Instant Pot Chicken and Potatoes
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This is hands down the BEST Instant Pot Chicken and Potatoes recipe you’ll ever try. Juicy ranch-seasoned chicken breast and parmesan potatoes cooked in 30 minutes in your pressure cooker – it doesn’t get easier than this!
After you try this Instant Pot Chicken and Potatoes, be sure to try Instant Pot Chicken Marsala (so good. so creamy.) and then whip up Best Ever Baked Teriyaki Chicken, Three Cheese Stuffed Balsamic Chicken, and Healthy Baked Chicken Parmesan.
Guys, I love food. I love making recipes, and I love taking pictures, and I love to see the happy faces on my family when they eat what I’ve made them. I also love hearing from you about which recipes you liked, and how often you make them, and how much your family loves the food too.
As it turns out, you all love the Instant Pot just about as much as I do, which is great news because I love coming up with new and tasty recipes that work well in it. I know everyone out there is just as pressed for time as I am so anything I can do to help you get a nutritious dinner on the table faster is worth it.
For this recipe, I confess, I already had chicken in mind. And potatoes just go so well with chicken, don’t you think? Plus, both of these ingredients cook up in a similar time frame — which is important for an Instant Pot recipe where you just want to seal it and forget it.
I chose ranch and parmesan flavoring as well because not only are they delicious flavorings, but they also are probably on hand in most everyone’s kitchens. If you’re not a regular in the kitchen, I want you to be able to realize you can put together a good dinner with foods you probably already have. It just takes a little creativity and some awesome kitchen gadgets.
CAN I USE CHICKEN THIGHS FOR THIS RECIPE?
Yes, if you have chicken thighs or prefer chicken thighs, then you absolutely can substitute them for the chicken breasts. I would cook the chicken a little less time though, about 10-12 minutes. The potatoes should still be done.
Table of Contents
CAN I USE FROZEN CHICKEN?
No time to thaw your chicken or you just forgot (we’ve all been there)? The Instant Pot can take care of that for you, too. However, I would recommend you thaw the breasts a little in the microwave first. Otherwise, the spices and parm will not stick to your breasts the way they should in this recipe if they are frozen solid. From there, you can follow the rest of the instructions, but increase cooking time about 20 minutes.
CAN I MAKE THIS RECIPE IN A SLOW COOKER?
Also yes! If you don’t have an Instant Pot, no worries. Follow the directions the same, except put the chicken and potatoes in your slow cooker and cook for about 3-4 hours on high or 4-6 on low.
WHAT SIDES WOULD YOU SERVE WITH THIS DISH?
I usually serve this with an easy side salad. But other sides that would go well with this (and that don’t take up too much time) include this Lemon Parmesan Roasted Asparagus, Roasted Lemon Garlic Broccoli & Cauliflower, corn (any which way you like it), beans, or a nice dinner roll or some French bread.
CAN YOU BAKE POTATOES IN AN INSTANT POT?
If you like the idea of potatoes in an Instant Pot but you only want to bake potatoes, you can do that, too. An Instant Pot can hold about three pounds of potatoes at a time (but check your specific model to be sure first). Set the cleaned, whole potatoes on the rack and then add a cup of cold water. Cook on high pressure for 15-20 minutes, depending on how big your potatoes are. Release the pressure according to your pot’s directions. If you want a crispier skin, you can follow up the cooking process in the oven with a little olive oil glaze. You can also cook potatoes in an instant pot with beef, as seen in this Instant Pot Pot Roast recipe.
What people are saying about this Instant Pot Chicken and Potatoes
“I’ve been cooking recipes from the web for years. This is my first comment to any site because it’s the first time anything was this AMAZING! My picky family loved it! I plan on trying many more of your recipes. THANKS!” – Tamme
“The chicken was so TENDER!! Will make this again soon for sure!” – Kayla
“I’m new to the instant pot and this was delicious! when all was cooked and removed from pot, i thickened sauce with a little flour and served over the chicken and potatoes. Then I sprinkled the parm cheese over all. also, i only had larger gold potatoes, so i quartered them and they turned out perfect. will definitely make again! thank you!” – Roseanne
“This is a great recipe! My family loves it and I have made it once a week for at least a month!” – Riki
Instant Pot Chicken and Potatoes
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 pounds baby red or gold potatoes
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon pepper, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons dry Ranch seasoning, divided
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 3 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In a large bowl toss chicken and potatoes in the olive oil, then season with salt and pepper. Stir together garlic powder, thyme, basil, oregano, and 2 tablespoons of the Ranch seasoning. Sprinkle over the chicken and potatoes, tossing to distribute the ingredients as evenly as possible.
