A nourishing family dinner doesn’t have to be complicated. This roasted chicken cooks straight from frozen in about an hour with the help of the Instant Pot. No thawing, no stress! Paired with simple vegetable sides, it’s a hearty and healthy meal for busy days.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

You you’re trying to cook meals from scratch to be healthier and save money, but life sometimes just gets busy, I hear you! Between kids, chores, outings, and everything else, sometimes dinner sneaks up on you. Instead of ordering takeout or reaching for something processed, this recipe saves the day.

There’s no thawing needed! The chicken goes straight from freezer to table in about an hour. Perfect for those days when you forget to take something out ahead of time.

It’s also a healthy and budget-friendly meal. A whole chicken easily feeds the family, and you’ll usually have leftovers to stretch into chicken salad, soup, or sandwiches the next day.

This recipe is naturally grain-free Paleo- and Primal-friendly, and wonderfully simple. Just pair the chicken with roasted or steamed vegetables, and you’ve got a complete, nourishing meal with very little effort.

And if you, like me, like a nose-to-tail eating approach, a whole chicken is one of the simples starts. And after you’re done enjoying all the juicy meat, instead of throwing away the bones, save them to make a pot of rich, healing bone broth that can be used for soups, stews, and more.

This roasted chicken is as easy as tossing chicken nuggets in the oven, but so much more satisfying and wholesome.

Chicken leg on plate with roasted squash and potatoes

Ingredients for This Roasted Chicken

Whole chicken. Use a frozen whole chicken, about 2 pounds. Smaller chickens work best in the Instant Pot, but you can adjust the cooking time slightly if yours is larger.

Sea salt. A simple seasoning that brings out the natural flavor of the chicken. Add more to taste once cooked.

Garlic (optional). Tucked inside the cavity, garlic adds a subtle, savory aroma that pairs beautifully with roasted chicken.

Herbs. Fresh or dried sage, rosemary, Italian seasoning, or any of your favorite herbs work well. They give the chicken that classic roasted flavor without any fuss.

How To Cook This Roasted Chicken From Frozen

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 425°F. If you’ll be roasting in a cast-iron skillet or Dutch oven, place it inside the oven to preheat as well.

Step 2: Take the frozen chicken out of the freezer and rinse it briefly under warm water, inside and out. (Always wash your hands and surfaces thoroughly after handling raw poultry!) Trim any visible fat or giblets if possible.

Step 3: Place the chicken, breast side down, on the Instant Pot rack. Add 1 cup of water, close the lid and valve, and cook on high pressure for 25 minutes.

Frozen whole chicken in the Instant Pot, on rack

Step 4: Quick-release the pressure and carefully remove the chicken. Drain any water from the cavity, pat it dry, and season generously inside and out with sea salt and your favorite herbs. You can also tuck garlic cloves into the cavity for extra flavor.

Step 5: Place the chicken breast side down in the hot cast-iron skillet or roasting pan. Roast for 25 minutes, or until the skin is golden and crispy. If needed, broil for an extra 5 minutes for extra crunch. The juices should run clear and the meat fully cooked.

Whole chicken seasoned with salt, sage, and rosemary in a cast iron skillet

Notes

Serve with roasted sweet potatoes, squash, or any seasonal vegetables for a quick, complete meal.

Save leftovers for chicken salad, soup, or wraps the next day.

Don’t throw away the bones! Use the carcass for a pot of nourishing bone broth (find my simple Instant Pot recipe here!).

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Roasted chicken from frozen in 1 hour with your Instant Pot

Printable Recipe Card

Roasted Chicken from Frozen (with Instant Pot)

Marta Miatta

A simple and nutritious dinner idea for those busy days when you never thought about what to cook for your family. This roasted chicken can be cooked from frozen in just 1 hour with the help of your Instant Pot, and makes a perfect family meal with a side of vegetables.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 1

Course Main Course

Servings 6

Equipment

1 Instant Pot pressure cooker
1 Cast iron skillet or oven pan

Ingredients

1 whole frozen chicken about 2 pounds
Sea salt
Dry or fresh sage, rosemary or other herbs and spices optional

Instructions

Preheat the oven.
Set your oven to 425°F. If you’ll be roasting in a cast-iron skillet or Dutch oven, place it inside the oven to preheat as well.
Prep the chicken.
Take the frozen chicken out of the freezer and rinse it briefly under warm water, inside and out. (Always wash your hands and surfaces thoroughly after handling raw poultry!) Trim any visible fat or giblets if possible.
Pressure cook.
Place the chicken, breast side down, on the Instant Pot rack. Add 1 cup of water, close the lid and valve, and cook on high pressure for 25 minutes.
Season.
Quick-release the pressure and carefully remove the chicken. Drain any water from the cavity, pat it dry, and season generously inside and out with sea salt and your favorite herbs. You can also tuck garlic cloves into the cavity for extra flavor.
Roast.
Place the chicken breast side down in the hot cast-iron skillet or roasting pan. Roast for 25 minutes, or until the skin is golden and crispy. If needed, broil for an extra 5 minutes for extra crunch. The juices should run clear and the meat fully cooked.