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.
Why does it say 30 min cookinG time at the top but 15 min in the recipe?
Does it matter if the chicken is put in the bottom of the Instant pot like the recipe says. Or if the chicken is on top of the potatoes like your photo in the instant pot? I am new to IP and don’t want to get a burn notice that I hear about all the time.
The pictures actually happen to be opposite of what I do for this recipe.. I just moved the chicken to the top for the photos so that you could see it.
Great recipe. My picky 13 year old loved it and that’s a victory in my book. Might keep it in the IP a little longer than quick release, but it was a great meal and is going in the rotation!
I’m so happy to hear that! I too have a picky eater at my house and it’s always a relief to put something on the table that he will enjoy as much as the rest of us! Thanks for your feedback Rebecca!
This was our first insta-pot meal. we doubled everything because we had extras for dinner. It came out perfect and everyone loved it. It will be one of our go to meals.
I’m so happy to hear that his was a success for you! My family loves this dish and I’m glad yours does as well! I hope it inspired you to let that Instant Pot do more of the heavy lifting in your kitchen. 🙂 Thanks for your review Kevin!
How doni get the chicken to look like the picture. I followed the recipe perfectly, but the chicken came out Like regular bouled chicken.
You can always brown your chicken beforehand if you’d like a deeper color.
This was a quick easy meal in the instapot. The chicken came out moist and delicious and the potatoes were fabulous. I didn’t have any Hidden Valley Ranch powder and my daughter can’t eat Parmesan cheese it made no difference. Great meal
So glad to hear this was a success for you, even without the Ranch seasoning and parmesan! Less is more, right?? Thanks for taking the time to leave a review Cathy! 🙂
Chicken came out super tender and flavorful! Potatoes were Tender and delicious too! We had some chicken left over that we will br using for a chicken, bacon and ranch pizza in a few nights. Also i saved some of the cooking liquid for a side of au jus. Fast and easy prep- will definitely make this again!
Awesome job! Thank you for your detailed feedback!
we loved the potatoes. The chicken was so tough. I feel this would be better with a natural release so the chicken would be more tender. I would definitely make the potatoes on their own as a side.
How long should this be cooked? Cook time says 30 and in instructions says 15?? I really want to make this tonight!!
I am new to the InstaPot and this was my first recipe ever. My family absolutely loved it. The chicken was so tender you could cut it with the side of your fork! potatoes were perfect – so creamy and yummy! its a new family favorite.
cook time is actually 15 minutes, but it takes about 15 minutes for the instapot to heat up to the right temperature before it starts cooking. I set the instapot timer for 15 minutes.
MyMy family loves this recipe and, Asas the family chef , I love how easy it is! I aI add carrots to the instant pot and then steam broccoli for on the side as well. ItIt’s a weekly favorite! Thanks!