Marianne Martinez
Cooking a whole chicken in an instant pot is a quick and easy way to get a tasty, juicy, and tender roast chicken. It's a simple, economical recipe that's perfect for a family dinner, and it's a great way to get two tasty dishes with less cleanup—roast chicken and chicken broth. It's also a more energy-efficient way of cooking a whole chicken than using an oven.
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What You'll Learn
Cooking time for a whole chicken in the Instant Pot
Cooking a whole chicken in an Instant Pot is a fast, simple, and budget-friendly way to enjoy a delicious roast chicken. The cooking time will depend on the size of your chicken, but a good rule of thumb is to cook it for 6 minutes per pound on high pressure. For example, a 4-pound chicken will take around 24 minutes, while a 5-pound chicken will take 30 minutes.
Before cooking, you'll want to prepare your chicken. Remove it from its packaging and take out any organs from the cavity. You can then season the chicken with a spice rub of your choice. Some popular spices include sea salt, paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, and dried parsley. You can also try drizzling the chicken with avocado oil or olive oil and smearing it around to coat the chicken before applying the spice rub.
Once your chicken is prepared, you can place it in the Instant Pot. It's recommended to use the stainless steel roasting rack that comes with your Instant Pot and place your chicken on top. You can also add 1-2 cups of water to the pot and sprinkle with salt and garlic powder. Close the lid and set your Instant Pot to Pressure Cook on High.
After setting the cook time, the Instant Pot will take some time to reach pressure and then begin counting down. Once the cook time ends, allow the pot to release naturally for 15-20 minutes before releasing any remaining pressure and opening the lid. The natural release process is what helps make the chicken tender and juicy.
You can then check the temperature of the chicken with an instant-read thermometer to ensure it has reached at least 165°F at the thickest part of the leg or thigh. If you desire crispy chicken skin, you can place the chicken in the oven on a baking sheet and broil for a few minutes until the skin reaches your desired level of crispness.
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How to get crispy skin
To get crispy skin on your roast chicken, you can use a few different methods. Firstly, ensure you use a trivet or rack inside the pressure cooker. This will keep the skin from becoming soggy. You can also pat the chicken dry before cooking, which will help to ensure the skin crisps up.
After pressure cooking, you can place the chicken in a toaster oven or under the broiler to crisp up the skin. Brush the skin with oil and broil for 2-5 minutes, watching closely to avoid burning. Alternatively, you can place the chicken breast-side down in stock for a short time at low pressure, which should improve the texture.
If you want to crisp up the skin before pressure cooking, you can sear the chicken in your Instant Pot using the sauté function. This will add flavour as well as texture.
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Preparing the Instant Pot
The next step is to prepare the pot itself. Place the stainless steel roasting rack or trivet at the bottom of the pot. This accessory usually comes with your electric pressure cooker. It is important to use this rack to prevent the chicken skin from becoming soggy and to avoid a potential burn notice.
Now, it's time to prepare the chicken. Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel. If desired, you can loosen the skin from the breasts using your fingers or a small spoon and apply a dry rub or seasoning under the skin. You can use a simple blend of salt and pepper, or a more complex spice rub with garlic powder, sweet paprika, smoked paprika, thyme, and cayenne.
After seasoning, you can sear the chicken using the Instant Pot's sauté function. This step adds flavour and colour to your chicken. Browning the chicken can be tricky, so it is recommended to use a long-handled spoon or tongs to turn the chicken onto its side and then flip it over.
Once the chicken is browned, it's time to fill the cavity. You can add half a fresh lemon, half an onion, and fresh herbs such as rosemary or thyme. These ingredients will enhance the flavour of the meat. You can also add vegetables like celery, carrots, and onion to the bottom of the pot for extra flavour.
Finally, before cooking, pour in the recommended amount of water. For a 6-quart pot, use 1 cup of cold water, and for an 8-quart pot, use 1.5 cups. It is important to use cold water as warm water can affect the cooking process.
Now, your Instant Pot is prepared and ready for cooking!
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Preparing the chicken
Next, you can dry brine the chicken for added flavour. This involves rubbing the chicken with salt, dry herbs, sugar, olive oil, lemon juice, and zest. You can also use a spice rub, which is a blend of seasonings like garlic powder, paprika, thyme, and cayenne pepper. Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel, then rub it with coconut oil or ghee, and sprinkle the seasoning over the chicken.
Additionally, you can fill the chicken cavity with aromatics like half a lemon, half an onion, and fresh herbs such as rosemary or thyme. This adds flavour to the meat from the inside out. You can also place vegetables like celery, carrots, and onion at the bottom of the pot, which will add flavour to the cooking liquid.
Before pressure cooking, you can sear the chicken using the sauté function of the Instant Pot. Browning the chicken adds flavour and colour to the skin. To flip the chicken, use a long-handled spoon or tongs to gently turn it onto its side and then flip it over.
Finally, place the chicken on the stainless steel roasting rack inside the Instant Pot. If you want to avoid soggy skin, it is recommended to use the rack or trivet that came with your electric pressure cooker. Pour in 1 cup of cold water for a 6-quart model or 1.5 cups for an 8-quart model.
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Making gravy
Yes, you can cook a whole chicken in an instant pot. Once the chicken is cooked, you can make gravy using the drippings in the pot. Here is a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to make gravy in an instant pot:
Instant Pots are great for making gravy because they produce perfectly seasoned pan juices, which can be used as a base for gravy. You can make gravy with or without drippings in an instant pot.
If you are making gravy with drippings, start by stirring one tablespoon of butter into the liquid in the pot. Then, whisk in a mixture of cornstarch and water, bring the mixture to a boil, and simmer until the gravy thickens. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
If you are making gravy without drippings, you can use the instant pot's sauté function. Start by sautéing onions and shallots in butter for 10-15 minutes, until they are soft and starting to brown. Then, add in chicken stock and beef bone broth for ultimate flavor and a luxurious, velvety finish. You can also add in mixed dried herbs or a few sprigs of thyme or rosemary for extra flavor.
To thicken the gravy, create a slurry by mixing cornstarch and water together in a small bowl. Add this mixture to the instant pot, stirring continuously, until the gravy reaches your desired consistency.
You can make a large batch of gravy and store it in the refrigerator for up to five days or freeze it in an ice cube mold to add to meals whenever you feel like having gravy.
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Frequently asked questions
The cooking time depends on the size of the chicken. A general rule of thumb is 6 minutes per pound for fresh chicken and 10 minutes per pound for frozen. A 3lb chicken will take 18 minutes to cook, plus 20 minutes to pressurise. A 6lb chicken will take 36 minutes to cook, plus the time to pressurise and release.
Place the stainless steel roasting rack at the bottom of the pot and put the chicken on top. Pour in 1-2 cups of water and sprinkle with salt and garlic powder. Close the lid and set the Instant Pot to Pressure Cook on High.
The chicken should be between 160-170°F when fully cooked. Check the temperature in the thickest part of the leg, not touching the bone.
