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Jul22015

Pressure Cooker Perfectly Poached Chicken Breasts

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Find the recipe card at the end of the post. Make sure to read the content as it contains chef tips, substitution options, answers to FAQs to help you succeed the first time around!

By now you all know probably one of the BEST kitchen appliances I have ever purchased was my Electric Pressure Cooker. This thing truly is revolutionary and a God send for me.  No you don’t understand just how much I respect this thing.  I am one that honestly has truly limited free time so while I cook every day I still have other stuff to do. Plus I’m human, even I need some down time.  That’s where this Electric Pressure Cooker truly comes into play.

I get up at 3:30 am M-F (5:30am on the weekends) just because, well I do.  I don’t sleep a lot so you’d think I’d have more time than most but unfortunately I don’t.  I’m constantly on the go between my day job, TKW (Thank you as it’s because of you that I’m so busy with that!), normal daily stuff, working out and trying to have some type of quality time with Mr. Fantabulous.  So on those days when I get home from work only to realize that I forgot to take stuff out for dinner or I’ve changed my mind on what we’re having, I reach for my Electric Pressure Cooker.

Perfect Pressure Cooked Chicken Breasts2

Mr. Fantabulous was in the mood for chicken and we were short on time.  Since I knew I could rock wings in this Electric Pressure Cooker, why not see what whole chicken breasts could do, right? As I was figuring out how to make this, seasonings and so forth a comment my best friend Vanessa said to me popped back into my head.  She said “Lor, you should do a series on leftovers and how you can turn them into something new.  I have a hard time with that and I’m sure your TKW Family does as well.”

Okay seriously this girl is amazing.  I love how she gives me suggestions and ideas like this.  So on a side note, I’m working on that series in an upcoming post.

Perfect Pressure Cooked Chicken Breasts1

So as I was prepping this, which literally includes putting the meat in the pressure cooker, spices and some type of liquid.  As I thought about it I realized that if I kept the seasonings pretty standard that I could also use the liquid as stock. Now feel free to add in whatever spices you want – I’ve added in chipotle powder, garlic and onion powder, oregano and so forth.  Really the skies the limit on this.  And if you wanted you can even use the BBQ sauce from my pressure cooker Bourbon Honey BBQ wings in this!

Perfect Pressure Cooked Chicken Breasts4

In just 10 minutes I had 4 huge chicken breasts that were just incredibly moist and juicy with such amazing concentrated flavors.  One of them I shredded with 2 forks and my word it shredded beautifully!  I’m talking it just fell apart practically! The other 3 I let cool to room temperature.  Once cooled I cubed one for a killer avocado chicken salad with toasted pecans, cranberries, red onions and greek yogurt (cause lord knows I loathe mayo!). The third one I sliced up, made a quick pan gravy with some of the stock and smothered the chicken slices with that alongside some creamy mashed potatoes. The last one I tossed in some bbq sauce, caramelized some onions, fried up some bacon and placed it on some pizza dough with sharp cheddar and chives.  WOW amazing!  So literally right there… 4 different dishes out of a single recipe AND I haven’t even touched the stock yet!  Pretty friggen awesome, huh?

Perfect Pressure Cooked Chicken Breasts

Now if you’ve ever made poached chicken breasts the traditional way it’s not exactly the fastest. First you have to bring the ingredients just to a simmer over medium-high heat where bubbles start forming around the edge of the pot. Next you have to reduce the heat to medium-low to keep temperature constant, about 170 to 180 degrees which is a pain in the butt.  THEN you have to cook it for another 15-20 minutes.  And then maybe it’s done. But the flavor, yeah no… I’ve made it that way and it’s just not the same.  I will never poach chicken that way ever again.

Ever!

