot Casserole: A fun and easy casserole version crowned with crispy tater tots.
• Easy Chicken Pot Pie Casserole: Another simplified casserole that brings all the classic flavors without the full pie effort.
• Creamy Chicken Pot Pie Soup: All the comforting flavors of pot pie in a soul-warming soup format.

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