Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Tenders
Get dinner on the table fast and effortlessly with this recipe for Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Tenders. Shred the cooked chicken for tacos or serve the chicken tenderloins whole on a salad or with cooked pasta.
Cooking frozen chicken tenders in the Instant Pot is so darned easy! It’s a great way to cook up chicken to use in recipes all week long.
You can shred the cooked chicken tenders and use them in soup and chicken salad or you can chop them up and use as a protein for salads. You could add cooked chicken tenders to enchiladas or a rice bowl – the options really are endless.
The chicken tenders cook up tender and juicy. Simply bag up the shredded chicken and refrigerate until you need it.
Why You Need This Recipe
- While chicken breasts vary in size, chicken tenders are consistently even in size which means this recipe comes out perfect and juicy every time!
- It’s perfect for meal prep! Precooked chicken is a lifesaver on a busy weeknight when you’re short on time. Recipes are such a cinch when the protein is already done.
- It literally takes less than 5 minutes to prep. You pour in the chicken broth and then dump in the chicken and you’re done!
- Instant Pot chicken tenders are naturally gluten-free, grain-free, low-carb, and keto friendly.
Key Ingredients
Chicken broth imparts a lot of flavor while the chicken cooks. You can use water but you’re chicken will lack flavor. If you’re gluten-intolerant look for chicken broth that is labeled gluten-free.
Frozen chicken tenders are more affordable than fresh and last up to 6 months in the freezer. They’re also roughly the same size which means they all cook evenly and juicy.
Recipe Steps
Step One
Pour the chicken broth into the base of a 6-quart Instant Pot electric pressure cooker. Add the chicken tenders to the pot.
Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.
Step Two
Lock on the lid and set the cook time to 6 minutes on high pressure.
Step Three
Once the cooking time is done let the pressure come down naturally for about 10 minutes. Use the quick release to get rid of any remaining pressure.
Step Four
Remove the lid and transfer the cooked chicken to a serving plate. Shred the chicken or serve whole.
Recipe Tips & Substitutions
- The total cooking time includes approximately 10 minutes for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure.
- You don’t need the trivet for this recipe.
- To easily shred your chicken tenders after they are cooked, place them in a large mixing bowl. Use a hand mixer to gently move over the cooked chicken. The mixer will easily shred your chicken.
- Store any leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Recipe FAQs
One of the simplest ways to use it is to put it on corn tortillas and add any toppings you like for tacos. Try salsa, shredded lettuce, avocado, and sour cream (or vegan yogurt). You can also use it for quesadillas, nachos, chicken chili, enchiladas, or atop of rice.
Yes, the method is the same but the cook times will change. Chicken breasts vary in size and are much larger than tenders. For smaller chicken breasts cook at 16 minutes on high pressure and for larger ones cook for 18 minutes on high pressure.
Other Instant Pot Recipes You Might Like
- Instant Pot Chicken Tinga Tacos
- Instant Pot Pulled BBQ Chicken
- Instant Pot Whole Chicken and Potatoes
- Instant Pot Pesto Chicken
Or, see my round-up of the best Instant Pot Chicken recipes.
Don’t Miss These Instant Pot Resources
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Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Tenders
Get dinner on the table fast and effortlessly with this recipe for Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Tenders. Shred the cooked chicken for tacos or serve the chicken tenderloins whole on a salad or with cooked pasta.
- Total Time: 31 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1.25 pounds frozen chicken tenders (about 12-14 pieces)
Instructions
- Pour the chicken broth into the base of a 6-quart Instant Pot.
- Add the frozen chicken tenders to the pot.
- Lock on the lid and set the time to 6 minutes on high pressure.
- When the cooking time it up, let the pressure come down naturally for about 10 minutes. Then, use the quick release to get rid of any remaining pressure.
- Carefully remove the lid and use tongs to transfer the cooked chicken to a serving plate.
- Shred the chicken or serve the pieces whole.
Notes
- The total cooking time includes approximately 10 minutes for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure.
- You don’t need the trivet for this recipe.
- To easily shred your chicken tenders after they are cooked, place them in a large mixing bowl. Use a hand mixer to gently move over the cooked chicken. The mixer will easily shred your chicken.
- Store any leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 minutes
- Category: Main dish
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: Healthy
- Diet: Gluten Free
Keywords: frozen chicken tenders in instant pot, frozen chicken pressure cooker, chicken tenderloins
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This recipe is perfect for a quick and easy meal prep session.
★★★★★