This Instant Pot chicken and gravy recipe has tender chicken breasts smothered in gravy. It's easy to make and ready in just over 30 minutes!
Try my Easy 3-Ingredient Shredded Chicken and Gravy for a super easy alternative to this one.
So, I had this idea to do a Crockpot Chicken and Gravy recipe, and I knew I also had to try it out in my Instant Pot. It took a couple of tests of each to ensure that they were blog-ready, and I am glad to now have both recipes published. Update: you may also like my Skillet Chicken and Gravy recipe.
I didn't want to use a "cream of" soup in this recipe. I don't know... something about them I'm just not a fan of. Also, there are already plenty of chicken and gravy recipes out there with cream of chicken soup, so I wanted to try something a little different. It seems like Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning has been on my brain lately, so it was the first thing that came to mind for what else I could add to this recipe to get some extra flavor without a lot of extra work. I just love the subtle herby buttermilk flavor it adds to the gravy. I don't think you'd guess that ranch seasoning was in here if you didn't know!
One thing I prefer about the Instant Pot vs. the slow cooker is that the IP has the sauté function. It's so handy to quickly thicken the gravy at the end!
How to make Instant Pot chicken and gravy
- Add the chicken broth, ranch seasoning, garlic powder, and pepper to your Instant Pot and whisk until the powders have dissolved;
- Add the chicken and spoon some liquid over top if it's not entirely submerged;
- Seal it up and cook on high pressure for 8 minutes; once the countdown has finished, do a quick release after 5 minutes;
- Take the chicken out of the Instant Pot and cut it up/shred it; meanwhile, add the gravy mix and cornstarch slurry to your Instant Pot (hit the sauté button to help the sauce thicken faster);
- Add the cut-up chicken back in and combine with the sauce.
(Full ingredients and instructions are in the recipe card below)
Recipe notes, tips, and tricks:
- The gravy mix and ranch seasoning both have salt, so use low-sodium chicken broth if you're concerned about the salt content.
- You can make your own ranch seasoning mix if you prefer.
- Make sure you don't add the gravy mix in at the beginning - it contains cornstarch, and that is not a good thing for the electric pressure cooker - it can cause scorching and goes weirdly gloopy (yes, I tested it).
- Packets of ranch seasoning and gravy mix can vary from brand to brand, so that's why I don't list sizes, but the ones I used were each around 1 ounce.
More Instant Pot chicken recipes to try:
- Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
- Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
- Instant Pot Shredded Chicken (Chicken Breasts and Thighs)
- Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe
Made this recipe? Questions? Talk to me in the comments below!
As always, if you've made one of my recipes, tag me #saltandlavender on Instagram. 🙂

Instant Pot Chicken and Gravy
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breasts boneless skinless
- 1.5 cups chicken broth
- 1 packet ranch seasoning mix (I used Hidden Valley)
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- Pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch + 1 teaspoon cold water
- 1 packet chicken gravy mix
Instructions
- Add the chicken broth, ranch seasoning mix, garlic powder, and pepper to your Instant Pot. Whisk until the powders have dissolved.
- Add the chicken and ensure it's mostly submerged (spoon some liquid over top if it's not). Close the lid, ensure the valve is on "sealing", and then set the timer to cook on high pressure for 8 minutes.
- Let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes and then quick release the remaining pressure.
- Take the chicken out of the Instant Pot. Mix the cornstarch and water together in a small bowl. Pour it into your Instant Pot, along with the chicken gravy mix. Press the "sauté" button and whisk until the gravy mix has dissolved. The sauce will thicken within a few minutes, so turn the sauté function off (press the "keep warm" button) once it's about as thick as you want it. Meanwhile, cut the chicken up, and then add it back into the Instant Pot.
- Serve immediately. It's delicious with mashed potatoes (or baked potatoes), pasta/egg noodles, or rice.
Notes
- 4 medium-to-large chicken breasts total about 2 pounds. Anything in that ballpark works. If the chicken breasts are very large, add another minute or two to the cook time.
- Use low-sodium chicken broth if salt is a concern for you. Keep in mind ranch and gravy mixes both contain salt as well.
- Here's the Crockpot version of this recipe.
- This is the 6-quart Instant Pot I used to make this recipe.
- Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
K says
Big hit with my family! Easy and delicious.
Natasha says
Excellent! Thank you!
Lisa says
This was yummy and so easy to make. My husband said he loved the gravy. This one is a keeper!
Natasha says
Fantastic!! Thank you!!
Lana says
We all loved this dish. I should have gotten the low sodium chicken broth though. I didn’t read that until it was too late. Tasted a little salty with those dry mixes added.
