Delicious Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Recipe for Easy Meal Prep
This Instant Pot BBQ chicken recipe features juicy, shredded chicken smothered in tangy barbecue sauce. It’s perfect for meal prep or pulled chicken sliders!
Why This Recipe Works
This Instant Pot BBQ chicken is perfect for making sliders, sandwiches, or meal prepping. The chicken is ultra juicy, easy to shred, and bursting with smoky and tangy flavor thanks to a few extra ingredients on top of the barbecue sauce.
Sometimes you need a quick and easy meal to make on a busy weeknight that doesn’t require a lot of hands-on prep, which is where this Instant Pot barbecue chicken shines. Keep in mind that bringing the Instant Pot up to pressure and allowing a natural release adds extra time – but we can be grateful that the pressure cooker does most of the heavy lifting here. Let’s get started.
Ingredients You Will Need
Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.
Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions
Chicken: We’re using both chicken breast and chicken thighs for this recipe. The mixture of the two works well together, and the dark meat adds even more moisture and flavor. You can certainly use all chicken breast if that’s your preference.
Sauce: We recommend our homemade Dr. Pepper Barbecue Sauce for this recipe, but your favorite store-bought barbecue sauce will also work well.
How to Make Instant Pot BBQ Chicken
These step-by-step photos and instructions will help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe for the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.
- Coarsely chop the onion and place it into a mini chopper or food processor. Blend until finely minced. Set aside.
- To the Instant Pot, add chicken stock and all the chicken breasts and thighs.
- Sprinkle the chicken with garlic powder and onion powder, then drizzle with Worcestershire sauce and liquid smoke.
- Add the finely minced onion on top of everything. Sprinkle with brown sugar and top it all with the barbecue sauce.
- Close the lid and turn the vent to the closed position. Cook on high pressure for 20 minutes. Allow a 10-minute natural release, then open the vent to release any remaining pressure.
- Remove the lid and spoon off much of the liquid, but reserve it in case you need to add some back in. Shred the chicken with two forks. If it’s too dry, add some of the reserved liquid back in.
Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips
Yes, you can make this dish using the same ingredients in the slow cooker by following our easy BBQ crockpot chicken recipe instructions.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Serving Suggestions
Serve Instant Pot BBQ chicken stuffed between a slider bun or regular burger bun with additional BBQ sauce to taste. Add some coleslaw for a little crunch and texture! Shredded BBQ chicken is also great alongside a plate of ribs, mac and cheese, and corn on the cob. Optionally serve it chilled and tossed into salads, or meal prep it for lunches and dinners throughout the week. There are so many ways to enjoy it!
More Instant Pot Recipes
- Instant Pot Salmon
- Instant Pot Roast Beef
- Instant Pot Pulled Pork
- Instant Pot Beef Stroganoff
- Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie
- Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken
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