• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to privacy navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Jo Cooks

Simple - Easy - Comfort

Join my free recipe email club!
Free eBook
  • Recipe Index
  • Cookbooks
    • The Big Book of Jo’s Quick and Easy Meals
    • 30-Minute One-Pot Meals
  • ABOUT JO
  • Contact
  • Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter YouTube
  • Dinner Ideas
  • Instant Pot
  • Slow Cooker
  • 30 Minute Meals
  • One Pot
  • Desserts
Home / Recipes
30 minutes
4.53 from 21 votes
11 Comments

Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Chicken

Jump to RecipePrint RecipeJump to Video
  • 110
by: Joanna Cismaru
05.04.22

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Dinner can’t get easier than this tender, flavorful Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Chicken! Made with a simple spice blend, shredded, and mixed with your favorite BBQ sauce. Serve on a bun, over potatoes, or even cold with a salad. Now, this is a winner-winner chicken dinner!

side view shot of a bbq pulled chicken sandwich with coleslaw on a cutting board

I love to use my Instant Pot to throw together dinners grand or simple. I’ll often toss a few chicken breasts straight from the freezer into the Instant Pot with my favorite seasonings! They come out perfectly cooked, so tender, so delicious. All that without having to stress about thawing!

This process got me thinking. These chicken breasts always come out fantastic and fork-tender I pictured shredding them up with my favorite sauce, piling the meat up high on a bun, and finally sinking my teeth into the glorious sandwich. Well, you know me. I, of course, had to include a crunchy slaw with my sandwich.

overhead shot of all the ingredients needs to make bbq pulled chicken in the instant pot

Ingredients

Keep scrolling down to the printable recipe card for FULL ingredient amounts and instructions or click the “Jump to Recipe” button at the top of the page!

  • Salt & pepper – Season to taste.
  • Spices – Garlic powder and chili powder. You can use any of your favorite spices.
  • Chicken breast â€“ Chicken thighs will work too.
  • Olive oil – Vegetable, canola, sunflower, avocado, safflower or grapeseed oils can be used instead.
  • Water
  • BBQ sauce – Homemade or your favorite brand.
detailed process shots showing how to make bbq pulled chicken in the instant pot

How to make Instant Pot BBQ pulled chicken

  1. Prep: Combine the salt, pepper, garlic powder, chili powder together, then rub all over the chicken breasts. Combine the water with 1/4 cup of the bbq sauce in a bowl or cup.
  2. Sear: Turn the Instant Pot to the saute setting. (See your manufacturer’s guide for detailed instructions on how to use your instant pot). Add the oil and once your instant pot reaches the desired temperature (the timer will start to count down) add the chicken breasts. Sear the chicken on both sides, for about 3 minutes per side. Press the keep warm/cancel button on your Instant pot. Pour the water mixture over the chicken.
  3. Cook: Close the lid (follow the manufacturer’s guide for instructions on how to close the instant pot lid). Set the Instant Pot to the Manual setting on high and set the timer to 8 minutes. Use quick / manual release to release the pressure.
  4. Shred: Remove the chicken from the Instant pot, and discard the liquid. Shred the chicken with two forks then pour the remaining 1 cup of BBQ sauce, toss and let it rest for a couple minutes for the chicken to soak up the sauce.
  5. Serve: on buns with coleslaw.
overhead shot of bbq pulled chicken in a white bowl, next to a bowl with coleslaw and a cutting board with toasted buns

How to serve

This classic summertime meal deserves equally fantastic sides! Here are a few of my favorite recipes so serve up with this pulled chicken:

  • Tuna Macaroni Salad
  • Cowboy Pasta Salad
  • Black Bean Corn and Avocado Salad
  • Creamy Cucumber Salad
  • Tex Mex Potato Salad
  • Easy Potato Salad
  • Baked Mac and Cheese
  • Instant Pot Baked Beans

How to store leftovers

Keep your leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can reheat them in the microwave at 20-30 second intervals, stirring in between. You can also reheat your leftovers in a skillet over medium heat. Add a bit more BBQ sauce or water if you find the meat is drying out through the reheating process.

To be honest, you don’t even have to reheat your leftovers to enjoy them! This pulled chicken is a great addition to any salad.

Freezing pulled chicken

Let the chicken fully cool down to room temperature. Transfer to an airtight container or a large sealable freezer bag. Your chicken will last 2-6 months frozen.

Let the chicken thaw fully overnight in the fridge before reheating. if absolutely needed, you can thaw straight from the freezer in a saucepan or skillet over medium heat with 1/2 cup water. Stir often.

closeup overhead shot of bbq pulled chicken in a white bowl

Did you love this recipe? Try these!

