Name: Instant Pot Fried Chicken
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 6-8 chicken drumsticks; 2 cups flour; 2 cups cornflour; 3 large eggs; 4 tablespoons Funky Chicken Seasoning, divided; 1 tablespoon smoked paprika; 1 tablespoon ginger powder; 1 tablespoon garlic powder; 1 tablespoon pepper; Salt; Oil, for frying

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Have you thought about making Instant Pot fried chicken? This pressure cooker fried chicken is a deep-fried battered chicken. Finger-licking good fried chicken, that is calling your name. Think, KFC chicken, which is always a winner.

Use whatever pieces of chicken you prefer: chicken, chicken thighs, chicken breasts, random chicken pieces…our go-to is to use whatever meat happens to be on sale.

easy fried chicken recipe using Instant Pot as a deep fryer — Fried Chicken

We won’t cook at high pressure for Instant Pot Southern Fried Chicken. The key here is to use electric pressure cookers for more than just a pressure cooker.

It can be used to melt candy coating for cake pops, heat hot oil to fry chicken or chicken tenders as we’re doing in this recipe, or even used as an air fryer basket with the Instant Pot air fryer lid. This appliance is highly versatile. Additionally, the Instant Pot can function as a fryer, offering an efficient and high-quality method for frying chicken, ensuring the chicken is perfectly cooked and deliciously crispy.

Remember a couple of things when cooking this delicious golden brown chicken. Make sure to check the internal temperature before eating!

Yes, you’re looking for crispy skin, but you also want an internal cooking temperature that is safe to eat. 165 F is the go-to for internal chicken temperature.

I am obsessed with Instant Pot cooking and love to venture out to new methods and recipes. This fried chicken in Instant Pot is a game changer.

No need to buy a deep fryer; grab your pressure cooker. Let me share how easy it is to make bone-in deep-fried chicken. Turn your Instant Pot saute function on high heat, and start heating the oil. Coat the chicken with the breading ingredients below. Add extra black pepper and cayenne pepper to your flour mixture if you’d like to spice things up.

dipping chicken in flour mixture for chicken legs

The cooking and frying process is quite simple with this deep frying method. It’s not as time intensive as, say, brining. If you don’t have a home fryer, this works just as efficiently. You can mix things up and adapt our Instant Pot chicken wings into a deep-fried crispy chicken wings recipe. There are so many different ways to use the Instant Pot.

If you have an air fryer top in your Instant Pot or want to use a different air fryer, you can also make air-fried turkey breast.

Want More Instant Pot Chicken Recipes

No need to buy a deep fryer; grab your pressure cooker. Let me share how easy it is to make bone-in deep-fried chicken for a similar fried chicken idea you will want to try. It's the modern way to fry and I use it all the time.

Why You Will Love This Instant Pot Fried Chicken...

Simple ingredients
Similar to the KFC fried chicken recipe
Easy cleanup
Crispy batter-coated fried chicken, juicy meat
You can use any cut of chicken

Pressure Cooker Fried Chicken Ingredients

chicken drumsticks
flour
cornflour
eggs
chicken seasoning
smoked paprika
ginger powder
garlic powder
onion powder
pepper
salt
oil

How to Make Fried Chicken

This is a great Instant Pot chicken drumsticks recipe to make. It uses an affordable chicken cut, but feel free to use any other chicken cut.

It’s also an easy chicken drumsticks recipe to make.

First, you’ll combine the ingredients for the breading in one bowl. In another bowl, beat the eggs. Then, you’ll dip the chicken legs in egg and the breading mixture.

Heat the oil, ensuring you monitor the oil temperature to maintain the optimal level for frying chicken, and then you’re ready to fry the chicken.

What to Serve With Fried Chicken

Side dishes can make or break your dinner. Here are a few ideas if you are looking for tasty side dishes that complement your Kentucky fried chicken.

French fries, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, macaroni and cheese, mac and cheese bites, baked beans, and more.

Storage

If you happen to have leftover chicken, you are in luck. Store your leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the fridge. When you want it, eat the leftover chicken cold or heat it.

In terms of freezing, you are more than welcome to freeze any leftover chicken. Just place it in an airtight bag or container. Freeze for 3-4 months.

Heat straight from frozen or let it thaw in the fridge overnight before you reheat.

Variations To Recipe

Here are some variations for these fried chicken drumsticks, thighs, and breasts.

Soak your chicken in buttermilk for 30 minutes to an hour before breading to help lock in excess moisture throughout. This helps give you a juicy chicken.

Season your chicken as you would like. Just adjust the spices you would like.

If you want extra crunchy chicken, bread and dredge the chicken twice. Otherwise, for a lighter batter, do it once.

Expert Tips

I highly suggest using a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches 165 degrees internally.

Once your chicken is done, place it on a paper towel-lined plate or cooling rack. This will help remove excess grease. Utilizing paper towels is not only for the final step but also essential throughout the cooking process. Before cooking, pat the chicken dry with paper towels after applying your spice mixture, and again after pressure cooking, before frying it in oil. This ensures that the moisture is absorbed, allowing the chicken to fry properly and achieve a crunchier skin. Additionally, coating the cooked thighs with flour using paper towels can further enhance the texture and appeal of the fried chicken by effectively removing excess oil.

I place the lid on top while cooking the chicken so you don’t get splatter from the oil.

Carefully lower the chicken into the oil; don’t drop it in excess oil, or it will splash it up.

Use peanut oil, canola oil, or vegetable oil. When heated too high, Olive oil has a higher smoke, so you want a fry-friendly oil.

How long to fry chicken?

Frying chicken all depends on the size of the chicken. Chicken drumsticks will fry up faster than, say, a chicken thigh or breast. You need to fry the chicken until it reaches 165 degrees internally.

Who invented fried chicken?

Scottish were the ones who invented fried chicken. They began deep-frying chicken in fat and loved the crispy texture with juicy meat.

How to reheat fried chicken in the oven?

Looking to reheat fried chicken in the oven? Take your chicken and place it on a baking sheet. Then, do 350 degrees for 10-20 minutes or until the chicken is thoroughly warmed.

What temperature to fry chicken at?

Frying chicken needs to be fried in oil that is 375 degrees. You need to check to ensure the oil doesn't get too hot, or it will cook the outer part while leaving the center of the skinless chicken breasts still raw.

Can I deep fry this chicken in a skillet on the stove?

Absolutely! Add oil into a heavy pot and deep fry the chicken on the stove. Do the same, and make sure your oil reaches 375 degrees. Flip the chicken as it cooks so it browns on all sides.

Want More Instant Pot Chicken Recipes

YIELD: 6 SERVINGS