how to cook frozen chicken on the stove

Your frozen whole chicken can go from your freezer to your dining table in less than an hour thanks to the Instant Pot - how awesome is that?!

Pinterest pin with two images. Top image is of an instant pot with a frozen chicken sitting on a plate in front of it. Bottom image is of a whole cooked chicken on a platter. Text overlay says, "How to cook a whole frozen chicken... in the Instant Pot!"

Pinterest pin, image is of a whole cooked chicken on a platter. Text overlay says, "How to cook a whole frozen chicken... in the Instant Pot!"

Longer Pinterest pin with two images. Top image is of an instant pot with a frozen chicken sitting on a plate in front of it. Bottom image is of a whole cooked chicken on a platter. Text overlay says, "How to cook a whole frozen chicken... in the Instant Pot!"

Cooking a frozen whole chicken in the Instant Pot in under an hour is one of my absolute favourite Instant Pot uses!

It's 4 pm and the whole chicken you planned on using for dinner is still in the freezer. Do you panic? Get takeout? Whip up a hasty spaghetti sauce instead (for the 4th time this month)?

Nope, because thanks to your Instant Pot you've totally got this. Throw that solidly frozen whole chicken in the Instant Pot and you've got dinner in less than an hour. Whip up some sour cream mashed potatoes to go with it and dinner is in the bag.

Or, Instant Pot, we should say. (And yes, this little wonder is officially in the running for A Few of My Favorite Things – along with leggings, coffee, and dry shampoo.)

P.S. This entire post may or may not be autobiographical in nature. 😉

Instant Pot Frozen Whole Chicken

In my pre Instant Pot days, cooking a whole roast chicken from frozen took at least 48 hours of planning ahead.

Take the chicken out of the freezer
Defrost in the fridge for a few days
Make sure to start roasting the chicken by early afternoon so it was done by suppertime.

Thankfully I can throw that list out the window now!

Whole Frozen Chicken in the Instant Pot? For real?!

The Instant Pot can cook a whole chicken that's frozen solid in less than an hour. It's a dadgum miracle, I tell you. And this recipe is super handy since I typically make a whole chicken every week so I'm stocked up on homemade bone broth.

Not only is this recipe a time saver, it's delicious to boot. The fact it's healthy and full of protein, nourishing fats, and joint, hair, and nail supporting collagen is icing on the cake.

You'll also find high amounts of selenium, B vitamins, zinc, phosphorous, and vitamin A.

How Long to Bake a Whole Chicken Frozen

It depends on the size of the bird, but a frozen whole chicken in the oven can take well over 2 hours. According to the USDA it's safe to cook a frozen bird low and slow, like in a slow cooker, but there's a catch. The end result can be on the rubbery side.

Cooking it in the Instant Pot, though, is not only faster, but you get amazing results every time! The meat is perfectly tender every single time.

Can I Cook a Frozen Whole Chicken in the Instant Pot Without Thawing?

Yes, you certainly can! Fresh chicken cook time is about 6-7 minutes per pound in the Instant Pot. For each pound of frozen chicken you'll add an extra 5 minutes.

How Do You Cook a Frozen Whole Chicken in an Instant Pot?

One delicious step at a time.

It helps to rinse the chicken first so the spices stick to the skin. You can also rub the skin with a generous helping of butter or oil first, but it's not necessary.

I also use a trivet in the bottom of the pot here and a natural release instead of a quick release. This helps the frozen whole chicken in the Instant Pot stay tender and juicy! Pressure cooking really is a great way to cook meat, but you need to remember to always do a natural release to lock those juices in.

You will be using the Manual or Pressure Cook setting on your Instant Pot, which defaults to High Pressure. Just keep that in mind when recipes mention high pressure that if you are using Manual, you are all set!

How long should you cook frozen chicken in the instant pot?

My rule of thumb is about 10 minutes per pound.

3 lbs frozen whole chicken, 30 minutes.
4 lbs frozen whole chicken, 40 minutes.
5 lbs frozen whole chicken, 50 minutes.

Just be sure the chicken isn't too big to fit into your inner pot! You can also reheat frozen rotisserie chicken in the Instant Pot.

Pour 1 cup of water in the bottom of the Instant Pot and then put a trivet in. (You always need liquid for Instant Pot cooking!)
Place the leftover rotisserie chicken on the trivet, seal and steam for 5 minutes. Do a quick pressure release.

How Long to Cook Frozen Chicken in the Instant Pot if it's Pieces Instead of Whole?

