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Home ยป Recipes ยป Instant Pot

Easy Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Thighs

Published: Jul 20, 2023 by Lara Clevenger, Registered Dietitian This post may contain affiliate links - read my disclaimer for full details... 6 Comments

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Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Thighs is a simple last minute dinner idea for a weeknight. The Instant Pot makes these chicken thighs juicy and tender in less than 30 minutes. Great for meal prep too!

cooked shredded chicken thighs in the instant pot
Table of Contents
  • Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Thighs
  • Why you'll love these Shredded Instant Pot Chicken Thighs
  • Ingredients
  • Tips & Tricks
  • Tools to make this easy recipe
  • How to make Shredded Chicken Thighs in the Instant Pot
  • Stovetop Directions
  • Substitutions
  • What to serve with Instant Pot Boneless Chicken Thighs
  • How to store
  • How to reheat
  • 1 Cup Shredded Chicken Nutrition Information
  • FAQs
  • More Easy Chicken Thigh Recipes
  • Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Thighs
  • PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER

Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Thighs

Cooking chicken thighs in the Instant Pot is super simple, and it is my favorite way to cook shredded thighs. It leaves the chicken moist and with loads of flavor!

I love using shredded chicken thighs to make this Keto Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole and this Keto Chicken Cordon Bleu.

Check out my Instant Pot Shredded chicken breast recipe to make shredded chicken breast instead!

meal prep with shredded chicken thighs and broccoli

Why you'll love these Shredded Instant Pot Chicken Thighs

  • Perfect for meal prep - this shredded chicken thigh recipe is great for meal prepping and can be added to casseroles, salads, and even into tacos to increase protein intake.
  • Easy and simple recipe - making these shredded chicken thighs in the instant pot is simple and only takes about 30 minutes. With these simple ingredients that you can pick up at your local grocery store.
  • Keto and low carb - With only 1g of total carbs and 28g of protein per serving. This makes a great low-carb meal.

Ingredients

  • Boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • Chicken broth or water
  • seasonings: salt, black pepper, optional fresh thyme
cooked shredded chicken thighs in the instant pot

Tips & Tricks

DO NOT skip the "natural pressure release" step. This step is essential to ensuring that the pulled chicken thighs remain moist and juicy.

If you want to make homemade chicken broth save the extra liquid at the bottom of the Instant Pot after cooking.

Tools to make this easy recipe

The Instant Pot is one of my favorite kitchen tools! It cuts down the time but leaves the moisture you want in each dish!

instant pot set to 8 minutes

How to make Shredded Chicken Thighs in the Instant Pot

  1. Place chicken thighs in the Instant Pot (no need for a trivet).
  2. Next add in the ยฝ cup of chicken broth. If you donโ€™t have chicken broth you can substitute water or bone broth.
  3. Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper.
  4. Place the lid on the instant pot and make sure the knob is set to sealed.
  5. Hit โ€œmanualโ€ select high pressure and set the time to 8 minutes.
  6. Itโ€™ll take about 10 minutes to come to pressure. Let the chicken thighs then cook for 8 minutes and let the pressure naturally release.
  7. Carefully remove the lid from the Instant Pot.
  8. Transfer the chicken thighs to a bowl, reserve ~ยผ cup of liquid from the Instant Pot and discard the rest.
  9. With either 2 forks or an electric hand mixer, shred the chicken thighs.
  10. Add in the reserve liquid to the shredded chicken (this helps it stay moist!).
  11. Optionally top with fresh thyme or herbs of choice.
raw chicken thighs in the instant pot
Add chicken thighs into the Instant Pot
raw chicken thighs in the instant pot with seasonings
Season with salt and pepper
raw chicken in the instant pot with chicken broth
Add in chicken broth
cooked chicken thighs in a metal bowl
Place cooked thighs into a bowl
shredded chicken thighs in a metal bowl
Shred chicken thighs with two forks

Stovetop Directions

If you do not have an Instant Pot you can always boil these chicken thighs in a pot.

In a Dutch oven, add the seasonings and broth. Next, add in the chicken thighs. Cook covered on medium heat for 15-20 minutes.

Check the internal temperature of the chicken with a meat thermometer. The chicken is done when the internal temperature is 165 degrees.

Remove chicken thighs and shred chicken with two forks.

Optional: Add about ยผ cup of liquid for extra moisture.

shredded chicken thighs in a white bowl with green garnish

Substitutions

If you do not have chicken thighs, you can substitute chicken breast, chicken tenders or even chicken breast filets.

What to serve with Instant Pot Boneless Chicken Thighs

I meal-prepped these Instant Pot chicken thighs with broccoli and topped them with Parmesan Cheese and fresh thyme. It would also be great with Air Fryer Broccolini and Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash if you're trying to make it a low-carb meal.

