Learning to cook chicken in the Ninja Foodi is my ultimate safety net for busy nights. Whether you are using the classic multi-cooker or the newer Ninja HyperHeat, you can have a healthy, juicy protein in record time with this simple method!
Do you make recipes that call for shredded chicken? If so, making chicken in the Ninja Foodi is the perfect way to get shredded chicken ready in minutes. This method will save you so much time in the kitchen, plus the chicken is tender, juicy, and full of flavor. This method is completely hands-off; you don’t have to stand over the stove or oven. This chicken can then be used for a variety of meals.
Grab a Ninja Foodi Cheat Sheet Printable to cook all sorts of foods in minutes or see more information below!
Table of contents
- What is Ninja Foodi Chicken?
- Why You’ll Love this Easy Method
- Ingredients Notes
- How to Cook Chicken in the Ninja Foodi
- Tips for Making Juicy Chicken in the Ninja Foodi
- Variations and Substitutions
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Ninja Foodi Chicken Breast Recipes
- Storage Tips
- Ninja Foodi Cheat Sheet Printable
- Ninja Foodi Cheat Sheet!
What is Ninja Foodi Chicken?
Cooking chicken in the Ninja Foodi involves using the pressure cooker lid or function to cook the meat thoroughly under pressure. This method ensures that the chicken stays juicy on the inside and is easy to shred. This method can be used with any pressure cooker, such as Instant Pot or Ninja Hyperheat.
Why You’ll Love this Easy Method
- Ready in less than 20 minutes!
- Uses simple ingredients like chicken and water, pair with your favorite seasonings.
- Budget-friendly using chicken breast or thighs.
- Perfect for meal prep, shred the chicken and use in meals throughout the week.
- Works perfectly in newer models of Ninja Foodi, such as the Ninja Hyperheat or the Instant Pot.
The Ninja Foodi combines pressure cooking and air frying in one magical device. For chicken breasts, this means you can cook them quickly while still getting that crispy outside or keep them super juicy for slicing, shredding, or meal prep. This recipe will make juicy chicken breast or chicken thighs.
We add cooked chicken breast to a variety of meals such as this Chicken Alfredo.
Ingredients Notes
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast or Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs – Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs or chicken breast, then cook them under pressure and shred if preferred.
- Water or Chicken Broth – Liquid is needed for pressure cooking, use water or for more flavor use chicken broth.
How to Cook Chicken in the Ninja Foodi
- Place the trivet inside the foodi and pour the water into the foodi.
- Add the chicken evenly on the trivet.
- Use the pressure cooker lid and secure it to the Ninja Foodi.
- Make sure the nozzle is moved to ‘seal’.
- Cook on high for 12 minutes for chicken thighs or 10 minutes for chicken breast.
- Quickly release the steam.
- Carefully remove and shred with a fork.
Tips for Making Juicy Chicken in the Ninja Foodi
- Don’t Skip the Quick Release – Quickly release the steam to avoid overcooking.
- Use a Meat Thermometer – This is KEY to getting well-done chicken that is not overcooked; the internal temperature needs to be at least 165 degrees F.
- Add Flavor to the Broth – If you want more flavorful chicken, add spices and herbs to the broth or lemon slices. Season with herbs and spices such as garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, ground black pepper, or chili powder.
- Use it for Meal Prep – This is a great way to batch cook chicken, freeze it, and save it for later to use in salads, wraps, or casseroles.
Need more Ninja Foodi Recipes? Be sure to check out the full Ninja Foodi Recipe Index!
Variations and Substitutions
- Ninja HyperHeat Version – Use the HyperHeat with the pressure cooker setting just as you would with the Ninja Foodi, it will come to pressure even faster. Click here for the complete list of Ninja HyperHeat Recipes.
- Frozen Chicken – If using frozen chicken, increase the time to 15 minutes.
- Seasonings – Use a variety of seasonings, for instance Chicken Tacos in the Ninja Foodi or Ranch Chicken.
Frequently Asked Questions
Once the chicken has cooled, place it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The best tip here is to slice or shred it first before storing, it makes meal prep much faster.
The chicken can also be stored in the freezer. Use a freezer-safe storage bag and place the cooled chicken in the freezer. Be sure to label it and store it for up to 3 months. When ready to reheat, thaw the chicken in the fridge overnight or microwave it until it reaches at least 165 degrees F.
In either method, it’s important to let the chicken cool first to avoid any moisture building up.
The initial time will be the pressure building; once it builds, the chicken thighs will cook on high for 12 minutes, or for chicken breast, cook those on high for 10 minutes. The chicken must reach an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees F to be considered done. This is easy to check with an instant-read thermometer.
Once the chicken is fully cooked, it can easily be shredded with two forks.
