This Instant Pot Whole Chicken Recipe is tender, juicy, and absolutely delicious! Its so easy and quick to make and cooks in a fraction of the time compared to the oven-roasting alternative. Cooked from fresh or frozen, the meat is always falling off the bone and completely delectable.
I do love a rotisserie chicken or an oven-roasted chicken. There’s something magical that happens to the meat as it cooks for hours and hours. It’s always tender, juicy and so flavorful.
Oh and if you’re the fortunate person who gets to carve it up then you get to snack (I mean taste test), ahem, all that yumminess before it gets to the plate.
I also love that there’s nothing fussy or complicated about roasting a chicken. You can add seasoning, herbs, & veggies or just keep it plain and simple and it always turns out wonderful. So simple and sooo good!.
The only downside to this roasting chicken business is that it takes a decent amount of time to slow cook in the oven. But not anymore because of our favorite new kitchen appliance – the Instant Pot.
Cooking a perfectly moist and tender 5lb chicken can seem daunting for many home cooks. With so many different cooking methods and recipes, it’s easy to get confused about timing. Whether you want to roast, bake, grill or slow cook your bird, following some simple guidelines will ensure it turns out juicy and delicious every time.
In this detailed guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how long it takes to cook a 5lb whole chicken using various techniques We’ll cover everything from oven roasting and baking to grilling, slow cooking and more I’ll also answer some common questions to help you get your 5lb chicken on the table tasting amazing.
Oven Roasting Times for a 5lb Chicken
An easy and popular way to cook a whole chicken is to roast it in the oven. The dry, high heat makes the skin crispy while the meat is slowly cooked. Here’s how long it takes:
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350°F oven: Cook for 18 to 20 minutes per pound, or 90 to 100 minutes total. This method cooks the inside more slowly, so it doesn’t dry out.
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In a 400°F oven, roast the meat for 75 minutes, or 15 minutes per pound. The higher heat helps the skin get crispy, but watch out not to cook it too much.
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425°F oven – Cook for roughly 12-13 minutes per pound, so 60-65 minutes total. Great for extra crispy skin but monitor carefully to prevent burning.
Place an instant-read thermometer in the thickest part of the thigh and read 165°F. This means the chicken is done. For more juicy meat, let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes before cutting it.
Baking Times for a 5lb Chicken
Baking uses similar dry heat to roast but the chicken is placed in a covered dish instead of directly on a rack. Here is how long to bake a 5lb chicken:
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350°F oven – Bake for around 22-25 minutes per pound, so 110-125 minutes total. The longer time allows it to cook through fully.
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375°F oven – Bake for approximately 18-20 minutes per pound, or 90-100 minutes total. Less time needed at a higher temp.
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400°F oven – Bake for roughly 15-17 minutes per pound, so 75-85 minutes total. The fastest method but watch closely to avoid drying out.
Baking with a lid or foil tent keeps in moisture. You can bake stuffed or unstuffed depending on preference. An internal temperature of 165°F indicates doneness.
Grill Times for a 5lb Chicken
Grilling imparts delicious smoky barbecue flavor to chicken. Indirect heat is best to cook it fully without burning. Here are approximate grill times:
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Medium heat (350°F) – Cook for around 22-25 minutes per pound, so 110-125 minutes total. Longer time is needed at a lower temp.
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Medium-high heat (400°F) – Grill for approximately 18-20 minutes per pound, or 90-100 minutes total. Less time is required at a higher temperature.
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High heat (450°F+) – Grill for roughly 12-15 minutes per pound, so 60-75 minutes total. Watch closely to avoid charring or drying out.
Rotate the chicken every 10-15 minutes for even cooking. Get an instant read of 165°F before removing from grill. Let rest 10 minutes then serve.
Slow Cooker Times for a 5lb Chicken
Slow cookers make chicken super tender and flavorful. Here’s how long to slow cook a 5lb bird:
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LOW heat (190°F) – Cook for about 8-9 hours on low. Great for all day slow cooking.
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HIGH heat (280°F) – Cook for 4-5 hours on high for faster cooking.
The meat should easily shred and reach 165°F internally when fully cooked. Natural juices create a tasty broth.
How Long to Cook a Frozen 5lb Chicken?