I had to use tenders and the cook time was perfect.
Natasha says
I'm so glad you guys all enjoyed it!!
Maggie says
Very good flavor. I realized that I didn't have any chicken gravy so I googled a homemade recipe and most just used chicken bouillon plus some spiced. So I added in some extra better than bouillon and spices to the pot and upped the cornstarch at the end to make sure it was thick. I also added a little lemon juice for brightness like I do for most crockpot/instant pot recipes. Great weeknight recipe!
Natasha says
I'm so glad you liked it!! 🙂
Sharon White says
We all enjoyed this quick and very easy chicken dish! Thank you, it was delicious!
I will look to make it alittle less salty.
Best of all, the whole dinner was ready in less than an hour!❣️
Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says
You're welcome, Sharon! We're so glad you found it quick and delicious. 🙂
Mtz11 says
I’ve made this a number of times and it’s always a hit. This is the perfect meal for when you don’t really feel like making dinner but everyone wants a homemade meal. And it’s virtually fool-proof. I use the McCormick’s Country Gravy packet, which I now just automatically add to my grocery list so I always have it on hand for nights when I need an easy, delicious dinner solution.
Natasha says
I love that!! 😀 Thanks for your review!
Heather says
My daughter, who is impossible to please, absolutely loves this and we have it at least once a week! So thank you!! We make mashed potato bowls out of it, layering mashed potatoes, corn and then this delicious goodness on top! Soooo good!!
Natasha says
Well that's so nice to hear!! 😀
Chanda says
Just wondering, could I use 2 lbs of chicken breast tenerdloins and keep the same cook time?
Natasha says
Hi! I think that should be ok. I am somewhat concerned they may overcook as they're cut up and will likely cook faster, but I can't really advise on giving it less time without testing. If you opt to reduce the cook time a bit, just ensure they're fully cooked before consuming.
Brittany says
Can you use an Italian dressing mix packet??
Natasha says
Hi! I've never tried that. You mean instead of the ranch? You probably could give it a go. Let me know if you try! 🙂
Desirae Armstrong says
I tried this tonight and omg.. it was SO good. I didn't have the chicken gravy so I used turkey gravy, but everything else was exact. It was delicious!
Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says
Awesome to hear, Desirae! 🙂
Meagan Roberson says
What if the chicken is frozen?
Natasha says
Hi! I haven't tested it from frozen, but I'd probably add on an extra 2-3 minutes to the high pressure cook time. Just make sure it's thoroughly cooked when you open up the IP. You could always cook it for a bit longer on the sauté function if needed once you've unsealed the IP.
Jessi Jean says
Yum… My entire family loved this recipe, and it’s really hard to please the 7 year old;) Thank You for sharing!
Natasha says
That's wonderful to hear!! Thanks for letting me know! 😀
Kerry L Martin says
Hi this sounds delicious...just wondering if I could saute the chicken alittle before adding the broth and other ingredients? I made a pork chop version of this and browned them a few minutes and scraped the bottom using the broth. The gravy was good with the bits of browned meat in it. Tyia
Natasha says
Sure, I don't see why not! 🙂
Ashley says
When you take out the chicken in step 4 do you also remove what was left in the pot too? The chicken stock, etc? Are you putting in the gravy mix with that stuff, or starting new? That’s not very clear.
Natasha says
Hi Ashley! You don't take anything out aside from the chicken. You're just taking it out to cut it up. If I intended that the IP contents were to be dumped out, that would be explained. No one would know to do that unless it was clearly stated. You definitely don't want to dump that stuff out... it adds a ton of flavor (and the base for the gravy/sauce). Hope this helps! 🙂
Anne says
Delicious and easy!! My 2 favorite things 👏🏼 Was going to do this in the crockpot and then found this IP version so I couldn’t pass it up. I did use 2 packets of chicken gravy mix and I don’t regret that! Looking forward to trying more recipes!!
Natasha says
Yay!! So glad it worked for you, Anne. Thanks for letting me know.
Margie says
This was very good. I had frozen chicken breast so I cooked for 15 minutes, then released for 5 mins. Came out perfect!
Natasha says
Wonderful!! 🙂 Thanks for letting me know!
Metsy says
Impossible to read the recipe, so much ads!!! Disgusting, i won't visit this blog again
Natasha says
Yes, it's just disgusting that I earn a living running this small business providing you with FREE recipes. Removing the one star rating since you didn't actually make the recipe. Be sure not to visit 99% of websites since they too have ads! Bye!
Pam Cameron says
Thank you so much for this recipe. I have been wanting chicken in gravy and this was totally perfect! Thanks again!!
