This Instant Pot Whole Chicken is so simple to make. Chicken in the instant pot using this recipe turns out juicy and delicious, every time.

Whole Chicken in the Instant Pot can be served as part of a healthy meal, or used to create lunches, sandwiches, or soups.

Get the full Instant Pot instructions for making a whole chicken here. If you love cooking with the Instant Pot like I do, make sure to check out my Instant Pot Pot Roast too!

For another Instant Pot Chicken recipe, try these Instant Pot Chicken Legs our our Instant Pot Crack Chicken next. For a crunchy option, try this keto fried chicken. Or this Chicken Fritta recipe.

Instant Pot Shredded Chicken is a similar recipe, that is simple to make.

INSTANT POT WHOLE CHICKEN RECIPE

A delicious, perfectly seasoned, cooked rotisserie chicken in the Instant Pot is a simple dinner, a lunch-prep multi-tasker, or a meal-building protein that you can use to make other quick dinners during the week. You can serve this chicken in the instant pot with almost anything. We love serving it with Instant Pot Artichokes. You might also like to serve this chicken with this baked asparagus.

Instant Pot Whole Chicken is very versatile! Not only can you use this tender, juicy chicken in all sorts of ways, but you can also very easily adjust the seasonings to make it your very own.

This recipe for Cooking Whole Chicken in Instant Pot is a simple instant pot recipe, perfect for Instant Pot newbies and experienced pressure cooker cooks alike.

This whole chicken recipe is keto-friendly, low-carb, and gluten free. If you are looking for another delicious and healthy roasted chicken recipe, try Chicken and Brussel Sprouts, made with juicy bone-in thighs. You might also like this Roasted Chicken recipe.

WHAT SIZE INSTANT POT TO USE FOR A WHOLE CHICKEN?

You can use any size instant pot to cook a whole chicken, as long as the chicken fits! Both a 6-quart Instant Pot and an 8-quart Instant Pot should fit up to a 7-pound chicken. If you have a mini instant pot that is only 3 quarts, stick with smaller chickens, up to 4 pounds.

INGREDIENTS IN INSTANT POT WHOLE CHICKEN

Mix up some common spices to make the most amazing rub for your whole chicken.

Whole Chicken - I'm cooking a 5 pound chicken in this recipe. You can cook almost any size chicken using this method, see notes below regarding adjusting the cook time based on weight.

Lemon - Half of a lemon goes right inside the cavity of the chicken. This keeps the meat from drying out and adds just enough bright citrusy flavor.

Garlic - Along with the lemon, peeled whole garlic cloves also join the party inside of the chicken.

Butter - I like to use unsalted butter for this, because salted butter might make your chicken too salty. Melt the butter before mixing it in with the spices.

Olive Oil - I like the combination of both butter and olive oil in the chicken rub.

Kosher Salt - You'll want to give your chicken a good sprinkle of salt so that it's well seasoned.

Italian Seasoning - I love this spice blend on chicken. It's a mix of dried basil, oregano, rosemary and thyme, so it's a bit of a shortcut in the kitchen too.

Paprika - This spice adds a bit of warmth and also gives the chicken nice color.

Garlic Powder - While fresh garlic flavors the inside of the chicken, granulated garlic does the same to the outside.

Onion Powder - The flavor of sweet roasted onions in powdered form is perfect with roast instant pot chicken.

Black Pepper - Finish off the spice rub for your whole chicken with a bit of ground black pepper. Grind it fresh if possible.

Broth or Water - The instant pot won't work without liquid in it. Use chicken broth for added flavor.

If you have any questions about making a whole chicken in the instant pot, please leave a comment below and I will get back to you.

HOW TO MAKE THIS INSTANT POT WHOLE CHICKEN RECIPE

1. In a small bowl, mix the melted butter, olive oil, Italian seasoning, salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper together.
2. Remove the giblets from the chicken (the little bag on the inside) and discard them or save them to use later. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels, then place the lemon half and garlic cloves inside the chicken cavity.
3. Using your hand or the back of a spoon, loosen the skin from the chicken breast.
4. Spoon about ⅓ of the butter mixture under the skin, massaging the meat to distribute the seasonings evenly.
5. Rub the rest of the seasoning mixture on the outside of the chicken, coating it as evenly as possible.
6. Truss the chicken legs together with cooking twine.
7. Pour the broth or water into the inner pot of the Instant Pot, then place a trivet inside.
8. Place the prepared, seasoned chicken on the trivet, breast side up. Secure and seal the lid, then cook on Manual High pressure as directed in the recipe.
9. Allow the Instant Pot to complete a full Natural Release and then remove the lid. Use a thermometer to check that the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F/74°C.

