Instant Pot chicken “dump recipes” can be a lifesaver for busy parents and grandparents! They’re quick, easy, and endlessly versatile — I like to assemble them ahead of time so I can stock up on freezer meals for later!
Traditional dump-and-go chicken recipes are usually made in a slow cooker, but I’ve found that many are just as delicious when made in an Instant Pot! (I’m not always great at thinking ahead, so my preference for pressure cooking is largely a matter of speed.) I love these recipes because they make a nutritious and tasty weeknight meal no matter how rushed I am.
In this post, you’ll find 3 delicious Instant Pot dump recipes for Lemon Garlic Chicken, Salsa Chicken, and Honey Dijon Chicken. I’ve also included a few tips that can help you create your own unique dump chicken variations!
Table of Contents
Instant Pot Dump Recipes With Chicken
1. Lemon Garlic Chicken
Ingredients:
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 Tbsp parsley flakes
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice (or the juice of one whole lemon)
- 4-6 chicken breasts (or 8 to 10 chicken tenders)
Directions:
Combine the garlic, olive oil, parsley, lemon juice, and chicken in a ziplock bag. Let the chicken marinate in the bag for at least 2 hours, or you can freeze it to cook later.
When you’re ready to cook the chicken, empty the contents of the bag into your Instant Pot. Add water and a bit of extra lemon juice until you have about 1 cup of liquid in the pot.
If your chicken is not frozen, cook it on high pressure for 10 minutes. If it is frozen, cook it on high pressure for 20 minutes. When the cooking time is up, press the “Cancel” button and use the Quick Release valve. Remove the chicken from the pot.
At this point, you can either discard the remaining liquid, or make a sauce with it. To make a sauce, select the “sauté” function on your Instant Pot and add around 3 tablespoons of cornstarch. Whisk constantly until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.
Serving Ideas For Instant Pot Lemon Garlic Chicken
- Serve with steamed veggies and potatoes
- Pile it on your favorite broth rice
- As a filling for your favorite wrap or sandwich
Serve your Lemon Garlic Chicken warm, topped with the sauce if you made one, alongside some steamed veggies and potatoes or rice. Enjoy your quick and tasty dinner!
2. Salsa Chicken
Ingredients:
- 4 chicken breasts
- 1 cup salsa
- 1 cup water (if necessary*)
*Note: The salsa I used was a pico de gallo that didn’t have much liquid content, so I added a cup of water to my Instant Pot along with the salsa. If you’re using a “saucier” or more liquid-y salsa, you probably won’t need to add the water.
Directions:
Add the chicken, salsa, and water (if necessary) to your Instant Pot.
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Cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. (Again, if the chicken is frozen, cook for 20 minutes.) When the cooking time is up, press “Cancel” and use the Quick Release valve.
Pull the chicken and salsa out of the pot, and discard any leftover water/liquid. Use a couple of forks to shred the chicken and mix the salsa throughout.
Serving Ideas For Instant Pot Salsa Chicken
- Chicken tacos
- Quesadillas
- Enchiladas
- Burrito bowls
- Burritos
- Tostadas
- Burger alternative
3. Honey Dijon Chicken
Ingredients:
- 4 chicken breasts
- 1/2 cup mustard
- 1/2 cup honey
Directions:
Add the chicken, mustard, and honey to your Instant Pot, along with 1/2 cup of water if the honey and mustard mixture seems a bit thick.
Cook for 10 minutes on high pressure, or 20 minutes for frozen. When the timer is up, press “Cancel” and use the Quick Release valve.
Remove the chicken from the pot, then either discard the liquid or you can choose to make a sauce with it. (To make a sauce, select the “sauté” function on your Instant Pot and add around 3 tablespoons of cornstarch. Whisk constantly until thickened.)
Serving Ideas For Instant Pot Honey Mustard Chicken
- Serve with rice or potatoes
- Pile it on a sandwich
- In a pita with some fresh veggies
- On a salad
- Rolled up in a wrap
Tips For Perfect Instant Pot Chicken
- You can use this method to cook chicken in almost any sauce or liquid. Just make sure you have about 1 cup of liquid in the pot (whether that’s 1/2 cup of sauce and 1/2 cup of water, 1 cup of sauce, or 1 cup of water!)
- With many sauces and marinades, you’ll get better flavor if you marinate the chicken for a while before cooking it. Marinate chicken in a sauce or marinade for at least 2 hours, or up to 2 days for a more intense flavor.
How to Enjoy Leftovers
Refrigerate leftover cooked chicken in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
Freeze in airtight bag or container for up to 6 months. Remove as much air as possible before freezing to prevent freezer burn.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Cook Chicken Breast In An Instant Pot?
To cook chicken breast in an Instant Pot, season the chicken and place it in the pot (on a trivet, if desired), add 1 cup of liquid, and cook for the appropriate amount of time. Easy!
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What Is Dump And Go Cooking In An Instant Pot?
Dump-and-go cooking involves dumping a bunch of ingredients into a cooking appliance and turning it on. This method used to be synonymous with crock pots, but you can do it with an Instant Pot too!
Can I Make Dump And Go Recipes In My Instant Pot?
