Learn how to make perfect Instant Pot Chicken Breasts & Gravy with these simple tips that will flavor your chicken from the inside out. These are the most flavorful and juicy pressure cooker chicken breasts.
In a small bowl combine the salt and spices with 1 Tablespoon oil to create a paste. Coat chicken breasts with the paste.
Set Instant Pot to SAUTE and heat the oil. Once hot, add the chicken breasts.
Brown the chicken on both sides (2-3 minutes per side) then remove it from the Instant Pot.
Add beer to the pot, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the Instant Pot.
Place the trivet in the Instant Pot and return the chicken to the Instant Pot on top of the trivet. Hit the CANCEL button.
Cover and seal the lid - turn the vent to sealing. Press the MANUAL (high pressure) button and set the timer to 5 minutes (10 minutes for shredded chicken). It will take about 10 minutes for Instant Pot to come to full pressure, then the display will show a countdown timer.
Once the 5 minutes are up, allow the pressure to release naturally for 8 minutes (10 minutes for larger chicken breasts), then release any remaining pressure.
Remove chicken from the pot and allow to rest for about 5 minutes before serving to allow the juices to redistribute.
Gravy:
Combine the water and cornstarch and mix until smooth.
Set Instant Pot to SAUTE and bring the cooking liquids to a simmer then add the water-cornstarch mixture. Cook until thickened, about 3-5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
For Shredded Chicken:
Skip the gravy step. Instead, add the chicken to a large bowl with 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid and shred with two forks. Or, use the paddle attachment of your mixer to shred the chicken.
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Notes
*** The cook time of 5 minutes works perfectly for average sized 6-ounce chicken breasts. For larger chicken breasts, increase the cook time by 1-2 minutes.