Instant Pot chicken and dumplings is a one-pot meal of tender chicken, carrots, celery, potatoes, and soft biscuit dumplings cooked right in the broth. The chicken goes in frozen or thawed with no time change. The dumplings cook at the end using the sauté function.
This is the meal I make when I forgot to thaw anything and dinner still needs to happen. Everything goes into the pot, the pressure cooker does the work, and the biscuit dumplings finish on sauté in about five minutes.
Why This Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings Recipe Works
Frozen chicken works with no time adjustment. Toss in frozen chicken breasts straight from the freezer. The 15-minute pressure cook time works for both frozen and thawed. No extra steps. No math.
The vegetables cook in the same pot at the same time. Carrots, celery, onion, and potatoes go in with the chicken and broth. Everything finishes together. The potatoes soften without turning to mush because the 15-minute cook time is just right for cubed russets under pressure.
Canned biscuit dumplings cook on sauté in five to ten minutes. Cut the biscuits into pieces, roll them into balls, and drop them into the hot broth. They cook through, soak up the seasoned liquid, and thicken the broth into a gravy at the same time. Stir gently so they do not break apart.
This freezes as a dump-and-start meal. Cube the chicken, dice the vegetables, measure the spices, and freeze it all in a gallon bag. On cooking day, dump the frozen block into the Instant Pot with the broth and butter. Pressure cook for 15 minutes. Add the biscuits at the end. Dinner from freezer to table in about 30 minutes.
How to Make Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings
- Add the butter to the Instant Pot.
- Place the cubed chicken breasts in the pot and pour the chicken broth over the chicken.
- Add the carrots, celery, onion, and cubed potatoes.
- Sprinkle the poultry seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper over the top. Stir gently to combine.
- Secure the lid on the Instant Pot. Select the Manual/Pressure Cook setting and set the time to 15 minutes.
- While the chicken cooks, cut the refrigerated biscuits into pieces and gently roll them into balls. Set aside.
- When the cooking time is complete, allow the pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes, then carefully release any remaining pressure.
- Turn the Instant Pot to the Sauté setting. Add the biscuit dough balls to the pot and stir gently but frequently for 5 to 10 minutes, until the dumplings are cooked through and the broth has thickened slightly.
- Turn off the Instant Pot and garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
How to Make Homemade Dumplings
If you prefer homemade dumplings over canned biscuits, here is a quick drop dumpling recipe.
Whisk together 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, and ½ teaspoon salt. Cut in 3 tablespoons shortening until the mixture is crumbly. Stir in ¾ cup milk until just combined. Drop by spoonfuls into the Instant Pot while it is on Sauté. Cook for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring gently.
Quick Tips
Frozen chicken works with no time adjustment. Thawed or frozen, both get 15 minutes under pressure.
Cut biscuit pieces evenly. Smaller, uniform pieces cook at the same rate.
Stir gently during sauté. The dumplings are soft. Rough stirring breaks them apart.
Natural release for a full 10 minutes. The chicken stays tender and the vegetables hold their shape.
Freezer Meal Prep
Cube the raw chicken and dice the carrots, celery, onion, and potatoes. Add them to a gallon freezer bag with the poultry seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Seal and freeze.
On cooking day, dump the frozen contents into the Instant Pot with the broth and butter. Pressure cook for 15 minutes. The rest of the steps stay the same.
Storage and Reheating
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The dumplings will absorb more broth as they sit. Reheat on the stovetop over low heat, adding a splash of broth if needed. Microwave works in a pinch.
More Instant Pot Chicken Recipes
For more pressure cooker chicken dinners, try my Instant Pot White Chicken Chili for a creamy, spiced bowl. My Instant Pot Chicken Gnocchi Soup is another one-pot comfort meal with pillowy gnocchi.
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Chicken & Dumplings
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts - cubed (whole frozen breasts work well, too!)
- 4 cups chicken broth or stock
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 1 cup carrots
- 1 cup celery - chopped
- 1 medium onion - diced
- 2-3 russet potatoes - cubed
- ½ teaspoon poultry seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 can refrigerated biscuits
- fresh parsley
Instructions
- Add 2 tablespoon butter to Instant Pot.
- Lay cubed chicken breasts (or frozen breasts) in the Instant Pot and pour chicken stock over top of it.
- Add in carrots, celery, onion, and potatoes.
- Top with poultry seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Use a spoon to mix.
- Place lid on Instant Pot and select the MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK setting and adjust to 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cut biscuits and roll into balls.