Natasha says
Yay!! You're very welcome, Pam! So happy it hit the spot. 😀
Jamie says
This was amazing! Super easy for a weeknight family meal, all 5 of us loved it! I doubled the recipe and it turned out perfect. Will definitely be adding this to our regular meal rotation.
Natasha says
Fantastic!! That makes me very happy! 😀
Anna O'Brien says
This recipe is so great! Do you have any suggestions for a vegetable that would go good on the side of this dish?
Natasha says
Thank you!! The first thing that came to mind is carrots. Or perhaps broccoli or broccolini or some sweet corn. Or maybe creamed spinach... here's my recipe if you're interested: https://bit.ly/3pT5QTO
Melanie says
Can I use boneless skinless chicken thighs? Any adjusts?
Natasha says
I think it'll be fine with the same cook time 🙂
Sedona says
Hi, does anyone have a recipe for chicken gravy?
Kimberly says
Can I use frozen chicken breasts for this?
Natasha says
That should in theory be fine, but I haven't tested it. You may need to add an extra couple minutes onto the cook time.
Tina Compofelice says
Will the cooking time stay the same if I double it? Thanks!
Natasha says
Yes, that's what IP generally recommends since it'll take longer to get up to pressure.
Crystal says
This was so easy and comforting. My husband and I loved every bite. I appreciated a recipe without the cream of chicken as well. Thank you.
Natasha says
I'm so happy to hear that! Thank you, Crystal. 🙂
Megan says
It came out sooo salty… I followed the directions to a T too. I think it was the ranch packet because everything else was low sodium? Not sure what I did wrong or maybe I have a low tolerance for salt.
Natasha says
Hi Megan! Bummer! Yup, it's entirely possible that you do have a low tolerance to salt, especially since you did indicate that you used low-sodium varieties (this is definitely a fairly salty recipe). You could also try making your own ranch seasoning from scratch if you'd like to try the recipe again... that way you could control the salt better.
Whitney says
Wondering how full this makes the instant pot? I’m wanting to double this recipe but not sure if that would work. What do you think?
Natasha says
Hi! There's a photo in the blog post of it in the IP that I was just staring at to try to answer your question (might help you judge too if you didn't see it). I'm thinking it may be fairly close (especially if you have giant chicken pieces), so you could probably just add a tad less liquid if need be, but I think it may work! Let me know if you try. 🙂
Wendy says
This was easy and delicious! Is hard for me to like chicken breasts baked and boring. Definitely need to watch the sodium as recommended. I added celery for a texture and extra flavor profile. I'm trying to watch how much I eat, but over a bed of rice this would also be fantastic! Thank you ~
Natasha says
I'm so happy you enjoyed it! I'm the same way w. chicken breasts. 🙂
Linsey says
Made this tonight and just shared with my 2 sisters. Delicious! Even my 2 and 3 year old ate this but we had to include a little bit of Creamy Four Cheese Rice a Roni with the bite of chicken to help them get it down. They are super iffy with how much they have to chew chicken but this chicken was just the right softness that it work out good. Thank you!
Natasha says
Aww that's wonderful! 🙂 So happy to hear that. Thanks for taking the time to write me a comment.
Terri says
Recipe is for 6 qt IP. What changes should I make to use my 8 qt IP?
Natasha says
Hi! I have never used an 8 quart, so I have no idea. I don't think the recipe would need to change, though.
Allison says
How about the already made chicken gravy? I couldnt find the packets.
carrie says
hi i only have some chicken tenders...how much should i reduce ingredients by?
Natasha says
I'd just use what you've got and then tweak the recipe next time if you need to. There's really no way for me to know.
Anne says
Finally a recipe that does not use “cream of ...” soup! I can’t tell you how many recipes I have rejected because of the cream soup. Saving this to try.
Natasha says
I hope you enjoy it, Anne! 🙂 I definitely tried to be a little different on this version haha.
CB says
Do you have to use a gravy packet? I don't have one.
Natasha says
I'm not sure what else you'd use, unfortunately.
Kailey says
Really all you need to make "chicken gravy", or any gravy, is a fat (butter, other fat), a starch to thicken (cornstarch, flour), and liquid (broth, milk, water, pan drippings). I would search "how to make gravy" on YouTube. It's super easy and quick, and you don't need a pre-made gravy mix.
M says
I am thinking of trying this tonight; could I use frozen chicken or should I wait till the chicken is thawed?
Thanks 🙂
Natasha says
Hi! Frozen chicken is fine in the Instant Pot, so in theory it should work (I'd add on another couple minutes, though). I haven't tested this recipe with frozen chicken, though... so I can't say for sure if it'll work. Let me know if you do try!
