You’re going to love this Instant Pot Rotisserie Chicken. It is so tender and juicy, plus easy to make. It’s a great set it and forget it way to cook a whole chicken. No need to heat up the oven, this is the best way to cook a healthy and easy chicken.
Are you trying to get the biggest bang for your Instant Pot buck?
So many of us have one of these amazing Instant Pots but are intimidated by them. It’s just a whole new creature to figure out. We’ve figured out how to use the stovetop and the oven, even our slow cookers … but now everyone is talking about the Instant Pot.
Maybe you’ve dipped your toes in the water and made some chicken breasts, or cooked rice, maybe even soup. But now you want more.
You CAN venture out and start experimenting. I want to help you stretch your Instant Pot muscles.
Today we’re going to try cooking a whole chicken in the Instant Pot.
A whole chicken is kind of a beast. It comes with this crazy bag inside, and every single one is a different size, so what’s a girl to do?
Our mothers and grandmothers grew up learning how to make a whole chicken, the Sunday Chicken was a staple for them. We are in a whole new generation. We grew up with the chicken breast. Ok, seriously, what happens to the rest of the chicken? Just curious here …
This post contains affiliate links. This means … if you purchase a product through one of my links, I make a small commission – at no additional cost to you. I really appreciate your support and you can trust that I only promote products I believe in. Read my full disclosure for more details.
Related: 5 Instant Pot Tips to Save You Time
Why Cook A Whole Chicken?
A whole chicken is a total budget saver. Whole chickens frequently go on sale for $.79 per pound. Looking at that versus chicken breast, which regularly cost $3.00-$5.00 per pound … it’s a huge motivator to try and work with the whole chicken. Not only that, but you can easily turn that 1 chicken into 3 different meals. Holy Budget Beast, Batman! 3 meals for $5.00? POW! ZING! ZAP! (ok, I threw that in for the boys in my life)
Another benefit of using whole chickens is that you get the carcass. I know, that sounds gross, but saving carcasses is an amazing cost savings. Those carcasses turn into free chicken stock. Read here about how to make chicken stock for free with your Instant Pot.
Why Instant Pot Rotisserie Chicken?
When I would bake a chicken in the oven, it was so hard to figure out if it was done. There have been a couple, ok several, occasions where I undercooked my chicken. YUK!!
There are also times where I overcook my chicken. If a chicken is overcooked in the oven it gets all dried out, and who wants that?
With the Instant Pot, the chicken turns out so tender and delicious. I took the class, Instant Pot 101, which teaches a formula for timing different sized chickens in the Instant Pot and since learning it, I’ve never over or undercooked my chicken. This class is really great for learning all things Instant Pot. It’s also a great value at only $16.00, so go check it out here.
Related: 11 Common Instant Pot Mistakes to Avoid
How To Cook Your Whole Chicken
After removing your chicken from the package and rinsing it, place it on your Instant Pot rack inside the Instant Pot. I love using this silicone steamer basket because it makes it really easy to remove and it doesn’t get crusted up with chicken bits that are hard to scrub off. I just throw it in the dishwasher when I’m done.
Place ¾ cup water in the bottom of the pot.
Sprinkle 1 whole head of peeled garlic cloves and a quartered, peeled onion around and in the chicken.
I then generously sprinkle it with Rotisserie Chicken Seasoning from McCormick. I love this stuff, by the way, and use it for all kinds of dishes.
For a 6-pound chicken use manual mode for 38 minutes. When the time is finished, use the quick release to vent it and remove the chicken to a cutting board. Leave the onion and garlic in the Instant Pot.
I then place the ½ head of cauliflower florets in the liquid.
Put 6 quartered potatoes on the silicone rack. Close the Instant Pot again and set the time for 8 minutes.
When it is finished, vent the Instant Pot, put the potatoes in a serving bowl and use your immersion blender to completely puree the cauliflower, onion, garlic, and liquid together. You can also pour everything into a Vitamix blender and puree it until smooth like I did. Add salt and pepper to taste. My kids haven’t figured out that this gravy is made out of Cauliflower. It is nice and thick and because the cauliflower is cooked with all the juices, garlic and onion, the cauliflower flavor doesn’t dominate.
Related: 5-Ingredient Black Bean Soup
Now you can enjoy your amazingly delicious and tender chicken with potatoes and gravy.
Whole Chicken Dinner Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 6 pound chicken
- 1 onion, peeled and quartered
- 1 head garlic, peeled
- McCormick Rotisserie Chicken Seasoning
- 1/2 Head Cauliflower
- 6 potatoes
Instructions
- Put the chicken in the Instant Pot on top of a rack and put 3/4 cup water in the bottom.
- Pour onion and garlic around and in the chicken.
- Sprinkle generously with Rotisserie Chicken Seasoning.
- Close lid and pressure valve, set time for 38 minutes.
- Use quick release to vent and remove chicken to a cutting board, by lifting the whole rack.
- Put Cauliflower in juices, place rack and potatoes on top.
- Seal, and set time for 8 minutes.
- Use quick release to vent, remove potatoes to a serving bowl, and puree the Instant Pot contents with an immersion blender or pour into Vita-Mix blender and puree.
See, you can do this!
And, doesn’t it look amazing?
When you make this dish you will be so impressed with yourself and you will impress your family with your new Instant Pot skills, too. Our grandmothers may have rocked their Sunday Chicken, but we are rocking it in a whole new way.