- Allow the Instant Pot to naturally release pressure for 10 minutes.
- Turn the setting to SAUTE on the Instant Pot and add in the balled biscuits and stir frequently for about 5 to 10 minutes.
- Garnish with fresh parsley.
Notes
- Frozen chicken breasts work with no time adjustment. Same 15-minute cook time.
- Cut refrigerated biscuits into quarters and roll into balls. About 32 small dumplings per can.
- Natural release for a full 10 minutes keeps the chicken tender.
- Stir gently during sauté so the dumplings do not break apart.
- This freezes as a dump-and-start meal. Freeze cubed chicken, diced vegetables, and seasonings in a gallon bag. Dump into the Instant Pot with broth and butter on cooking day.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate based on third-party calculations. Actual values may vary due to ingredients, measurements, and serving sizes.
© Mama Needs Cake
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Dana is an experienced recipe creator who crafts easy and delicious recipes for all levels of home cooks.
Her recipes range from classic comfort foods to healthy and nutritious meals, and she is always on the lookout for new and exciting ways to bring flavor and variety to the table.
This looks pretty easy to make! Love it!
I’ll give it a try soon!
Thanks for sharing it
Such a quick way to prepare dinner! Love it. I have a slow cooker but think it may be time to switch it out for an Insta pot!
Ahhh using biscuits looks so much easier than trying to make them by hand! Never thought of that haha! I’ll be trying this recipe!!
Oh my gosh this looks amazing. I hear so man that good things about the instant pot, but I dont peronally have one. This recipe looks so simple.
I just made crockpot chicken and dumplings last night for dinner!
I just made crockpot chicken and dumplings last night for dinner!
This is similar to what I made last year, it’s so so so delicious. I love soup. Thank you for sharing this great recipe. I am sharing this to my social media if it’s okay?
Absolutely! 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
This looks wonderful! Perfect for a chilly winter dinner. I just bought an Instant Pot and may need to try this recipe. Thanks!
glad this was in your sidebar… going to pin this for a cold night in! THANKS ?
Joy at The Joyous Living
I can’t wait to make this tonight! Just returned from the grocery store to get all of the ingredients. Thank you for the recipe!
If you use frozen , do you pull it out to chop up after depressurization?
Yes, when I make it often from frozen and that is what I do. It breaks up easily.
This is a fantastic recipe! Definitely going on my regular rotation of favorites! Loved the canned biscuits way to make dumplings!
This is a fantastic recipe! Definitely going on my regular rotation of favorites! Loved the canned biscuits way to make dumplings!
This looks so good! I’m planning on making it tonight. I’m new to using an instant pot. When it’s time to make the biscuits do i dump out the soup, press sauté and make the biscuits? Or do I press saute while the soup is in the pot and mix in the biscuits?
Thanks!
Hi Courtney! You add the biscuits in while the soup is in the Instant Pot and it's on Saute. 🙂
This looks great! I have 2 questions before I make it.
Do you quick release the rest of the pressure after the 10 minute natural release?
When using biscuits, do you roll out the biscuit before dividing it into smaller parts?
Yes, once the 10 minutes is up, release any remaining pressure. For the biscuits, I just take a biscuit and slice it into sections. Then I roll them into balls. You can also pinch off pieces using your fingers. Hope this helps!
Delicious recipe!! I made the dumplings out of biscuits but made them in smaller balls and they turned out the same as homemade. Will definitely make again!
Made this tonight for the first time! Everything was going great until I hit sauté and the liquid cooked off so quickly that it wasn’t really a soup more of a medley of all the ingredients. What did I do wrong? It taste good - just not the right consistency!
So strange! Maybe you had the saute setting up too high? With 4 cups of liquid in the pot, it shouldn't all cook off like that.
Can’t wait to make it! When you put it on sauté, do you sauté it with the lid on or off?
Saute with the lid off 🙂
I just finished eating the soup and it was amazing! I did follow your instructions on how to cook the biscuits in the sauté mode. It turned out great. I did add one can of low sodium cream of chicken soup. Also, I didn't have all of the spice ingredients, so I add Trader Joe's 21 Seasoning Salute instead and it turn out well, Once served we all add cracked pepper.
I just finished eating the soup and it was amazing! I did follow your instructions on how to cook the biscuits in the sauté mode. It turned out great. I did add one can of low sodium cream of chicken soup. Also, I didn't have all of the spice ingredients, so I add Trader Joe's 21 Seasoning Salute instead and it turn out well, Once served we all add cracked pepper.
