Learn how to make a whole chicken in the Instant Pot for you and your family to enjoy! This whole chicken recipe is one that I make almost weekly for my family and the extra can be turned into more dishes for later on in the week. This chicken is the most tender I have ever prepared, and the easiest meal I make!
There is nothing more easier or more tasty than making a whole chicken in the instant pot. It is a meal that I prepare at least once every week, then use the leftovers for Chicken Noodle Soup or my Apple Chicken Salad.
This recipe is very simple with just little ingredients, but can make many meals for your family throughout the week.
The real star of the show is the Instant Pot.
The Instant Pot I believe is a must-have in everyones kitchen.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning I make a small commission at no cost to you.
WHY SHOULD I OWN AN INSTANT POT?
My (now) Mother-In-Law bought my husband and I an Instant Pot back when we were dating. My husband and I always spent at least one day a week at his parents house doing what we called a “Dinner Make Date”, and his mom thought the Instant Pot would be a great addition to our dinner making. I really didn’t dive too deep into using the Instant Pot right away, but after we got a married a year ago I decided to start trying to understand it more.
I can honestly say I don’t ever go a week without using it now!
- It’s efficient
- Easy to store
- Easy to use
- Comes with a handbook
- There are tons of recipe books or opportunities for inspiration
- Dinner can be done in less than 30 minutes
Once you get used to your Instant Pot you will want to use it all the time!
SUPPLIES YOU WILL NEED
INGREDIENTS YOU WILL NEED
Whole Chicken
Head of Garlic
Half a Yellow Onion
Spices (Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Italian Seasoning, Thyme)
Bone Broth (or Water)
WHY YOU SHOULD BUY LOCALLY WHOLE CHICKEN
If you haven’t checked out the blog post Why You Should Buy Local, I highly suggest you should. I go over the reasons why it’s so important to buy local for the environment, your health, and your family. We harvested our own meat birds for the next 6 months, but otherwise we would buy our chicken local. Not only is it better for you, this meal tastes so much better when the chicken is from a local farmer!
HOW TO MAKE A WHOLE CHICKEN IN THE INSTANT POT
- Turn the Instant Pot onto the function “Saute” on and put olive oil in the pot. Once heated, sear the chicken breast side down for 3-5 minutes on each side. While the chicken is searing, slice 1 small onion. Peel the garlic cloves but I recommend not mincing and leaving the clove as a whole.
WHY YOU SHOULD SEAR THE CHICKEN FIRSTÂ
Searing is an underrated step when it comes to cooking any type of meat. Searing helps with bringing out the most flavor to your chicken or beef, forming a brown crust on the outside of the chicken that amplifies the rich, savory flavor of the chicken.
I normally sear the chicken right in the Instant Pot and scrap whatever has stuck to the bottom of the pot. When you add the bone broth (or water) it will get all the juices on the bottom to mix in with your chicken.
2. When the chicken is browned on both sides, take the whole chicken out and set on a plate or 9×13 pan.
3. Add bone broth and water. I like to do equal part, but not too much of both.
4. Set chicken back into Instant Pot. Add in the garlic and onion, and the spread the spices on top of the chicken.
5. Close the Instant Pot lid and make sure the pressure valve isn’t open.
6. Press the “Meat/Stew” function and cook on normal for 25 minutes. Remember – if you can’t get to it right away when it is done, then the Instant Pot will put it on “Keep Warm” until you are able to get to it.
7. Release the pressure when it is done. Remove the lid and you now have a whole chicken done and ready to eat!
The chicken is so tender I have to be careful when pulling it out of the Instant Pot! The meat truly falls off the bone, so it’s been hard to get a picture because of it (and I may like to snack on some too).
We love this meal as a family, and we love the Instant Pot too!
It’s definitely on the menu tonight.
Instant Pot Whole Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 Whole Chicken
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 cup Bone Broth
- 1 cup Water
- 1 Whole Head of garlic cloves
- 1 small Yellow Onion chopped in strips
- 1 tbsp garlic powder optional
- 1 tbsp onion powder optional
- 1 tbsp Italian Seasoning
- 1 tbsp Thyme
Instructions
- Turn the Instant Pot onto the function "Saute" on and put olive oil in the pot. Once heated, sear the chicken breast side down for 3-5 minutes on each side. While the chicken is searing, slice 1 small onion. Peel the garlic cloves but I recommend not mincing and leaving the clove as a whole.
- When the chicken is browned on both sides, take the whole chicken out and set on a plate or 9×13 pan.
- Add bone broth and water. I like to do equal part, but not too much of both.
- Set chicken back into Instant Pot. Add in the garlic and onion, and the spread the spices on top of the chicken.
- Close the Instant Pot lid and make sure the pressure valve isn't open.
- Press the "Meat/Stew" function and cook on normal for 25 minutes. Remember – if you can't get to it right away when it is done, then the Instant Pot will put it on "Keep Warm" until you are able to get to it.
- Release the pressure when it is done. Remove the lid and you now have a whole chicken done and ready to eat!