  • Instant Pot Chicken Shawarma
  • Instant Pot Chicken Breast
  • Brown Sugar Balsamic Pulled Pork
  • Pork Carnitas
  • Sloppy Joes
  • Chicken Salad
  • Instant Pot Creamy Ranch Chicken

Looking for more recipes? Follow on… My Newsletter Pinterest Facebook Instagram

side view shot of a bbq pulled chicken sandwich with coleslaw on a cutting board

Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Chicken

4.53 from 21 votes
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 15 mins
PR Time: 5 mins
Total: 30 mins
Author: Joanna Cismaru
Serves: 4
Print Pin Rate
Dinner can't get easier than this tender, flavorful Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Chicken! Made with a simple spice blend, shredded, and mixed with your favorite BBQ sauce. Serve on a bun, over potatoes, or even cold with a salad. Now, this is a winner-winner chicken dinner!

Equipment

  • Instant Pot – 6 Quart

Ingredients

  • ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon pepper or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 2 pound chicken breast boneless and skinless
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • ¾ cup water
  • 1 ¼ cup BBQ Sauce divided
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Prep: Combine the salt, pepper, garlic powder, chili powder together, then rub all over the chicken breasts. Combine the water with 1/4 cup of the bbq sauce in a bowl or cup.
  • Sear: Turn the Instant Pot to the saute setting. (See your manufacturer's guide for detailed instructions on how to use your instant pot). Add the oil and once your instant pot reaches the desired temperature (the timer will start to count down) add the chicken breasts. Sear the chicken on both sides, for about 3 minutes per side. Press the keep warm/cancel button on your Instant pot. Pour the water mixture over the chicken.
  • Cook: Close the lid (follow the manufacturer's guide for instructions on how to close the instant pot lid). Set the Instant Pot to the Manual setting on high and set the timer to 8 minutes. Use quick / manual release to release the pressure.
  • Shred: Remove the chicken from the Instant pot, and discard the liquid. Shred the chicken with two forks then pour the remaining 1 cup of BBQ sauce, toss and let it rest for a couple minutes for the chicken to soak up the sauce.
  • Serve: Serve on buns with coleslaw.

Video

Recipe Notes

  1. Keep your leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can reheat them in the microwave at 20-30 second intervals, stirring in between. You can also reheat your leftovers in a skillet over medium heat. Add a bit more BBQ sauce or water if you find the meat is drying out through the reheating process.
  2. Freezing: Let the chicken fully cool down to room temperature. Transfer to an airtight container or a large sealable freezer bag. Your chicken will last 2-6 months frozen.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 478kcal (24%)Carbohydrates: 37g (12%)Protein: 49g (98%)Fat: 14g (22%)Saturated Fat: 2g (13%)Cholesterol: 145mg (48%)Sodium: 1485mg (65%)Potassium: 1060mg (30%)Fiber: 1g (4%)Sugar: 30g (33%)Vitamin A: 468IU (9%)Vitamin C: 3mg (4%)Calcium: 41mg (4%)Iron: 2mg (11%)
Course:Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine:American
Keyword:bbq pulled chicken, instant pot bbq pulled chicken, pulled chicken
Tried this recipe? Rate it belowtag @jocooks on instagram and hashtag it #jocooks!
  • 110

Meet Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

30 recipes from around the world cover.

Never miss a recipe!

Subscribe and get a FREE dinner recipes ebook!

side view shot of tofu drunken noodles freshly made in a serving platter
Previous Post
Tofu Drunken Noodles
sideview shot of 2 glasses filled with red sangria and a pitcher in the background
Next Post
Red Sangria

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment & Rate Recipe Cancel reply

Did you make this recipe? Rate it:




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

  1. Mandy says

    October 5, 2020 at 9:52 am

    Recipe looks great! Can I start with frozen chicken breasts? How do the cooking times need to be adjusted?

    Reply
    • jo says

      October 5, 2020 at 1:09 pm

      Yes, you can use frozen chicken breast. 10-12 minutes should be more than enough.

      Reply
  2. Angela says

    September 22, 2020 at 1:52 pm

    5 stars
    This was so great! We used in sandwiches topped with mozzarella, pickled red onions and cilantro. My whole family enjoyed. Thank you!

    Reply
  3. Kerry says

    August 19, 2020 at 6:39 pm

    This was delicious and couldn’t be easier! I doubled the seasoning and added a teaspoon of of cumin. I also increased the bbq sauce by 1/2 cup. Next time I’ll plan ahead and pickle some red onions to add to the sandwiches. Made bbq chicken nachos with my small amount of leftovers. Would also be good on pizza with caramelized onions.

    Reply
  4. Lynn S says

    August 13, 2020 at 11:07 am

    5 stars
    This recipe was fabulous! I was skeptical of the fast cooking time (even though I do have an instant pot) but the chicken was cooked through and shredded easily after the 8 minutes. What a time saver! (Tasted great too!!) thank you!!