Perfect Pressure Cooked Chicken Breasts6

In this recipe you can see I used boneless, skinless breasts.  In any rich chicken stock you want to use bone-in chicken and or the entire chicken. One of the best benefits about using a pressure cooker to make stock at is that it speeds the process up quite a bit, and helps seal in flavor that otherwise boils off into the air as the stock simmers and steam. A very basic chicken stock is a pretty simple thing to make. It’s made with water, chicken, aromatic vegetables like onion, carrot, and garlic, and then herbs.  There really is no right or wrong way when it comes to what you add to the stock herb-wise; it truly is a personal preference. For a full-bodied, richer stock toss in some bones, even leftover chicken carcasses with help boost up the flavor profile of the stock.

Perfect Pressure Cooked Chicken Breasts3

I’d say the biggest thing to learn about using this pressure cooker is realizing that it is not a simple plug in and insta-pressure.  It has to build up the pressure first.  So sure to cook under pressure the recipe takes 10 minutes but it also takes about 10 minutes to build up the pressure first.  While it’s heating up and building pressure the unit is locked to prevent you from getting injured.  Trust me, hot steam to the face or skin is not fun at all.

Perfect Pressure Cooked Chicken Breasts Collage

Now let’s talk the benefits of pressure cooking this. Study after study has shown that the longer you cook food and the more liquid you use the more nutrients you lose.  Water-soluble vitamins and minerals are simply cooked out and washed away.  Pressure cooking helps retain the quality of the foods you cook with by preparing them quickly and with very little water.  Meats stay juicy and moist.  By cooking with superheated steam natural flavors are often intensified.

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The best way to destroy vitamins is to cook your food in an open pot of boiling water. Yeah doesn’t sound so awesome boiling chicken now does it?  To retain the most nutrients possible, most experts recommend that you use as little water as possible and cook foods rapidly because many vitamins are sensitive to water, heat and air exposure (vitamin C, the B vitamins and folate in particular) and water used for cooking can dissolve and wash away water soluble vitamins, while the heat deteriorates them.

The longer the cooking time and the higher the temperature, the worse it becomes. It is best to choose the cooking method that most optimizes and preserves the nutrients in food. In a study published by Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, researchers investigated effects of various means of cooking broccoli. Up to 97 percent of certain antioxidant compounds were destroyed by microwaving, while steaming the broccoli caused only 11 percent loss. Therefore, any cooking that minimizes the time, temperature, and water will help to preserve nutrients. Pressure cooking under steam is one of the methods best because it minimizes time and requires little water.
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All in all, this recipe is incredible and you will never think of poached chicken as boring ever again.  It’s honestly one of the best ways I’ve ever made chicken and the only way from now on I will poach it.  The flavors are just incredible.  So if you don’t have an Electric Pressure Cooker I strongly urge you to save up, put it on your wish list or whatever to invest in one.  This one is the best one for me and I have zero issues or complaints with it.  I LOVE it!

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Pressure Cooker Perfectly Poached Chicken Breasts

  • Author: The Kitchen Whisperer

Find more fantabulous recipes, tips and tricks at www.thekitchenwhisperer.net. Also, join our TKW Family on Facebook

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★★★★★ 4.9 from 35 reviews
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Ingredients

  • 3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 4 large breasts), thawed
  • 4 cups chicken stock
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 medium yellow onion (leave the skin on), rough chopped
  • 2 whole cloves garlic, rough chopped
  • 4 tablespoon rough chopped parsley

Instructions

  1. In an Electric Pressure Cooker add all of the ingredients.
  2. Lock the lid and set the pressure to high for 10 minutes.
  3. As soon as the pressure cooker timer goes off, do a quick release.
  4. Once the pressure is released, remove the lid and pulled out the poached chicken breasts.
  5. Place a strainer over a large bowl and strain the stock.
  6. Allow the stock to cool and remove the fat.
  7. Save the stock for another use by either storing in the fridge or placing the freezer.
  8. This chicken can be used a bajillion ways now – salads, sandwiches, pizza toppings, anything.

Notes

I can’t say enough amazing things about this pressure cooker! Electric Pressure Cooker

Suggestions on Spice Mixtures to add:

3/4 teaspoon chipotle powder, 1 1/2 teaspoon garlic and 2 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon oregano, plus the parsley, pepper and salt.