Just made this. Absolutely delicious! And honestly, so easy. Will be making this all the time.
Just made this. Absolutely delicious! And honestly, so easy. Will be making this all the time.
What size is your instant pot? I have a 3-quart one. Do I have to cut the recipe at all? Thanks!
This recipe is SO good! I added 1 TBSP of hot sauce and wow is all I can say. My husband and I loved it!
This recipe is SO good! I added 1 TBSP of hot sauce and wow is all I can say. My husband and I loved it!
I love making chicken and dumplings in the pressure cooker. The only thing I do differently is: I use Bisquick for the dumplings. After releasing the pressure as instructed, drop the dumpling dough by the spoonful over the top. Close the lid and set your cooker to steam (vent open) for 10 minutes. They come out nice and fluffy!
Made this tonight, it was very good. Will make again ?
Can’t wait to try this recipe tonight. One question do you cut the biscuits in 4’s or half and roll??
I usually slice them into 8ths so they are small. It really doesn't matter though, whatever size you prefer. 🙂
Do you cook on low or high pressure? New to instant pot but very excited to make this!
Hi Mary!
You cook on High Pressure. Enjoy your Instant Pot and this recipe! 🙂
Does this freeze well with the potatoes? For some reason I thought you couldn't freeze potatoes, but could definitely be wrong! Looks delicious!
Hi Julie!
I've never had any issues freezing the potatoes with this meal. They come out just fine!
I received an instant pot for Christmas and have been using it for almost every dinner in 2021 ? This recipe was a HUGE hit. I made it for my 3 young kids, husband, and young nephew one night and they ALL asked for seconds. I’m making it again tonight (about 2-3 weeks after the first time) and my husband is really looking forward to dinner. I haven’t told the kids, yet, in case they beg me to get started right now! Good thing it’s in the instant pot and doesn’t take long! Lol
Chicken and dumplings are some of my family's favorite comfort food dinners. It's even better when made in the Instant Pot.
I really like your use of canned biscuits as the dumplings in this recipe. Makes things go much quicker for us busy parents!!
I love this recipe, I was actually thinking of what to make for tonight's dinner, and your chicken and dumplings are my answer! Terrific, thank you for the recipe!
What a great idea to use canned biscuits for dumplings. Absolutely have to try that along with the rest of this recipe. Perfect for weeknights!
Absolutely love my Instant pot for such easy to make dump and go recipes. This is such a convenient recipe loved by everyone at home.
I love trying new Instant Pot recipes and this comfort food recipe is tops on my list ~ thanks!
This was the perfect cozy meal! We’re getting hit with a ton of snow all weekend, and it was just what we needed. The dumplings were so tender and delicious, and it was super easy.
I love my Instant Pot! I love how quick and easy this dumpling recipe is. These flavors are amazing!
This is the perfect weeknight cozy meal. I love chicken and dumplings but rarely make them because of how long they take. Making this in an Instant Pot is fantastic ! My new go to meal!
If the chicken is frozen, should I cook it for longer? How long? Thanks!
If the chicken is frozen together in big chunks then adding 5 minutes would be a good idea. It does defrost while coming to pressure so it will take a little longer for the pot to be fully pressurized before cooking. Hope that helps!
@Dana, I was also wondering if it’s going to take the pot a while to pressurize. I am cooking this right now and it’s taking a while to get to pressure. Also I left my chicken breasts whole. Is that okay?
It can take time for it to come to pressure. There are 4 cups of broth in there so it will increase the time it takes to get to pressure. Also, if you happen to be using frozen chicken it will take a little longer than usual to come to pressure. This is my go-to when I forget to lay something out for dinner and I often throw the chicken breasts in whole and then shred with a fork after allowing it to naturally release pressure. I hope that helps!
Looks good and I plan to try it but I’m wondering if there is any rough guesstimate of the weight if the chicken breasts and the potatoes?
Thanks!!!!
This is a full proof recipe as I had never made them before and my daughter-in-law absolutely loved this dish when I made it for her which she is an avid fan of this meal! thanks
Perfect winter dish. Looks healthy and delicious. Easy to make too. I'm definitely saving this recipe.
It's all about comfort food this fall so this is right up my alley. I love that it's made in the instant pot for convenience! Yay!
This chicken and dumplings looks delicious I like that it is made with instant pot.
If I want to prep this and freeze in advance, can the handmade dumplings be frozen too?
You could freeze the dumplings but I would freeze them in layers of parchment paper to prevent them from sticking together.