By Wendy Stoltz, Yuliia Stsepeleva / Last Modified On May 19, 2023

Meal prepping with this Instant Pot shredded chicken saves time for me every week, especially with kids headed back to school. It requires little prep and results in a delightful dinner in any season. I recommend it it for several types of dishes. When you're ready for variety, try this instapot shredded chicken in salads, carnitas, or salsa chicken. No more sweating away at the stove after a grueling day at work.

Looking for the specifics? Here are additional recipes where your shredded chicken will shine. This is a super simple recipe for Instant Pot salsa chicken (ready in just under 30 minutes), or if you're feeling like some Cajun comfort food, make this gluten-free gumbo. Often, my home-cooked meals taste better than when we go out for dinner. One way to capture that special feeling is with this homemade Instant Pot Carnitas recipe. Of course, a countertop appliance like this saves time in other ways too. Check out the best gluten-free Instant Pot recipes for busy nights when you also want compliments from family and friends.

Looking to master at-home cooking? Check out Roy Choi's Masterclass or Michael W Twitty's Masterclass. 

INSTANT POT SHREDDED CHICKEN RECIPE

We love having pulled chicken on hand for the entire week. Once prepared, this meal prep staple goes into salads, carnitas, salsa chicken, and even nachos. I love making my own because I control the spices and seasoning. Plus, I choose humane chicken I know and trust.

When you prepare shredded chicken in an instant pot, it saves time and money. Not only does it prevent you from spending money at a restaurant, but it also eliminates prep and cleanup time with a single stainless steel cooking pot. That's why we created this recipe! If you don't have an Instant Pot, it's worth checking out.

WHY YOU’RE GOING TO LOVE THIS INSTANT POT SHREDDED CHICKEN

Meal prepping - Make your Instant Pot shredded chicken on Sunday, then add it to all manner of dishes throughout the week. Making lunch and dinner with pulled chicken breast is so much easier than having to cook it for each meal. Plus, it tastes great.

So nice and tender - This Instant Pot shredded chicken results in tender meat. You won't dry a chicken breast with this pressure cooker recipe. Thanks, Science!

Season it to your liking - Using the same meat for multiple meals means several chances to try different flavors. Test different seasonings, and you will end up with a multitude of flavors from a single Instant Pot chicken.

INGREDIENTS IN INSTANT POT SHREDDED CHICKEN

Broth - 2 cups of any gluten-free broth. You can use beef, chicken, or vegetable broth. This keeps the chicken moist and prevents the dreaded burn notice on your Instant Pot. You can use water, but my preference is broth.

Chicken - 3 boneless chicken fillets. You can use bone-in chicken and frozen chicken, but you will need to adjust the cooking times.

Seasoning - ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp paprika, ½ tsp granulated garlic, ½ tsp coriander and 1-2 sprigs of rosemary. Make sure the seasoning you use is gluten-free

EQUIPMENT NEEDED FOR THIS INSTANT POT SHREDDED CHICKEN

Instant Pot - At Gluten-Free Palate, we like the Instant Pot Pro 10-in-1 Pressure cooker. You can get it at Macy's or on Amazon.

Chopping board - I like to use a dishwasher-safe chopping board, especially when slicing raw chicken.

If you have any questions about making Instant Pot shredded chicken, please leave a comment and my team will get back to you as soon as possible. To save you time, I will try to answer as many of the most common questions as possible. First, take a look at how good this looks!

HOW TO MAKE INSTANT POT SHREDDED CHICKEN

1. Mix salt and spices in a bowl. Rinse and dry the chicken fillet, spread with spices. If you have time, you can cover the fillet with cling film and leave for half an hour or an hour to marinate.
2. Put the chicken fillet into the Instant Pot. Pour the broth into the bowl so that it covers the fillet. You may need less broth. Add rosemary.
3. Close the Instant Pot lid and select the pressure-cooking mode. Set the time to 10 minutes.
4. After the beep, gently release the pressure and open the Instant Pot lid. Remove the fillet, let it cool a little and shred it with two forks into small pieces. Your shredded chicken is ready.

These numbered steps match the numbered photos above and are for illustration purposes. For the complete list of ingredients and instructions I used in my Instant Pot shredded chicken, please see the complete recipe below. Here's another closeup of my fully-cooked and shredded meal. 

TIPS FOR MAKING THE BEST INSTANT POT SHREDDED CHICKEN

Use the correct time - Don't be tempted to increase the IP time as it will dry out the chicken.

Use a good broth - The broth adds flavor to the chicken.

Use good seasoning for good flavor - The seasoning adds good flavor to the chicken so don't skimp on it.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

HOW DO I STORE LEFTOVER INSTANT POT SHREDDED CHICKEN?