If you want the chicken to have more of a chicken soup taste go with 1 teaspoon thyme, 1/2 teaspoon rosemary, 1 teaspoon garlic, 1 teaspoon onion powder, plus the salt/pepper and parsley.

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Recipe Reviews & Comments

  1. Paul Brown says

    December 17, 2022 at 11:29 pm

    Lovely recipe. Sadly my Thai green curry paste wasn’t as hot as I wanted it, but it was tasty. Will definitely make again .
    Paul Brown

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  2. Ashley Jones says

    September 14, 2021 at 1:25 am

    Ooh, I’ll have to try this! I love fried chicken but with a toddler we have to watch what we serve at meals! Now I can have fried chicken again.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  3. Joseph Donahue says

    July 16, 2021 at 10:52 pm

    it’s such a complete “brain save” for me. I literally do nothing.The texture ends up being a tad different, but not enough that my family has ever noticed. 🙂 The kids love having it cooked in baggies too because I will keep some in the fridge and it makes them much more apt to cook up something on their own.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  4. Harold Burton says

    June 21, 2021 at 8:36 pm

    I made this the other day and it was wonderful! My family loved it! Since then, my husband has learned he is allergic to tomatoes. I wondered if you might have any suggestions for a good substitute? I’m thinking of maybe adding some beef or veggie broth for the liquid, and maybe some black beans for substance? Just wondering if I should add some extra seasonings too, and/or if there are some other things you might recommend. Thank you!?

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • TKWAdmin says

      June 27, 2021 at 11:42 am

      Hi Harold,

      This recipe doesn’t have any tomatoes in it. This recipe uses chicken stock. Did you perhaps ask your question on the wrong recipe?

      Best Kitchen Wishes!

      Reply
  5. Hannah Flack says

    March 1, 2021 at 11:32 pm

    I don’t usually post on recipe blogs, but I just had to say how delicious this was. I made it exactly as the recipe states, and it was just absolutely divine. Making it again this weekend for a friend who doesn’t eat dairy. Thanks so much!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • TKWAdmin says

      March 2, 2021 at 11:04 am

      Thank you so much Hannah!

      Best Kitchen Wishes!

      Reply
  6. Jean W. says

    July 29, 2020 at 11:38 am

    I only have a stove top pressure cooker. Is the recipe basically the same?

    Reply
    • TKWAdmin says

      July 29, 2020 at 12:10 pm

      Hi Jean!

      I have a stovetop one but it has a digital timer and temperature panel. If I use that pressure cooker then yes the directions are the same. Mine operates the same as an Instant Pot except it uses the stovetop gas flame to operate.

      But if you have a different type that’s manual with no way to “set things” then I’m not sure. I’m not familiar at all with those types.

      Best Kitchen Wishes!

      Reply
      • Jean W. says

        July 29, 2020 at 12:49 pm

        Pre digital. It smells great. Only 1 breast was under cooked!

        Reply
        • TKWAdmin says

          July 29, 2020 at 2:14 pm

          That’s good! I’m thinking the one that was undercooked may have been thicker and larger.

          For pre-digital, any advice or tips you’d like to share for others?

          Best Kitchen Wishes’

          Reply
  7. Rubi Kaur says

    April 5, 2020 at 11:48 pm

    Love this recipe! We use it quite often.

    Reply
    • TKWAdmin says

      April 6, 2020 at 9:38 am

      So happy to hear that, thank you!

      Best Kitchen Wishes!

      Reply
  8. Rose Martine says

    February 14, 2020 at 5:53 am

    I love trying new recipes with vegetables with my kids. My daughter is the master at the food processor and Kitchenaid mixer. We also love baking low carb desserts from your site!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • TKWAdmin says

      February 14, 2020 at 5:04 pm

      Thank you so much Rose!

      Best Kitchen Wishes!

      Reply
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