How long to cook chicken tenderloins in instant pot

If you haven’t made Instant Pot chicken tenders, you are seriously missing out! They are such a game-changer when it comes to getting healthy meals on the table fast, and this Instant pot Chicken Tenders with Korean marinade recipe is a super flavorful and budget-friendly dish that everyone will love.

Suitable for Gluten Free diets. Post includes Weight Watchers points.

If you like to save time and money, then you will love making chicken tenders in Instant Pot. Not only is chicken affordable, but it’s also a healthy source of protein.

And like my Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders, the the leftovers taste great, so you can cook once and have enough left over for delicious meals and snacks all week long. 

These Instant Pot Tenders are seasoned with a slightly spicy Korean-style sauce and go perfectly with a slice of fried rice and sauteed veggie. The method, however, is incredibly versatile, so you can swap up the seasonings to match your cravings. 

After you enjoy these Instant Pot Chicken Tenderloins for dinner, get ready to enjoy the leftovers all week long. Serve them in sandwiches and wraps, make an Asian-style chicken salad, pile them on a salad of mixed greens or just enjoy them cold. You can have dinner made and lunch prepared for the rest of the week in one easy task. 

You can also try Instant Pot Chicken Drumsticks and this really juicy Instant Pot Chicken Breast and really easy Instant Pot Whole Chicken.

Why Make This Recipe

• Easy Meal Prep – Make a double batch of chicken tenders instant pot and use it in recipes all week long. The cooked chicken also shreds well.
• Healthy – Chicken is a healthy source of protein.
• Budget-Friendly – Chicken is affordable and freezes well so you can always have an easy meal on hand. 
• Versatile – Serve for dinner, then enjoy the leftovers in wraps, sandwiches, salads and even casseroles. 

Ingredient Notes

• Chicken – Look for chicken tenderloins or cut chicken breast into strips. 
• Ketchup – This pantry staple is the foundation of this Korean BBQ sauce. 
• Dried Chilis – Adjust this up and down depending on how spicy you like your food.
• Sriracha – This tangy, spicy sauce is easily found in the Asian section of most grocery stores. 
• Honey – Honey adds a touch of sweetness and helps to thicken the sauce. 
• Garlic Paste – Usually found in a tube in the produce section you can also use finely minced garlic. 
• Chicken Broth – Chicken broth imparts more chicken flavor but water is a budget-friendly substitute. 

What Are Chicken Tenders?

Chicken tenders are a family favorite and kids love them, but what are they?

Chicken tenders are known by many different names, including chicken strips, tenderloins, tenders, tendies, goujons, chicken fingers, and chicken fillets. 

Head on over to the what is chicken tenderloins post to to find out what the are, how to cut them yourself, and budget friendly tips and tricks.

Best Way To Cut Chicken Tenders

• Use a sharp knife and a cutting board dedicated to poultry. 
• Select boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
• Use the knife to cut the chicken breast against the grain into tenders of equal length and thickness. 
• Wash the knife and board with hot soapy water to prevent the spread of bacteria. 

How To Make Instant Pot Chicken Tenders

Get full ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

1. Combine the chicken tenders and the marinade in a bowl or bag and make sure the chicken is well coated. 
2. Add chicken broth and a trivet to the Instant Pot.
3. Place the chicken on the trivet, being careful not to overlap the pieces.
4. Cook at high pressure for 6 minutes, followed by a quick pressure release.
   

Note: Always check for doneness with a meat thermometer. The temperature should be 165F / 74C when inserted into the thickest part of chicken breasts.

Tips For Success

• If you have time, let the chicken marinate for 30 minutes and up to 8 hours.
• Brown the seasoned chicken in the Instant Pot using the sauté function. This step is optional but will lock in the juices and make the tenders more flavorful. 
• If you brown the chicken, be sure to scrape any bits off the bottom when adding the chicken broth.
• Be sure to cook the chicken on a trivet or it may burn. 
• Making chicken tenders in Instant Pot is a fast way to meal prep. 
• Always check for doneness with a meat thermometer. The temperature should be 165F / 74C when inserted into the thickest part of chicken breasts.

Variations

• Use Different Seasonings – This same cooking method can be used with your favorite marinade or dry seasoning mix. 
• Add A Dip – Serve your favorite dipping sauces along with the chicken strips.

Budget-Friendly Tips 

• Purchase Chicken In Bulk – Large, bulk-sized packages of chicken are often less expensive per pound. Chicken stores well in the freezer, so you can stock up when prices are low. 
• Purchase Chicken Breast – Chicken tenderloins are often more expensive than chicken breast. The difference in tenderness isn’t overwhelming, so you can save by buying breast and cutting it into strips before cooking or freezing. 
• Stock The Pantry – The marinade ingredients are all items that you probably have in your pantry. Keeping a well-stocked pantry will prevent frequent trips to the store and impulse purchases, thus saving you more money.

