Instant Pot BBQ Chicken

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Instant pot bbq chicken recipe that is easy and quick. This pressure cooker bbq chicken is tender, juicy, sweet, spicy and packed full of flavor. Let me show you how to make bbq chicken in instant pot using fresh or frozen chicken.

Summer is calling and nothing reminds you of summer than barbeque chicken. This instant pot bbq chicken is simply amazing! It’s made with simple homemade bbq sauce that you can whip up in less than 10 minutes or you can use store-bought bbq sauce. I recommend you make your own barbeque sauce using my easy recipe.

I made a fresh batch of bbq sauce a few days ago and I went on to make some pressure cooker bbq chicken. Some few pictures later (more like hundreds), video of the step by step and here I am sharing my recipe with you. You’ll love this one-pot, no charcoal grill bbq recipe.

Serve with baked potatoes, white rice, vegetables like carrots or any side of choice for quick brunch or dinner.

Instant Pot Bbq Chicken Recipe

This recipe is quick and made with bone-in chicken. If you are looking for instant pot shredded bbq chicken, just add some barbeque sauce to this instant pot shredded chicken recipe.

The method used in this pressure cooker bbq chicken recipe works perfectly for fresh or frozen chicken although it takes a little bit longer to cook frozen chicken in the instant pot.

Why you should be making bbq chicken in the pressure cooker:

It’s the easiest way to make bbq chicken. Even for summer bbq, you can cook it in the IP before transferring to the grill.

It cuts the cooking time in more than half.

The outcome is tender, juicy chicken that is made with a simple marinade i.e bbq sauce.

Let me show you how to make this easy instant pot pressure cooker bbq chicken.

Tools

Instant Pot

Trivet

Tray

Ingredients for Instant Pot Bbq Chicken

Detailed ingredient list, measurements and directions can be found in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Chicken – You can use fresh or frozen. The cooking time varies but I have noted the cooking times for both in this post. I have also included cooking times for different chicken parts. Chicken wings, thighs, chicken legs, chicken breasts and drumsticks (details further below).

Paprika

Parsley

Black pepper

Bouillion cube

Bbq Sauce – I use homemade bbq sauce. It’s really the star of this bbq chicken.

Salt

How to make Instant Pot Bbq Chicken

1) Clean and pat chicken dry with a kitchen towel.

2) Mix paprika, bouillon cube, parsley, black pepper and salt together and add to the chicken. Add half of the bbq sauce to the chicken. Mix well.

If you have time, leave the chicken to marinate for at least 30 minutes. If not, move on to step 3 immediately.

3) Place trivet in the pot of the instant pot pressure cooker. Add 1 cup water in the instant pot then arrange the chicken on top of the trivet.

The chicken should not be in the water directly. Ensure they are placed on the trivet and above water.

4) Cover the instant pot with its lid, turn the knob into sealing position then set to manual pressure cook. After the pressure cooking cycle is completed, do natural pressure release.

5) When the instant pot is depressurized, open the lid and take out chicken.

6) Arrange on an oven tray and brush with the remaining half of the barbeque sauce then grill in the oven at 200C for 5- 10 minutes.

VARIATION AND COOKING TIME

Instant Pot BBq Chicken Legs

Chicken legs are drumsticks and thighs together. The cooking time for this if using fresh is pressure cooking 12 minutes with 5 minutes natural release and for frozen chicken legs, pressure cook for 20 minutes followed by 5 minutes natural release. Also follow this time if cooking separate chicken thighs and drumstick parts together in the IP.

Instant Pot Bbq Chicken Breasts

For fresh chicken breasts, pressure cook for 7 minutes with 8 minutes natural release. If using frozen, pressure cook for 12 minutes followed by 8 minutes natural pressure release.

Instant Pot Bbq Chicken Thighs

For fresh chicken thighs, pressure cook for 12 minutes followed by 5 minutes natural release while for frozen chicken thighs, pressure cook for 20 minutes then 5 minutes natural release.

Follow the directions in this Instant pot chicken wings for bbq chicken wings.

What to Serve with

Instant pot rice and beans

Easy Instant Pot Spanish rice

Instant pot boiled potatoes, or roast potatoes.

Vegetables – instant pot carrots, cabbage

How to Store

Before storing, ensure bbq chicken is cooled completely then put in an airtight container or freezer bags and store in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

To reheat, you can reheat from frozen in the microwave or oven.

Tips

• Pat chicken dry with a kitchen towel so the spice rub is not watered down.
• You can use any chicken parts for this recipe just follow the cooking timeline in the notes.
• If using frozen chicken make sure they are separated before putting in the IP.
• When grilling in the oven, line oven tray with baking sheet for easy cleanup.
• If unsure the chicken is cooked, test by inserting meat thermometer to take the internal temperature. It’s safe to eat if the internal temperature is at least 165F/75C.
• Make bbq sauce ahead if using homemade.
• Adjust pepper to suit how spicy you want bbq chicken.

More Chicken Recipes on the blog

Instant pot chicken thighs

Instant pot chicken and rice

Best instant pot chicken drumsticks

Instant pot chicken curry

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