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.
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.
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.
Can i use frozen chicken? Its not going To be completely tHawed out. Do i need to add a few more minutes? ThAnks!
I would recommend you thaw the breasts a little in the microwave first. Otherwise, the spices and parmesan will not stick to your breasts the way they should in this recipe if they are frozen solid. If that’s not possible- you will you need a few extra minutes under pressure.
In the picture the chicken looks browned. . .did you brown it first?
Yes- it’s not required but I do prefer to brown my meat prior to cooking it in the instant pot. Personal opinion 🙂
Do use the rack that comes with. It goes on Bottom of pot. Or just put broth only
I don’t use the rack in this particular recipe 🙂
QUESTION IF I NEED TO DOUBLE THE CHICKEN AND POTATOES DO I DOUBLE THE LIQUID AS WELL
I don’t think you’ll need quite double the amount of liquid! Try adding it with just the regular amount and then before you seal it, check and see if you think its enough water to circulate all the way around. If not, add a bit more.
High pressure or low pressure??
High pressure
This recipe is fantastic!! My family loved it. And said the potato’s are the best!!
It’s gotta be one of the best of the instapot we used thighs instead of breast and coconut oil instead of olive oil(didn’t have olive oil on hand) it came out awesome!!
Awesome job, Joey! Thanks for your feedback!
We used thighs as well. I like them better but that’s a personal choice 🙂
I was nervous, but now I’m impressed and grateful!
I literally just purchased an instant pot and looked up recipes. Your recipe jumped out at me as I had all the ingredients on hand. So I tried a new cooking gadget and a new recipe…both were amazing. Easy to use and the directions could not have been any easier or accurate. My very picky kids and Pickier husband loved it and goobled it up. The chicken was so tender that it easily cut with just a fork, as well as the potatoes. Both we so delicious and flavorful. I was completely shocked at the Awesome results. Please keep the instant pit recipes coming as my family and I are now loving a new, easy way to cook our meals. Do you have a direct site for instant pot recipes? Thank you so much Tiffany! You rock!
Thanks for your awesome feedback, Meredith! Glad to hear that you and your family loved this recipe so much! You will be an instant pot pro before you know it 😉
I don’t have a specific site for my instant pot recipes but if you use the search engine on the homepage you can type in “instant pot” and all of my instant pot recipes will show up there.
Super easy, fast and dang good! I add green beans to mine,
Awesome job!! Thanks, Don!
Made the cHicken and potatoes!! So DELICIOUS and so easy!!
THANK you!!
Way to go, Cyndi!! Thanks for leaving your feedback!
I was sceptical about quick release for chicken. And I rarely cook chicken in the ip anyway because I can never get it right. I made some tweaks based on the comments and o.m.g!!! I believe this had been added to my family’s list of favorites! I browned the chicken then deglazed the pot with the broth. Followed cooking instructions then finished off with 5 minutes under the broiler. Added cornstarch to the juice for gravy, which was a little salty but still yummy! Thank you! I will have to try some of your other recipes.
It sounds like you did a great job, Jeannie! I am excited to hear that I was able to prove your skepticism wrong! 😉 Thanks for your sharing your feedback- happy that you and your family all enjoyed this recipe!
I need to feed at least six. If I add more chicken and potatoes, would I use the same amount of cooking time?
Yes! It will remain the same. The amount of time it takes to pressurize will likely be longer and where it makes up the difference!
I WAS wondering if you could tell if the cook time would be different if I left out the potatoes
The cook time should stay about the same!
Hi. I would like to double this recipe in my 8 quart. Should i increae time and if So, for how long? TY
You shouldn’t need to increase the cooking time. Keep in mind that the time it takes to reach full pressure will be a bit longer since you have a greater volume of food in your cooker!
You say use reMaining parmesAn cheese, iS it used in the recipe before that?
Thanks for pointing out that typo, Kathy- it’s fixed!
I have bone in chicken breast. How should i adjust the tIme? (Sorry for all caps)
Hi Trish- you will definitely need a few extra minutes.. I don’t know exactly how many but I’d start with an additional 5 minutes at first. I haven’t tried this recipe with bone in, so I can’t say for sure at this time! Definitely keep me posted!