How to Cook a Whole Seasoned Chicken in the Instant Pot

I'm married to a picky eater, which makes cooking a challenge. I adjust recipes so we both can enjoy them, without too much compromise.

Cook a Scrumptious Whole Seasoned Chicken in a Flash!

Take the guesswork out of perfecting an oven-roasted chicken that comes out dry, undercooked, overcooked—or simply takes too long. The Instant Pot is the perfect solution for a fast and juicy whole chicken in under an hour. The possibilities are endless with seasonings, too!

Cook Time

Ingredients

For the rub:

• 2 teaspoons fine sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon paprika, smoked or regular
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme

For the chicken:

• 1 whole chicken, fresh or frozen, giblets removed
• 2 tablespoons grass-fed butter
• 1 cup organic chicken bone broth

Instructions

1. Remove the giblets from the chicken. Rinse the bird and pat dry with a paper towel.
2. Carefully peel back the skin, but don’t remove it.
3. Combine the dry rub ingredients in a bowl and coat the chicken with the seasoning rub on all sides, including the legs and wings.
4. Add the butter to the bottom of the pot.
5. Lightly brown the chicken for 2–3 minutes on each side using the “sauté” mode.
6. Remove the chicken and add the trivet.
7. Add the organic chicken bone broth to the bottom of the pot.
8. Return the chicken to the pot.
9. Cook on “manual pressure” for 6 minutes per pound if thawed (10 minutes per pound if frozen).
10. Let the Instant Pot naturally release the pressure for 15 minutes, or very carefully manually release.
11. Remove the chicken from the pot and carve (the meat will fall off the bones).
12. Spoon remaining juice over the bird and serve with your favorite steamed vegetable.

Another Chicken Recipe Your Family Will Love

• This Is Not Your Mama's Boring Vegetable Chicken Soup
  When I started cooking for my husband and me, it was a struggle to find recipes that we both enjoyed. We need to eat more vegetables, which is not a problem for me, but my husband hates just about every vegetable in existence!

© 2019 Debra Roberts

What's your favorite way to season a whole chicken in the Instant Pot ?

Kenneth Avery on March 07, 2020:

Hello, Debra:

What a great reply. Thanks. But truth is truth. This hub will always make me hungry. Cudo's to you.

And thank you for following m and I am honored to meet an follow you too.

As per the follow button, I will pay another visit soon when I get my Radio News recorded and a new podcast . . .you see, I am busy, but that is okay. The Fibromyalbia may keep me in pain, but I am tougher than it is.

Peace, my good friend.

Debra Roberts (author) from Ohio on March 06, 2020:

Hello Ken! Thank you for your positive feedback and I hope my little recipe is helpful for you! I think you are following me actually; and vice versa. It concerns me there is no follow button, so I will go see what's going on with that! Thanks for bringing that to my attention!

Kenneth Avery from Hamilton, Alabama on March 02, 2020:

Debra: today is Monday, Feb. 2, 2020,

and I was so impressed with THIS hub that I just had to stop a few

seconds and tell you so.

Truthfully, the graphics were PERFECT. I am going on a diet and this food is ideal.

Fact is, I would write more, but I am famished.

I would love to follow you, but there is NO Follow slot on your Personal Page.

Write me soon.

K. Avery

Debra Roberts (author) from Ohio on January 26, 2020:

Hello Kenneth! First off, I hope your health challenges are behind you and you are good as new now! I'm so happy you found my recipe helpful--and ironically, I'm working on a beef stew InstantPot recipe at this moment! The house smells mighty divine if I do say so myself! I wish I had the time to post articles more often because I have so much content swimming in my mind! Keep smiling and keep writing! Happy New Year and all the best to you!

Kenneth Avery from Hamilton, Alabama on January 17, 2020:

Hi, Debra. . .long time, no see. But that is my fault. Sorry. I have had some serious heath issues and they have slowed me down and tonight, I was surfing around HP and found you. And THIS hub is COMPLETELY A MASTER WORK as I happen to be a Chicken Freak and cooking it in this fashion, I can stay on my diet.

Great going, Debra. Keep up the great work and you can write me anytime.

kiwithebeauty@gmail.com on September 30, 2019:

I need an instant pot. I hope I get one before the holiday.

Lyanna Soria on September 28, 2019:

I've never tried cooking a whole chicken before but that looks quite delicious. Will have to try this one out someday.

Angie on September 27, 2019:

Thank you! I just got an instant pot and am completely lost! So thanks again!

Luna S on September 27, 2019:

This looks like a great way to cook a chicken! I am not sure why I've never thought about cooking a whole chicken in my instant pot before. Thanks for sharing this.

Lyosha on September 27, 2019:

This sounds so very delicious! I would so eat it now!

Laura Linklater on September 27, 2019:

Oh I need an instant pot! This looks incredible!

Laura on September 27, 2019:

This looks delicious! It kinda makes me wanna get an instant pot.

Thuy on September 26, 2019:

I seriously need to invest in an instant pot! This recipe sounds really delicious and my bf and I need to cook more.

Sonia Seivwright on September 26, 2019:

this product is life-saving. I have one. Very easy and quick to use

Subhashish Roy on September 26, 2019:

We don't have an instant pot at home and sometimes use a pressure cooker to cook chicken. With a wider base I guess the pot would make cooking easier. Love this chicken recipe.

Dreams Abroad on September 26, 2019:

I always let dry rub ingredient sit there for 20 mins to set in. I am going to try this Instant Pot recipe very soon!

Kelly Martin on September 26, 2019:

I really need to get an instant pot. This chicken looks delicious!

Sarah Emery on September 25, 2019:

Wow, I've never heard of an Instant Pot. I now, know what I can ask for Christmas. I'll have to save this recipe for when I receive mine. Yum!

Lindsay Brown on September 25, 2019:

This chicken looks cooked to perfection! I really need to get me one of these instant pots! I keep seeing amazing recipes like this one and my mouth gets all watery and I wonder why I haven't bought an Instant Pot yet! Great post, I will pin for later...after I purchase my Instant Pot!

Daphne Takahashi on September 25, 2019:

What a great recipe! Never cooked a whole chicken since It doesn’t seem to difficult! I will try this out! Thanks for sharing!

Sushmita R Malakar on September 25, 2019:

Wow! This is a helpful recipe. I have been thinking of buying an instant pot but I was not sure if I will be using it other than cooking biryani sometime. Thanks for sharing! :)

Alexandra on September 25, 2019:

I had heard a lot about instant pots but never really knew what they were for until reading similar posts. I didn't think we had much use for them because we are a vegetarian family but then I found out there is a lot more you can make with them. Reading recipes like this shows me how I can save time cooking. Now if I only hadn't turned down the offer my brother made to buy me one last Christmas!

Liz Westwood from UK on September 13, 2019:

This looks like an easy cooking method. I'm not familiar with the instant pot. Is it a pressure cooker?