Absolutely! There are plenty of dump recipes for Instant Pots out there, from dump dinners to Instant Pot dump soups. These recipes are perfect for busy days when you want a delicious meal with minimal effort.
What Are The Benefits Of Using An Instant Pot For One-pot Meals?
Making one-pot meals in an Instant Pot is easy and efficient. You can throw in all the ingredients and let the pot do all the hard work for you!
Conclusion
These Instant Pot chicken dump recipes are fast, easy, and delicious. The chicken always comes out juicy and tender, and the leftovers make wonderful lunches the next day! Try one of these dump and go Instant Pot recipes tonight!
Do you have a favorite dump chicken recipe for the Instant Pot?
Honey Dijon Chicken
Ingredients
Honey Dijon Chicken
- 4 chicken breasts
- 1/2 cup mustard
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup water
Honey Dijon Sauce
- 3 tbsp cornstarch
Instructions
Honey Dijon Chicken
- Add the chicken, mustard, and honey to your Instant Pot, along with 1/2 cup of water if the honey and mustard mixture seems a bit thick.
- Cook for 10 minutes on high pressure, or 20 minutes for frozen. When the timer is up, press “Cancel” and use the Quick Release valve.
Honey Dijon Sauce
- Remove the chicken from the pot, then either discard the liquid or you can choose to make a sauce with it. (To make a sauce, select the “sauté” function on your Instant Pot and add around 3 tablespoons of cornstarch. Whisk constantly until thickened.)
- Shred the chicken, then serve it with rice, potatoes, or as a sandwich. Top with the honey dijon sauce, if desired.
Jillee, which Instant Pot do you have that only needs 1 cup of water? Mine requires 1.5 cups. How do I make the recipes, with so much more water/liquid?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Jaime, the amount of water you use in an instant pot differs based on the recipe. There is not a set amount of water, based on the instant pot you have. The more liquid that is included in the recipe, the less water you need.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Regarding cooking thawed/fresh chicken and frozen chicken…my understanding is not to cook the frozen chicken longer but the same as the thawed/fresh chicken because the pressure cooker/instant pot will just take longer to come to pressure. I have not seen to cook the meat longer in any instructions I have read. Thanks for the great recipes!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks for the recipes, we love our pressure cooker. One tip I’d like to share is to use unsalted chicken stock (or beef or vegetable stock depending on what you are making) instead of water, it adds a lot more flavor to your recipes. We love unsalted Kitchen Basics stock which has a lot more flavor than store bought broth.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I assume these recipes will work in my pressure cooker. Correct?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yes :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.where can you get an instant pot?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I got mine from Amazon. Good price and quick delivery.
C.Mahar
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Just click on the underlined words “instant pot” in the post – they are mostly sold online. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.They are also called Pressure cookers. You can buy them anywhere, like Wal-mart, Target, whoever sells appliances (microwaves, toasters, coffee makers, etc.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Can you make apple sauce and salsa with a Instant pot?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I thought cooking meat to fast wasn’t as good as cooking meat slowly…any ideas on this?
Cooking meat fast isn’t always the best, but the conditions change when pressure is involved. Since the instant pot cooks using intense pressure, you still get tender, juicy meat – even when it’s cooked quickly!
And yes – you can definitely make apple sauce and salsa. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.So an instant pot is a new name for pressure cooler? How is it different? Can crock pot be used for these recipes and just cook longer?
Crock pots are slow cookers, while pressure cookers (including the Instant Pot) are FAST! The Instant Pot is an electric pressure cooker – essentially a pressure cooker that plugs in and has programs for rice, sautéing, yogurt and more!
You could use these recipes in the slow cooker, but the times would be very different and you wouldn’t need as much liquid. :-)
I love your blog. I am learning so much about my ONE POT. I constantly am learning more things from your blog. Never too old to learn, I say. Today if my birthday and I am now 74 and loving every minute of it.
Jacque
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Happy Birthday and Many, many more!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you for all of the awesome tips, Jillee. I love your blog!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I was told that when cooking meat in the Instant Pot to never use the Quick Release. Only a Natural Release should be used because the Quick Release sucks the moisture out of the meat. I don’t know if you’ve noticed the same thing, but I’ve definitely found that to be true. I’ve mistakenly made some very dry chicken in my IP before.
I just got an Instant Pot after hearing about them for so long. Also I was so intrigued to hear it was invented by a laid off scientist here in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada where I live. That was cool to learn!
It’s much more than just a pressure cooker and I love how easy it is to use. I’ve just got it and have been trying to use it for every dinner.
Thank you for all these great recipes and tips. I’m loving my Instant Pot. It suits my last minute personality perfectly.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The Instant pot is the same as PRESSURE COOKER.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.It is the same as a pressure cooker plus a whole lot more. Many many uses and lots of helpful people that share their ideas, plus the instant pot groups on facebook. I love mine!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’ve never hard of an Instant Pot before so thanks.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I just recently heard of these instant pots and now I’m seeing recipes for them everywhere. I believe I may have to get one.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I got mine a week ago and have already used it three times. I love it! There are tons of recipes on Pinterest for all kinds of recipes. I bought it to replace a slow cooker – but using the pressure cooker options that are so much faster – I will probably use them so much more. I am so glad I read about the Instant Pot on this site.