This Instant Pot Shredded Chicken recipe is juicy, tangy and tasty! It's so simple to make in the pressure cooker but can be just as easily made in the slow cooker, stovetop, or oven.
Perfect for bbq chicken pizza, sandwiches, quesadillas, or to top off a salad. It's one of the best ways to make shredded chicken!
Next time try Crockpot Chicken and Gravy. It will be another family favorite! Be sure to try it soon!
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❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
This is one of my very favorite pressure cooker recipe! It's such an easy way to make flavorful chicken breasts or thighs.
I think it will be yours soon as well! It packs a ton of flavor. It's perfect for meal prep and is yummy for sandwiches, tacos, nachos, and it makes your favorite salad taste that much better!
If you enjoy this recipe, be sure to click here for more quick instant pot meals!
🗒️ Ingredients
Please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the exact measurements for this easy shredded chicken recipe.
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs - two pounds of chicken. I prefer dark meat, but you can also use boneless skinless chicken breasts. If you do use chicken breasts, cooking time will be increased.
- Barbecue sauce - use your favorite, I like one with a little spice!
- Ranch dressing packet - all kinda of flavor and all you need to do is dump it in.
- Apple cider vinegar - optional, but I love that extra "tang"!
- Onion - yellow or white onions, either will work.
- Pepperoncini - I swear this is my favorite flavor shortcut lately! Using them in the slow cooker or instant imparts a ton of flavor with very little effort!
⏲️ Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. For complete directions, scroll down to the bottom!
Instant Pot
- Add the water to the bottom of the pressure cooker.
- Next, layer in the remaining ingredients
- Seal and close the valve, and set it to manual high pressure. Set the to 12 minutes.
- Allow to natural release for 5 minutes, then quick pressure release the remaining steam and remove the lid.
- Remove the chicken from the cooker and shred the meat using a couple of forks or a hand mixer, top with a couple ladles of sauce, you'll want enough liquid to keep it moist..
Slow Cooker
- Add the pieces of chicken in the crock pot.
- Layer in all the ingredients.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker and set on low.
- Cook for 7-8 hours for thighs, 8-10 for breast meat.
- Remove the chicken and shred the meat, top with a couple ladles of sauce.
Oven
- Preheat the oven to 350.
- To keep the chicken from sticking, spray the casserole dish with non-stick or coat it with olive oil or butter.
- Add the chicken to a casserole dish and top it with the remaining ingredients.
- Place the lid on the casserole dish and bake until the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees, about 45 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to ensure it's at the proper temperature.
- Remove the chicken and shred the meat, top with a couple ladles of sauce.
Equipment
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I love this electric pressure cooker - it's the one I have and it's a durable workhorse. I'd highly recommend it.
🙋♀️ FAQ's
Actually, you can over cook the chicken. If overcooked it will be dry and stringy - ewe!!!
You'll want to cook the chicken until the juices run clear. The best way to check if the chicken is done is to use an instant-read thermometer. For more information, click here.
Because it's overcooked.
Return it back to the pressure cooker. Add the lid and allow it to cook and steam in the juices for an additional 10 minutes.
Make sure there is plenty of liquid in the pressure cooker. Overcooking the chicken will result in dry overcooked chicken.
This recipe only needs ½ cup of water. The rest of the clear liquid comes from the peperoncinis.
Sure, but you'll lose the texture of the meat. The best method is to use two forks to shred or a hand mixer. It takes only a couple of minutes because the meat is so tender.
👍 Tips
Don’t toss the broth! Whatever you do, don’t dump the broth pressure cooker shredded chicken cooked in! Think of French Dip Sandwich broth but with chicken! It's filled with flavor and absolutely delicious!
It's perfect for dipping a sandwich or freeze it for chicken soup broth next time you make a soup or stew.
Frozen - This works well with frozen chicken too! Remember that because it's frozen, it takes 10-15 minutes longer to come to pressure. Just be sure to plan accordingly.
