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    Home » Main Dish Recipes » Crock Pot & Instant Pot » Instant Pot Barbecue Chicken

    Instant Pot Barbecue Chicken

    5 Ingredient RecipesDairy Free RecipesGluten & Grain Free RecipesLow Carb & Keto RecipesTrim Healthy Mama Recipes

    Published: Jun 30, 2020 by Taryn

    This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.
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    Instant Pot Barbecue Chicken is a quick and simple dinner idea the entire family will love. My low carb Keto BBQ Chicken Instant Pot Recipe has only 5 ingredients and a 5-minute prep! Juicy chicken seasoned and smothered in barbecue sauce is a crowd-pleaser. You don’t have to worry about tons of carbs, because this is a keto-friendly meal. It also happens to be grain-free, gluten-free, and Trim Healthy Mama friendly.

    white platter piled high with bbq chicken thighs

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    Chicken is one of our go-to meats because you can get it reasonably inexpensive and can transform it into tons of different meals. If you crave something savory like chicken pot pie or want something tangy like creamy lemon chicken, you can make it, and it tastes great. I love all the freedom and options that come with cooking with chicken. 

    Plus, you can make all sorts of chicken dishes by cooking it in different ways. Slow-cooking, frying, roasting, and pressure cooking are methods that work so well. I could go on and on about all the reasons why I love chicken so much, but the biggest reason is that it’s good for you and my family will actually eat it.

    That is the biggest thing to me, providing them meals that they will be happy to eat without a fight. This keto bbq chicken recipe is one of those meals that they actually ask me to make often, and I am more than happy to. Those busy weeknights can be filled with a tasty meal that keeps you satisfied.

    a round white plate with 2 pieces of the instant pot barbecue chicken thighs and keto coleslaw

    How To Make Instant Pot Barbecue Chicken 

    If you’ve never eaten chicken made in your pressure, cooker, there is no time like the present. You’ll be pleased with how quickly it cooks, the simple cleanup, and how it tastes. The steps to make my BBQ keto chicken recipe are so simple:

    First Step: Combine the chicken thighs and seasonings in the Instant Pot. Mix well, so the seasonings are incorporated throughout. 

    chicken thighs and spices in the instant pot bowl

    Second Step: Add the lid to the pressure cooker, turn it onto manual high and cook for 10 minutes. 

    Expert Tip: You DO NOT need to add liquid. The chicken releases natural juices.

    cooked chicken in the instant pot

    Third Step: After the chicken has cooked, let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes. Then carefully complete a quick release. Drizzle on your favorite barbecue sauce, serve, and enjoy!

    As you can see, this easy keto diet meal comes together in minutes. Usually, while I am letting the bbq chicken cook, I make some side dishes and work on something else. It’s one of the easiest meals ever. 

    white platter piled high with bbq chicken thighs

    Can I Use Chicken Breasts Instead of Thighs?

    Yes, of course, you can use boneless skinless chicken breasts when making this BBQ chicken Instant Pot recipe. Chicken thighs tend to be less expensive and give you a slice of much juicier meat. So that’s why we usually go with chicken thighs whenever possible. 

    So, keep in mind that if you opt to cook chicken breasts, you should reduce the cooking time by 3 minutes so they don't dry out. They will still be good, but possibly not as juicy even with reduced cooking time. If you don’t like dark meat or found a great deal on chicken breasts, there is no reason not to use them for this recipe. 

    What Barbecue Sauce Should I Use for Keto BBQ Chicken?

    You can use any sugar free bbq sauce that you want. Now, if you eat low-carb, then you are going to want to only choose a sauce that is sugar-free. There are lots of yummy sugar-free sauces out there to choose from. So pick something you enjoy, and it will be perfect.

    Or if you want to make a homemade sugar-free keto bbq sauce, then that’s fine too. Check out my recipe!

    You can also skip the sauce entirely. The dry rub on these chicken thighs is flavorful enough!

    What Do I Serve With This BBQ Chicken Instant Pot Recipe?

    This chicken actually tastes incredible with all sorts of foods. Roasted veggies, salads, keto cauliflower mash, keto baked beans, low carb bread, cauliflower rice, and keto coleslaw are all great options. Make whatever you like to go with it, and you will have a fantastic meal. 

