Instant Pot Pulled BBQ Chicken The Soul Food Way
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Southern pulled BBQ chicken is a soul food classic, and thanks to the Instant Pot, you can enjoy all that smoky, slow-cooked flavor in a fraction of the time. The pressure cooker locks in tenderness, turning seasoned chicken into juicy, fall-apart strands that soak up every drop of tangy, sweet, and smoky barbecue sauce.
Traditionally made low and slow over a pit, this quicker version keeps all the comfort and none of the wait. Whether you serve it piled high on a bun with creamy coleslaw or plate it alongside Southern sides like mac and cheese and cornbread, this Instant Pot pulled BBQ chicken is proof that soul food can be both timeless and modern.
Can you make pulled chicken in the Instant Pot?
Absolutely! Skip the 4–8 hour wait. Instant Pot pulled BBQ chicken cooks up tender, juicy, and fall-apart flavorful in just 15 minutes, with the same smoky-sweet Southern taste you love! Instead of spending hours slow-cooking traditional BBQ pulled chicken, the Instant Pot uses pressure cooking to lock in all the flavor while cutting the cooking time down to a fraction.
What is the difference between shredded and pulled chicken?
Shredded chicken and pulled chicken may seem similar, but they’re not quite the same. Shredded chicken is usually made with utensils or appliances—a fork, tongs, knife, stand mixer, or even a food processor—resulting in fine, uniform strands.
Pulled chicken, on the other hand, has a coarser, more rustic texture, since it’s traditionally torn apart by hand into tender, juicy chunks.
Ingredients
The heart of any Southern pulled BBQ chicken recipe is the sauce, and it’s all about layering sweet, tangy, smoky, and savory notes.
A rich barbecue sauce forms the base, coating every strand of chicken in bold, finger-licking flavor. Brown sugar adds a touch of Southern sweetness that balances the tang, while Worcestershire sauce deepens the profile with its savory, umami kick. Apple cider vinegar cuts through the richness, giving that signature tangy bite that keeps each mouthful bright and crave-worthy. To bring it all together, chicken broth infuses the meat with moisture while it cooks, ensuring it stays juicy and tender instead of dry.
Soul food BBQ chicken
The Black way of making pulled BBQ chicken is all about bold flavor and juicy, tender meat. Instead of relying on justbarbecue sauce, the chicken is seasoned from the start with soulful spices that soak deep into the meat, creating layers of smoky, savory, sweet, and sometimes spicy goodness. The result is chicken that’s never dry and every strand is moist, flavorful, and dripping with sauce. That’s why the Black way isn’t just different, it’s the best! Full of flava, made with love, and always satisfying to the soul.
How to make pulled BBQ chicken in the Instant Pot
To make my pulled BBQ chicken recipe, seasoned chicken is smothered in BBQ sauce and pressure-cooked in the Instant Pot until tender and juicy, then pulled into delicious, flavorful strands.
- Combine the seasonings and rub them on the chicken.
- Pressure cook the chicken after coating it with BBQ sauce.
- Shred or pull apart the cooked chicken, then serve and enjoy!
How to know when pulled chicken is done in the Instant Pot
You’ll know your pulled chicken is done in the Instant Pot when it chimes and the natural pressure release time has finished. To prevent the chicken from becoming rubbery, avoid overcooking by using the correct cook time: 15 minutes on high pressure, followed by a natural pressure release for added tenderness.
How to serve BBQ pulled chicken
The classic way to serve it is piled high on a soft bun with creamy coleslaw for the ultimate Southern pulled chicken sandwich. You can also serve it alongside traditional Southern sides, such as baked beans, potato salad, and cornbread. No matter how you plate it, BBQ pulled chicken always brings comfort and crowd-pleasing flavor.
Equipment
- Instant Pot electric pressure cooker
- Electric stand mixer with a flat beater *Optional, to shred the chicken quickly
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken thawed, preferably boneless, skinless chicken thighs or chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon poultry or all-purpose seasoning Famous Dave’s Country Roast Chicken Seasoning, or similar
- 1 tablespoon garlic and herb seasoning Weber Roasted Garlic & Herb Seasoning, or similar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 ½ cups BBQ sauce
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup chicken broth
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the chicken seasoning with the garlic and herb seasoning.
- Rub this seasoning mixture evenly over the chicken pieces, then set them aside.
- Next, in a medium-sized bowl, mix together the BBQ sauce, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, and brown sugar.
- Smother the chicken with the BBQ sauce mixture.
- Open the Instant Pot lid and pour the chicken broth into the stainless steel inner pot, then place the sauced chicken inside.
- Close the Instant Pot lid (make sure the valve is up – in the position for sealing) and pressure cook on high for 15 minutes.
- When the cooking time is finished, allow a natural pressure release for at least 7 minutes.
- To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable.
- Shred the cooked chicken using a knife, pull it apart by hand with a fork, or use a stand mixer for easier shredding, then serve, and enjoy!
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Nutrition
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I love that I can save at least 4 hours by using your Instant Pot recipe!