You just have to add this Pressure Cooker Whole Chicken recipe to your weekly repertoire. Seriously! Whip it up on a Sunday night and you can make any number of meals during the week – think chicken soup, chicken pasta, enchiladas, burritos….whatever your little heart desires. Plus if you hang onto the bones you can make up a batch of homemade chicken broth to last all week as well (use it in your soup). How awesome is that?
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And don’t worry, you still get that nice crispy skin on the outside, and super moist white and dark meat on the inside.
What are the benefits of a Pressure Cooker Whole Chicken?
- You have a whole chicken ready in less than 30 minutes (ummm yes please), which is just fantastic for a quick weeknight meal;
- The whole chicken is really very moist and infused with the most beautiful delicate flavors;
- Keep the bones and you have about 8 cups of homemade chicken broth at your hands with very little effort;
- You can use the shredded chicken in any number of other meals during the week;
- Not able to use all the chicken within a couple of days? Shred and freeze in smaller amounts and just pull some out when you need it!
I hope you love this easy and nourishing meal as much as my family and I do. If you are looking for something to pair it with then check out these sides:
If you don’t have a pressure cooker yet then check out the Instant Pot. I have had mine for about a year now and seriously use it every single day.
Super moist and so full of flavor, this whole chicken in the pressure cooker will make it onto your weekly rotation in no time. The chicken is handy to have on hand for a number of meals throughout the week. Add it to soups, salads, enchiladas etc
- 1 whole chicken, about 4lb (opt for organic if possible)
- 1 tbsp cooking oil of choice, I use coconut or avocado oil
- 2 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp dired oregano
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth (opt for homemade or organic)
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 6 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
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In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, paprika, oregano, cayenne pepper and cumin. Rub the seasoning all over the outside of the chicken
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Using the sauté function of the Instant Pot, heat cooking oil in the pressure cooker. Once hot, add in the chicken, breast side down and cook for about 6-7 minutes
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Turn the sauté function off, flip the chicken over and then add in the broth, lemon juice and smashed garlic
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Pop the lid on, set the valve to sealed and set the pressure cooker to high for 25 minutes on manual
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Once finished, let the pressure cooker release naturally (natural pressure release)
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Remove the chicken from the pressure cooker and let stand for 5 minutes before carving. See notes
Carve the chicken and serve OR tear up the whole chicken and save for meals throughout the week. Be sure to save the liquid from cooking the chicken and the bones from the chicken to make your own chicken broth.
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Oh my god! Looks so perfect and juicy.
I just recently got into pressure cooking and I LOVE the way meats turn out. So juicy and delicious. This recipe sounds wonderful, I’m going to have to give it a try. 🙂
I know right! I was a bit skeptical at first, but I am totally hooked on pressure cooking now 🙂
That sounds so delicious and so absolutely amazing that it gets done is 30 minutes!! I need to buy a pressure cooker my mom used hers all the time… This chicken looks so delish!! bet it was tasty.
I know, they are super quick!! It was actually my father in law that got me into using one 🙂 Although he uses the old school scary type….I will stick to the electric version!
A WHOLE chicken ready in 30 minutes?! My mind is blown. A pressure cooker might just be the next kitchen gadget I invest in…
I know right!! It is pretty much the only way I am going to have a whole chicken ready on a weeknight 🙂 I bought mine about 9 months ago, and am totally hooked now!
That is one beautiful chicken! I grew up with pressure cookers and the fear that my mother put in me about them blowing up if I ran through the kitchen LOL! I would love to have one now and your post has definitely inspired me to get one.
Haha I remember learning how to use one of those scary ones in home economics class 🙂 I wouldn’t go near one these days, but the electric version is so easy to use (and a lot less scary!)