Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Thighs

Name: Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Thighs
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Ingredients: 8 frozen bone-in chicken thighs (✅); 12 ounces chicken broth (✅); 1 teaspoon garlic powder (✅); 1 teaspoon onion powder (✅); 1 teaspoon cumin (✅); 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon pepper

By: Jodi / Published on April 8, 2019 Updated on March 7, 2023 / 27 Comments

Did you know you can cook frozen chicken thighs in the instant pot in just 30 minutes? This simple pressure cooker chicken thighs recipe transforms frozen chicken into a hot and delicious meal in no time at all!

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Do you ever have those nights when you realize that you forgot to plan ahead for dinner? This Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Thighs recipe is going to be a life-saver! In under 30 minutes, you can transform frozen chicken into a hot & tasty dinner meal. Don’t have an instant pot? Learn How to Boil Chicken Thighs with our simple tutorial for juicy tender chicken in just 45 minutes.

I tend to cook with chicken thighs because they are the most tender cut of chicken and far cheaper than chicken breasts. Plus, my kids prefer the juicy flavor of chicken thighs. For this recipe, I use bone-in chicken thighs but boneless chicken thighs could be substituted if you prefer.

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It’s a toss-up between this recipe and my Instant Pot Pulled Pork for the slot at favorite instant pot recipe – you’ve gotta try both – you’re kids will love them! Serve either with these kid-friendly zucchini crisps and a batch of double chocolate brownies for dessert!

How to make Frozen Chicken Thighs in the Instant Pot:

Place the rack that came with the Instant Pot into the bottom.
Place frozen chicken on top of the rack. They will be on an angle if frozen together, that’s just fine.
Pour broth over chicken.
Sprinkle seasonings over chicken.
Place the cover on the Instant Pot and make sure it is set to sealing.
Cook on high pressure for 30 minutes.
You can do a natural release or a quick release.
For crispy skin, place chicken thighs onto a baking sheet, brush lightly with oil and broil for 3 minutes or until the skin crips and starts to brown. Serve immediately after broiling.

This frozen chicken thighs recipe can also be made in the crockpot by following the directions below:

Place chicken into the bottom of the crockpot.
Use 6 oz. of broth and sprinkle spices on top.
Cook on high heat for 4-6 hours or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
For crispy skin, place chicken thighs onto a baking sheet, brush lightly with oil and broil for 3 minutes or until the skin crips and starts to brown. Serve immediately after broiling.

Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Thighs showing frozen, raw chicken thighs in the Instant Pot on top of the Instant Pot rack.

Start by placing the rack that came with your Instant Pot in the bottom of the pot. Then, add your frozen chicken thighs.

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PRO TIP: If the chicken thighs are frozen together, set them on an angle in the Instant Pot. They will cook just fine!

Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Thighs showing raw, frozen chicken with broth and spices on top of chicken in the Instant Pot on the Instant Pot rack.

Next, add the broth & spices.

WHAT SPICES DO YOU USE?

I typically use a combination of onion powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. The great thing about spices is they can easily be swapped with your favorites. Here are other combinations to try:

Oregano + Basil + Garlic powder + Salt + Pepper
Red chili flakes + Chili powder + Garlic powder + Salt + Pepper
Rosemary + Thyme + Basil + Salt + Pepper
Paprika + Garlic powder + Cayenne + Oregano + Salt + Pepper
Turmeric + Cumin + Chili powder + Salt + Pepper

After the spices have been added, cover and set the Instant Pot to “SEALING“. Cook chicken thighs on high pressure for 30 minutes.

baked bone in chicken thighs in an instant pot

SHOULD I USE NATURAL PRESSURE RELEASE (NPR) OR QUICK RELEASE (QR)?

NPR is when you let the Instant Pot release the pressure naturally. The pressure will release slowly & the lid will unlock when the float valve drops completely. With QR, you manually turn the valve from “SEALING” to “VENTING”, which will let the pressure go quickly. Be cautious with QR because the steam will shoot out of the top.

For this recipe, I often use quick release because I do not want to wait for the natural pressure release. However, either release option will work.

DO YOU ALWAYS BROIL THE CHICKEN AFTER COOKING?

Yes – I highly recommend placing the chicken thighs onto a baking sheet, brushing lightly with oil and broiling for 3 minutes or until the skin crips and starts to brown. You won’t be disappointed, trust me 🙂

DO YOU ADD A SAUCE TO THE CHICKEN?

Honestly, it depends on the night and my family’s request. I will either drizzle a sauce on top of the chicken thighs or serve on the side. I love to turn this recipe into a BBQ chicken pressure cooker recipe by tossing the cooked chicken in a Homemade BBQ Sauce.

FAQ

Can you cook frozen chicken in an instant pot?

Yes! This recipe is the perfect example of how to cook frozen chicken in your instant pot, quickly and easily!

How long do you pressure cook frozen chicken?

For frozen chicken thighs, cook on high pressure for 30 minutes.

Is it safe to cook frozen chicken?

Yes, it is safe to cook frozen chicken. You want to cook the chicken through (165°F) within 4 hours. The instant pot is a quick way of cooking frozen chicken.

What is the best way to cook frozen chicken?

The quickest way to cook frozen chicken is in the instant pot.

Is it better to cook chicken frozen or thawed?

Neither method is better than the other, but cooking thawed chicken with always be quicker.

How would you change the cook time if they were frozen boneless thighs?

Boneless chicken takes less time to cook so you would cutting the time 5-10 minutes. Be sure to check the temp of the chicken to ensure it’s properly cooked (165°F).

Can I use water in place of chicken broth if I leave the skin on?

Yes, you can use water in place of chicken broth. You could also swap with any other broth or even beer – all give a slightly different flavor. If you use water, you might need to add a little extra salt.

If I half this recipe do I need to half the cooking time and amount of broth?

You could bring the broth down to 8 oz, but not less. You need at least a cup of liquid for cooking in the instant pot. Keep the cooking time the same if cooking from frozen.

Tools For Making This Recipe

Instant Pot. This is the instant pot I use. It’s easy to use and clean.

Baking Pans. I really love these pans. They clean up well and look great.

Silicon Pastry Brushes. I keep a set in my drawer as they come in handy for so many applications.

Reviews:

This turned out completely perfect! The best chicken pieces I’ve ever made. So simple and absolutely delicious with the crispy skin. Thanks!
– Tiffany

I made this last night in a panicked “I really need to go to the grocery store, oh look I have some frozen chicken thighs” moment, and they were delicious! Absolutely cooked perfectly. I use my instant pot all the time, so I was a little skeptical about the 30 min cook time (I’m used to the 5 minute recipes), but it was spot on! I will absolutely use this recipe again and again. My chicken thighs were much larger than the ones you had pictured, so I cooked 4 of them without adjusting anything else and it was perfect! Even my super picky husband ate a bunch!
– Morgan

This is amazing! I’ve had my Instant Pot for a while now and never knew I could cook things from frozen! This and some steamed broccoli made a perfect meal tonight since I was exhausted after work. The chicken was fall apart tender, juicy, and so delicious! This hack is going to become a regular part of my meal rotation. Thank you so much!!! <3
– Cherissa

Only my third dish in the instapot. It was fabulous!! Served with rice and a lot of butter. Delish!!! Thanks the the instructions. Looking forward to trying different seasoning combinations.
– Liz

The Instant Pot has changed the way that I cook dinner because of how quick & easy the recipes are to make. Plus, my family is always impressed with the delicious food that is served.

CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.

The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.

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