One of our favorite summer recipes to set and forget, this Instant Pot Pulled Chicken is a low-effort recipe that results in tender, melt-in-your-mouth BBQ pulled chicken with less than 15 minutes of active time. It’s the perfect easy recipe when you have better things to do than be stuck in the kitchen for an hour.

Use your Instant Pot to make this flavorful, juicy and tender BBQ pulled chicken that is perfect for meal prepping and is incredibly freezer-friendly. We used our homemade brown sugar chili BBQ sauce, but you can use any BBQ sauce you prefer - including pre-made.

Instant Pot Pulled Chicken Recipe

Summer is hands down the season where my Instant Pot gets the most use.

I want to be outside enjoying the fresh air and sun while I can, so the last thing that I want to do is spend extra time inside – let alone heat up the house with the oven.

This Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Pork recipe is perfect for those occasions, because I simply throw all of the ingredients into my Instant Pot, set it and forget it, then come back eventually to shred up the tender, fall-apart chicken.

For today’s recipe we made a from-scratch Brown Sugar Chili BBQ sauce but you can use any type of BBQ sauce you prefer, including pre-made versions. (There is no shame in that – I have definitely opted to just pour a bottle of BBQ sauce in instead of making my own on a busy day.)

Regardless of which BBQ sauce you use, the result will be flavorful, juicy and tender BBQ pulled chicken that is perfect for meal prepping and is incredibly freezer-friendly.

And a little tip before we get into the recipe FAQs – use a combination of breasts and thighs to keep this recipe budget-friendly and to add some additional moisture to the pulled chicken.

two hamburger buns filled with BBQ pulled chicken and creamy coleslaw on a wooden board in from of an Instant Pot

Can this Instant Pot Pulled Chicken recipe be made in the crockpot? Yes, you would follow the same cooking method outlined below but increase the cooking time to 4-5 hours on low, or 1-2 hours on high.

How to make Instant Pot Pulled Chicken with frozen chicken breasts: To make this Instant Pot pulled chicken recipe using frozen chicken breasts, add 5 extra minutes to your cooking time.

How to store leftover pulled chicken? Store any leftover pulled chicken in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within 3 days.

Can this BBQ pulled chicken be frozen? Yes, this pulled chicken recipe freezes well. Just store in an airtight freezer container for up to three months. (This set of freezer containers is a crazy bargain.)

How to Serve Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Chicken:

make your own pulled chicken rice bowl (use regular or cauliflower rice)
serve on burger buns or Hawaiian dinner rolls for a pulled chicken sandwich (grab our recipe for homemade Hawaiian rolls here)
serve with or topped with crunchy coleslaw (the coleslaw seen in these pictures is our Copycat Chickfila Coleslaw recipe)
serve as tacos
serve on nachos
use to make a BBQ chicken quesadilla
use this pulled chicken as an added protein in a salad (a Southwestern Salad would be delish!)
make into a BBQ chicken dip by stirring with 8oz of melted cream cheese
or keep it simple and serve alongside sautéed or grilled green vegetables (like bok choy, green beans, broccoli or asparagus)

Looking for more Instant Pot Recipes? Check out our full collection here!

composite image of s hamburger bun filled with BBQ pulled chicken and creamy coleslaw on a wooden board along with three images showing how to make the recipe

Instant Pot Pulled Chicken Ingredients

Chicken Breasts
BBQ Sauce of choice

For our Homemade Brown Sugar BBQ Sauce:

Brown Sugar, optional
Chicken Broth <– grab our recipe for homemade chicken broth here
Chili Powder
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Paprika
Pepper
Salt
English-Style Mustard, or yellow, if preferred
Apple Cider Vinegar
Worcestershire Sauce

Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.

Tip: using the brown sugar makes this recipe sweet, so include or reduce it at your own discretion.

labeled ingredient image showing ingredients needed to make BBQ pulled chicken

Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful

Instant Pot <– I’m so excited to upgrade to this one with air fryer capacities soon! (You can also just buy the lid which adds the air fryer capacity to your standard IP.)
Measuring Cups and Spoons
Mixing Bowl
Wooden Spoon or Spatula <– I like these spatulas because they are one solid piece and don’t have removable heads for bacteria to get trapped underneath. Plus they are heat-resistant and have a lifetime warranty.
Meat Shredders or Large Forks

close-up of a hamburger bun filled with BBQ pulled chicken and creamy coleslaw on a wooden board in from of an Instant Pot

How to Make Instant Pot Pulled Chicken

Place chicken breasts in the pot of your Instant Pot.

