Instant Pot Chicken (basic recipe) three ways

It’s hard eating the same bland baked or broiled chicken over and over every day. So I’ve created three quick ways to meal prep your basic Instant Pot chicken to give your week some variety and flavor! Think of it as planned overs! 

I’m a big fan of meal prep. I don’t normally take the time, nor do I have it during the week to prepare myself a well balanced lunch. It’s usually snacking out of the snack drawer or skipping lunch completely, if I’m being honest. Nine times out of ten I’m on the go and need something quick and readily available to eat. Taking an hour once a week (usually on Sunday) to prep my lunches (and sometimes breakfasts too) in advance has been a total game changer.

Not only is meal prep convenient… it’s also budget friendly, reduces waste, allows you more time to do the things you enjoy and keeps you out of the drive thru. WIN WIN! So often I hear friends say how eating clean is expensive and requires too much time and effort, but really, it’s the opposite. With proper planning, eating clean can not only save you money, but also time, all while fueling your body with delicious whole foods!

Sounds easy enough, right? If you’re feeling overwhelmed, I get it. I was too at the beginning of my clean eating journey, luckily the more you prep the faster and more efficient you’ll become. Turn on your favorite podcast and get prepping!

Are you team Instant Pot?

If you haven’t jumped on the Instant Pot train yet, all aboard!! I can’t tell you how many times my Instant Pot has saved dinner in a pinch. It’s also the easiest way to meal prep in big batches quickly. Think of it as your time machine to tasty meals. It does in twenty minutes what a crock pot can do in four hours. I’d say that’s a no brainer. This is the Instant Pot I use regularly. I honestly don’t know how I would do life without it.

That sounds dramatic… I could do life without it, but we would be hungry. Having the proper tools in the kitchen is key. Make the investment now, your health will thank you.

How to easily shred chicken

For years I used to shred my chicken with two forks in a bowl, taking turns with my husband because my hands would get tired. One day I overheard a friend at church sharing a recipe and talking about how she shreds her chicken in her kitchen aid!! Uhh what!!? GENIUS!! I haven’t looked back since. It is by far the easiest method to shredding chicken you will ever use. Have you tried it?

You simply remove the cooked chicken breasts from the Instant Pot (reserve the juices for after shredding if you’d like) and place them directly into the bowl of your mixer. Using the paddle attachment, mix until evenly shredded. You can add the chicken back to the juices if you’d like to.

Let’s Meal Prep

I’ve put together six lunches for your week ahead that can be made in under an hour. Three completely different entrees from one basic Instant Pot chicken recipe to ensure your lunchtime (or dinner) is full of variety and flavor and low on stress! My kids love them too, perfect for busy sports filled nights when they need to grab dinner and go.

If you can commit one hour a week to meal prep, you can do this. You don’t have to be savvy in the kitchen either, all three recipes are made with simple, easy to find, clean ingredients to ensure success! My local Kroger store has expanded recently and I am so impressed with the selection of organic and natural products. For more savings and tips visit the Kroger Health and Wellness site.

I’v even made it simple for you with a free grocery shopping printable below. Most ingredients are used across each recipe for minimal waste, any leftovers can be tossed in a baggie and frozen until next week’s prep.

So, clear your schedule, roll up your sleeves and let’s get started! Today we are making Instant Pot Chicken BBQ stuffed potatoes, Instant Pot Chicken Salsa Verde Rice Bowls and Instant Pot Chicken coconut curry soup!

*For the most time efficient process follow the prep in the order listed below.

BAKE POTATOES: Preheat oven to 425. Wash and dry your potatoes, rub with olive oil and season with salt. Pierce each potato 2-3 times. Bake for 45 minutes or until fork tender on middle rack of oven.

While your potatoes are baking start your chicken…

INSTANT POT CHICKEN: Prepare your chicken in the Instant Pot per recipe below. Shred and divide into six servings. Set aside.

While your chicken and potatoes are cooking prepare your broccoli for roasting…

BROCCOLI: Rinse and cut one broccoli crown into florets. Layer cut broccoli on a small cookie sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and season with garlic powder (not salt… powder) salt & pepper to taste. Add to oven with potatoes and roast for 25-30 minutes.