These numbered steps match the numbered photos above and are for illustration purposes. For the complete list of ingredients and instructions, please see the recipe below.

INSTANT POT WHOLE CHICKEN RECIPE TIPS

We're sharing lots of important information for making whole chicken in an instant pot, so please read through them in case you have any questions.

COOKING TIMES FOR INSTANT POT WHOLE CHICKEN

Cooking a whole chicken in the instant pot is easy, but you should keep in mind that the timing will be different depending on the size of your chicken. As written, this recipe is for a 5-pound whole chicken, which is fairly large. If your chicken is smaller, use the following cook times.

The rule is that you should cook whole chicken in the instant pot for 6 minutes per pound, followed by a natural release.

• 6lb Chicken = 36 minutes at high pressure, with natural release.
• 5lb Chicken = 30 minutes at high pressure, with natural release.
• 4.5lb Chicken = 27 minutes at high pressure, with natural release.
• 4lb Chicken = 24 minutes at high pressure, with natural release.
• 3.5lb Chicken = 21 minutes at high pressure, with natural release.
• 3lb Chicken = 18 minutes at high pressure, with natural release.

HOW DO I TRUSS A WHOLE CHICKEN?

Trussing is the word used to describe tying the legs and wings of the chicken so that they are close to the sides of the chicken. This important step helps the chicken to cook evenly in the Instant Pot. It also keeps the tender meat from falling apart when you remove the bird from the pressure cooker.

You can learn how to truss a chicken by doing a quick YouTube search. I think it will be easiest to see it done rather than me telling you how. If you don't want to truss the chicken, that's okay too. It will still cook up well without any fancy tying.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN, NATURAL RELEASE?

When you use a pressure cooker, including an electric pressure cooker like the instant pot, pressure builds up inside of the pot. After the cooking is finished, that pressure needs to go somewhere. You can either let the pressure out quickly (called a manual release), or let the pot slowly come back to normal pressure (that's the natural release)

In this recipe, you'll hear the Instant Pot finish cooking. Then you will not do anything until the float valve dops on its own.

HOW LONG DOES AN INSTANT POT NATURAL RELEASE TAKE?

This will vary based on a number of variables. Plan for at least 15 minutes, but it can sometimes take up to 30 minutes to finish. If you need to, you can manually release the remaining pressure after 15-20 minutes of natural release. That should be enough time for the chicken to finish cooking.

WHAT IF THE CHICKEN ISN'T DONE WHEN I TAKE IT OUT OF THE INSTANT POT?

The safe cooking temperature for chicken is 165°F/74°C. You should check for doneness using a digital thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh.

If your chicken is not yet fully cooked after the natural release, you can put it right back into the instant pot and cook again at high pressure for 5 or more minutes, until it is cooked to the proper temperature.

CAN I COOK A FROZEN WHOLE CHICKEN IN THE INSTANT POT?

I recommend that you cook either a fresh chicken or one that has been frozen and fully thawed before cooking. While you can cook a chicken directly from frozen in the IP, It will take much longer to cook (an hour or more) and may end up tough. You also won't be able to season the chicken properly if it's frozen when you cook it.

MORE HEALTHY INSTANT POT RECIPES TO TRY

Readers are loving this Instant Pot Chicken Chili. This Tuscan chicken is also a reader favorite.

Salmon in the Instant Pot is the perfect light and protein packed dinner recipe.

Would you rather cook with your crockpot today? Check out all of our Keto Crockpot Recipes!

If you're a fan of the air fryer, you'll want to make these Air Fryer Chicken Tenders. This recipe uses similar ingredients to this Instant Pot Whole Chicken recipe. Serve it with our Scalloped Sweet Potatoes or the best potato salad for a filling meal.

If you're looking for dessert ideas, you might like this Neapolitan ice cream.

Did you make this Instant Pot Whole Chicken Recipe? Please leave a comment letting me know what you thought.

Instant Pot Whole Chicken Recipe Post