Tiana Walters Instant Pot Whole Chicken and Broth fall apart tender in 45 minutes: carefree, crispy, two-for-one Whole 30 complaint recipe. The Instant Pot makes this easy and quick for a go-to weeknight meal. It’s also an excellent recipe for meal-prepping healthy food for the week. I never cook my whole chickens any other way now that I’ve discovered how easy and juicy this chicken is!
Why cook a whole chicken in the Instant Pot?
This Instant Pot Whole Chicken and Broth is way better for you than buying a rotisserie chicken at your local Walmart, Publix, Kroger, etc. Have you ever looked at the ingredients? But also, I get it. You buy for convenience. Well, here to tell you this recipe is the most hands-off baked chicken recipe ever! You cut up your vegetables and throw them in the instant pot with your chicken. Walk away for 30 mins, then remove the chicken and broil in the Oven or Air fryer for a crispy texture. Done! You are also left with a lovely broth to use in soups and other cooking.
You can tell the difference when cooking a whole chicken with an Instant Pot! I can’t think of a time when I roasted a chicken in the oven for 30 minutes with no marinade, brine, or rub, and it tasted this good and succulent. It’s like magic!
Can a whole chicken be cooked in the air fryer?
Yes, but it depends! If you are lucky enough to have a large air fryer, 4lb chicken is the way to go. If not, an alternative is to cut up your whole chicken into pieces; breasts, legs & thighs. Here is a great guide to butchering your own whole chicken. You can also ask the deli counter at your local grocers to cut it up for you! Air frying is a great way to crisp the skin instead of the broil method used in this recipe.
Butcher the chicken before cooking in the Instant Pot. Place the chicken in Instant Pot and cook at high pressure for 20 minutes. Then remove the chicken pieces and place them in an air fryer basket in a single layer at 400 for 3 mins or so.
Can a whole chicken be cooked from frozen?
Yes!! The Instant pot is here to save the day if you forget to defrost your chicken.
For 6 quart Instant Pot:
- 3 lbs whole chicken – 50 minutes
- 4 lbs whole chicken – 60 minutes
- 5 lbs whole chicken – 70 minutes
For 8 quart Instant Pot:
- 4 lbs whole chicken – 40 minutes
- 5 lbs whole chicken – 50 minutes
- 6 lbs whole chicken – 60 minutes
What chicken broth is best?
Well, homemade is by far the best. And this Instant Pot Whole Chicken and Broth recipe is a TWOfer! (Two for one!) You get some fantastic broth left over after cooking your chicken, and save it in the fridge for up to 5 days or store it in the freezer. Secondly, please keep all the bits of your carrots, onions, celery, chicken bones, and meat you don’t want to eat and store them in the freezer. These scraps will be used for an Instant Pot Bone Broth when ready. Dare I say this recipe is a THREEfer!
Check out another one of my chicken recipes made easy, Instant Pot Crispy Chicken Stir-Fry.
Instant Pot Whole Chicken and Broth
Ingredients
- 3 medium celery chopped
- 2 medium carrots chopped
- 1/2 yellow onion chopped
- 5 lb whole chicken giblets removed
- 2 tbsp ghee
- 2 sprigs rosemary or any other fresh herbs
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tbsp herbs de provence
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Set IP to saute adding 2 tsp of ghee to pot and a couple pinches of salt then saute veggies for 5 minutes.
- To pot add 1 1/2 cup of water, bay leaf, and rosemary (or any other fresh herbs).
- Place whole chicken breast side down. Close the lid. Hit cancel then high pressure for 30 minutes.
- While chicken is cooking make the ghee spread. Combine leftover ghee and herbs de provence with a healthy pinch of salt and pepper.
- Once chicken is done, pressure release naturally or at least 10 minutes before releasing the pressure. Carefully remove chicken and place on a baking sheet.
- Set oven to broil and baste chicken with herbed ghee. Then broil for 3-5 minutes. Keep your eye on it. After a few minutes, you may need to cover the breasts with aluminum foil to properly crisp the rest of the bird.
- Remove chicken from oven and let it rest for 15 minutes before carving.
- Strain the broth from your Instant pot. Save for other uses like soups, sauces, gravies.
