It’s so quick and easy to make a batch of shredded BBQ chicken in your pressure cooker. You just need four ingredients and it’s ready to enjoy in less than 30 minutes!

Shredded BBQ chicken being picked up with tongs.

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Time to grab you Instant Pot and make the most delicious pulled BBQ chicken for all your sandwich needs! This pressure cooker BBQ chicken is a true dump and go recipe and it results in the most flavorful shredded chicken.

This is a great go to BBQ chicken recipe when you are running short on time and have hungry mouths to feed!

For more BBQ recipes, be sure to try my BBQ Ribs and Sticky Chicken Legs!

How to make pressure cooker BBQ chicken

Gather your ingredients.

The ingredients for the recipe ready to use.

Place chicken, chicken broth, and bbq seasoning in pressure cooker insert.

The chicken and other ingredients in the Instant Pot ready to cook.

Close and cook high pressure for 14 min.
After the 14 minutes, allow the pressure cooker to naturally release for 10 min. Quick release any remaining pressure.

The chicken in the pressure cooker after cooking.

Remove chicken and place in a large bowl and shred.

Add bbq sauce and serve how you like.

BBQ sauce being stirred into the shredded chicken.

What’s the best cut of chicken to use?

I find the best shredded BBQ chicken is made with a mixture breast and thighs for optimal texture and flavor. The thighs contain more fat to keep the chicken nice and juicy, as well as having a deeper flavor. You can use one or the other if you choose. Use skinless and boneless chicken so that it is easy to shred.

What’s the best BBQ sauce to use?

You can use your favorite BBQ sauce for this recipe. If you are following a low carb or keto diet, use a sugar free sauce. If you have time, be sure to whip up a batch of my tangy BBQ sauce, otherwise your go to store bought bottle will work just great.

As far as the seasoning to use in this recipe, my homemade bbq seasoning is perfect.

Can you make it ahead of time?

This pressure cooker BBQ chicken is great for meal prep and freezer meals.

Refrigerate: Make the recipe and let the chicken cool to room temperature. Place it in an airtight container and it will keep well in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Freeze: Make the recipe and let the chicken cool to room temperature. Place it in a ziplock bag, removing as much air as possible. It will keep well frozen for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Reheat the chicken on the stovetop on a medium heat, stirring occasionally until heated through.

Recipe Notes and Tips

The chicken needs to be naturally released from pressure. Do not quick release until after 10 minutes.
This is great to use as sandwiches, over rice, on pizza, and so much more.
Do not add the bbq sauce to the pressure cooker while it is pressure cooking.

More Instant Pot Recipes

Close up of pressure cooker BBQ chicken served in a burger bun.

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5 from 2 votes

Pressure Cooker BBQ Chicken

It's so quick and easy to make a batch of shredded BBQ chicken in your pressure cooker. You just need four ingredients and it's ready to enjoy in less than 30 minutes!

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword BBQ pulled chicken, how to make shredded chicken, Instant Pot shredded chicken

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 14

Release pressure 10

Total Time 29

Servings servings

Calories 465kcal

Author Tanya

Ingredients

2 lbs boneless and skinless chicken ½ chicken breast, ½ chicken thighs
1 cup chicken broth
2 Tablespoon bbq seasoning
1.5 cup bbq sauce

Instructions

Place chicken, chicken broth, and bbq seasoning in pressure cooker insert.
Close and cook high pressure for 14 min.
After the 14 minutes, allow the pressure cooker to naturally release for 10 min. Quick release any remaining pressure.
Remove chicken and place in a large bowl and shred. Add bbq sauce and serve how you like.

Notes

I prefer to use a combo of chicken breast and thighs for this recipe for optimal texture and flavor. You can use one or the other if you choose.
This is great to use as sandwiches, over rice, on pizza, and so much more.
Do not add the bbq sauce to the pressure cooker while it is pressure cooking.

Nutrition

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Although myforkinglife.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Under no circumstances will myforkinglife.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.

Elizabeth

Wednesday 16th of February 2022

Do you think this would work with just chicken breasts? I don’t care for the taste of the dark meat. Would I need to make any adjustments for the leaner breast meat? Thanks, Elizabeth

Tanya

Thursday 17th of February 2022

Hi Elizabeth, it would work, you just have to adjust the cook time. I'd cook it for 10 minutes under pressure rather than the 14 listed.

Diane Craig

Friday 11th of June 2021

I made this for supper this evening, also using your recipes for BBQ seasoning and BBQ sauce. My husband is NOT a BBQ fan (don't know how we ended up married, lol!) and he took a big serving of the chicken with your BBQ seasoning, then also tried and added the sauce. So, two thumbs up! I'll make this again.