How to store

Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

meal prep with shredded chicken thighs and broccoli

How to reheat

Remove the lid from the container and microwave on high for 1 to 1.5 minutes or until chicken is warm. You may also transfer the chicken to a microwave-safe dish to warm up.

1 Cup Shredded Chicken Nutrition Information

  • 1 cup of shredded chicken thighs is about 5.5 ounces
  • 1 cup of shredded chicken thighs is about 331 calories
  • 1 cup of shredded chicken thighs is about 31 g of protein
  • 1 cup of shredded chicken thighs is about 3.6 g of fat

FAQs

How to make shredded chicken?

After cooking the chicken, shred with two forks or use an electric hand mixer

Benefits of Chicken Thighs

Chicken thighs have great sources of many essential nutrients, including Iron and zinc. They also have fat soluble vitamins and are a good source of protein.

How long do chicken thighs take in an Instant Pot?

Chicken thighs take about 8 minutes at high pressure to cook in the Instant Pot.

Can you overcook chicken in an Instant Pot?

It is very easy to overcook chicken breasts in an Instant Pot, that's why I prefer chicken thighs over chicken breasts.

What chicken is best for shredding?

You can useย boneless skinless chicken breasts or boneless skinless chicken thighs. They are both great for shredding. Chicken thighs tend to be more moist than chicken breasts.

shredded chicken thighs in a white bowl with green garnish

More Easy Chicken Thigh Recipes

If you are looking for more recipes to make with chicken thighs (bone-in or boneless), check out this Easy Palak Chicken Curry, Teriyaki Chicken Thighs, Broiled Chicken Thighs, Cast Iron Chicken Thigh in Tomato Sauce and Sheet Pan Chicken and Vegetables.

PHOTO COLLAGE OF RECIPE WITH THE WORDS "VIEW MEAL PLANS"
cooked shredded chicken thighs in the instant pot

Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Thighs

Lara Clevenger, Registered Dietitian
This shredded chicken thighs in the Instant Pot is a simple last minute dinner idea for a weekday or even a great meal prep! The Instant Pot makes these chicken thighs juicy and tender in less than 25 minutes.
4.90 from 39 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 8 minutes mins
Natural pressure release 15 minutes mins
Total Time 28 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 420 kcal

Equipment

  • Instant Pot

Ingredients
  

  • 6 chicken thighs boneless skinless
  • ยฝ cup Chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ยฝ teaspoon black pepper
Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions
 

  • Place chicken thighs in the Instant Pot (no need for a trivet).
  • Next add in the ยฝ cup of chicken broth. If you donโ€™t have chicken broth you can substitute water or bone broth.
  • Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper.
  • Place the lid on the instant pot and make sure the knob is set to sealed.
  • Hit โ€œmanualโ€ select high pressure and set the time to 8 minutes.
  • Itโ€™ll take about 10 minutes to come to pressure. Let the chicken thighs then cook for 8 minutes and let the pressure naturally release.
  • Carefully remove the lid from the Instant Pot.
  • Transfer the chicken thighs to a bowl, reserve ~ยผ cup of liquid from the Instant Pot and discard the rest.
  • With either 2 forks or an electric hand mixer, shred the chicken thighs.
  • Add in the reserve liquid to the shredded chicken (this helps it stay moist!).
  • Optionally top with fresh thyme or herbs of choice.

Video

Notes

do not perform a quick pressure release. This will cause the chicken to become tough. Only do this as a last resort if you are running short on time and donโ€™t care about the tenderness of the chicken.

Nutrition

Calories: 420kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 31gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 179mgSodium: 831mgPotassium: 406mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 0.1gVitamin A: 135IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 19mgIron: 1mg
Keyword instant pot shredded chicken thighs, shredded chicken thighs in the instant pot
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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pin of meal prep shredded chicken thighs

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    Instant Pot Chicken Thighs and Rice

Reader Interactions

Comments

    4.90 from 39 votes (37 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Pri

    November 06, 2024 at 6:13 am

    5 stars
    Wonderful and perfect recipe. the meat was flavorful and tender. thank you!!!

    Reply
    • Lara

      November 07, 2024 at 12:27 pm

      So glad you loved it!

      Reply
  2. Karen Lipsey

    November 30, 2024 at 4:51 pm

    can you double or triple this recipe? Can the thighs be cooked on top of each other?

    Reply
    • Lara

      December 03, 2024 at 11:47 am

      You can. I've doubled it before. If you triple it you may want to add 1-2 minutes to the cooking time.

      Reply
  3. Heather

    February 22, 2025 at 2:35 pm

    5 stars
    This works really well even with bone in thighs! I do 6-8 on 12 minutes high pressure and they just fall off the bone.

    Reply
    • Lara

      February 24, 2025 at 3:23 pm

      I'm so glad it worked great for you!

      Reply

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Hi, Iโ€™m Lara, a Registered Dietitian and Personal Trainer with a passion for food and travel.

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