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This Instant Pot chicken and gravy recipe has tender chicken breasts smothered in ranch gravy. It’s easy to make, comforting, and ready in just over 30 minutes!
Try my Easy 3-Ingredient Shredded Chicken and Gravy or Easy Ranch Chicken next.
Why you’ll love it
I knew I had to try my Crockpot Chicken and Gravy in the Instant Pot as well, and the results are fantastic! Turns out it’s easy to adapt, and it’s ready in a fraction of the time. Prep time is minimal, and the whole thing is done in just over 30 minutes for a cozy meal.
We’ve got juicy chicken with a ranch gravy that’s made with a few shortcuts, but there’s no condensed soup in my version. Ranch seasoning adds a zesty and bright quality. There’s just so much flavor for so few ingredients in this easy Instant pot chicken recipe!
What you’ll need
- Chicken – we’re using boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Chicken broth – the base of the gravy
- Ranch seasoning – my go-to is Hidden Valley. It gives this gravy and chicken a subtle herby, buttermilk taste.
- Garlic powder and pepper – more depth of savory flavor
- Cornstarch – to thicken up the sauce
- Chicken gravy mix – use your favorite!
Pro tip
Make sure you don’t add the gravy mix in at the beginning. It contains cornstarch, and that is not a good thing for pressure cooking. It can cause scorching and goes weirdly gloopy (yes, I tested it). The cornstarch/gravy mix goes in last for the results we’re looking for!
Tools for this recipe
Check out Natasha’s favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!
- Here is the Instant Pot model I use. It’s a great little appliance for getting juicy meat fast and concentrated flavors.
- I use this classic wire whisk for the sauce.
- Easily cut up the chicken with a quality sharp chef’s knife.
How to make Instant Pot chicken and gravy
This is an overview, and full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
- Add the broth, ranch seasoning, garlic powder, and pepper to the Instant Pot. Whisk until everything has dissolved in.
- Place the chicken in, and spoon liquid over. Seal and cook on high pressure. Once the countdown is finished, do a quick release. Take the chicken out, and cut it up.
- Make a cornstarch slurry, and add it along with the gravy mix to your Instant Pot. Hit the sauté button so it thickens. Return the chicken.
Substitutions and variations
- The gravy mix and ranch seasoning both have salt, so use low-sodium chicken broth if you’re concerned about the salt content.
- You can make your own Ranch Seasoning Mix if you prefer.
- Packets of ranch seasoning and gravy mix can vary from brand to brand, so that’s why I don’t list sizes, but the ones I used were each around 1 ounce. As long as it’s in the ballpark, you’ll be good.
What to serve with Instant Pot chicken and gravy
- The gravy is fantastic over a big pile of mashed potatoes. Try my Boursin Mashed Potatoes for a creative change or my classic Easy Garlic Mashed Potatoes. Rice works too like my Stick of Butter Rice or even pasta. Try my Garlic Butter Noodles.
- It’s great with my Easy Roasted Green Beans or sautéed spinach.
- Round out the dinner with a bright salad. Spring mix and my Homemade Italian Dressing or Creamy Balsamic Dressing are tasty options.
Leftovers and storage
- Store leftover chicken and gravy for 3-4 days in an airtight container in the fridge.
- Reheat over a low heat until warmed through. Add a splash of broth if needed.
- You can freeze leftovers for up to 3 months.
Talk to me in the comments below if you made this chicken and gravy in the Instant Pot! I love reader reviews. Or tag me on Instagram if you made any S&L recipe.
Instant Pot Chicken and Gravy
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breasts boneless skinless
- 1.5 cups chicken broth
- 1 packet ranch seasoning mix (I used Hidden Valley)
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- Pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch + 1 teaspoon cold water
- 1 packet chicken gravy mix
Instructions
- Add the chicken broth, ranch seasoning mix, garlic powder, and pepper to your Instant Pot. Whisk until the powders have dissolved.