If starting with a fully frozen chicken, add about 50% more cooking time. Here are some estimates:
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Oven – Roast frozen chicken at 350°F for 140-150 minutes total
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Grill – Grill frozen chicken over medium heat for 165-190 minutes total
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Slow Cooker – Cook frozen chicken on LOW for 11-13 hours
Rotate frequently and check temperature to determine exact doneness. Factor in extra time for thawing if not completely frozen.
Tips for Maximizing Flavor
Beyond cooking times, there are some easy ways to boost flavor and moisture:
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Brine – Soak chicken in a saltwater brine before cooking for a juicier bird.
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Stuff – Stuff the cavity with lemons, herbs or onions to add flavor from the inside out.
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Baste – Frequently baste with butter, oil or pan juices while roasting or grilling.
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Marinate – Let chicken soak in a marinade for added flavor and tenderness before cooking.
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Rest – Let chicken rest for 10-15 minutes before carving to allow juices to redistribute.
Common Questions
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about cooking 5lb chickens:
How do you know when a 5lb chicken is done? Use an instant read thermometer to check the internal temperature in the thickest part of the thigh. It should read 165°F when fully cooked.
Can you speed up cooking time at higher heat? Yes but the tradeoff is you’re more likely to burn the outside and dry out the meat. It’s best to use moderate heat for a 5lb chicken.
Should you truss a 5lb chicken before roasting? Trussing (tying the legs together) helps maintain its shape for prettier presentation. But it’s not strictly necessary.
Is it better to roast stuffed or unstuffed? Most chefs recommend roasting chicken unstuffed, as stuffing can increase cooking time and lead to uneven cooking.
What’s the best way to test doneness? An instant read thermometer is the most reliable way to ensure the chicken has reached a safe internal temperature of 165°F.
What if my chicken is undercooked? Return it to the oven and continue cooking until it reaches an internal temp of 165°F, checking frequently to avoid overcooking.
How can I tell if it’s overcooked? If the meat is very dry or stringy, or the juices run clear rather than pink or red, it is likely overcooked.
The Takeaway
Cooking times for a 5lb whole chicken can range quite a bit based on the technique, temperature, and other factors. But in most cases, I’d allow 1.5-2 hours for a fully cooked bird. Follow the guidelines here for your chosen cooking method and use an instant read thermometer to confirm 165°F internally. With a little practice, you’ll be able to roast, bake or grill a flawlessly cooked 5lb chicken every time!
Can you Cook A Whole Chicken That is Frozen in the Instant Pot?
You can, but there are some limitations you could face. You can’t pressure cook a chicken in the Instant Pot if it has organs inside or if the feet are tied together with metal or plastic bands.
Buuuut if you take the time before freezing your bird to remove the organs and any plastic/metal on the chicken, then it is completely Instant Pot-ready. You can do this by running cool water over the wrapped chicken to defrost the packaging and make it easier to take off.
Cooking a whole frozen chicken will require more pressure cooking than a thawed chicken. If your chicken is Instant Pot-ready and frozen, you should pressure cook it for 11 minutes per pound.
Example: So a frozen 3-pound bird = 33 minutes of pressure cooking time and 15 minutes of natural pressure release.
A Guide for Cook Times for Different Size Whole Chickens?
- For a 3 lb whole chicken in the Instant Pot, it takes 18 minutes of high pressure.
- In the Instant Pot, a 3½-pound whole chicken needs 21 minutes of high pressure cooking.
- It takes 24 minutes of high pressure and 4 pounds of whole chicken in the Instant Pot.
- For a 4½-pound chicken, the Instant Pot needs 27 minutes of high pressure.
- 30 minutes of high pressure for a 5-pound chicken in an Instant Pot
- 33 minutes of high pressure for a 5½-pound chicken in an Instant Pot
- 36 minutes of high pressure for a 6 lb chicken in an Instant Pot
- For a 6½-pound chicken, the Instant Pot needs 39 minutes of high pressure.
Honestly, a 6½ lb chicken is pretty big and it will fill a 6 quart Instant Pot almost to the top of the inner pot. Usually, this is a no-no since you’re only supposed to fill the pot ⅔ full when pressure cooking. But this is an exception to that rule.
For liquids that fill up the whole pot, like soups, stews, and stocks, the IP shouldn’t be filled almost all the way to the top. The same is true for foods that will be fairly solid or will expand, like rice or beans.
Foods like whole chickens have open areas (like the cavity and the open area in the pot around the chicken) so they arent considered solid, and therefore are acceptable to be above the ⅔ full line.