A batch of tender, flavorful Instant Pot Shredded Chicken is the ticket to weeknight dinner success! Learn how to cook boneless, bone-in and even frozen chicken breast in the Instant Pot in mere minutes to use in a multitude of recipes like chicken salad, enchiladas or pasta, or freeze for future use!

Instant Pot shredded chicken in a white dish with parsley

I’m all about making things easier on myself during the week. While I don’t meal prep per se, I do prep salad dressings, sauces and ingredients like veggies in advance so that I can prepare meals much more quickly.

Like most people, we eat a lot of chicken for dinner. While I love making Grilled BBQ Chicken and Spatchcock Chicken, having a batch of this Instant Pot Shredded Chicken prepped and ready to go in the refrigerator makes my life so easy!

There are so many delicious ways to use shredded chicken, so the family won’t complain about the same old chicken dinner.

Winner winner. 🙂

Shredded chicken in the Instant Pot

Why you’ll love this recipe:

  • The glory of making shredded chicken in the Instant Pot is that it comes out perfectly tender and juicy. You’ll never get dry, overcooked chicken again!
  • This is an easy meal prep recipe that takes just minutes to make from fresh or frozen chicken breast.
  • This Instant Pot shredded chicken recipe is extremely versatile, so it can be used a number of ways.
  • There are only 2 ingredients, and the recipe can be customized using your favorite herbs and seasonings.

Recipe ingredients

This recipe includes just two ingredients:

  • Chicken breast. The recipe is written up for fresh or frozen boneless skinless chicken breast, but it also includes the cooking time for fresh bone-in chicken breast in the recipe notes. I prefer to use bone-in chicken breast as the bones add maximum flavor!
  • Chicken stock. The stock infuses the chicken with flavor as it cooks. I recommend using low sodium chicken stock to control the sodium.

How to make shredded chicken in the Instant Pot

This Instant Pot shredded chicken recipe couldn’t be easier to make. Cooking times vary depending on the weight of your chicken breast and whether it’s fresh or frozen, which are included below in the recipe.

Pro tip: Use bone-in chicken breast for maximum flavor. If you plan to cook chicken breast from frozen, make sure to freeze the breasts in a single layer as they will not cook evenly when stuck together. 

Instant pot shredded chicken before and after cooking
Two forks shredding chicken and shredded chicken in instant pot collage
  1. Season the chicken breast with salt and pepper on both sides and place in the Instant Pot. Add the chicken stock and secure the lid and close the venting valve.
  2. Cook on High Pressure, then allow the pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes. Note: The Instant Pot will take about 10 minutes to come to pressure. Cooking times vary depending on the weight of your chicken breast as follows: 6 oz. chicken breasts — 6 minutes for fresh and 10 for frozen. 7-8 oz. chicken breasts — 7 minutes for fresh and 11 minutes for frozen. 9-11 oz. chicken breasts — 8 minutes for fresh and 12 minutes for frozen. The chicken is done when it is no longer pink and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
  3. Shred the chicken with two forks.
  4. Season the shredded chicken to taste and enjoy!
Forks shredding Instant Pot shredded chicken breast

Ways to use shredded chicken

There are so many delicious ways to use this Instant Pot shredded chicken breast so that your family never tires of the same old chicken dinner.

Recipe variations

One of the best parts of this Instant Pot shredded chicken recipe is that it’s a blank canvas. I like cooking it up plain to add to meals at a later time, but your favorite seasonings and herbs may be added to the chicken before cooking as well.

  • Season chicken simply with smoked paprika and garlic powder, or use taco seasoning, jerk seasoning or your favorite seasonings to change things up.
  • Add bay leaf or your favorite herbs.

Recipe notes

  • Pro tip: Use bone-in chicken breast for maximum flavor! If you plan to cook frozen chicken breast, make sure to freeze the breasts in a single layer as they will not cook evenly when stuck together. 
  • Total cooking time includes 10 minutes for the Instant Pot to come to pressure, and 10 minutes to naturally release the pressure. Cooking times vary depending on the weight of your chicken breast and whether it’s fresh or frozen.
  • Store Instant Pot shredded chicken breast in its liquid to keep it moist in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or portion and freeze for up to 3 months.
  • Use shredded chicken in chicken salad, tacos, enchiladas, pasta, salads and more!
Shredded chicken breast in white dish

More Instant Pot recipes you’ll love:

Did you try this recipe?  If so, be sure to leave a review below and tag me @flavorthemoments on Facebook and Instagram

Instant Pot shredded chicken in a white dish with parsley

Instant Pot Shredded Chicken

Instant Pot Shredded Chicken is perfectly tender, flavorful and is ready in mere minutes! It's perfect for chicken salad, tacos, enchiladas and pasta, or freeze for up to 3 months!
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Ingredients

  • 2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts see notes for bone-in and frozen chicken breast instructions*
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 cup homemade or low sodium chicken stock

Instructions 

  • Season the chicken breast with salt and pepper on both sides and place in the Instant Pot. Add the chicken stock and secure the lid and close the venting valve.
  • Cook on High Pressure, then allow the pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes. Note: The Instant Pot will take about 10 minutes to come to pressure.
    Cooking times vary depending on the weight of your chicken breast as follows:
    6 oz. chicken breasts — 6 minutes for fresh and 10 for frozen.
    7-8 oz. chicken breasts — 7 minutes for fresh and 11 minutes for frozen.
    9-11 oz. chicken breasts — 8 minutes for fresh and 12 minutes for frozen.
    The chicken is done when it is no longer pink and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
    Instant pot shredded chicken before and after cooking
  • Shred the chicken with two forks.
  • Season the shredded chicken to taste and enjoy!
    Two forks shredding chicken and shredded chicken in instant pot collage

Notes

  • Pro tip: Use bone-in chicken breast for maximum flavor! If you plan to cook frozen chicken breast, make sure to freeze the breasts in a single layer as they will not cook evenly when stuck together. 
  • Total cooking time includes 10 minutes for the Instant Pot to come to pressure, and 10 minutes to naturally release the pressure. Cooking times vary depending on the weight of your chicken breast and whether it’s fresh or frozen.
  • Store Instant Pot shredded chicken breast in its liquid to keep it moist in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or portion and freeze for up to 3 months.
  • Use shredded chicken in chicken salad, tacos, enchiladas, pasta, salads and more!

Nutrition

Calories: 89kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 16g, Fat: 2g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 48mg, Sodium: 94mg, Potassium: 297mg, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 23IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 5mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.

Did you try this recipe?Be sure to tag @flavorthemoments with the hashtag #flavorthemoments on Instagram so I can see what you made!

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