While your broccoli is roasting prepare your rice…

RICE: Prepare rice according to package directions, set aside.

Now you’re ready to prep each entree individually!

Instant Pot Chicken BBQ Stuffed Potatoes

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INGREDIENTS:

• 8 ounces prepared shredded Instant Pot chicken
• 4 tbsp Simple Truth organic honey BBQ sauce
• 1/2 cup Simple Truth organic super sweet corn, canned
• 4 tbsp cheddar cheese, shredded
• 2 tbsp light sour cream
• 2 tbsp black olives, sliced
• 1 green onion, sliced
• 2 cups roasted broccoli
• olive oil
• salt and pepper

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Mix chicken with bbq sauce in a small bowl. Salt and Pepper to taste. Set aside.
2. Slice each baked potato carefully down the middle to create a pocket and fluff with a fork.
3. Top each potato with 1/2 or each: chicken mixture, corn, cheese, olives and green onion.
4. Place 1 tbsp sour cream in a condiment cup.
5. Add 1 cup broccoli to each entree.

Instant Pot Chicken Salsa Verde Rice Bowls

INGREDIENTS:

• 8 ounces prepared shredded Instant Pot chicken
• 2/3 cup Simple Truth organic tomatillo salsa
• 1 cup Simple Truth Organic 90 second brown rice
• 1/2 cup Simple Truth organic super sweet corn, canned
• 1/2 cup Simple Truth black beans, canned and drained
• 4 tbsp cheddar cheese, shredded
• 2 tbsp sour cream
• chopped cilantro for garnish
• kosher salt
• lime wedge

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Mix chicken with tomatillo salsa in a small bowl. Salt if needed. Set aside.
2. Place 1/2 cup brown rice on a meal prep dish. Top with half of each: chicken mixture, corn, black beans, cheese, sour cream and cilantro.
3. Place 1 tbsp sour cream in a condiment cup.
4. Add a lime wedge to each entree.

Instant Pot Chicken Coconut Curry Soup

INGREDIENTS:

• 8 ounces prepared shredded Instant Pot chicken
• 2 cups Simple Truth organic chicken stock
• 1/2 can Simple Truth organic lite coconut milk, canned
• 1 tbsp Simple Truth organic curry powder
• 1/2- 1 tbsp raw local honey
• 1 cup shredded carrots
• 1/2 white onion, diced small
• bay leaf
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 2 tsp Simple Truth organic coconut oil
• 1 cup Simple Truth Organic 90 second brown rice
• 2 tbsp cilantro, chopped
• green onion for garnish
• lime wedge

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. In a medium saucepan melt coconut oil over medium heat. Add carrots and onion and sauté until tender, about 8-10 minutes.
2. Add chicken, chicken stock, coconut milk, curry powder, honey, salt, bay leaf, rice and cilantro. Whisk well and bring to a boil, once boiling remove from heat and allow to cool until room temperature.
3. Remove bay leaf.
4. Separate into two glass prep containers and serve with a lime wedge.
5. Top with sliced green onion.

Go-to meal prep breakfast and snack recipes:

Blueberry Orange Overnight Oats

Heart Healthy Red Velvet Smoothie

Omelette Bags

Prosciutto Egg Cups

Strawberry Lemonade Powerballs

Powerballs 

New year Same you

Plot twist.

Just because it’s 2019 doesn’t mean you have to punish your 2018 self for the change you didn’t see. Rather than listing off all the things you didn’t do last year, make a list of the things that brought you great joy and do more of those. You’re going to see a lot of people posting about change throughout social media. What if the goal wasn’t to change but to grow, and in the process of growing we become something even more beautiful than we ever could have pictured?

If I could share one thing with you it would be to learn self-love and to love your body from the inside out. Love it enough to nourish it with whole foods, daily mediation and exercise. Allow yourself some grace this year. You will hear plenty of people talking about New Year’s resolutions, let’s ditch those. I’d much rather choose to go forward into 2019 with great intention because a life with intent is far more productive than a life with unrealistic expectations. I believe in you.

HAPPY NEW YEAR FRIENDS!!!

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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Kroger. The opinions and text are all mine.