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Whole Chicken in Instant Pot

Cooking a whole chicken in an Instant Pot results in a tender, juicy, and flavorful meal ready in just over half an hour, perfect for family dinners or meal prepping.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 170
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 whole whole chicken (about 4-5 pounds) Make sure the chicken fits comfortably in the Instant Pot.
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil Use for sautéing.
  • 1 teaspoon salt Adjust to taste.
  • 1 teaspoon pepper Adjust to taste.
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 cup chicken broth For added moisture and flavor.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and season generously with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
Sautéing
  1. Set your Instant Pot to 'Sauté' mode and add olive oil. Heat until shimmering.
  2. Place the seasoned chicken in the pot breast side down and brown for about 5 minutes.
  3. Flip the chicken and brown the other side for another 5 minutes.
Pressure Cooking
  1. Remove the chicken and pour in the chicken broth, scraping any browned bits off the bottom.
  2. Return the chicken to the pot, skin side up, close the lid, set the vent to sealing, and select 'Pressure Cook' for 25 minutes.
Finishing Touches
  1. After the timer goes off, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes before switching to quick release for any remaining pressure.
  2. Carefully remove the chicken, let it rest for a few minutes before carving and serving.

Notes

For crispy skin, broil the chicken for 2-3 minutes after cooking. You can also add fresh herbs or vegetables for extra flavor.