Instant Pot BBQ Whole Chicken

For many months, fellow potheads have been asking for our secrets to cooking whole chicken in Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker. Thanks for your patience! 🙂

We’re overwhelmed with your love for our Juiciest & Most Tender Pressure Cooker Chicken Breast Experiment.

So, for the past months, Jacky & I have grounded ourselves in our Test Kitchen, researching, testing multiple techniques & cooking times with dozens of chickens.

Determined to find the best way to cook a perfectly tender & juicy whole chicken in the Instant Pot! hehe~

But wait, is it even possible?

Since different parts of the chicken need different cooking times, how can we evenly cook a whole chicken in Instant Pot?

After testing and tasting dozens of whole chickens…

Finally!!! We’re soo thrilled to introduce this whole new Game-Changing Technique into the Instant Pot World!! Ohhh yes!! 😀

We’ve decided to keep it simple. All you need is 4 ingredients & 3 Easy Steps to make this Game-Changing Instant Pot BBQ Whole Chicken!

How to Cook a Whole Chicken in Instant Pot?

1. Pressure Cook Whole Chicken
2. Pat Dry & Apply BBQ Sauce
3. Finish Under Broiler

Game-Changing Technique: Instant Pot Poaching Method

Like our previous experiments, we started off by testing different cooking times with whole chickens in Instant Pot. Sadly, we were not fully satisfied with any of the results. 🙁

Within the pressure cooker’s closed environment, the trapped high-pressure steam rapidly transfers heat to the chicken’s surface that’s not submerged in liquid. So, it’s easy to overcook the outer parts while the inner parts are still raw.

After being disappointed with multiple methods, we had an epiphany.

Why not go back to our roots and try an Ancient Chinese Cooking Technique – Poaching?

This gentle cooking technique has always been a winner in the Chinese culinary world for cooking delicate food.

And by applying the deep poaching method with our Instant Pot, the chickens yielded the best results!

We were amazed – even the chicken breast was moist, juicy, and tender!!! 😀

What is Poaching?

If you’ve enjoyed Poached Eggs before, then you’ve savored the heavenly deliciousness of Poaching. 🙂

The Deep Poaching Method involves cooking food submerged in liquid at a relatively low temperature.

This method allows the proteins to denature without pulling out too much moisture out of the food. That’s why poached food comes out so moist and tender!

Poaching is most commonly used for cooking delicate or fragile food that might easily fall apart or dry out using other cooking methods, such as eggs, fish, or poultry.

Cooking Tips for Instant Pot BBQ Whole Chicken 

1. Ensure Water Covers At Least 90% of the Chicken.

8 cups (2L) of Water is not a typo!

In this recipe, we’re using the deep poaching method in the Instant Pot to cook the whole chicken. So it’s critical to ensure your whole chicken is fully submerges in the salted water.

2. Pressure Cook at High Pressure 0 Minute

Also not a typo! 🙂 How can this be?!

We’re setting the pressure cooking time to 0 (zero) minute because we’re using the heat generated during the “coming up to pressure” stage AND the “depressurizing” stage (i.e. during natural release) to cook the chicken.

Just remember to have your food thermometer ready to make sure the chicken’s internal thickest part reaches at least 161°F (72°C).

Time for cooking BBQ Whole Chicken in Instant Pot!

Step-by-Step Guide: Instant Pot BBQ Whole Chicken

Prepare Ingredients for Instant Pot BBQ Whole Chicken

• 1 whole chicken, 3 – 4 pounds
• 8 cups (2L) cold water
• ¼ cup (60g) your favorite Barbecue Sauce
• 5 teaspoons (35g) fine sea salt

*Pro Tip: 8 cups (2L) of cold water is not a typo as we’re using the Instant Pot Poaching Method.

Tools for Instant Pot BBQ Whole Chicken

• Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker
• Kitchen Tongs
• Food Thermometer
• Silicone Basting Brush

Pressure Cook Whole Chicken

Add 5 teaspoons (35g) fine sea salt and 8 cups (2L) of cold water in Instant Pot.

With tongs, carefully lower the whole chicken into the water with chicken breast side up.

*Pro Tip 1: Make sure the water covers at least 90% of the chicken (as shown in below photo).

Close lid and pressure cook at:

• Pressure Cooking Method: High Pressure for 0 minute, then Natural Release (20 – 22 minutes).
  • For 2.8lbs (1260g) Whole Chicken: 18 minutes Natural Release
  • For 3.2 lbs (1450g) Whole Chicken: 20 minutes Natural Release
  • For 3.6 lbs (1633g) Whole Chicken: 22 minutes Natural Release

*Pro Tip 2: We’re setting the pressure cooking time to 0 (zero) minute. Yes!! It’s not a typo! The whole chicken will be cooked during the “coming up to pressure” stage AND the “depressurizing” stage (i.e. during natural release).

Open the lid carefully.

With tongs, carefully remove the chicken from the Instant Pot.

*Pro Tip 3: Be very careful as there will be hot liquid in the chicken carcass.

Pat Dry Whole Chicken

Drain the hot chicken stock liquid in the chicken carcass.

*Pro Tip 1: You can use this salted chicken stock to blanch vegetables, make chicken soup, or other dishes to serve with your whole BBQ chicken.

Place the whole chicken on a wire rack in a baking tray.

Measure the temperature of the thickest part of the chicken.

*Pro Tip 2: Make sure the temperature reaches at least 161°F (72°C). If the internal temp doesn’t reach this food safe minimum, place it back into the hot liquid for a longer time (5 – 10 minutes) & close the lid.

Pat dry the whole chicken really well with paper towels.

*Note: If your oven is not big enough, you can place the whole chicken on a baking tray without the wire rack.

Apply Sauce and Finish in Oven

Brush your favorite BBQ sauce all over the Instant Pot whole chicken.

*Pro Tip: Feel free to adjust & brush more BBQ sauce to your liking, especially if you have a bigger chicken.

Place the whole chicken under oven’s broiler for 5 – 15 minutes until caramelized and the skin is lightly crisped.

Serve Instant Pot BBQ Whole Chicken

Remove the BBQ whole chicken from oven and serve with your favorite side dishes!

Enjoy your Game-Changing Instant Pot BBQ Whole Chicken!! 😀

Other Instant Pot Whole Chicken Recipes

Instant Pot Pho Ga (Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup)