How To Cook a Frozen Whole Chicken in the Instant Pot
Learning how to cook a frozen whole chicken in the Instant Pot will save dinner on those nights when you have nothing thawed or ready. It takes just 5 minutes of prep, and the chicken comes out juicy and delicious every time!
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 62kcal
Equipment
- Instant Pot (6 or 8 quart)
- Trivet with Handles
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 4-5 pound frozen whole chicken (giblets removed)
- 3 tablespoon avocado oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- any preferred seasonings (smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, etc.)
Instructions
- Place a trivet in the Instant Pot. Then, pour in the water.1 1/2 cups water
- Pat the chicken dry with a clean paper towel. Place the chicken in the Instant Pot breast-side up. Then, brush on the avocado oil. This will help the seasonings stick.4-5 pound frozen whole chicken, 3 tablespoon avocado oil
- Sprinkle the chicken generously with salt, pepper, and any other seasonings you prefer.salt and pepper to taste, any preferred seasonings
- Close the lid and cook on high based on the following times (see notes for additional info):6-Quart Instant Pot• 3 lbs - 50 minutes• 4 lbs - 60 minutes• 5 lbs - 70 minutes• 6 lbs - 80 minutes8-Quart Instant Pot• 3 lbs - 30 minutes• 4 lbs - 40 minutes• 5 lbs - 50 minutes• 6 lbs - 60 minutesKeep in mind that the Instant Pot will take about 15 minutes or so to pressurize before the cook time starts.
- When finished, allow the Instant Pot to depressurize on its own (natural release). Then, remove the lid and check the chicken’s temperature: the thickest part of the breast should be 165°F, and the inner thigh should be 175°F. If it’s undercooked, cook on high pressure for another 5 minutes, then do a quick release.
- If you’d like, transfer the cooked chicken to a broiler-safe skillet or baking sheet. Place it on the second rack from the top and broil for 5–8 minutes to give the skin a golden color. This will enhance appearance but won’t make the skin crispy.
Notes
- The 8-quart Instant Pot works a little better for cooking a frozen chicken because it has a larger cooking chamber and a more powerful heating element. If you are using a 6-quart Instant Pot, you may need to recook for 5-10 minutes.
- If your chicken has been in a deep freezer, add an extra 5 minutes per pound.
- The liquid at the bottom of the Instant Pot makes the best gravy!
- Always check the internal temperature to ensure the chicken is thoroughly cooked.
- Avoid overfilling the Instant Pot. I recommend using a chicken under 8 pounds.
- Let the chicken rest before carving for juicier meat.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 62kcal | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 3mg | Calcium: 2mg
