Tender Instant Pot BBQ pulled chicken is flavorful shredded chicken that is made entirely in the electric pressure cooker! This tasty shredded chicken makes a great barbecue sandwich.
Instant Pot BBQ pulled chicken may be the easiest way to make pulled chicken! This quick prep recipe takes just minutes to get into the Instant Pot.
The chicken is incredibly tender and has lots of flavor. It makes great sandwiches, but don’t stop there! It’s also delicious with mac and cheese or use it to make bbq chicken pizza.
Ingredient notes and substitutions
- Garlic powder: Be sure to use garlic powder, not salt.
- Onion powder: Make sure you use onion powder, not onion salt.
- Kosher salt: If using table salt, use half the amount of salt.
- Chicken breast: You could use boneless, skinless chicken thighs, but you may need to increase the cooking time.
- Apple cider vinegar: The vinegar helps to make the pork tender and the acidity adds balance.
- Liquid smoke: Liquid smoke adds a bit of smokiness to the pork. It’s optional but tasty.
- Barbecue sauce: Choose a barbecue sauce that you like.
How to make Instant Pot BBQ pulled chicken
Here you’ll find step-by-step photos showing how to make this recipe. The full recipe, including ingredients, is given below.
Step 1: Stir together the garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, ground black pepper, and smoked paprika in a small bowl. Set aside.
Step 2: Pour the chicken broth, apple cider vinegar, and liquid smoke into the Instant Pot inner pot.
Step 3: Add the chicken breasts to the pot.
Step 4: Sprinkle the seasoning blend over the chicken.
Step 5: Close and lock the lid. Press manual high pressure and adjust the cooking time to 10 minutes.
Step 6: When the cooking time has finished, let the pressure release naturally for 15 minutes.
Step 7: Turn the pressure release valve to venting to release any remaining pressure and unlock the lid.
Step 8: Drain off all but 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
Step 9: Shred the chicken, and stir in the desired amount of barbecue sauce.
For more flavor, let the chicken sit in the saucy liquid for about 10 minutes before serving.
Serving suggestions
Pulled barbecue chicken makes a great sandwich! Add some coleslaw on top of the chicken or serve it alongside baked beans, mac and cheese, or your favorite barbecue side dish for an easy and delicious meal.
Storage
Any leftover pulled chicken should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to 4 days when properly stored in the fridge.
Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2/3 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
- ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1-2 cups barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Stir together the garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, ground black pepper, and smoked paprika in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Pour the chicken broth, apple cider vinegar, and liquid smoke into the Instant Pot inner pot.
- Add the chicken breasts to the pot.
- Sprinkle the seasoning blend over the chicken.
- Close and lock the lid. Press manual high pressure and adjust the cooking time to 10 minutes. It should take about 10 minutes to come to pressure (more if your liquids were cold).
- When the cooking time has finished, let the pressure release naturally for 15 minutes.
- Turn the pressure release valve to venting to release any remaining pressure and unlock the lid.
- Drain off all but 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
- Shred the chicken, and stir in the desired amount of barbecue sauce.
- For more flavor, let the chicken sit in the saucy liquid for about 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Seasoning blend: Feel free to substitute your favorite bbq seasoning blend for the seasonings.
- Vinegar: You can decrease the amount of vinegar if you prefer. The vinegar helps to make the chicken tender, so I don’t recommend omitting it.
- Nutrition values are estimates.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: Nutritional values were calculated using a third-party tool and are provided as an estimation only.
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Did You Make This?
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I like it with and without the bbq sauce! Great recipe. Comes out perfect every time.
Thank you! I’m glad you like the chicken!