Instant Pot Whole Chicken Recipe

By robellis
In Instant Pot

Are you looking for an Instant Pot Whole Chicken to cook without scrolling through a ton of ads? Well you came to the right page.

Follow the instructions below to get a juicy flavorful whole chicken that is cooked in your instant pot.

Tips for the Best Instant Pot Rotisserie Chicken:

Cook the chicken for 6 minutes per pound and allow a 15-minute natural pressure release. Releasing the pressure gradually will ensure your chicken is fully cooked through and rested for the juiciest chicken. It also prevents foam from shooting out of the valve.
Weigh the chicken to ensure the proper cooking time (see timing chart below). Overcooking the bird will cause it to fall apart and will make it difficult to transfer.
Make sure your chicken fits your instant pot size. Our 6 qt instant pot fits up to a 5 lb chicken. An 8 qt pressure cooker is better for the larger sized chickens.
Use a Trivet for even cooking and to help remove the chicken from the instant pot.
Broil the chicken for a crisp salty skin
Do not discard the drippings – they make the best gravy to pour over your chicken.

How to Cook a Whole Chicken in the Instant Pot:

Prepare Chicken: Separate the skin over the chicken breast using a spoon.

Set up Instant Pot: Place the trivet inside the instant pot and pour in 1 cup chicken broth. Add the chicken breast-side-up and stuff the cavity with garlic cloves and half of the squeezed lemon.

Make Butter Sauce: Combine melted butter with all of the seasonings. Pour half of the mixture under the skin and pour the remaining mixture all over the outside of the chicken.

Pressure Cook Chicken: Cover with the lid, set the lever to “sealing” position, cook on high pressure for 6 minutes per pound followed by 15-minute natural pressure release before manually releasing remaining pressure.

Broil for Crisp Browned Skin: Transfer chicken to a foiled lined baking sheet, season with more salt, pepper, and paprika and broil in the center of the oven 4-5 minutes or until the desired color is reached.

Cooking Times for I.P. Whole Chicken:

As a general rule of thumb, cook your I.P. whole chicken on high pressure for 6 minutes per pound, then do a natural pressure release for 15 minutes before manually releasing remaining pressure.

3 lbs = 18 minutes on high pressure with 15-min natural release
3 1/2 lbs = 21 minutes on high pressure with 15-min natural release
4 lb = 24 minutes on high pressure with 15-min natural release
4 1/2 lb = 27 minutes on high pressure with 15-min natural release
5 lb = 30 minutes on high pressure with 15-min natural release

Ingredients

Instant Pot Whole Chicken:

4 lb whole chicken
1 cup low sodium chicken broth
4 cloves garlic peeled and lightly smashed
2 tsp fine sea salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp paprika
1 sprig of rosemary leaves stripped and minced
1 sprig of thyme leaves stripped and minced
8 Tbsp unsalted butter melted
1/2 lemon (squeeze 1 Tbsp juice and use same lemon to stuff chicken)

Instructions

How to Make Instant Pot Whole Chicken:

Take out the giblets bag from inside the chicken. Pat dry inside and out with paper towels. Place chicken breast-side-up. Starting from the drumstick side, loosen the skin from the breast, using the back of a spoon to help. Set aside.
In a small bowl combine: all of the seasonings, the minced rosemary and thyme and 1 Tbsp lemon juice and one stick of melted butter. Stir to combine. Set aside.
Place a rack in the inner pot of your instant pot and add 1 cup of chicken broth. Add chicken breast-side-up. Stuff the cavity of the chicken with crushed garlic cloves and half a lemon.
Pour half the butter mixture under the skin, (you can use your fingers to massage the chicken and distribute the mixture) then spread the remaining butter mixture evenly over the top of the chicken.
Pressure cook for 24 min with 15 min natural pressure release, remove the chicken with trivet, allowing any excess juice to drip into the pot (keep that liquid for gravy).
Transfer to a foil-lined baking sheet, season with more salt and pepper and paprika if desired for a little color then broil at 500˚F, or air fry 5 min or until the skin is browned. Rest 10 minutes before slicing.

To Make the Chicken Gravy:

Pour all of the liquid from the pot into a bowl or measuring cup and skim off the excess fat at the top. You should have about 2 cups after straining off the fat.
Set the instant pot to the sauté function and melt in 3 Tbsp butter. Whisk in 3 Tbsp flour, whisking for 1 minute until golden. Add the remaining drippings and whisk until simmering and thickened then remove from heat. Serve with chicken.

I always cook my instant pot whole chicken thawed. I do not recommend cooking a frozen whole chicken.

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