Here’s an easy recipe for Instant Pot Chicken & Sweet Potatoes that only takes 35 minutes from start to finish. It’s a delicious chicken dish perfect for busy weeknights. This healthy recipe has simple ingredients that all come together in a flavorful and satisfying meal.

Instant Pot Sweet Potato Chicken and Sweet Potato stew in a glass serving bowl.

If you just want a nourishing meal that comes together quickly, then you need to consider adding this recipe to your weekly meal plan. Say goodbye to boring dry chicken with this juicy and flavorful Instant Pot chicken recipe.

You aren’t going to believe how delicious this dish is considering the ingredients are so simple.

Contents hide
1 Why You Need to Make This Recipe
2 Cooking Chicken in the Instant Pot
3 Key Ingredients
4 Recipe Steps
5 Recipes Tips & Substitutions
6 Recipe FAQs
7 More Easy Instant Pot Recipes You Might Like
8 Don’t Miss These Instant Pot Resources!
9 Instant Pot Chicken and Sweet Potato Dinner

Why You Need to Make This Recipe

  • Whether you’re new to using an electric pressure cooker or you are looking for a simple one-pot meal, then this is the perfect recipe for you!
  • This is a “dump and push start” recipe meaning that you literally just throw all the ingredients in the Instant Pot, push the start button, and let it do its magic. Remove the lid, stir, and dinner is served.
  • On a restricted diet? This recipe is perfect for people who are eating grain-free, Whole30, paleo, gluten-free, or dairy-free. Plus, it’s budget-friendly! See all my tips for eating clean on a budget.
serving of instant pot chicken and sweet potatoes in a bowl with spoon.

Cooking Chicken in the Instant Pot

You might be wary of making another chicken dish for fear that it will turn out bland and dry. It turns out that chicken is ideal for pressure cooking since the moisture is trapped inside the pot. 

I have yet to have a chicken dish that wasn’t juicy and full of flavor. Trust me, you’ve got to try this Instant Pot Chicken recipe. 

For Instant Pot chicken, the general cooking times are:

  • Whole, bonelesss chicken breasts – 10-12 minutes
  • Cubed chicken breasts or chicken tenders – 8-10 minutes
  • Boneless or bone-in chicken thighs – 8-10 minutes
  • Whole chicken – 23-25 minutes (or six minutes per pound)

Since this recipe uses cubed chicken, you only need to cook it at high pressure for 8 minutes.

You always need to allow about 10 minutes for the pot to come up to pressure and then time for a natural release (or quick release, depending on the recipe).

Key Ingredients

Ingredients for Sweet Potato Chicken in small bowls on a white surface.

Chicken cutlets or chicken thighs can be used as the base of this recipe. Chicken is a nice source of lean protein that is low in fat.

Sweet potatoes are an excellent complex carbohydrate that help round out this one-pot healthy meal. They are on my list of the Best Orange Vegetables.

Onion and chopped tomatoes are pantry staples that help add nutrition and fiber to this easy recipe.

Spices like dried thyme, dried garlic, and ground cinnamon help add flavor. But, you can really use whatever spices you have in your cabinet.

Fresh lemon juice helps add a pop of flavor when added just before serving.

Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.

Recipe Steps

Process collage of cooking sweet potato chicken in an Instant Pot.

Step One

The first step is to sauté the chicken and onion in the pot with a little olive or avocado oil. You can skip this step if you are in a real hurry, but it will add extra flavor to the dish. 

Step Two

Next, add the dried thyme, garlic powder, cinnamon, salt, and pepper.

Step Three

Cancel the sauté function and add the sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and water. 

Step Four

Cook on high pressure for 8 minutes. Let the pressure come down naturally for about 10 minutes, then use the natural release and carefully remove the lid.

When you’re ready to serve, stir in the chopped cilantro and fresh lemon or lime juice.

Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.

cooked chicken and sweet potatoes in an instant pot with fresh herbs on top.

Recipes Tips & Substitutions

  • The total cook time for this Instant Pot dinner recipe includes 10 minutes of time for the pot to come up to pressure and then 10 minutes for a natural release.
  • Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • You can use chopped chicken breasts or chicken thighs in this recipe. You can use orange, purple, or white-fleshed sweet potatoes.
  • Feel free to get creative with your seasonings. If you don’t have any of the ones listed, you can always use spices like oregano, rosemary, turmeric, curry powder, or Italian seasoning.
  • You can easily double this recipe so you have more servings. It’s one of my favorite meal prep meals that you can serve in different ways. Serve it plain one night, with rice another right, and as a burrito bowl another night. See all of my meal prep tips for beginners or my favorite Instant Pot meal prep accessories.
  • Love sweet potatoes? Don’t miss my other recipes for Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes or for how to freeze cooked sweet potatoes.

