Juicy Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Made in Minutes

Dinner in minutes, pages left to read — this Instant Pot chicken saves both.

This is the kind of recipe I love to keep on repeat — a simple Instant Pot chicken that turns into three dinners while I’m finishing a romance novel. It’s seasoned, brothy, and stays juicy thanks to one little trick: we cook it in stock and add some of that liquid back after shredding. That’s what makes it better than the plain, dry shredded chicken you sometimes get.

Make a batch for Sunday reading, then turn it into chicken salad, enchiladas, loaded baked potatoes, or sliders for your next book club. It even works from frozen (details below), so if you forgot to thaw — you’re still good.

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If you love pairing simple, flavorful dishes with your favorite reads, explore my Book and Recipe Pairings Series — like my Rustic Bread & Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands feature, perfect for a slow Sunday afternoon.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Instant Pot easy: hands-off cooking while you read.
• So juicy: broth in the pot + broth after shredding.
• Book club ready: serve it on rolls, in tacos, or over salad.
• Meal prep friendly: freezes beautifully.
• From frozen: just add a couple minutes and make sure breasts aren’t stuck together.

Instant Pot Shredded Chicken
(Book Club Friendly!)

Juicy, tender shredded chicken made in minutes — perfect for potlucks, cozy reading nights, or stretching into multiple meals.

Ingredients

• 1 cup chicken stock or broth
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

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Equipment

• Instant Pot
• Steam Rack Trivet
• Hand Mixer
• Measuring Cup & Spoon Set

Kitchen note: If you’re curious about the tools I regularly use when making recipes like this, you can find them all on my Kitchen Essentials page .

How to Make It

1. Season: In a small bowl, stir together the garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
2. Prep the pot: Pour the chicken stock into the Instant Pot insert. Add the trivet. Lay the chicken on top and season both sides.
3. Pressure cook: Close and seal. Cook on Manual High Pressure for 10 minutes. Let it naturally release for 5 minutes before venting the rest.
4. Save the liquid: Remove the chicken and trivet. Drain the pot but keep the broth.
5. Shred: Use 2 forks, or a hand mixer in the pot/bowl.
6. Moisten: Add 2–4 tablespoons reserved broth and toss. Add more if you like it extra juicy.

This is one of those recipes where having the right tools really matters. I keep a short list of the kitchen essentials I use regularly — including the Instant Pot I rely on for this recipe — on my My Kitchen Essentials page.

Cooking from Frozen & Notes

Forgot to thaw? You can cook this from frozen — just make sure the chicken breasts aren’t frozen together in one solid block.

• Cook on Manual High Pressure for 12 minutes, then natural release 5 minutes.
• Shred and add reserved broth just like in the main recipe.
• Use a hand mixer right in the pot or bowl for super-fast shredding.
• Store with a little broth so the chicken doesn’t dry out.

Recipe Notes & Shredding Tips

• Hand mixer hack: Place warm chicken in the pot or a large bowl and use a hand mixer on low — it shreds in seconds.
• Stand mixer: Use the paddle attachment and mix on low until shredded.
• Storage: Add a few spoonfuls of the broth before refrigerating so the chicken stays moist.
• Freezer friendly: Cool completely, portion, add a little broth, and freeze up to 3 months.

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Lilac Time by Fern Michaels, Carolyn Brown & Lori Foster

Planning a reading night in? Curl up with Lilac Time and serve this shredded chicken for an easy, comforting dinner that feeds everyone at the table.

Read the Review →

Serve It For Book Club

This is such a good “set it and read” recipe. Try one of these:

• Shredded chicken sliders + a contemporary romance pick
• Taco bar for a series read-along night
• Chicken over greens with crusty bread when no one wants to fuss
• Use leftovers in soup for “chilly day + cozy book” weekends

More in Book and Recipe Pairings or browse all Instant Pot Recipes.