Perfect Instant Pot Chicken Tenders (Fresh or Frozen)

This instant pot chicken tenders recipe has the most deliciously tender chicken tenders ever! They are ready to eat in 15 minutes after being cooked in the Instant Pot and make an excellent appetizer or main course. Juicy, flavorful, and seasoned with garlic and herbs.

Got some Gouda Cheese to use up? Try my Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes,  Quick & Easy Gouda Mac and Cheese, or my Instant Pot Fried Rice after this.

These instant pot chicken tenderloin strips are a quick easy and great family dinner. And they are done in under 30 minutes.

Any night of the week, these pressure-cooker chicken tenderloins are great as an appetizer or the meal itself. Furthermore, frozen chicken tenderloin can be thrown from the freezer to the Instant Pot instantly!

They’re also made in the Instant Pot so, guess what, that means they’re done in a flash. If you’re looking for easy dinner idea with picky eaters at your house, these are a MUST MAKE. And you may also enjoy Grilled Buffalo Chicken, Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli, Louisiana Voodoo Fries and Carrot and Lentil Soup.

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love It
• What You'll Need
• How to cook chicken tenders in an instant pot
• Pro Tip
• Can you make them ahead of time?
• Can you freeze chicken tenders?
• Why is my Instant Pot chicken rubbery?
• How long to cook chicken tenders in the instant pot?
• How do you serve Them?
• Substitutions & Tips
• How to store and reheat chicken tenders
• More Instant Pot Recipes:
• Perfect Instant Pot Chicken Tenders (Fresh or Frozen)
• 💬 Comments

Why You'll Love It

• Quick-cooking: The Instant Pot has a reputation for its speed-related cooking prowess. Since chicken tenders are small and thin, they cook in just a fraction of the time they’d need in the oven. Which makes it an ideal candidate for those who are time-strapped or needing a rapid meal.
• Tender and juicy: The pressure cooker seals in moisture to cook tender and juicy chicken. That pressure makes the flavors penetrate deep into the meat, thereby improving the overall taste of the dish.
• Multifunction: The Instant Pot is a multitool that also works as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, sauté pot, and so on. You’ve got options to change up your flavors and technique as you please in making your chicken tenders.
• Easy clean up: With the Instant Pot, you can often cook everything in one pot, which means less dishes to wash. It will save you some clean-up once the cooking is done.
• Healthier choice: If you’re using an Instant Pot to cook chicken tenders, it’s likely you’ll need to use less oil than you would to fry them. This way, you have a healthier dish, fewer calories and less greasy, yet still crispy on the outside.

What You'll Need

Here are the ingredients you need to make instant pot chicken tenders:

• Chicken Tenders- Pick up some fresh or thawed already there chicken tenders, you will need 1-2 pounds depending on how many you are serving.
• Seasonings- Pick what spices you’d like to season your chicken tenders, to add some flavor. Salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika and any of your other favorite herbs or spices are all killer options.
• Cooking Oil- Coat the chicken tenders in a neutral cooking oil such as vegetable, avocado or olive oil to help keep them from sticking and to coax some moisture into them.
• Cooking Liquid- Occasionally, you need a bit of cooking liquid such as chicken broth, water or even a little marinade just to add a bit of moisture and flavor to the chicken tenders.
• Optional Additions to Gather- If you prefer to garnish with fresh sliced herbs or fresh lemon juice or the dipping sauces of your choice, you can get these together now.

Make sure you have all your ingredients and tools ready before you begin to cook. That’s because in just a few easy steps you will have the best tasting, most amazing chicken tenders made in the Instant Pot.

How to cook chicken tenders in an instant pot

Here is a summary with images from the process. You can find the complete list of ingredients and full instructions on the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Chicken tenders are ready in 5-8 minutes of cooking time in the Instant Pot.

1. Turn the Instant Pot to the “Saute” setting and set it to high.
2. Place a few drops of cooking oil inside the Instant Pot and heat.
3. Throw some salt and pepper(or other herbs and spices) onto the chicken tenders.
4. Gently slide the Seasoned Chicken Tenders in Instant Pot, with the tongs or a kitchen tongs.
5. Cook the chicken tenders for 1-2 minutes on each side, until golden brown. (You can do this to trap in the flavours)
6. After the chicken tenders are seared, press the "Sauté" function off and pour a little bit of cooking liquid (like chicken broth or water) into the Instant Pot. This produces steam and will keep the chicken tenders from drying out.
7. Lock the lid of the Instant Pot and make sure the pressure release valve is in the “Sealing” position.
8. Press "Pressure Cook" or "Manual" on high pressure and set to 3-5 minutes. Just be aware that the cooking time will depend on how thick your chicken tenders are.
9. After the cooking time is up, do a natural pressure release for 5 minutes, then a quick pressure release to rid of any remaining pressure.
10. Carefully release the pressure on the Instant Pot and check the internal temperature of your chicken tenders with a meat thermometer to make sure they have reached 165°F (74°C) inside, to be safe.
11. Transfer the cooked chicken tenders out of the Instant Pot and serve them right away with whatever you'd like on the side or dip into.

Pro Tip

It's finished when the inside of the chicken is 165°F. Easy to use: Simply insert the long temperature probe into your food / liquid and get perfectly cooked food every single time; the thermometer probe is even long enough to prevent you from burning your hands while measuring.

