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17 Easy Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Recipes

~ Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Recipes are a quick and easy answer to “What’s for Dinner?” No need to thaw that chicken, either. Just toss it in, and dinner will be ready in no time! From frozen chicken breasts to thighs to a whole chicken … lots of delicious recipe ideas for whatever you’ve got in the freezer! ~

Collage of 4 recipe photos with orange and dark blue text overlay "17 Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Recipes".

Ugh … did you forget to pull the chicken out of the freezer to thaw??

Or maybe you hadn’t planned on cooking tonight … but all the plans changed, and suddenly everyone’s dashing in the door asking what you’re making for dinner?

Yep. Been there! I just wish I would’ve know about this magic solution sooner!

Frozen Chicken in the Instant Pot!! Brilliant! (Cue a choir of angels singing “Hallelujah”!)

Why Instant Pot Recipes with Frozen Chicken Are Such Lifesavers!

• Quick and Mostly Hands-Off

The Instant Pot uses pressure to cook foods quickly.

And, most Instant Pot recipes are pretty low-maintenance. No peeking or stirring or babysitting the food. Which leaves you plenty of time to help with homework or throw in some laundry or (woohoo) put your feet up for a sec!

• Safer Than the Slow Cooker

Crock-Pots are another busy-week lifesaver.

But, if you’ve read our extremely popular post about whether it’s safe to use frozen meat in your Crock-Pot, then you know it’s not a great idea to throw rock-hard, frozen chicken in the slow cooker.

(Yes, I know lots of people still do it. But technically, it’s not smart from a food safety perspective. Why risk it??)

BUT …

The Instant Pot cooks frozen chicken much faster and gets it out of the temperature “danger zone” in plenty of time. (I discuss this in greater detail – with lots of tips! – in my article Can You Cook Frozen Chicken in an Instant Pot.)

3 cooked chicken breasts in orange broth in Instant Pot with buns, whisk, plates and yellow-striped cloth nearby.

Really Versatile

  • You can use your Instant Pot to cook whatever part of the chicken you happen to have in your freezer: from frozen chicken thighs or whole legs to drumsticks or breasts. Boneless or bone-in. Skin on or off.
  • You can even cook an entire frozen chicken in your Instant Pot!
  • And you can keep it all super basic if you want plain chicken to add to other recipes. (Which is terrific for meal prep.)
  • Or you can venture into all sorts of seasonings, spices and sauces.

Cooking frozen chicken in the Instant Pot gives you so many yummy options … so very easily!

Pick one of these terrific recipes to try tonight, and you’ll see exactly what I mean!

(Note that some of the recipes below are written specifically, ONLY for cooking frozen chicken, while others offer the option to cook either fresh (thawed) chicken or frozen.)

Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Recipes

FAQs At-a-Glance

Is It Safe to Cook Frozen Chicken in the Instant Pot?

According to the USDA, it is safe to do so (but only in the pressure cooker mode – not while using the slow cooker mode). The reason for this is that pressure cookers (and electric pressure cooker models like the Instant Pot) cook food fast enough that it doesn’t linger too long in the “danger zone” and potentially become unsafe to eat. You can read more about this (including specific tips for success) in the article “Can You Cook Frozen Chicken in an Instant Pot?“.

Do I Need to Thaw Chicken Before Cooking It In the Instant Pot?

Nope! There’s no need for that extra step. As you can see from the recipes showcased here, you simply put the still-frozen chicken right in the Instant Pot (with your liquid and any other cooking ingredients) and start the pressure cooker. Easy!

Can I Add Other Ingredients to the Instant Pot When Cooking Frozen Chicken?

Definitely! You generally need about 1 cup of liquid (whether that’s a cup of water, chicken broth, fruit juice, etc.). You can also add seasonings, veggies, sauces and other ingredients to cook right along with the frozen chicken.

How Long Does It Take to Cook Frozen Chicken in the Instant Pot?

That can vary widely, depending on the size and amount of chicken. For example, a few frozen chicken tenderloins will cook fairly quickly (in just a few minutes) compared to a whole chicken (which will take 30-60 minutes depending on size). In general, you simply add a few extra minutes to the cooking time if you’re using frozen chicken in a recipe instead of fresh/thawed chicken.

How Can I Tell If My Chicken Is Cooked?

The best way to ensure your frozen chicken has cooked completely in your Instant Pot pressure cooker is to use a meat thermometer and check the internal temperature. Chicken should be cooked to 165°F (according to the USDA). Be sure to test the thickest part of the meat, away from the bone.

Try Making Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Tonight!

With so many easy recipe ideas to choose from, the hardest part will be … ahem … just choosing which of these favorite Instant Pot recipes to try first!

Square collage of 4 recipes with central text in brown and green "17 Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Recipes"

From there, it’s all pretty easy-peasy, thanks to that handy, helpful Instant Pot waiting on your counter.

Fire that baby up, grab some chicken outta the freezer, and tonight’s dinner will be ready in a twinkling!

~ by Shelley

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