- Add chicken broth to the instant pot/pressure cooker, then place chicken in the broth, and top with the potatoes. Place the lid on in the locked position and turn the vent to the sealed position. Set pressure cooker to "pressure cook" for 10-15 minutes. (see note)
- Once the cook time is finished, do a "quick release" by turning the vent to the venting position. Once float valve has dropped, remove the lid. Drain the pressure cooker or use a slotted spoon to transfer chicken and potatoes to a large platter.
- Sprinkle with Ranch seasoning and parmesan cheese and garnish with chopped thyme or parsley if desired before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Has anyone tried making this in the insta pot aura
Aura isn’t a pressure cooker, (I initially made the same mistake) so the cooking process would be more like that of a slow cooker. You can make ranch chicken in a slow cooker, I know I’ve done it before, just google a recipe. 🙂
I did this with italian seasoning instead of ranch and it was deliscious
Yummm! I bet that was delicious- thanks for sharing, Meridyth!
The instructions say cook 15 minutes but the prep/cook time listed above the ingredients say cook 30 minutes. Which is correct??
Hi Marie- both are correct because it takes about 10 minutes to pressurize before the 15 minutes starts and about 5 min for a quick release!
So glad you asked, i was struggling w/this as well! I like the answer – bonus!
I seasoneD frozen chi and po with 3 tablespOons of oil and cooked for 20 min! Done! It was delicious!made its own little gravy. My family❤️
Awesome, Kim!!
I would like to make this with 2 chicken breasts. Do I halve the spices, including halving the ranch dressing. Any other suggestions? could leftovers be heated in microwave the next day?
Just half the entire thing- it should come out ok! But if you don’t want to do that… leftovers could be reheated the next day! Or you could even freeze the chicken for another meal later!
I’ve been cooking recipes from the web for years. This is my first comment to any site because it’s the first time anything was this AMAZING! My picky family loved it! I plan on trying many more of your recipes. THANKS!
Super excited that you have found a favorite here, Tamme! Best compliment ever. I hope you find more that you and your family love!
Best chicken ever! I make this at least ONCE a week a week…its so easy aNd tasty!! Thanks!
It’s the easiest meal, everrrr! Right?!
Hey Tiffany.. absolutely love your recipes. Was wondering, how did you get your chicken nice and brown? although delicious, mine was not as pretty and as a general rule I’ve never been able to get chicken as pretty as yours from the instant pot or crock pot without broiling, etc. Do you have any tips? Thanks.
It’s just in the seasonings! But my pro tip would be to brown the chicken on the saute setting for 1-2 minutes on each side for added color. Thanks for your sweet compliment, Lauren!!
Do you saute before or after?
Before you pressure cook the meat
Can pro tips be viewed in the recipe?
i made this for dinner toniGhT and it was Veey good. I would recommend removing it from the instant pot with a Slotted food because the brotH is delicious!
Not sure why my comment posted wIerdly, it was in all caps when i typed.
Thanks for your feedback, Ashley! Happy to hear it turned out delicious for you!!
hello! I want to make this recipe with 2 chicken breasts instead of 4, do I need to reduce the cooking time?
You shouldn’t have to- I recommend keeping the cook time the same!
It came out great! New favorite instant pot recipe. I’m GOINg to make it again and was thinking about adding green beans, would They be mush if I cooked it all together or should I cook them SEPARATELy?
what is an instant pot? EVERYTHING LOOKS FABULOUS!
An instant pot is a new age pressure cooker! They’re fantastic and very fun to use 🙂
This sounds delicious! i plan on making it tonight. would you recommend adding yellow summer squash or do you think that should be cooked separate?
I think that you could but the cook time would be much shorter for the squash- thats my only concern!
What can i substi for ranch dressing? Im from scotland and dont think we can buy here!
Hi Elrine- try making one at home! It’s pretty easy. This recipe seems pretty good for it.
https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/homemade-ranch-seasoning-mix/
I love mine too, I am scared to use an old fashioned pressure cooker, this takes the fear out of pressure COOKING for me.