BBQ Instant Pot Whole Chicken
- Tender, juicy BBQ whole chicken made in your Instant Pot in a fraction of the time.
- Perfect caramelized BBQ glaze with meat that falls off the bone.
- A family-friendly dinner that tastes like it slow-cooked for hours.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 40
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Pressure Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 whole chicken (about 4 lbs), giblets removed
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce, plus 2 tbsp for glazing
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 tbsp brown sugar (optional)
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce (optional)
- 1/2 tsp smoked salt (optional)
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- 2–3 sprigs fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary (optional)
Instructions
- Pat the chicken completely dry with paper towels.
- Combine salt, pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder in a small bowl.
- Rub the seasoning mixture thoroughly all over the chicken, including under the skin where possible.
- Drizzle olive oil over the seasoned chicken and rub it evenly across the surface.
- Brush about 1/4 cup of BBQ sauce over the chicken, reserving the rest for later.
- Place the trivet in your Instant Pot and pour chicken broth into the bottom.
- Carefully position the chicken on the trivet, breast side up.
- Close the lid, set valve to sealing position, and pressure cook on high for 30 minutes.
- When cooking cycle completes, allow natural pressure release for 10 minutes.
- Perform a quick release for any remaining pressure and open when pin drops.
- Verify chicken has reached 165°F (74°C) at the thickest part of the thigh.
- Preheat your oven’s broiler and line a baking sheet with foil.
- Carefully transfer the chicken from Instant Pot to the baking sheet.
- Brush remaining BBQ sauce evenly over the chicken.
- Broil for 4-5 minutes until the sauce caramelizes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- Allow chicken to rest for 5-10 minutes before carving and serving.
Notes
- For chickens larger than 4.5 lbs, add 2-3 minutes to the pressure cooking time.
- Make sure your chicken fits comfortably in your Instant Pot without touching the sides.
- For maximum flavor, don’t skip the final broiling step – it creates that authentic BBQ finish.
- Nutrition facts are estimates and may vary based on ingredients used, portion sizes, and preparation methods.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 chicken
- Calories: 385
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 750
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Unsaturated Fat: 14
- Carbohydrates: 10
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 37
- Cholesterol: 120
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