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Home » Recipes » Chicken

Instant Pot BBQ Chicken

Published: Jan 19, 2023 · Modified: Jan 24, 2024 by Scott · This post may contain affiliate links.

↓ Jump to Recipe

This Instant Pot BBQ Chicken is perfect for an easy weeknight dinner in just 20 minutes. It features juicy chicken breasts seasoned with barbecue rub and pressure cooked in your favorite BBQ sauce.

Barbecue chicken breasts arranged on a serving plate.
Jump to:
  • Why this Recipe Works
  • Ingredient Notes
  • Step-by-Step Instructions
  • Recipe Tips and FAQs
  • How to Make Pulled BBQ Chicken
  • What to Serve with BBQ Chicken
  • More Instant Pot Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe
  • More Weeknight Dinner Ideas

Why this Recipe Works

The Instant Pot is a lifesaver for busy weeknight dinners, and this recipe is a perfect example. In just 20 minutes you can have this flavorful barbecue chicken on a plate and ready to eat. And with just 3 ingredients and one pot to clean it doesn't get much easier!

This Instant Pot chicken breast recipe is also great for meal prep. After cooking, you can slice or shred the meat for salads, BBQ chicken nachos, rice bowls, sandwiches, and more.

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients for BBQ chicken breasts shown set out on a counter.
  • Chicken - I like to use boneless, skinless chicken breasts in this recipe. Boneless skinless thighs will also work with the same cooking time. For smaller, thinner chicken breasts, reduce the cooking time by 1 minute.
  • Barbecue Rub - You can use your favorite store-bought barbecue seasoning in this recipe or try my homemade barbecue rub.
  • Barbecue Sauce - Again store-bought works great here for this recipe, or use your favorite homemade barbecue sauce.

See the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the complete list of ingredients and measurements.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Season the chicken with the BBQ rub on all sides.
  2. Stir together ½ cup of BBQ sauce and ½ cup of water in a measuring cup and pour into the Instant Pot. Add the sauce mixture first so that you don't rinse the rub off the chicken when pouring it in.
Chicken breasts on a plate seasoned with barbecue rub.
BBQ sauce and water mixed together in a measuring cup.
  1. Add the chicken to the pot and lock the lid. Set to manual high pressure and cook for 8 minutes.
  2. After the cooking cycle completes, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then vent any remaining pressure before opening the lid.
  3. Remove the chicken to a plate and baste with the remaining barbecue sauce before serving.
Chicken breasts shown in an Instant Pot after being cooked in barbecue sauce and water.

Recipe Tips and FAQs

How to store leftover BBQ chicken

Store leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.

How to reheat BBQ chicken

Reheat leftovers in a 325°F oven for 10 minutes or until warmed through. Smaller portions can be reheated in the microwave.

Does BBQ sauce count as liquid in Instant Pot?

BBQ sauce does count towards the liquid needed to pressure cook food in an Instant Pot, but thick, sugary sauces will burn during the intense cooking cycle, so it needs to be thinned with water or another liquid to avoid a burn error.

Can I cook frozen chicken breast in an Instant Pot?

Yes, this recipe will also work with frozen chicken breasts. Make sure the chicken breasts are separated and add 2 minutes to the cooking time.

How to Make Pulled BBQ Chicken

This recipe is perfect for making pulled BBQ chicken that you can use in a variety of dishes. I love to use this in my BBQ Chicken Nachos.

After cooking the chicken, do not baste it with the remaining sauce. Instead, transfer the chicken breasts to a cutting board and use two forks to shred the chicken.

After all of the chicken is shredded, transfer it to a bowl and add the remaining ½ cup of sauce and stir to coat the chicken. If you like a little more sauce, you can also add some of the cooking liquids from the Instant Pot.

The shredded barbecue chicken is great for sandwiches, BBQ chicken tacos, topping salads, and more!

What to Serve with BBQ Chicken

These Instant Pot BBQ chicken breasts go great with all of your favorite barbecue side dishes like my Instant Pot baked beans, baked mac and cheese, southern-style cole slaw, and Hawaiian Mac salad.

For healthy options try serving this dish with grilled broccolini or grilled zucchini and squash.

A plate full of barbecue chicken breasts.

More Instant Pot Recipes

  • A serving of steamed rice topped with honey bourbon chicken.
    Honey Bourbon Chicken (Instant Pot or Stovetop)
  • Chicken and rice served on a plate set next to an Instant Pot.
    Instant Pot Chicken Breast and Rice
  • London broil shown on a bed of rice topped with mushroom and onion gravy.
    Instant Pot London Broil
  • Side angle view of a serving of pork chops with gravy.
    Instant Pot Pork Chops with Gravy

If you try this recipe, don't forget to leave a RATING or COMMENT below. I would love to hear from you!!! And FOLLOW me on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram for all the latest recipes!

📖 Recipe

Barbecue chicken breasts on a serving plate.

Instant Pot BBQ Chicken

This flavorful Instant Pot barbecue chicken is perfect for a busy weeknight dinner the whole family will love. It's seasoned with barbecue rub, cooked in barbecue sauce, and finished with a basting of more sauce for loads of flavor in just 20 minutes.
Author: Scott
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate SaveSaved!
Prep Time: 2 minutes mins
Cook Time: 8 minutes mins
Natural Release: 10 minutes mins
Total Time: 20 minutes mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 356kcal

Equipment

  • 6 Qt Instant Pot
  • Liquid Measuring Cup

Ingredients

  • 1½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 Tablespoon BBQ rub seasoning
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce, divided
  • ½ cup water

Instructions

  • Season the chicken with the BBQ rub on all sides.
  • Stir together ½ cup of BBQ sauce and ½ cup of water in a measuring cup and pour into the Instant Pot.
  • Add the chicken to the pot and lock the lid. Set to manual high pressure and cook for 8 minutes.
  • After the cooking cycle completes, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then vent any remaining pressure before opening the lid.
  • Remove the chicken to a plate and baste with the remaining barbecue sauce before serving.

Notes

  • For smaller, thinner chicken breasts, reduce the cook time by 1-2 minutes.
  • For frozen chicken breasts, add 4 minutes to the cook time.

Nutrition

Calories: 356kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 56gFat: 8gSugar: 15g

* All nutrition information we provide are estimates based on third party calculators. We encourage you to calculate these on your own for accurate results.

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Don't forget to leave a rating above and mention @disheswithdad or tag #disheswithdad on social media!

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About Me

Hello, I'm Scott! I'm a former professional cook and an experienced home cook. I created this space to share my favorite quick and easy, family-friendly recipes and hopefully inspire you to try some of them for yourself!

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