Make a batch of Instant Pot shredded chicken in 15 minutes for using in easy dinner recipes or freezing for easy meal prep.
Having bags of cooked shredded chicken on hand is my all-time favorite dinner short cut.
This delicious and tender chicken is perfectly seasoned and takes just 15 minutes in an Instant Pot.
You can prep a batch for the fridge or freeze it for later, a great option for when chicken goes on sale at the store!
Why This is the Best Recipe
While I often use a rotisserie chicken when I want quick shredded chicken for dinner, you can easily make your own in just minutes with the best Instant Pot shredded chicken recipe because:
Lean Meat, No Skin: When you cook boneless, skinless chicken breasts, you don’t have the added calories from the skin. This is a great light alternative to a rotisserie chicken.
Budget Friendly: When chicken breasts go on sale, you can prep a big batch of them and freeze them already cooked and shredded for quick meals.
Freezer Friendly: Store the cooked chicken in 1 cup baggies in the freezer so you only have to thaw what you need for each recipe. Nothing goes to waste!
Ingredients
This simple recipe only needs three ingredients:
Chicken: I used plain boneless, skinless chicken breasts but you could use this method on chicken thighs, too. Chicken tenderloins would cook more quickly though so be careful you don’t overcook them.
Chicken Stock: If you don’t have chicken stock or chicken broth on hand, you could use just water. I like the stock because it gives more flavor to the chicken.
Lemon Pepper Seasoning: You could just use salt and pepper to season the chicken, but I think lemon pepper adds a nice burst of freshness to the final shredded chicken and it pairs with almost any dish you’d want to add the chicken to.
Season the Chicken
Cooking Instructions
Pour the chicken stock (or water) into the Instant Pot bowl.
Season the chicken on both sides with the lemon pepper and then nestle it into the cooking liquid.
Cover the Instant Pot with the lid and set to sealing. Cook on HIGH pressure for 15 minutes.
Let the pot rest for 5 minutes and then quick release the Instant Pot.
Shred the Chicken
You should be able to easily shred the chicken using two forks.
I tend to break it up into fairly large chunks because it can always be cut down smaller later.
Chicken is so tender, it tends to fall apart if you stir it too much or leave it to simmer too long in a soup. By shredding it into larger chunks, you give yourself some wiggle room when you add it to another recipe later.
Make Ahead and Storage Tips
You can keep the cooked chicken in the fridge for up to 5 days for adding to countless shredded chicken recipes.
If you need it longer than that, you’ll want to freeze it for up to 6 months.
To freeze the chicken, be sure to let it cool completely before packaging it up. I like to store it in small bags of 1 cup servings so I can thaw only what I need for future recipes.
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Shredded Chicken
Make a batch of shredded chicken in the Instant Pot for using in easy dinner recipes or topping a healthy salad in a pinch. This quick protein can be kept in the fridge for up to 5 days for easy recipes all week long.
TOTAL TIME 20 minutes minutes PREP TIME 5 minutes minutes COOK TIME 15 minutes minutes
Cook ModeKeep your screen awake while you cook
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning1 cup chicken stock or water
Season the chicken with the lemon pepper seasoning. You could substitute just regular kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper if you prefer.Pour the chicken stock into the bowl of the Instant Pot. Nestle the chicken inside the pot.Cover the Instant Pot with the lid and set to sealing. Cook on HIGH pressure for 15 minutes. Let the pot rest for 5 minutes after the program has finished cooking. Then quickly vent the lid for a quick release. The chicken should be easily shredded with two forks. You can enjoy the chicken immediately or store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 6 months.
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