Recipe FAQs

What if I don’t have onions?

You can just leave them out. This recipe is very forgiving. If you’re on a low histamine diet, then leave out the onions. You can get creative with the spices, too. Just use what you have and love.

Can you use frozen chicken for this recipe?

Yes, you can use frozen chicken. Just add 10 minutes to the time (so 18 minutes total). It is best if your chicken is already diced, though.

Is this chicken recipe healthy?

Yes, this is a very balanced recipe that includes protein, carbs, and fat. It’s also appropriate for grain-free, paleo, Whole30, pro-metabolic, low-carb, gluten-free, and dairy-free diets.

A spoonful of instant pot sweet potato chicken over a serving bowl.

More Easy Instant Pot Recipes You Might Like

Also, don’t miss my epic round-up of Instant Pot chicken recipes.

Don’t Miss These Instant Pot Resources!

Instant Pot Meal Prep Gift Guide (Plus Recipes)

Best Healthy Instant Pot Cookbooks for 2022

25+ Healthy Instant Pot Side Dishes

25+ Easy Instant Pot Recipes for Beginners

I hope you make this recipe! If you do, please leave a comment and a starred review below.

And, consider following me on social media so we can stay connected. I’m on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube!

Print
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Instant Pot Sweet Potato Chicken stew in a small white bowl with a spoon.

Instant Pot Chicken and Sweet Potato Dinner

★★★★★

4.8 from 33 reviews
Print Recipe

Here’s an easy Instant Pot Chicken & Sweet Potato Dinner recipe that only takes 35 minutes from start to finish. It’s a delicious chicken recipe perfect for busy weeknights. This healthy recipe has simple ingredients that all come together in a flavorful and satisfying dish.

  • Total Time: 38 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 tablespoon cooking oil (I used olive oil)
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped (about 3 cups)
  • 1 14.5–ounce canned chopped tomatoes, with the juices
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional, for topping)
  • 1 medium lemon or lime, juiced

Instructions

  1. Drizzle your cooking oil into the Instant Pot bowl and press the Sauté button. Let the oil heat up for about two minutes.
  2. Place the onion and chicken in the pot. and use a wooden spoon or spatula to stir the onion and chicken while they cook for a few minutes.
  3. Add the thyme, garlic powder, cinnamon, salt, and pepper.
  4. Cancel the sauté function and add the water, chopped sweet potatoes, and tomatoes, and stir to combine.
  5. Lock on the lid and set the cooking time to 8 minutes on high pressure.
  6. When the cooking time is up, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then quick-release the remaining pressure.
  7. Remove the lid and stir in the cilantro and lemon or lime juice.
  8. Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator in a tightly-sealed container for up to 4 days.

Equipment

Notes

  1. The total cook time for this Instant Pot dinner recipe includes 10 minutes of time for the pot to come up to pressure and then 10 minutes for a natural release.
  2. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  3. You can use chopped chicken breasts or chicken thighs in this recipe. You can use orange, purple, or white-fleshed sweet potatoes.
  4. Feel free to get creative with your seasonings. If you don’t have any of the ones listed, you can always use spices like oregano, rosemary, turmeric, curry powder, or Italian seasoning.
  5. You can easily double this recipe so you have more servings. It’s one of my favorite meal prep meals that you can serve in different ways. Serve it plain one night, with rice another right, and as a burrito bowl another night. See all of my meal prep tips for beginners or my favorite Instant Pot meal prep accessories.
  6. If you want to use frozen chicken breasts in this recipe, increase the cooking time to 18 minutes.
  • Author: Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 8 minutes
  • Category: Main dish
  • Method: Instant Pot pressure cooker
  • Cuisine: Healthy
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Keywords: instant pot chicken recipe, instant pot chicken, chicken dinner, chicken and sweet potatoes

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About the Author: Carrie Forrest is the author of the best-selling Instant Pot-authorized cookbook, The Healthy Meal Prep Instant Pot Cookbook. She has a master’s degree in public health with a specialty in nutrition and receives more than 7 million annual visitors to her site. Send Carrie a message through her contact form.