Store the Instant Pot shredded chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It can be stored for up to 3 days. 

CAN I FREEZE INSTANT POT SHREDDED CHICKEN?

Yes, you can freeze the IP shredded chicken for up to 3 months.

CAN YOU MAKE THIS INSTANT POT SHREDDED CHICKEN AHEAD OF TIME?

Yes, you can. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze it for 3 months.

WHAT SUBSTITUTIONS / REPLACEMENTS CAN I MAKE IN THIS INSTANT POT SHREDDED CHICKEN?

Broth - You can use vegetable, chicken, or beef broth.

Chicken - You can use bone-in chicken or frozen chicken. I would suggest you add 2 minutes to the cooking time.

WHAT VARIATIONS CAN I MAKE IN THIS INSTANT POT SHREDDED CHICKEN?

Use different seasonings - You can really use any type of seasoning based on the recipes you are prepping for. Taco, Cajun or Italian all work well for this.

Use different broth - You can use vegetable, chicken, or beef broth for assorted flavors.

Other additions - Add a bay leaf for extra flavor or some diced tomatoes.

CAN I USE CHICKEN THIGHS INSTEAD OF BREASTS?

Yes, you can use chicken thighs instead of breasts for this gluten-free shredded chicken.  You can also used frozen chicken, though you'll have to adjust your cook time.

WHY IS MY CHICKEN DRY?

Overcooking is the reason for dry chicken. 10 minutes is ample time for this recipe. You will only adjust it higher by 2 minutes if you use frozen chicken and bone-in chicken. Of course, you shouldn't end up with dry Instant Pot shredded chicken. Pressure cookers keep the moisture inside until you release the steam.

CAN I SHRED RIGHT IN THE INSTANT POT?

Yes, you can shred chicken inside the stainless steel part of the Instant Pot. You don't need to worry much about scratching or damaging your bowl. These things are beasts in the kitchen, at least the metal parts are!

HOW LONG DO YOU COOK CHICKEN IN THE INSTANT POT TO SHRED IT?

I like to set my Instant Pot for 10 minutes if I use chicken fillets. This time does not include the time it takes the IP to come to pressure. You'll notice the timer start once the internal pressure reaches its cooking temperature. Then, the timer begins.

WAYS TO USE INSTANT POT SHREDDED CHICKEN

Shredded chicken is great to have on hand for those busy weeknights. All you need to do is then add it to these recipes. 

• Instant Pot salsa chicken that is ready in just under 30 minutes.
• Make this homemade Instant Pot Carnitas
• Crack chicken chili is also a good option.
• Make this delicious gluten-free buffalo chicken dip.

Continue to Content

Yield: 4-6 servings

Instant Pot Shredded Chicken

Print

Meal prepping with this Instant Pot shredded chicken is a weekly time saver, especially with kids going back to school. This shredded chicken is so versatile you can use it for your meals from salads, carnitas, salsa chicken and more.

Prep Time 2 minutes

Cook Time 12 minutes

Total Time 14 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 cups of any gluten-free broth
• 3 chicken fillets
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp paprika
• ½ tsp granulated garlic
• ½ tsp coriander
• 1-2 sprigs of rosemary

Instructions

1. Mix salt and spices in a bowl. Rinse and dry the chicken fillet, spread with spices. If you have time, you can cover the fillet with cling film and leave for half an hour or an hour to marinate.
2. Put the chicken fillet into the Instant Pot. Pour the broth into the bowl so that it covers the fillet. You may need less broth. Add rosemary.
3. Close the Instant Pot lid and select the pressure-cooking mode. Set the time to 10 minutes.
4. After the beep, gently release the pressure and open the Instant Pot lid. Remove the fillet, let it cool a little and shred it with two forks into small pieces. Your shredded chicken is ready.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases. They never cost you extra.

• 
  Dr. Kellyann Bone Broth Collagen Powder Packets (7 Servings, 1 Box), 16g Protein/Serving, 100% Grass-Fed Hydrolyzed Collagen Powder, Keto & Paleo Friendly
• 
  Instant Pot Pro Plus Wi-Fi Smart 10-in-1, Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté Pan, Yogurt Maker, Warmer, Canning Pot, Sous Vide, Includes App with Over 800 Recipes, 6 Quart
• 
  Farberware Large Cutting Board, Dishwasher- Safe Plastic Chopping Board for Kitchen with Easy Grip Handle, 11-inch by 14-inch, White

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 84Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 42mgSodium: 231mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 15g

This nutrition info is based on the exact ingredients and brands used at the time. It may not be 100% accurate. Please check your ingredients nutrition labels.