Description
This Instant Pot Whole Chicken recipe delivers a perfectly cooked, juicy, and tender chicken in about an hour. Using a flavorful herb-infused broth, the chicken is cooked under high pressure, and optionally finished under the broiler for crispy, golden skin. This method simplifies the cooking process while ensuring a delicious main dish perfect for any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Broth Ingredients
- 8 cups cold water
- 5 teaspoons fine sea salt
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
Main Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken (about 4-5 pounds)
Optional Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
Instructions
- Prepare the Instant Pot: Add the water, salt, bay leaves, oregano, rosemary, and thyme to the Instant Pot. Stir gently to dissolve the salt evenly throughout the liquid.
- Submerge the Chicken: Carefully place the whole chicken into the Instant Pot with the breast side facing up. Make sure the chicken is positioned so it is at least 90% submerged in the herb broth.
- Cook the Chicken: Close the Instant Pot lid and set the venting knob to the sealing position. Program the Instant Pot to cook on high pressure for 0 minutes, which initiates the pressure cooking with natural carryover heat.
- Natural Release: Allow the pressure to naturally release for 20 to 22 minutes without manually venting, enabling the chicken to cook gently and retain moisture.
- Check for Doneness: Once pressure is fully released, open the lid carefully. Use a meat thermometer to check that the thickest part of the chicken has reached a safe internal temperature of at least 161°F (72°C).
- Optional Step for Crispy Skin: For crispy, golden skin, remove the chicken from the pot, brush it with unsalted butter and soy sauce evenly, then place it under a preheated broiler in your oven for a few minutes until the skin becomes crisp and golden brown.
- Serve: Let the chicken rest for a few minutes to allow juices to redistribute. Then slice and serve as desired.
Notes
- Ensure the chicken is almost fully submerged in the broth to promote even cooking.
- The 0 minutes on the Instant Pot means it cooks using the time to come to pressure and natural release, effectively slow-cooking the chicken gently.
- Using a meat thermometer is important to guarantee safe internal temperature and doneness.
- Broiling after pressure cooking is optional but enhances flavor and texture with crispy skin.
- You can add other herbs or aromatics to the broth according to personal taste.