Can you make them ahead of time?

These chicken tenders are so good fresh out of the pressure cooker, but you can store them in the fridge for up to 4 days! You can eat the tenders cold, as a salad topper or in a sandwich, or warm them in the oven at 350F until heated through.

Can you freeze chicken tenders?

Yup, cooked chicken tenders are great for the freezer! Once cool, wrap snugly and place in a freezer bag or airtight container to store. Defrost the chicken overnight in the refrigerator prior to using. STORING Place the whole or shredded tenders in containers and freeze.

Why is my Instant Pot chicken rubbery?

Quick note about that chicken: You’re not going to love it if it’s overdone; a couple extra minutes in the pot can turn chicken rubbery. Test before the stated time and use it as an approximation.

How long to cook chicken tenders in the instant pot?

8 to 10 minutes or 10 to 12 minutes if adding from frozen(increase time depending on thickness of breasts), or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. And no matter how much chicken you pile into the pot, the cooking time doesn’t change — the time it takes for the pressure to build just increases.

How do you serve Them?

There are many ways that you can serve chicken tenders to suit your own taste and the particular meal or occasion. Here are a few popular methods for serving chicken tenders:

1. Stand-alone: Chicken tenders can be served as a main dish. Pile them on a plate or platter, and serve with your favorite (or a variety) of dipping sauces — ketchup, barbecue sauce, honey mustard, or ranch. They’re perfect for picking at as party finger food or an option for the kids to eat as a meal.
2. Sandwiches/Wraps: Chicken tenders are a hearty start to sandwiches and wraps. Serve the tenders in a bun or wrap them with fresh veggies, lettuce, tomatoes etc. and your favorite toppings. You can also throw in cheese, bacon, and/or avocado slices to kick the flavors up even more.
3. Salads: If you want a lighter fare item, stick chicken tenders on a salad. Cut the cooked tenders into bite-size pieces and toss them with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers and any other vegetables of your choice. Drizzle your favorite dressing over the top (Caesar, ranch, balsamic vinaigrette, etc).
4. Rice Dishes and Pasta: Slice or dice chicken tenders to add to pasta dishes and rice bowls. Toss them in a creamy Alfredo pasta, stir-fried noodles or fragrant rice. Serve over the lentils and rice, the tenders add some protein and all the flavor you need for these dishes.
5. Appetizers/Party Platters: Always a good idea for parties or hosting some friends, chicken tenders make great appetizers. Thread them onto toothpicks or skewers for easy handling, offering a variety of sauces or dips alongside. You can also add any other appetizer you like, mini sliders, mini tacos, or your favorite veggie sticks for a menu variety.
6. Tacos or Quesadillas: Finely shred or dice the cooked chicken tenders and use as filling for tacos or quesadillas. Top with cheese, salsa, guacamole and any other toppings you like for a Tex-Mex inspired feast.

If you are looking for a great chocolate recipe for breakfast, you can check my Chocolate Chip Cookies without Brown Sugar recipe.

Substitutions & Tips

1. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Cut into thin strips or pounded out to an even thickness for a chicken tender like texture. Chicken breast is an adaptable alternative.
2. Chicken Thighs: Debone skin-on chicken thighs, and slice them into strips or small pieces. Because it is a larger piece of meat, chicken thighs are also juicier and more flavorful than chicken tenders.
3. Chicken Cutlets: Slices of chicken breast are known as cutlets here, they’re great for swift cooking. Replace with (substitute) when you want a thinner preparation and/or a larger surface.
4. Ground Chicken: Season ground chicken, shape it into mini patties or nuggets, and substitute for the chicken tenders. Just bread and fry or oven-bake them to achieve a similar texture.
5. Chicken Strips or Fillets: Found in your local grocery store, these strips (or fillets depending upon the store) are similar to chicken tenders and can be substituted easily.

How to store and reheat chicken tenders

To store and freeze chicken tenders, follow these steps:

1. Store chicken tenders:
   • Cool the cooked chicken tenders completely.
   • Store in an airtight container or wrap in plastic wrap tightly.
   • Attach a label with the contents and date it was stored.
   • Keep in the fridge for immediate use or freeze for longer keeping.
2. Reheat chicken tenders:
   • To reheat left over chicken tenders from the fridge, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
   • Spread the tenders out on a baking sheet, heat for 10-12 minutes or until warm.
   • Or warm them in a microwaveable dish and loosely lay cover on top of fries, microwave fries on medium power in 30 second intervals until warm.
3. Reheat frozen chicken tenders:
   • Preheat the oven to 375 degree F (190 degrees C).
   • Lay the tenders flat on a sheet pan and cook for 20-25 minutes or until warmed and slightly crispy.
   • Air fry: Alternatively, you can air fry (preheat to 400°F (200°C) and fry for 10-12 minutes, or until crispy and heated).

More Instant Pot Recipes:

• Instant Pot Navy Bean Soup
• Cajun Alfredo Sauce
• Instant Pot Fried Rice
• Instant Pot Red Lentil Soup
• Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes
• Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas
• The Best Homemade Chicken Taco Seasoning Recipe
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• Crispy Honey Chicken
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