Instant Pot Pulled BBQ Chicken

Instant Pot Pulled BBQ Chicken is fall apart tender cooked chicken breasts that are seasoned with a bbq dry rub, then cooked in your electric pressure cooker.

Pull it and shred it and then mix it up with your favorite BBQ sauce and serve it on a bun topped with delicious coleslaw for an amazing pulled chicken sandwich, which make a really easy dinner!

This pulled barbecue chicken would also be amazing on my BBQ Chicken Sliders!

If you love BBQ – definitely check out my Instant Pot Boneless BBQ Ribs! But, if you are looking for a non-barbecue pulled chicken, check out this recipe for Instant Pot All Purpose Pulled Chicken.

How to Make BBQ Pulled Chicken in the Instant Pot

Start by cutting your boneless skinless chicken breasts into 4 pieces each. This will allow more surface area for flavor! If you want to use a mix of chicken breasts and chicken thighs for a dark/white mix, you can absolutely do that!

Make a delicious bbq dry rub, which will impart extra bbq flavor! Mix together:

• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp each: onion powder and garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp smoked paprika

Sprinkle the dry rub on all sides of the chicken, pressing it in so it sticks.

In the Instant Pot pour 1 cup of water, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce. 1/2 tbsp cider vinegar, and 3 crushed garlic cloves. Place the trivet over the liquid and place the seasoned chicken on trivet.

Close the pot and set to cook on high pressure for 10 minutes.

Do a 10 minute natural release and then finish with a quick release.

Frozen Chicken

Yes you can definitely use frozen chicken, however note that it will not be quite as tender.

Make sure that your chicken breasts are seperated and not frozen in one chunk.

Increase the cook time to 12 minutes with a 10 minute natural pressure release.

Shred the Chicken

Remove the chicken from the pot and pull or shred it. My very favorite way to shred chicken is in the stand mixer with the paddle attachment, it makes really quick work of it! Just make sure the chicken is warm and watch so it doesn’t over shred.

You can also shred it by using two forks pulling each chicken piece apart.

Add the BBQ Sauce

Mix your shredded chicken with your favorite BBQ sauce. We like a stickier KC style BBQ sauce . For this amount of chicken I use between 1/2 to 3/4 cup sauce.

Serving your Pulled BBQ Chicken

My very favorite way to serve this chicken is on a bun for Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwiches, top it with a little coleslaw and I am in heaven!

Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Recipe

Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Chicken

Delicious tender chicken seasoned with BBQ dry rub and cooked in the Instant Pot, pulled and shredded and mixed with your favorite BBQ sauce!

5 from 1 vote

Print Rate

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Pressure and Natural Release Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Servings: 6 sandwiches

Author: Susie

Equipment

• Instant Pot or Electric Pressure Cooker

Ingredients

• 1.5-2 lbs fresh – boneless skinless chicken breast each breast cut into 4 pieces (see frozen chicken notes below)
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp each – onion powder & garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 cup water
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 3 fresh garlic cloves crushed or smashed
• BBQ Sauce – your favorite brand or flavor

Serving

• Buns

Instructions

• Mix the BBQ dry rub in a small bowl – 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt , 1 tsp black pepper , 1/2 tsp onion powder , 1 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp smoked paprika.
• Sprinkle the dry rub on all sides of the cut chicken breasts. Press the seasoning in so it will stick to the chicken.
• Pour 1 cup water, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar and the crushed garlic cloves into the Instant Pot. Place the trivet over the liquid. Put all the seasoned chicken breasts on to the trivet.
• Close the pot and lock the pressure valve in place. Set it to cook on pressure mode, high for 10 minutes.
• Do a 10 minute natural release, then do a quick release for any remaining pressure.
• Remove the chicken from the pot and shred/pull it.

  Kitchen Tip: put the warm chicken in a stand mixer with a paddle attachment for easy and fast shredding!!!
• Mix the shredded chicken with desired amount of BBQ sauce. We like between 1/2-3/4 cup BBQ sauce.
• Serve on buns for amazing pulled BBQ chicken sandwiches.

Tried this recipe? Share a pic or review!Mention @momsdinnerblog or tag #momsdinner!

Notes

Chicken : Can use a mix of chicken breasts and thighs for a dark and white meat mixture.

For Frozen Chicken : If you are using frozen chicken, don’t cut, just cook whole but make sure the breasts are seperated and not frozen together! Sprinkle with the seasoning. Set it to cook on 12 minutes high pressure with a 10 minute natural release.