If you don't have a full chicken, but you have other cuts of meat, here's how to cook frozen chicken cuts. Keep in mind this is only the actual countdown timer, and not the coming up and release of the total time.

Frozen whole chicken 10 minutes per pound, 15 minutes natural pressure release.
Frozen chicken breasts 15-20 minutes for 1-2 pounds, quick release.
Frozen chicken cuts bone in (legs, thighs, etc.) 15-20 minutes for 1-2 pounds, quick release.
Frozen chicken cuts bone in (legs, thighs, etc.) 17-22 minutes for 2.5-3 pounds, quick release.

frozen whole chicken sitting in front of an instant pot on a countertop

How to Store Instant Pot Whole Chicken Leftovers

Any leftovers can safely be stashed in the refrigerator for 5-6 days in a tightly-covered container. You can also put the leftover chicken meat in the freezer for up to 3 months.

I don't let any part of this chicken go to waste. Once my family is done eating the meat (we can down a whole bird in one meal), I throw the carcass back in the Instant Pot to make chicken broth.

If your family doesn't eat quite as much chicken, the leftovers make great shredded BBQ chicken sandwiches. Add it to Easy Chicken Noodle Soup or make chicken salad.

Get Crispy Skin!

The only downside to the electric pressure cooker method is the chicken skin doesn't get nice and crispy like it does in the oven. However, there's an easy fix for that.

After your chicken is done transfer it to a glass baking dish or a baking sheet. Apply a layer of olive oil or melted butter to the top of the chicken and broil until golden brown. It takes a little more time, but it's worth it if you're a crispy skin fan.

I also know you can get an air fryer lid for several Instant Pot models, but I haven't tried that. After cooking and pressure release, you simply swap lids and brown the chicken right there!

Supplies Needed for Cooking Frozen Chicken in the Instant Pot

Obviously for an Instant Pot Chicken recipe you'll need an Instant Pot. I also recommend using a trivet at the bottom (my instant pot came with one), plus a meat thermometer to check the final temp. The USDA recommends meat that's cooked to 165 degrees.

Here's what I recommend:

I absolutely love my 8 quart for our family of 6. (But if you have a smaller household, the 6qt is the most popular option!)

I love this meat thermometer, and use it several times a week! The probe can go into the oven with the meat, while the display sits outside of the oven and beeps at your target temp.

Bottom line? Cooking frozen chicken in the Instant Pot is totally doable and totally delicious!

What To Serve With an Instant Pot Chicken

Chicken goes with just about anything, but here are a few family favorite side dishes.

Sour cream mashed potatoes
Perfect homemade French fries
Maple baked beans
Thai mango salad with cashew ginger dressing
Air Fryer Broccoli (Crispy and Perfect)

Looking for more posts like this one? Check these out:

19 Easy (Real Food) Instant Pot Recipes for Hesitant Beginners
4 Things I Learned About My Instant Pot in the First 6 Months
Quick Healthy Meals Ultimate Guide (101 Tips, Recipes, and Strategies)

How to Cook a Frozen Whole Chicken in the Instant Pot

▢ 1 whole chicken, frozen
▢ salt & pepper
▢ herbs and spices of your choice dried or fresh

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My rule of thumb with frozen whole chicken in the instant pot is 10 minutes per pound, so I'd cook a 3-pound chicken for 30 minutes, a 4-pounder for 40 minutes, and so on. (For a fresh chicken, I'd do 6-7 minutes per pound.)
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Place frozen whole chicken in the instant pot on the trivet. (You don't need to bother cooking the meat in the liquid, as I typically do in the oven, because the Instant Pot makes perfectly moist chicken every time.)
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Add salt and pepper, seasonings of choice.
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Add 1/2 cup to 1 cup water (depending on the size of your chicken. Minimum half a cup is important in order for the instant pot to function correctly.).
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Set timer to appropriate time on manual mode (see first instruction above). Allow pressure to NPR (natural pressure release), and serve.
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Use the remaining liquid for gravy.

Reminder: always use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature before eating.

We typically add the bones back to the Instant Pot after dinner (our family typically eats most of the meat from a smallish whole chicken in one meal) and add water to make bone broth while we clean the kitchen and put the kids to bed.

Don't forget to account for pressurization and de-pressurization time in your planning. An Instant Pot with a frozen whole chicken takes longer to come up to pressure than most other recipes. I'd say it averages 25-30 minutes, and that's before your timer starts the countdown of the actual cooking time.