Use the trivet to cook chicken in the Ninja Foodi, the trivet keeps the chicken off the bottom of the Ninja Foodi to prevent it from burning. The trivet also keeps the chicken off the bottom of the pot so it will not stick to the bottom of the Ninja Foodi.
The trivet placed in the inner pot works much better than the air fryer basket.
Yes, you can cook frozen chicken in the Ninja Foodi using the pressure cooker function.
This recipe and method can be done for fresh or frozen chicken. It will yield the same results. If you are using frozen chicken, add 3 extra minutes to the cooking time.
The best chicken to use is either boneless skinless chicken thighs or boneless skinless chicken breasts. Either can be used; the cooking time will be a few extra minutes, depending on which one you choose to use.
The only ingredients needed are the chicken thighs or chicken breast, along with chicken broth or water.
I like to use this method of cooking chicken in a Ninja Foodi to make chicken for recipes that call for shredded chicken, such as Pressure Cooker Chicken Taco Soup.
A whole chicken is fabulous to make in the Ninja Foodi, it can be done using the air fryer function or the pressure cooker function. This Air Fryer Whole Chicken recipe is a great one to use for the Ninja Foodi.
The HyperHeat is the new Ninja Pressure Cooker. Find out more with this HyperHeat Guide.
More Ninja Foodi Chicken Breast Recipes
The Chicken Breast or Chicken Thighs can be used in a variety of dishes, including pasta, side dishes, sandwiches, protein bowls, and more!
Pesto Chicken in the Air Fryer or Ninja Foodi
Chicken Alfredo in the Ninja Foodi
This recipe is also perfect to serve with Ninja Foodi Mashed Potatoes.
Storage Tips
Once fully cooled, store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Leftover chicken can also be stored in a freezer-safe storage bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let it thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
When reheating, it’s best to use the air fryer at 330 degrees F for 3-4 minutes. Alternatively, use a microwave-safe plate to heat the chicken in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
Ninja Foodi Cheat Sheet Printable
Ready to take the guesswork out of cooking with your Ninja Foodi? Whether you’re air frying, pressure cooking, or slow cooking, this Ninja Foodi Cheat Sheet Printable is your new best friend in the kitchen!
This easy-to-use reference guide includes:
- Cooking times for popular meats, veggies, and grains!
- Quick air fryer and pressure cooker conversions!
- Temperature and prep tips for perfect results every time!
Keep it on your fridge or in a drawer for instant access with an instant download PDF when you’re cooking. It’s perfect for beginners and busy cooks alike!
Ninja Foodi Cheat Sheet!
Whether you’re air frying, pressure cooking, or slow cooking, this Ninja Foodi Cheat Sheet Printable is your new best friend in the kitchen! This printable is an INSTANT Download PDF and will have you cooking like a pro with your Ninja Foodi Multi-Cooker!
Cooking chicken breast in the Ninja Foodi is a total game-changer. It’s quick, easy, and practically foolproof, plus, cleanup is a breeze. With just a few simple ingredients and a little know-how, you can whip up juicy, flavorful chicken any night of the week.
Ninja Foodi Chicken Breast
Ingredients
- 2 Pounds Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast or Thighs
- 1 Cup Water
Instructions
- Place the trivet inside the foodi and pour the water into the foodi.
- Add the chicken evenly on the trivet.
- Use the pressure cooker lid and secure it to the Ninja Foodi.
- Make sure the nozzle is moved to ‘seal’.
- Cook on high for 12 minutes. (chicken breast – 10 minutes)
- Quick release the steam.
- Carefully remove and shred with a fork.
Video
Nutrition
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Comments & Reviews
angie says
this sounds like it would offer a great hands up…. thanks for sharing would love to get one myself some day
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Kandice says
thank you! I was looking for something simple like this so I can add my own seasoning. This is just what I was looking for.
Becky says
Just bought the Foodi today. First thing is this! Making white chicken chili. Saving your blog. Thank you!,
Tammy says
How did your white chicken chili turn out?
Randy says
1st time not long enough..go to full mins..per lb…also check IT temp
Nancy Maguire says
Can I make skinless chicken drumsticks in the Ninja Foodi?
Mommy Hates Cooking says
I haven’t done skinless, but it should work the same, here are some of the recipes I’ve done for chicken drumsticks – https://www.mommyhatescooking.com/ninja-foodi-chicken-legs-with-vegetables-air-fryer
Chelsie says
Do you cook the same time for fresh and frozen chicken?
Mommy Hates Cooking says
It will work with the same time, just be sure the internal temp is at least 165*F.
Cindy says
Best tip I ever got for shredding chicken was to use hand electric mixer. Try it, you will never use forks again.