- Add the chicken and ensure it's mostly submerged (spoon some liquid over top if it's not). Close the lid, ensure the valve is on "sealing", and then set the timer to cook on high pressure for 8 minutes.
- Let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes and then quick release the remaining pressure.
- Take the chicken out of the Instant Pot. Mix the cornstarch and water together in a small bowl. Pour it into your Instant Pot, along with the chicken gravy mix. Press the "sauté" button and whisk until the gravy mix has dissolved. The sauce will thicken within a few minutes, so turn the sauté function off (press the "keep warm" button) once it's about as thick as you want it. Meanwhile, cut the chicken up, and then add it back into the Instant Pot.
- Serve immediately. It's delicious with mashed potatoes (or baked potatoes), pasta/egg noodles, or rice.
Notes
- 4 medium-to-large chicken breasts total about 2 pounds. Anything in that ballpark works. If the chicken breasts are very large, add another minute or two to the cook time.
- Use low-sodium chicken broth if salt is a concern for you. Keep in mind ranch and gravy mixes both contain salt as well.
- Here’s the Crockpot version of this recipe.
- This is the 6-quart Instant Pot I used to make this recipe.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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This looks fantastic. If I was to double the recipe, how long do I set the time for? I do have a 8qt instant pot. Thank you!
Hi Mike! In general, when you double recipes in the Instant Pot, timing should be kept the same. It’ll take longer to get up to pressure, so that should account for any extra time needed. As with any chicken recipe, make sure it’s fully cooked before eating. Hope you enjoy it! 🙂
I just got my instant pot and this is the third thing I cooked in it. I did not have the gravy packet so I did as another poster suggested using bullion and seasoning etc. After I got the chicken back in the pot and off of the keep warm I also added a little cream. It was a hit with the hubby.
Fantastic!!
This was fantastic, I put a bit extra broth & compensates the rest of the ingredients for the extra I put but mmm it was so yummy, served over rice. Can’t wait to try it on potatoes!!
I’m thrilled you enjoyed it, Valerie!! 😀
Can you use frozen chicken?
Hi! I haven’t ever tried this with frozen chicken. If that’s something you’ve done in the IP before, you could give it a try, but I can’t advise on timing unfortunately. Just make sure it’s cooked through.
Big hit with my family! Easy and delicious.
Excellent! Thank you!
This recipe was amazing! Quick, easy and delicious! It would be so easy to change up if you wanted to…. I love that. Thanks so much for sharing!
Fantastic!! I’m so glad you liked it, Laura! Appreciate your review.
This was yummy and so easy to make. My husband said he loved the gravy. This one is a keeper!
Fantastic!! Thank you!!
We all loved this dish. I should have gotten the low sodium chicken broth though. I didn’t read that until it was too late. Tasted a little salty with those dry mixes added.
I had to use tenders and the cook time was perfect.
I’m so glad you guys all enjoyed it!!
Very good flavor. I realized that I didn’t have any chicken gravy so I googled a homemade recipe and most just used chicken bouillon plus some spiced. So I added in some extra better than bouillon and spices to the pot and upped the cornstarch at the end to make sure it was thick. I also added a little lemon juice for brightness like I do for most crockpot/instant pot recipes. Great weeknight recipe!
I’m so glad you liked it!! 🙂
We all enjoyed this quick and very easy chicken dish! Thank you, it was delicious!
I will look to make it alittle less salty.
Best of all, the whole dinner was ready in less than an hour!❣️
You’re welcome, Sharon! We’re so glad you found it quick and delicious. 🙂
I’ve made this a number of times and it’s always a hit. This is the perfect meal for when you don’t really feel like making dinner but everyone wants a homemade meal. And it’s virtually fool-proof. I use the McCormick’s Country Gravy packet, which I now just automatically add to my grocery list so I always have it on hand for nights when I need an easy, delicious dinner solution.
I love that!! 😀 Thanks for your review!