Prep Ahead And Storage

• Prep Ahead – Enjoy these Instant Pot Chicken Tenders right away, but they are also perfect for meal prep because they can be stored up to 4 days, and they shred easily and taste great cold. 
• Store – Place the chicken in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 4 days. 
• Freeze – Follow the handy tips below for how to freeze these;
  • Cook the Instant Pot Chicken Tenders as directed and allow them to cool completely. 
  • Wrap tightly or place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. 
  • Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in the oven or microwave.

Meal Prep

• Enjoy for dinner, then save the leftovers for easy lunches for the next 4 days.
• Pre-slice chicken breast when you purchase it and store it in the freezer in portioned packages for easy meal prep later on. 
• Combine chicken strips and the marinade ingredients in a freezer bag and freeze until ready to use. Thaw overnight and your chicken will be ready to cook and full of flavor. 
• Make a double batch so you can enjoy these instant pot chicken tenders all week long. 

FAQs

Are Chicken Tenderloins Healthy?

Chicken tenderloins are one of the healthiest proteins, especially when cooked without oil. These instant pot chicken tenderloins contain a variety of vitamins and minerals, and chicken breast is lower in fat than other cuts of chicken.

How Long To Cook Chicken Tenders In Instant Pot?

It takes about 6 minutes to cook chicken tenders in Instant Pot. This does not include the time it takes for the Instant Pot to come to pressure.

How Long To Marinate Chicken?

A few minutes in the marinade is fine if you are short on time. Ideally, meat should marinate for at least 30 minutes and up to 8 hours.

Why Are Chicken Strips Chewy?

The most common cause of chewy chicken is overcooking. Always use a meat thermometer to avoid overcooking your chicken.

More Chicken Tender Recipes You May Like

• Honey Garlic Chicken Tenderloins.
• Lemon Oregano Grilled Chicken Tenderloins.
• Buffalo Chicken Tenderloins.
• Oven Baked Chicken Tenderloins.
• Air Fryer Chicken Breast just because this is awesome.

More Instant Pot Recipes

• Instant Pot Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup.
• Instant Pot Chicken Fried Rice.
• Instant Pot Fajita Rice.
• Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Tacos.
• Instant Pot Chicken Enchilada Rice.
• Instant Pot Chicken Biryani.
• Easy Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas.
• Instant Pot Chicken Breast.
• Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Breast.
• Instant Pot Shredded Chicken.
• Instant Pot Stuffed Chicken Breast.
• Easy Instant Pot Chicken Tenders.
• Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Breast.

Serving Suggestions

• Ramen Noodles Stir Fry.
• Smothered Cabbage.
• Instant Pot Baby Potatoes.

Weight Watchers Points

There are 2 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.

Get The Chicken Tenders Instant Pot Recipe:

Instant Pot Chicken Tenders

It's quick and easty to make flavorful Korean chicken tenders in Instant Pot.

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American, Asian

Diet: Gluten Free

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 6 minutes

Servings: 6

Calories: 208kcal

Author: Bintu Hardy | Budget Delicious

Cost: less than $3 per serving

Equipment

Instant Pot 8QT

Instant Pot Accessories

Mixing Bowls

Thermometer

Ingredients

• 2 pounds (907g) chicken breast boneless and skinless
• 3 tablespoons ketchup
• ¼ teaspoons dried chilis add more or less, to suit your desired heat level
• 1 teaspoon sriracha sauce or more, to taste
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon garlic paste
• 1 cup (236ml) chicken broth or water

Instructions

• Slice chicken breast into tenders then place in a zip-top bag or bowl.

• Add the ketchup, sriracha, chilis, honey, and garlic paste, then stir or shake to combine and fully coat the chicken.

• Add the trivet in the bottom of the Instant Pot insert, then pour in the broth or water.

• Place chicken tenders on top of the trivet. The pieces may touch, but should not overlap.

• Put the lid on, turn the valve to the sealing position, and set to manual pressure / high pressure for 6 minutes.

• When done, perform a quick pressure release (QPR), then open the lid and carefully remove the chicken.

  How long does it take to cook breast tenderloins?

  Preheat oven to 375°F. 2. Bake frozen tenderloins 30 to 35 minutes or until internal temperature on instant read thermometer reaches 170°F. (Bake thawed tenderloins 18 to 22 minutes.)

  How long does raw chicken take in the Instant Pot?

  Pressure cook on high for 8-10 minutes for fresh chicken breast, and 10-12 minutes for frozen chicken (depending on the thickness of the breasts). Cook time stays the same no matter how much chicken you add to the pot; the pot will just take longer to come to pressure.

  Does cooking chicken longer in Instant Pot make it more tender?

  If your boneless chicken breast winds up with a weird, rubbery texture, it probably means that you need to cook it longer. In general, the Instant Pot does better with longer cook times for meat.

  Do chicken tenderloins cook faster than breasts?

  Since the chicken tenderloin is not as long as the breast, it may not work well in recipes where long pieces are called. Also, tenderloin cooks faster than the breast. This means that it can not be used for recipes that may incorporate longer cooking times, such as would be required for cooking breasts.