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    Home » Instant Pot

    Instant Pot Poached Chicken Breasts

    LAST UPDATED: March 25, 2019 PUBLISHED: March 25, 2019 By Pam Greer 12 Comments As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    An Instant Pot gives you perfectly poached chicken breasts, like these Instant Pot Lemon Poached Chicken Breasts, in minutes!   They are so easy and they come out perfect every time.  Moist, tender and delicious!   Great for meal prep! 

    Instant pot with lemons floating, ready to poach chicken.

     

    Instant Pot Poached Chicken

    When I bought my Instant Pot, it was love at first sight!   I was amazed to find that I could cook frozen chicken breasts and that I could make chicken noodle soup all in one pot and super easy.  Then I started wondering if the Instant Pot would be put to rest over the summer like my slow cooker had been in the past.  What would happen to it when I turned to salads and lighter meals?  It turns out, I had nothing to worry about.

    One of my favorite warm weather meals is a salad with cooked chicken.  In the past, I had purchased rotisserie chickens from the store, because their easy peasy.  Well, guess what else is easy peasy.  Poached Chicken Breasts in the Instant Pot!   

    When a salad that I was getting ready to make called for poached chicken breasts, I turned to the Instant Pot.  It was perfect!!  Using a pressure cooker to poach chicken means it's quick, easy and comes out perfectly moist every time. 

    How to Poach Chicken Breasts in an Instant Pot

    Now, you might be thinking that it's not difficult to poach a chicken breast on the stove and I agree it's not.  But personally, I usually have to stand there adjusting my flame...wondering if it's too hot or too low...trying to get it just right.  The Instant Pot is a throw it in and forget it, almost like a slow cooker only a zillion times faster.  

    Step 1 - Place boneless, skinless chicken breasts in the Instant Pot.  

    Step 2 - Add chicken stock, sliced lemon, fresh thyme sprigs and peppercorns.

    Tip - I used lemon and thyme for these breasts because I wanted them to have a subtle flavor.  Depending on what you are going to use the chicken for you can use ginger, oranges, garlic, rosemary, parsley,  or bay leaf would all work.  Peppercorns add a subtle spice without overpowering like ground pepper would. 

    Step 3 - Lock the lid in place and set valve to venting.  Set for high pressure and timer for 5 minutes. 

    Step 4 - When timer goes off, let the pressure come down naturally for 2 minutes, and then do a quick pressure release by moving the venting valve to venting. 

    Tip - when releasing pressure, be careful it's hot.  I use the handle of the spoon that came with the instant pot.  The hole in the handle works perfect for grabbing the valve and keeps your hand away from the heat!

    Plate with poached chicken breasts and sliced tomatoes.

    Perfectly Poached Instant Pot Poached Chicken Breasts

    In minutes, I had perfectly poached chicken breasts.  These are great for meal prep.  Poached chicken breasts will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days giving you lots of easy options for the week! 

    The first night I used them in a tomato and mozzarella salad and the second night in a kale and butternut squash salad.  As an extra bonus, you get the poaching liquid, that chicken broth that's taken on even more chicken flavor!  I used it to cook some brown rice! 

    Looking for ways to use this Poached Chicken

    Use it in place of rotisserie chicken in these Easy Rotisserie Chicken Recipes

    Shred it in this Kale Blueberry Salad or this Mediterranean Orzo Salad

    Serve it sliced on this Bulgur Salad

    Use the broth to make Sesame Ginger Rice

    If you're looking for more Instant Pot Recipes, be sure and follow my Instant Pot Recipes Board on Pinterest.

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    4.50 from 4 votes

    Instant Pot Lemon Poached Chicken Breasts

    The Instant Pot makes perfect poached chicken breasts in minutes!  Great for meal prep! 
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 5 minutes
    Total Time 10 minutes
    Servings 4
    Calories 225kcal

    Ingredients

    • 4 chicken breasts boneless, skinless
    • 4 cups chicken stock
    • 1 lemon thinly sliced
    • 4 sprigs fresh thyme
    • 1 teaspoon peppercorns

    Instructions

    • Place all ingredients in the Instant Pot. 
    • Lock on the lid and make sure vent is set on sealing. Using manual mode at high pressure, set time for 5 minutes. 
    • When timer goes off, use NPR (natural pressure release) for 2 minutes, then do a quick release.

    Notes

    Tip - I used lemon and thyme for these breasts because I wanted them to have a subtle flavor.  Depending on what you are going to use the chicken for you can use ginger, oranges, garlic, rosemary, parsley,  or bay leaf would all work.  Peppercorns add a subtle spice without overpowering like ground pepper would. 
    Tip - when releasing pressure, be careful it's hot.  I use the handle of the spoon that came with the instant pot.  The hole in the handle works perfect for grabbing the valve and keeps your hand away from the heat!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 225kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 79mg | Sodium: 475mg | Potassium: 721mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 35IU | Vitamin C: 16.2mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1.2mg

    More Instant Pot Recipes

    • Instant Pot Pineapple Rice
    • Instant Pot Asian Pork Noodle Soup
    • Instant Pot Green Beans with Bacon and Mushrooms
    • Instant Pot Pumpkin Pie Steel Cut Oats

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Gisella Parkes says

      May 24, 2019 at 5:57 pm

      5 stars
      I could not believe that the chicken would be cooked in 5 minutes of pressure. It was wonderful. I sliced it and smothered it i Ree Drummond's home made ranch dressing. Superb. Served with lettuce from the garden, cherry tomatoes and new potatoes - we all had seconds!
      Thank you
      Gisella, Normandy, France.

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        May 25, 2019 at 11:03 am

        So glad you liked it!! I love the way you served it, I think I'm going to copy you!

        Reply
    2. Alexandra @ It's Not Complicated Recipes says

      March 26, 2019 at 4:10 am

      I adore poached chicken! I haven't invested in an instant pot - I am inspired to do so now!

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        March 26, 2019 at 7:20 am

        Yes, you need to get an Instant Pot!

        Reply
    3. Lindsay says

      January 02, 2019 at 9:36 pm

      How would you do this if chicken breasts are still frozen

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        January 03, 2019 at 8:37 am

        Did you look at my post on frozen chicken breasts? It has 10 minutes pressure, 10 minutes natural release and then do a quick pressure release. That should work for this also.

        Reply
    4. Nellie Tracy says

      February 03, 2018 at 4:07 pm

      5 stars
      Lemon chicken is the best and the fact that it is made in the instant pot makes it that much better! Will be making this, this week!

      Reply
    5. Madi says

      February 03, 2018 at 11:20 am

      5 stars
      This looks like such an awesome dinner idea! I'm always looking for more instant pot recipes!

      Reply
    6. Ann says

      July 16, 2017 at 3:02 pm

      they are = they're. Not their. 🙄

      Reply
    7. Michelle Knutson says

      April 22, 2017 at 12:38 pm

      Oh Pam! this is going to be a must for my table!!!

      Reply
    8. Ann says

      March 25, 2017 at 3:55 am

      I think we call this a pressure cooker.

      Reply
    9. Marjie says

      March 23, 2017 at 6:53 pm

      I need to look into the instant pot. It looks like something I could use (and maybe some of the kids could use it, too). Chicken and lemon is a terrific flavor combination!

      Reply

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    Pam Greer from Sidewalk Shoes

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