    Reply
  5. Gayle Shepherd says

    July 10, 2020 at 1:59 pm

    Can you cook in crocpot? How long? Thanks

    Reply
    • Jo Cooks Team says

      July 11, 2020 at 11:07 am

      3-4 hours on high or 6-7 hours on low!

      Reply
  6. Rachel Thérien says

    July 5, 2020 at 6:48 pm

    Can this recipe be done in a slow cooker or in the oven? If so, what temperature and how long? Thank you for getting back to me with an answer’.

    Reply
    • jo says

      July 5, 2020 at 6:57 pm

      You can make this in a slow cooker for 2 hours on high or 4 hours on low. For a oven version check out this version: https://www.jocooks.com/recipes/baked-chicken-breast/

      Reply
  7. Betty says

    July 5, 2020 at 7:17 am

    Hi Jo if I don’t have an insta pot how would you do it in the oven?

    Reply
    • jo says

      July 5, 2020 at 6:59 pm

      You can absolutely make this in the oven, follow the instructions as stated, then place it in a pan and bake it as instructed in this recipe: https://www.jocooks.com/recipes/baked-chicken-breast/

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Joanna Cismaru

Hey there!

I'm Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

Read More…
cover for the big book of jo's quick and easy meals.

My Cookbook

Order Now: Amazon | Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Indie Bound | Books-A-Million

Never miss a recipe!

Subscribe and get a FREE dinner recipes ebook!

Sign me up

Dinner Favorites

black pepper chicken on a bed of rice on a black plate.

Black Pepper Chicken

a slice of pastitsio on a black plate.

Pastitsio (Greek Lasagna)

side view shot of a piece of eggplant parmesan with marinara sauce in a white plate garnished with parsley and a piece cut out and held by a fork

Eggplant Parmesan

side view shot chicken souvlaki skewers with a little tzatziki on a plate

Chicken Souvlaki

yakisoba noodles with chicken and vegetables in a large serving platter.

Yakisoba

pouring lemon sauce over fried chicken.

Chinese Lemon Chicken

a chicken gyro wrapped in paper and topped with lots of tzatziki sauce with another gyro in the background

Chicken Gyros

homemade hamburger helper lasagna from scratch in a skillet.

One Pot Hamburger Helper Lasagna

Air Fryer Recipes

a roasted chicken on a serving platter along some roasted root veggies.

Air Fryer Whole Chicken

apple pie bombs on a white plate with the top one cut in half.

Air Fryer Apple Pie Bombs

3 cooked chicken breasts on a cutting board.

Air Fryer Chicken Breast

air fried chicken drumsticks in a basket of an air fryer.

Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks

cooked chicken thighs in the basket of an air fryer.

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

eggs inside an air fryer basket.

Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs

lobster tails on a white serving platter.

Air Fryer Lobster Tails

hands pulling apart a mozzarella stick with the rest in the background

Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks

freshly made bread in air fryer on a cutting board cut into slices.

Air Fryer No Knead Bread

bacon wrapped water chestnuts on a white serving platter.

Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts

Jo Cooks...

Flavors from around the world

No matter what household we have all grown up in, there is something that has brought us all together here and that is a love and appreciation of food. Food that is from cultures and cuisines across the world has always been a staple of the blog. I'm excited to bring you all a taste of each corner of the earth, every last bite seasoned to perfection and served up with love - from my kitchen to yours.
chow mein in a white asian bowl.

Asian

caprese gnocchi in a sheet pan.

Italian

chicken fajita taquitos with sour cream and salsa on a white platter.

Mexican

chicken and mushroom in creamy dill sauce over a bed of rice in a blue bowl.

Romanian

freshly made lamb korma in a beige braiser.

Indian

freshly made hummus drizzled with olive oil and garnished with tomatoes cucumbers and olives.

Middle Eastern

Trending Now

overhead shot of oven baked chicken breasts in a baking dish

Baked Chicken Breast

overhead shot of oven baked chicken thighs in a pan

Oven Baked Chicken Thighs

roast chicken with roast potatoes on a roaster.

Roast Chicken

a prime rib roast sliced on a plate

Prime Rib Roast

Browse All
  • Easy Dinners
  • Instant Pot
  • 30 Minute Meals
  • Chicken Recipes
  • Desserts
  • Recipe Index

Featured On

today logo.
huffpost logo.
the washington post logo.
jezebel logo.
countryliving logo.
good housekeeping logo.
lifehack logo.
buzzfeed logo.
mashable logo.
woman's day logo.
health logo.
better homes & gardens logo.
delish logo.
healthline logo.
nbc news logo.
blogloving logo.
university of washington logo.
shape logo.
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter YouTube
  • Recipe Index
  • Cookbooks
  • About Jo
  • Contact
  • visit my other site: Craving Home Cooked
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
© 2022 · All Rights Reserved · Back to Top
Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window

Subscribe and get a free dinner recipes ebook!