Jeslyn says
Did you try it with frozen chicken? If so, how was it? Thinking about trying it out real quick!
Sharon says
My husband is always suspicious of new recipes. He took one bite and exclaimed "Wow this is awesome!". He loved it as did I. Very easy to make and packed with flavor. He asked me to make it when his parents come over next for dinner so we could "show off our cooking skills". 😂 Thanks for a delicious and easy recipe! Looking forward to trying others of yours.
Natasha says
Haha that's excellent! Thanks for letting me know. I'm so happy you both enjoyed it. 🙂
Annette says
I made it and they loved it! I think next time I might add carrots.
Natasha says
Wonderful! Thanks so much for commenting. 🙂 I think carrots would be delish!
Blain says
Gravy congealed the second it hit the broth. Now I’m left with a weird congealed mess....
Natasha says
Hi! Did you give it a stir? Or whisk it maybe? It's pretty normal for gravy to clump a bit like if you're making it out of the packet you need to stir it a fair bit to get it smooth... that's been my experience, anyway.
Kelsey says
The ranch gave it a weird....tang. It wasn’t terrible but I don’t think it’s going to be added to my rotation.
Natasha says
sorry you didn't like it!
Sue says
This was so good. I added fresh mushrooms to the chicken. Then after making the gravy added frozen peas and carrots. Served over mashed potatoes. The only thing I changed was to use only half of the ranch packet to cut down on the salt. It is a one pot meal!
Natasha says
I'm so happy you enjoyed it! Love your additions 🙂
Camille says
Hello,
I have a question ! How big the gravy mix packet ? I have a gravy mix box but it’s a lot of gravy (227g) packet !
Natasha says
Hi! They seem to vary a little bit, but mine was 25g I believe (I don’t have any at home right now so I’m just googling). Anything around that 1 oz will work.
Bethanie says
Can I use a jar of already made chicken gravy instead of the packet?? I cannot find a packet of chicken gravy mix anywhere! 😭
Natasha says
I think that should be fine! You may need to add a little more cornstarch at the end, but it'll be delish.
Sam says
This was delicious and so easy, I will be adding this into my regular dinner rotation.
Thanks!
Natasha says
That's great to hear! Thanks for leaving me a comment, Sam. 🙂
Holly says
Have you made this with frozen chicken?
Natasha says
Hi Holly! I haven't, but you should be able to by adding an extra couple of minutes to the high pressure cook time. As with any chicken recipe, it's a good idea to use an instant read meat thermometer to ensure it's cooked properly (165F).
Breeanna says
I’m going to try this recipe for dinner tonight. I don’t have any gravy packets on hand right now but I do have a jar of liquid chicken gravy. Do you think I should change up the recipe in any way or should I just put the liquid gravy in place of the packet?
Natasha says
Hi! I would probably just add it in as-is. If you find the sauce needs thickening up at the end, you can always take the chicken out of the IP and reduce the sauce for a bit longer using the sauté function and/or add more cornstarch. Does your liquid gravy have cornstarch in it already? Instant Pot doesn't recommend using cornstarch in their pressure cookers, but I think as long as you've got enough liquid in there it will probably be fine. Let me know how it goes!
Jane says
Made this last night and have some of the leftovers for lunch today. I might make a little more of the slurry next time, as the gravy never got quite as thick as I wanted it. But that's just a personal preference. The flavor is very good! I bought a pack of brown ready rice and stirred that right into the finished product, so it made kind of a chicken and rice gravy soup. LOL For lunch today, I'm going to stir some green beans into it. Very nice recipe!
Natasha says
I'm so glad the flavor was good for you, Jane! I love your idea of stirring the rice right in. Thanks for leaving me a comment! 🙂
Michelle says
Thanks for what sounds like a great recipe. My daughter does not like chicken so I try and use turkey when I can. Would you add anything or change anything if I need to switch from chicken to turkey for this recipe?
Thank you
Natasha says
Hi Michelle! Turkey breasts tend to be quite a bit larger, so I would just be mindful of the size - perhaps cut it/them in half so they're about the size of chicken breasts so cook time can be kept the same? Other than that, I think it'll be fine, and I hope she likes the recipe! Let me know. 🙂
Alison says
This was delicious. I made this today. I added in some carrot slices (mostly for color) and some onions to the gravy, and I served it over rice. I will definitely be adding this to my rotation! It's so good.
Natasha says
Aww I'm so happy you liked it, Alison!! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave me a review! 🙂
Rachel says
Can you make this in the crock pot? How long would I cook it for in the crock pot?
Rachel says
Nevermind! I saw the crock pot version link!
Natasha says
So glad you found it 😉