Mommy Hates Cooking says
I agree! I use my kitchen aid mixer to shred mine a lot!! It’s amazing.
Samantha says
If I wanted to season the chicken a bit, would you recommend doing so prior to cooking, or once the chicken is shredded?
Mommy Hates Cooking says
It could be done either way.
LuAnn says
I made this today with boneless skinless chicken thighs. I didn’t use water, I used chicken stock (Better Than Bouillon) so it’s seasoned, but not too much that I can’t change the flavor. Buffalo 1 time, Ranch or Asian next. I make a big batch and freeze portions so I can change it up.
Phenoris says
I have a small family, what amount of time would you suggest for 1 lb of chicken breasts? I would still use 1 cup of liquid though right?
Mommy Hates Cooking says
I would prob just cut this in 1/2, so I’d do 1/2 cup of water and 6 minutes high pressure, but be sure the internal temp is 165*F, I’d add a few additional minutes in air crisp if needed at the end.
Ericka says
I am going to use this chicken as a base to build Fajitas for my family dinner. When would you suggest I add the spice mix? To the water, chicken it self or after shredding?
Mommy Hates Cooking says
It will probably work either way but may have more flavor adding it after shredding. Here is another method for fajitas too – https://www.mommyhatescooking.com/ninja-foodi-chicken-fajitas-air-fryer.
Laura Dixon says
If you didn’t want to shred your chicken could you air fry it afterwards and if so for how long?
Mommy Hates Cooking says
If you don’t want to shred it, I’d suggest doing the Air Crisp Function, here is a time and temp for that – https://airfryerfanatics.com/air-fryer-glazed-chicken-thighs/
Jessica says
My foodi doesn’t have a “Cook” option. It has slow cook, which the minimum time is 4 hours. Should I use the Steam setting instead?
Mommy Hates Cooking says
This is cooked using the pressure cooker function of the Multi-Cooker. Steam and Slow Cooker wouldn’t be the right functions, mine says “pressure”.
Jan says
If I don’t have pressure cooker lid, can I still cook 2 chicken breast in 4 qt ninya 4 qt cooker
Mommy Hates Cooking says
These are done in the pressure cooker, I’m sure you could cook them in any Ninja but the method will depend on the appliance. Do you have an air fryer?
Kevin says
Chicken was still raw, thanks for ruining two pounds of chicken
Mommy Hates Cooking says
If you cook it much longer than these times it will be overcooked, a few things may have happened – one is that it wasn’t fully sealed. If the nozzle isn’t fully sealed it will cook the outside and not the inside. If this happens reseal and cook again. This has happened to me many times with the Ninja Foodi lid.
richard says
I used 2 breasts with 1 cup water and 1 ice cube sized spanish seasoning (sofrito) and cooked for 9 minutes; came out great, nice and moist…
Andrea says
Why didn’t you just sear them?: Or increase the time?
Cathy says
If it was still raw, cook it some more! Why say it was ruined?
marc sitrin says
Good idea
Barb Widman says
Perfect way to cook chicken!
Joe Pearson says
Thank you for sharing/posting this, I lost my ninja foodi quick recipe guide.
Sue says
I pressure cooked three bone-in good sized breasts for 12 mins, NR. Perfect!! Fall off the bone 🙂
Cheri says
Super easy to make! One question…is 1 cup the serving size. It states 1g is serving size. Thx, Cheri
Mommy Hates Cooking says
Yes 1 cup! Sorry about that, something has gone wonky with my recipe card nutritional information this past week and changed servings to 1g. Eeeek!
Mechelle says
Pleasantly surprised at how delicious this was! I had dry brined chicken breasts in the fridge that I needed to cook before they spoiled. Added a little extra seasoning, followed the exact directions for cooking, then cut them into chunks. Served the chicken over a quinoa and rice mixture and my husband loved it!
Haley says
Please tell others to add more water. My foodi literally was burnt at the bottom because 1 cup is not enough for 2 lbs. The house smelled horrible and the ninja foodi screen read “add water” because it was burning.
Mommy Hates Cooking says
I am sorry that happened! You should not have had to add more water, so there may have been an issue with the machine, I’ve made this recipe for 5+ years without issue almost every week. With the Foodi be sure that no ‘steam’ is coming out when you are in the initial pressure building time, if it is coming out then the liquid inside is escaping the machine. This can happen if the nozzle is not fully closed or sealing when you begin the pressure building phase.
Mel says
My chicken breast was too tough. I advise lower temperature or reducing time next time.
Mommy Hates Cooking says
Hi! Did you use a Ninja Multi-Cooker? Just wanted to be sure, as I have made chicken like this for about 5+ years now without issue so happy to troubleshoot if needed!