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White bowl filled with steaming sticky instant pot pulled bbq chicken pieces.

Instant Pot Pulled BBQ Chicken

5 from 1 vote
Aliana Recipes
Tender, juicy chicken cooked in a savory blend of spices and thick barbecue sauce. This hands-off pressure cooker method delivers pull-apart meat in under an hour for easy weeknight dinners.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings:8 people
Course:Dinner
Cuisine:American
Calories:320kcal
Cost:$14
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup chicken stock Or water, for building pressure
  • 2 lbs chicken thighs Boneless and skinless
  • 1 lb chicken breast Boneless and skinless
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder For savory depth
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder Aromatic base
  • ½ teaspoon paprika Adds a subtle smoky color
  • ½ teaspoon salt Enhances overall flavor
  • 1 ½ cups BBQ sauce Plus extra for serving
  • ½ cup grated onion Including the juices
  • 2-3 tablespoon brown sugar Adds caramelized sweetness
  • 2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce Provides umami richness

Equipment

  • 1 Instant Pot 6 or 8 quart size
  • 2 Forks For shredding the meat

Method
 

  1. Place the stock, chicken, spices, BBQ sauce, grated onion, sugar, and Worcestershire sauce into the pot in that exact order without stirring. Leaving the thin liquid at the bottom allows the machine to build steam properly, resulting in a clean inner pot with no scorched bits.
  2. Seal the lid and set the machine to high pressure for 15 minutes, followed by a 10-minute natural release before venting. Letting the pressure drop slowly allows the meat fibers to relax and reabsorb juices, yielding an incredibly tender bite.
  3. Remove the cooked poultry to a cutting board and shred it using two forks before returning it to the pot. This breaks the solid pieces down into thin, sauce-absorbing strands, leaving you with a thick, cohesive mixture.
  4. Press the sauté button and simmer the remaining liquid for a few minutes, stirring frequently, until it reduces slightly. Boiling off the excess water concentrates the flavors, producing a glossy, thick glaze that coats the meat beautifully.

Nutrition

Serving: 200g (1 scoop)Calories: 320kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 35gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 120mgSodium: 750mgPotassium: 450mgFiber: 1gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 150IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 40mgIron: 1.5mg

Notes

Do not stir the ingredients before cooking; leaving the water at the bottom prevents the burn warning and ensures the pot comes to pressure smoothly.