In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together all remaining ingredients to personal taste. Adjust sugar or seasoning, as desired.

Pour the BBQ sauce mixture over the chicken, then secure the lid on your Instant Pot.

Cook on the Poultry setting for 20 minutes. Natural release.

Remove the chicken from the Instant Pot and shred using meat shredders or two forks.

Place the chicken back in the Instant Pot to rewarm and coat thoroughly with sauce.

Pin this Easy Recipe for Pulled Chicken for an easy meal prep or delicious family dinner option:

One of our favorite summer recipes to set and forget, this Instant Pot Pulled Chicken is a low-effort recipe that results in tender, melt-in-your-mouth BBQ pulled chicken with less than 15 minutes of active time. It's the perfect easy recipe when you have better things to do than be stuck in the kitchen for an hour.

Grab your free printable recipe card for our Instant Pot pulled chicken recipe:

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Yield: 6-8 servings

Instant Pot Pulled Chicken

Name: Instant Pot Pulled Chicken
Prep time: 8 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 13 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Chicken recipe
Ingredients: 2.5lb Chicken Breasts, approximately 4-5; 1 1/2 cups BBQ Sauce of choice; 1/2 cup Brown Sugar, optional; 1 cup Chicken Broth; 2 teaspoons Chili Powder; 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder; 1 teaspoon Onion Powder; 1 teaspoon Paprika; 1 teaspoon Pepper; 1/2 teaspoon Salt; 1 1/2 teaspoons English-Style Mustard, or yellow, if preferred; 2 Tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar; 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce

One of our favorite summer recipes to set and forget, this Instant Pot Pulled Chicken is a low-effort recipe that results in tender, melt-in-your-mouth BBQ pulled chicken with less than 15 minutes of active time. It's the perfect easy recipe when you have better things to do than be stuck in the kitchen for an hour.

Prep Time 8 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Additional Time 5 minutes

Total Time 13 minutes

Ingredients

2.5lb Chicken Breasts, approximately 4-5
1 1/2 cups BBQ Sauce of choice

For our Homemade Brown Sugar BBQ Sauce:

1/2 cup Brown Sugar, optional
1 cup Chicken Broth
2 teaspoons Chili Powder
1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
1 teaspoon Onion Powder
1 teaspoon Paprika
1 teaspoon Pepper
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 1/2 teaspoons English-Style Mustard, or yellow, if preferred
2 Tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce

Instructions

Place chicken breasts in the pot of your Instant Pot.
In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together all remaining ingredients to personal taste. Adjust sugar or seasoning, as desired.
Pour the BBQ sauce mixture over the chicken, then secure the lid on your Instant Pot.
Cook on the Poultry setting for 20 minutes. Natural release.
Remove the chicken from the Instant Pot and shred using meat shredders or two forks.
Place the chicken back in the Instant Pot to rewarm and coat thoroughly with sauce.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 288Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 121mgSodium: 407mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 1gSugar: 12gProtein: 44g

Sugar, Spice and Glitter uses an auto-generate nutrition calculator. Nutrition information isn’t always accurate unless analyzed in a scientific lab, so these should be considered more of a guideline than medical information.

three hamburger buns filled with BBQ pulled chicken and creamy coleslaw on a wooden board in from of an Instant Pot

I hope your family loves this easy pulled chicken recipe a much as mine does!

For more easy Instant Pot ideas, check out our full Instant Pot recipe collection here:

For more ways to enjoy chicken, check out our full chicken recipe collection here:

For more scrumptious sandwiches, check out our full sandwich recipe collection here:

One Comment

copoy145 says:

May 30, 2025 at 4:55 am

I stopped in on my lunch break and was shocked at how quickly the food came out — and how good it was. Fresh meat, crispy edges, and everything piping hot. Beats any fast food chain hands down. https://www.smashhouseburgers.com/

Instant Pot Pulled Chicken