Sharing is caring!

This Instant Pot Whole Chicken Recipe is a healthy instant pot recipe that will streamline your weeknight dinner routine! Healthy instant pot recipes FTW!

Instant Pot Whole Chicken – a healthy instant pot chicken recipe!

This Instant Pot whole chicken recipe is basically the best news since sliced bread. We eat rotisserie chicken on the weekly– there’s nothing like a warm rotisserie + salad kit kinda night.

But when I think about making a whole chicken recipe at home I’m reminded of the holiday season – Thanksgiving, Christmas, even Easter…. because it takes WAY TOO MUCH TIME.

But ummmm that’s until we met the Instant Pot.

Now cooking a whole chicken and being in the kitchen all day long, doesn’t have to be for special occasions and holidays, with your IP you’ll have a chicken dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes. 

So I got to thinking… What if I want to enjoy a whole chicken outside the realm of the holiday season?? No way am I going to cook a whole chicken all day long when my to-do list is endless!

Enter the Instant Pot Whole Chicken recipe! A healthy, fix it and forget it type of meal that will fancify your weeknight dinners and leave the entire family with happy bellies!

How long do you bake a whole chicken?

Baking a whole chicken in the Instant Pot takes an average of 25 minutes depending on the weight of the whole chicken.  

The magic formula is 6 minutes X pound of chicken. 

For this specific recipe, using a 3.5 pound broiler whole chicken, the cook time is 21 minutes after it reaches pressure.

Can you use frozen chicken in the instant pot?

Absolutely! Being able to cook frozen chicken in almost no time is one of the many reasons I’m a true believer in the Instant Pot.

Keep in mind that the cook time will be slightly longer than thawed chicken. Also, if you’re cooking a frozen whole chicken, cook time will increase to an average of 35-45 minutes!

Do you put water in the pressure cooker?

Yes, most Instant Pot chicken recipes will call for water. This is what helps create a tender and juicy piece of meat and helps to get the IP up to pressure!

For this instant pot whole chicken recipe, you’ll just need a cup of water or broth in the bottom of the pot.

I also like to use the wire rack that comes with the IP so the chicken isn’t sitting in water and skin can stay crispy. 

The simplicity of this Instant Pot Whole Chicken recipe is just another reason to love it! All you need is…

• Instant Pot
• Whole Broiler Chicken
• Spices/Fresh Herbs
• Lemons
• Butter
• Water
• Less than 30 minutes! 

That’s it you guys! If you haven’t caught on yet, I’m all about simplified weeknight dinenrs that are healthy and flavorful. And this whole chicken in the instant pot is just that!

If you’re like me and want fast, healthy and delicious meals on the table for the entire fam, you’ve come to the right place!

More Healthy Instant Pot Chicken Recipes:

• Instant Pot Chicken Tacos

• Instant Pot Chicken and Yellow Rice

• Easy Instant Pot Crack Chicken and Broccoli

• Instant Pot Easy Shredded Chicken

Instant Pot Whole Chicken

---

★★★★★

5 from 5 reviews

• Author: Kristina LaRue, RD, CSSD
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 25 mins
• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 1 whole chicken 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

This Instant Pot Whole Chicken Recipe is a healthy instant pot recipe that will streamline your weeknight dinner routine! Healthy instant pot recipes FTW!

---

Scale 1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 1 cup chicken broth or water
• 1 whole broiler chicken (2.5–4.5 pounds)
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon minced ginger
• salt and pepper
• Italian seasoning
• ground paprika
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 4–6 springs fresh rosemary

---

Instructions

1. In an Instant Pot, pour in broth or water; insert wire rack that comes with the pressure cooker.
2. Before removing product packaging, note weight of chicken.
3. Remove any parts from cavity of the bird; place whole chicken on wire rack, breast side up.
4. In a small bowl, mix together butter garlic and ginger.
5. Press butter on top and underneath skin of chicken.
6. Season skin liberally with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and paprika.
7. Stuff lemon and rosemary springs into cavity, and place at least 2 lemon slices on legs of chicken.
8. Place lid on Instant Pot and seal the valve.
9. Cook chicken on Poultry setting at high pressure f0r 6 minutes per pound.
10. Once chicken is done cooking, quick release valve to depressurize instant pot and insert meat thermometer into the chicken to verify 165 degrees.
11. If you like crispy skin, place chicken in roasting pan or baking sheet, drizzle with a little olive oil and broil chicken in oven for 5 minutes until skin is golden brown.

---

Notes

• Before removing product packaging, note weight of whole chicken.
• This recipe was created in a 6 quart instant pot.

• Category: Dinner
• Method: Instant Pot
• Cuisine: American

Keywords: instant pot whole chicken, instant pot whole chicken recipe, whole chicken recipes, instant pot chicken recipes, healthy instant pot recipes

If you tried this recipe or any of our recipes, please leave a comment and rate the recipe. We love hearing from you! You can also tag #loveandzest on social media. To stay up-to-date, FOLLOW US on Instagram @LoveandZest, Pinterest, and Facebook.

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links to products we believe in, which means that even though it doesn’t cost you anything extra, Love & Zest will receive a small amount of money from the sale of these items.

Kristina LaRue, RD, CSSD

Hi I’m Kristina LaRue, registered dietitian and millennial mom of two active and hungry boys. Here on Love & Zest, you’ll find (mostly) healthy recipes to fuel the whole family and real life stories of modern motherhood. I’m all about veggie-filled breakfast meal prep recipes, healthier sweets, and easy weeknight dinners made in the Instant Pot or sheet pan.

Did you make one of my recipes?? Leave a review in the comments and tag @loveandzest #loveandzest on Instagram!

If you’re a modern mama– I’d love for you to join my Facebook group A Modern Motherhood Collective!

https://loveandzest.com