    Chicken from the BBQ Chicken Instant Pot Recipe on a plate with keto coleslaw

     

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    white platter piled high with bbq chicken thighs

    Instant Pot Barbecue Chicken

    This BBQ Chicken Instant Pot Recipe is a quick and simple dinner idea the entire family will love. In just a few minutes, you can create a luscious meal that is also flavorful. Juicy chicken seasoned and smothered in barbecue sauce.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 279
    Author: Taryn

    Equipment

    Instant Pot

    Ingredients

    • 4 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
    • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
    • 1 tablespoon onion powder
    • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon pepper
    • Sugar-free BBQ sauce for serving
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    Instructions

    • Add all the ingredients to the instant pot and mix well.
    • Cook on manual high for 10 min.
    • Let the pressure release naturally for 5 min. Then release the pressure manually.
    • Serve plain or with BBQ sauce.

    Notes

    To Reheat: Place chicken thighs on a microwave-safe dish, cover with a paper towel, and heat it up for 1-2 minutes in the microwave. Continue warming until it reaches the desired temperature. 
    To Freeze: It’s best to flash freeze the cooked chicken on a baking sheet. Then you place all the pieces inside of a plastic freezer bag, and they won’t stick. Or use smaller individual-sized containers and freeze them separately. 
    Substitutions: You can swap the chicken thighs for chicken breasts. Just reduce the cooking time to 7 minutes.
    Prep Time: you can prepare the entire dish ahead of time and refrigerate for up to 4 days. Reheat when ready to serve. 
    Liquid in Instant Pot: This works in my older Instant Pot without any added liquid which helps brown the chicken. In my newer Instant Pot, I do get a burn warning. If your Instant Pot gives you a burn warning add 4 ounces of water or chicken stock.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 279 | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 44g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 215mg | Sodium: 494mg | Potassium: 599mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 495IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @joyfilledeats or tag #joyfilledeats!

    If you love this Instant Pot Barbecue Chicken, be sure to try out some of these additional pressure cooker recipes. They are all simple to make and taste great too. 

    • Instant Pot Keto Carnitas
    • Instant Pot Keto Beef Roast
    • Instant Pot Mexican Chicken
    • Instant Pot Keto Turkey Meatballs

     

     

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Michele Kanda says

      July 14, 2021 at 1:56 pm

      How many thighs per serving, 1?

      Reply
      • Taryn says

        July 14, 2021 at 3:58 pm

        That will depend on the size of the chicken thighs in your package. This has 8 servings. It will probably be 1.5 - 2 thighs per serving.

        Reply
    2. Marva says

      December 31, 2020 at 10:40 pm

      Can I make this in an oven?

      Reply
    3. cindy Rey says

      July 17, 2020 at 2:58 pm

      No liquid? I thought you needed at least 1 cup of liquid for it to cone to pressure

      Reply
      • Taryn says

        July 18, 2020 at 10:13 am

        You do not. The chicken releases liquid. I use this method all the time.

        Reply
    4. Ann says

      July 12, 2020 at 3:31 pm

      I have 3.4 lbs of boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Should I still cook for 10 minutes?

      Reply
      • Taryn says

        July 12, 2020 at 8:48 pm

        Yes, 10 minutes should be fine.

        Reply
    5. Ashley says

      July 05, 2020 at 2:41 pm

      This came out great. I love that I used my Instant Pot and will definitely make it again.5 stars

      Reply
    6. Claudia Lamascolo says

      July 05, 2020 at 9:03 am

      We love that addition of paprika and that this is sugar free great recipe!5 stars

      Reply
    7. Suzie Dyer says

      July 03, 2020 at 12:16 pm

      Did you actually cook that in the Instant Pot? I have never gotten any browning, let alone crunchy bits on chicken cooked in the Instant Pot.

      Reply
      • Taryn says

        July 03, 2020 at 12:39 pm

        Yup! This was cooked in the instant pot. I do not put any liquid in or use a rack so the pieces that touch the bottom and sides can get browned.

        Reply
    8. Jenn says

      July 02, 2020 at 1:01 pm

      I had no idea I could make bbq chicken thighs like this in the Instant Pot! So so so excited to give this a whirl for dinner tonight - thanks for the recipe and instructions!5 stars

      Reply
    9. Shadi Hasanzadenemati says

      July 02, 2020 at 12:42 pm

      Love how easy and delicious this recipe is. It's perfect for a gathering or a party.5 stars

      Reply

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