Our easy frozen chicken tenders Instant Pot no breading recipe with bbq sauce can be made in Ninja Foodi pressure cooker too! Forgetful? This is how to cook frozen chicken from rock hard right out of the freezer to tender without defrosting.

Frozen chicken Instant Pot style turns out surprisingly good. This super tender meat lathered with your favorite sauce for dinner is a game changer y'all. Give frozen meat in a pressure cooker a try and you'll be a believer too. one of many easy quick Instant Pot recipes on our site. (affiliate links present)

Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Tenders Frozen Recipe

We are not referring to the previously cooked and breaded ones in a bag in the freezer section. If that is what you're looking for read our air fryer frozen chicken tenders post instead. These have no breading and are a healthy version that are as good (maybe better).

We have shared how to cook frozen chicken in Instant Pot years ago. That was mainly for whole breasts and best if shredding chicken at the end. That is great but if you have this style of meat and want them to stay whole, here are directions for that.

We're sure you've seen these at the store. They tend to be more expensive than whole boneless skinless breasts but are more tender like their name suggests. What is the difference? Well their larger counterpart is more nutritious they say and quite a bit larger.

Ingredient notes

You want the plain, non breaded Frozen chicken tenders. It is best to break them up but if they are in a solid chunk we have cook times for that too. You could use chicken tenderloins but we would decrease timing by 1 minute

You will need a bit of Chicken broth or water to steam them to tender under high pressure.

You will need a trivet or vegetable steamer basket you will want and your pot itself. Beyond that is the food itself and tongs are helpful to lift them out.

Adding BBQ Sauce

That is seriously it y'all. If you have made our Instant Pot frozen chicken breast with sauce this is similar, with less time. Sauce you use if your choice, barbecue is easy and good but teriyaki would be great too.

Ninja Foodi Frozen Chicken Tenders

If you are new to using a Ninja Foodi you'll use the lid that isn't attached. Other pressure cookers, the directions are the same. They are all almost the same but some may have more buttons than others.

Frozen chicken tenders are stacked in an Instant Pot with broth at the bottom for easy, flavorful cooking.

How Long to Cook Frozen Chicken Tenders in Instant Pot

Separate the pieces if they are in one solid chunk so the steam heats each piece evenly to become tender in 7 minutes. If tenders are in one solid chunk, steam for 5 minutes. Then allow for a natural pressure release. Separate them and put the lid back on and secure steam valve on top. Steam for 2 more minutes with a quick release.

Remove, plate and pour bbq sauce or homemade teriyaki sauce over the top of all of them.

If you have one of our other favorites you can make our other version which are air fryer chicken tenders no breading. The biggest difference is that this way you will get a bit of crisp on the outside whereas these won't.

Both are great and healthier than frozen chicken nuggets in air fryer for sure. depends what machine you want to use that day AND if your dinner is still rock solid you'll need this one.

A plate of barbecue glazed chicken tenders cooked from frozen chicken tenders in the Instant Pot sits on a kitchen counter.

Cooking Tips

If yours are a “normal” size you shouldn't have to check internal temperature. We mean you can break one apart in half and make sure it isn't still pink and juices run clear. If your chicken tenderloin pieces are quite large then yes use a thermometer for sure to make sure they are 165 F. Quick and easy meal prep and timing right??

We mean you don't have to eat whole either. If you are in the mood for chicken tacos then cook the chicken as directed below. Then shred those babies right up. Toss diced cooked chicken tenders with your favorite sauce and throw it into a tortilla with cheese and cabbage!

A hand holds a saucy chicken wing above a plate of barbecue wings, garnished with chopped herbs—solid inspiration for making frozen chicken tenders in the Instant Pot at home.

Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Tenders Recipe

By BBQ frozen chicken tenders Instant Pot style come out so good! Forgetful? This is how to cook from frozen, tender and moist every time. Prep: 5 minutes minsCook: 7 minutes minsServings: 4 Save Recipe Saved! Pin Recipe Comment Print Recipe

Equipment

Ingredients

2 lbs chicken tenders, frozen
2 c chicken broth, or water
1 c barbecue sauce

Instructions

Separate tenders ideally but if they are in one solid chunk we will share timing for those too.
Pour broth into pot and lower down a trivet. Put tenders on trivet or in vegetable steamer basket and seal lid and steam valve.
If they are separated set to steam function for 7 minutes and natural release pressure at the end.
If tenders are in one solid chunk, steam for 5 minutes, allow for a natural pressure release. Then separate them and put the lid back on. Steam for 2 more minutes with a quick release.
Remove, plate and pour bbq sauce over the top of all of them.

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Entree, Main CourseCuisine: American Tried this recipe?Mention @thetypical_mom or tag #thetypicalmom!

How to save leftovers

You might have leftovers and we surely don't want those to go to waste though. If you do make sure they come to room temperature. Then we like to use freezer bags, a pint size should be enough. Put all inside and suck all the air out so they don't dry out. When you reheat them in the microwave brush sauce on them first so they say moist. You could heat them again in your air fryer too though to add some crisp too!

Jump to this Instant Pot frozen chicken recipe below and give this under 30 minute meal a whirl already. If you serve it up another way let us know so we can try that too.

Need other ideas? Dice what is left up and throw it into some fried rice or over rice with teriyaki sauce for a quick lunch the next day. Two meals for the price of one is totally our type of cheap Instant Pot recipe idea for sure.

how to cook frozen chicken tenders in instant pot

Kitchen questions

What is the difference between steam and pressure cook on Instant Pot?

Not much. Like the other preprogrammed buttons like cake and meat/stew this one has a timing that is set. If you have a old or different model you may not have this. If not, no worries. use manual pressure cook on high pressure with the timing shown below.

Can you use chicken strips instead of tenders?

Yes!! Tenders tend to be 1/3 – 1/2 of the size and much thinner. Think of it like a pork roast vs. a tenderloin, we are sure you have had both of those and can tell the difference for sure. This is what you'll need and it doesn't matter whether they are straight out of the freezer or defrosted, the timing doesn't change!

How Long do you Cook Frozen Instant Pot Chicken Tenders?

7 minutes!! Trick to the best result is to separate them if you have them stuck together in a large chunk. You can do this under some cool water. Then you're set to steam to tender and juicy under high pressure.