Did you know you can cook a whole chicken in the Instant Pot? It's so easy!!! This recipe uses lemon and herbs to complement the soft and juicy chicken!
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Like many people, I received an Instant Pot for Christmas – and I'm finally getting round to publishing some recipes! When I saw that I could cook a whole chicken in my new gadget – I couldn't wait to try it! And it didn't disappoint – the results were moist, tender chicken that was super delicious!
(By the way, if you haven't heard of an Instant Pot – it's like a modern-day pressure cooker that you can also use for slow cooking, sautéing, and more!)
The flavors I used for this dish were some of my favorite to go with chicken: garlic, lemon, and tarragon. I think you can be fairly flexible with which herb you choose – most will go well with chicken!
How to Cook a Whole Chicken in the Instant Pot
To prepare the chicken, remove and discard any giblets (if any), and pat the skin dry with paper towels. Sprinkle some lemon herb seasoning over the skin, and place a halved lemon in the cavity of the chicken.
Switch the Instant Pot to sauté mode, and melt some coconut oil or ghee in the bowl. Carefully place the chicken (breast side down) into the pot. Cook for about five minutes on each side – you'll find some poultry lifters useful for turning the chicken!
Press Cancel, then carefully lift the chicken out of the pot, and place it on a board. Place a trivet inside the Instant Pot, then add chicken broth – I love the Kettle & Fire products!!!
Return the chicken to the Pot, close the lid, and switch the vent to the sealed position.
Switch it to High Pressure, and set the timer for 25 minutes. Release the pressure naturally (which takes about 15-20 minutes), then allow the chicken to rest for five minutes before removing and carving.
Note: Remember to wash any utensils and boards between using them for raw and then cooked chicken.
The chicken is soft, moist, and delicious – it's almost like it was poached! Both wings fell off as I removed the chicken from the Instant Pot – but that wasn't a big deal. It should be noted that the chicken looks a lot paler than a traditionally roasted chicken. The texture is wonderful, but if you're used to the deep brown of a roasted chicken, then this is a little different.
Also, you won't get crispy chicken skin if you use this method. I missed it, but the rest of my family remove it anyway!
I will definitely cook a whole chicken in the Instant Pot again. The clean-up was much less than a grease-spattered pan that couldn't go in my dishwasher. With my 6 quart Instant Pot I'd say that a 5-6 lb chicken would be the maximum size – and even then it was hard to manhandle!
A chicken of this size serves three-four people – but it's up to you what you do with the cooked meat! It would be perfect for shredding and using for tacos, enchiladas or a dish like that!
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Whole Chicken in the Instant Pot
Did you know you can cook a whole chicken in the Instant Pot? It's so easy!!!
Ingredients
- 4-6 lb chicken
- 2 tbs coconut oil, or ghee
- 1 tbs lemon herb seasoning
- 1 lemon, halved
- 1 cup chicken broth
Instructions
- To prepare the chicken, remove and discard any giblets (if any), and pat the skin dry with paper towels. Sprinkle some lemon pepper seasoning over the skin, and place a halved lemon in the cavity of the chicken.
- Switch the Instant Pot to sauté mode, and melt some coconut oil or ghee in the bowl. Carefully place the chicken (breast side down) into the pot. Cook for about five minutes on each side - you'll find some poultry lifters useful for turning the chicken!
- Press Cancel, then carefully lift the chicken out of the pot, and place it on a board. Place a trivet inside the Instant Pot, then add chicken broth. Return the chicken to the Pot, close the lid, and switch the vent to the sealed position.
- Switch it to High Pressure, and set the timer for 25 minutes. Release the pressure naturally (which takes about 15-20 minutes), then allow the chicken to rest for five minutes before removing and carving.
Notes
Remember to wash any utensils and boards between using them for raw and then cooked chicken.
A zero carb recipe. Chicken broth and lemon are not included in the nutritional data as only minimal amounts or consumed.
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Nutrition Information
Yield 4 Serving Size Quarter of the recipeAmount Per Serving Calories 532Total Fat 40gSaturated Fat 15gCholesterol 163mgSodium 153mgCarbohydrates 1gFiber 1gSugar 1gProtein 41g
12 Easy Instant Pot Chicken Recipes For Lazy Sundays
Tuesday 28th of January 2020
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