Shred - Use two forks to shred the chicken, shred it with your hands or use a hand-held mixer. You can also use a stand mixer with a paddle attachment. It shreds so easily that way!
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container. It will last in the refrigerator 3-4 days.
This recipe freezes well and will last up to three months when well sealed.
Serving suggestions
I use this in a ton of different recipes! It's just the easiest way to make tasty shredded chicken. Here are some great meals you can make with it!
- Add to a caesar pasta salad.
- Chicken Sandwiches - using your favorite roll or bun, pile the chicken on high and use the sauce for dipping - YUM!
- Delicious chicken, perfect for this rotisserie chicken burrito recipe!
- Quesadillas - super tasty and a great lunch or dinner.
- Pile the meat on rice and ladle the sauce over the top.
- Chicken tacos and tostadas - who wouldn't love them?
- Chicken Salad Sandwich - add mayonnaise and relish, mix everything together and serve on thick sliced bread.
- BBQ Chicken Pizza - my favorite! Top a homemade pizza with bbq sauce, chicken, marinated artichokes and olives. Add the cheese - delicious!
Related recipes
- I am such a big fan of shredded chicken, like this recipe for Crock Pot Ranch Chicken it's so good and perfect over rice, noodles or a baked potato.
- Crockpot Chicken Tacos - super yummy with only a handful of ingredients!
- Lemon Pepper Dutch Oven Shredded Chicken is the juiciest and just so good! Make a big batch, this is a great recipe for chicken salads.
- The same can be said for Crockpot Crack Chicken, it's so cheesy and topped with bacon makes this one so tasty!
- Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Tacos - has just the right amount of taco seasoning, always a favorite!
More Instant Pot recipes
- Chicken Soup - classic comforting meal done in a snap. Think all day flavor made in less than 30 minutes.
- Mac n Cheese - my favorite family meal. Classic comfort food deliciousness!
- If you're looking for a delicious bone-in chicken thigh recipe, check this out. Perfectly seasoned thighs with gravy, this recipe looks delicious!
- If you love fall apart tender ribs, the be sure to give this recipe for Instant Pot Pork Ribs a try next - they are perfect every time!
- Mongolian Beef - easy to make and 100 times better than takeout! Everyone loves this tender beef and crispy carrots in a sweet and spicy sauce.
Pressure Cooker Shredded Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup water
- 3 lbs. chicken thighs boneless, skinless
- 1 onion sliced
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup BBQ sauce use your favorite!
- 1 cup pepperoncinis sliced, with the juice - be sure to add the juice.
- 1 packet ranch dressing mix
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Instructions
- Start by adding the water to the bottom of the pressure cooker.
- Next layer in the boneless, skinless chicken thighs, sliced onion, apple cider vinegar, pepperoncinis and bbq sauce. Sprinkle the packet of ranch dressing on top.
- Add the lid and seal the Instant Pot, close the valve and set on manual to 12 minutes. Allow to come to pressure.
- When the cooking is done, allow to natural pressure release for 5 minutes, then quick release the remaining pressure and remove the lid.
- Remove the chicken from the cooker, saving the juice (if desired - and I hope you do!!) using two forks shred the meat, top with a couple ladles of cooking liquid to help keep it juicy!
Notes
- Add to a caesar pasta salad.
- Chicken Sandwich - using your favorite roll or bun, pile the chicken on high and use the sauce for dipping - YUM!
- Quesadillas - super tasty and a great lunch or dinner.
- Pile the meat on rice and ladle the sauce over the top.
- Chicken tacos and tostadas - who wouldn't love them?
- Chicken Salad Sandwich - add mayonnaise and relish, mix everything together and serve on thick sliced bread.
- BBQ Chicken Pizza - my favorite! Top a homemade pizza with bbq sauce, chicken, marinated artichokes and olives. Add the cheese - delicious!
MICHAELA KENKEL
I used this recipe last night and I will never make shredded chicken on my stove ever again! So easy and so juicy!