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Instant Pot BBQ Shredded Chicken Recipe

Make this Instant Pot BBQ shredded chicken in under 20 minutes! Great for serving on sandwiches, tacos or as a filling for baked potatoes! Saucy and delicious BBQ shredded chicken made in the Instant Pot.
4.75 from 4 votes
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Instant Pot Natural Release 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 296 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 4 Chicken Breasts
  • 1 Cup Water
  • 1 tsp. Sea salt
  • 1 tsp. Black pepper
  • 1 tsp. Paprika powder Sweet or Smoked paprika
  • ½ tsp. Cayenne pepper
  • 1 - ½ Cups Barbecue sauce

Instructions
 

  • Add the chicken breasts to the Instant Pot and then add the water. The water should cover most of the chicken breasts with some of the chicken breast still sticking out of the water.
    4 Chicken Breasts, 1 Cup Water
  • Sprinkle all of the seasonings onto the tops of the chicken breasts, do not add the barbecue sauce yet.
    1 tsp. Sea salt, 1 tsp. Black pepper, 1 tsp. Paprika powder, ½ tsp. Cayenne pepper
  • Close the Instant Pot and turn the steam knob to "Sealing". Pressure cook on high pressure for 10 minutes, followed by a 5 minute natural pressure release (i.e. just leave the Instant Pot for 5 minutes after cooking before turning the steam knob to "Venting".)
  • Once the pressure has been released, open the Instant Pot and remove the chicken breasts to a clean plate. Shred the chicken as finely as you want. Discard most of the liquid that is left inside the Instant Pot, leaving a few tablespoons of liquid behind in the Instant Pot.
  • Add the shredded chicken back into the Instant Pot as well as 1 cup of the barbecue sauce. Mix well and add more barbecue sauce as necessary. Serve on sandwiches or tacos or your meal of choice! 
    1 - ½ Cups Barbecue sauce

Notes

Storage: Store any leftover BBQ shredded chicken in an airtight container once it has cooled to room temperature. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Use in sandwiches or tacos or your meal of choice! 
You can also freeze leftover shredded chicken. Store in an airtight container or resealable bag and freeze for up to 3 months. 
Make this recipe ahead: Make this BBQ shredded chicken and store it in the refrigerator or freezer. Thaw completely and heat up on the stove or in the Instant Pot before serving.
Doubling the recipe: You can double this recipe very easily, just make sure to layer the chicken evenly in the Instant Pot when pressure cooking, you might also have to add more seasoning for the same amount of flavor.

Nutrition

Calories: 296kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 33gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 96mgSodium: 1550mgPotassium: 732mgFiber: 1gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 376IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 33mgIron: 1mg