Instant Pot Hawaiian Kalua Chicken

I love recipes with 10 ingredients or less! Even better when I only have to dirty 1-2 dishes. I am a firm believer in “less work, more eat”.

A quick note on this recipe – it was originally designed for pork. That didn’t stop me from replacing pork with chicken. If you are inclined to use pork, do so, just make sure to check out Instant Pot cook times online for pork. They are longer than chicken, and I’d hate for you to get an undercooked dinner.

PS – I’m sure it will be equally good. I just haven’t tried it yet.

Instant Pot Hawaiian Kalua Chicken Ingredients

• 2 lbs Chicken Breast
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1 Tbsp Olive or Avocado Oil
• 1/2 cup Water
• 2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
• 2 Tbsp Liquid Smoke (Hickory or Apple)
• 2 Tbsp Brown sugar

Instant Pot Hawaiian Kalua Chicken Instructions

1. Salt chicken on both sides
2. Set Instant Pot to sauté, when it’s HOT, add 1 -2 Tbsp olive or avocado oil
3. Use long kitchen tongs to place the chicken breasts into the Instant Pot and brown for 3 minutes
4. Use long kitchen tongs and a spatula to help turn the chicken breast over and brown for 2.5 minutes
5. Move the browned chicken breasts to a plate and press the cancel button to cancel sauté
6. Add 1/2 cup water, 2 Tbsp soy sauce, 2 Tbsp liquid smoke, and 2 Tbsp brown sugar to the Instant Pot
7. Stir the ingredients well and scrape the Instant Pot bottom clean with a flat wooden spatula
8. Place the browned chicken breasts into the Instant Pot so they are sitting in the cooking fluid
9. Put the lid on the Instant Pot and set to Pressure Cook for 10 minutes
10. The Instant Pot will take about 10 – 12 minutes to come to pressure before the pressure cook time begins
11. When finished pressure cooking, allow the Instant Pot to natural pressure release for 5 minutes and then release the pressure
12. Plate the chicken breasts and let sit for 5 – 8 minutes
13. Shred the chicken using two forks, spoon 3 Tbsp of cooking fluid over the shredded chicken and enjoy with your sides of choice!
    (we had with rice and broccoli)

I sure hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do! If you’ve made it or adapted it, let me know in the comments below. I love to hear how these recipes evolve.