Description
This Instant Pot Shredded Chicken recipe is a quick, versatile, and flavorful way to prepare tender chicken breasts using simple ingredients and aromatic herbs. Perfect for meal prep or adding to a variety of dishes, this recipe requires minimal effort and adapts easily to fresh or frozen chicken. The use of lemon, garlic, thyme, and rosemary infuses the chicken with bright, savory notes, making it a delicious and convenient protein option.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 1 cup water or chicken broth
- 4 fresh or frozen boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
Flavor Enhancers
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon, divided
- 4 cloves garlic, smashed
- 1 sprig thyme
- 1 sprig rosemary
Instructions
- Prepare Instant Pot: Place the trivet in the Instant Pot and add 1 cup of water or chicken broth to the pot to provide the necessary liquid for pressure cooking.
- Season the Chicken: Arrange the chicken breasts inside the Instant Pot and evenly sprinkle with kosher salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and the lemon zest for flavor.
- Add Aromatics: Squeeze half of the lemon juice over the seasoned chicken, then add the smashed garlic cloves, thyme sprig, and rosemary sprig into the pot for aromatic infusion.
- Seal and Cook: Securely lock the lid on the Instant Pot, set the Steam Release Valve to the sealing position, and choose High Pressure cooking. Set the timer for 12 minutes if using fresh chicken breasts or 14 minutes for frozen breasts.
- Pressure Release: Once cooking is complete, allow the pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes to rest the chicken, then manually release any remaining pressure by turning the valve to venting.
- Shred the Chicken: Remove the chicken breasts to a bowl and shred them finely using two forks for tender, pull-apart texture.
- Optional Step: For additional flavor, squeeze the remaining lemon juice over the shredded chicken and mix in ¼ cup of the cooking liquid from the Instant Pot.
Notes
- This recipe adapts well to your schedule; frozen chicken can be used by increasing the cook time.
- You may use water, chicken broth, or dry white wine as the cooking liquid, depending on your flavor preference.
- Customize the seasoning for different cuisines: for example, add cumin, replace lemon with lime, and swap rosemary and thyme with cilantro for a Mexican-inspired flavor.
- Store cooked shredded chicken in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 3.5g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 1g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 33g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
