Instant Pot Cream Cheese Chicken Breast

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Cream cheese chicken breast has become one of my go-to fix it and forget it recipes for my family. You can serve this with rice, pasta, or potatoes.

Using the Instant Pot makes this recipe even easier because you don’t have to dirty another pan! I love using my instant pot because then I don’t have to heat up my kitchen – and summer in New Zealand is HOT.

Whether serving with a side salad or alongside a variety of tasty winter vegetables this creamy chicken dish is a new favorite meal.

It’s also perfect for meal prepping at the beginning of a busy week to have quick and easy protein packed lunches! That’s something my husband needs as he’s out working each day!

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Instant pot Cream Cheese Chicken Seasoned with Everything but the Bagel

(serves 3)

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 25 minutes (including coming to pressure and natural release)

Total time: 30 minutes

Ingredients For Cream Cheese Chicken Breast

• 3 chicken breasts – You can use any size chicken breast for this recipe. I used medium sized breasts which were around 6 OZ or 175g.
• 4 oz cream cheese (half a brick) – Cream cheese is extremely versatile for cooking purposes because is gives a creamy texture and it tastes so good.
• 1 cup water – I used tap water, but I recommend using filtered water if your tap water isn’t very good.
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt – You can use any type of salt you want for this recipe. This is just my go-to amount of salt for most
• 3.5 TBSP Everything but the bagel seasoning – This is the secret ingredient which makes this recipe so good.
• 1 tsp Red pepper flakes. If you don’t have red pepper flakes you can substitute for 1/2 tsp paprika. I wouldn’t suggest leaving it out altogether because the cream cheese chicken breast will be missing a great flavor combination.

What Is Everything But The Bagel Seasoning?

Everything but the bagel seasoning is a mixture of dried onion, garlic, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, salt and coarse ground pepper. It adds a wonderful flavor to any chicken recipe! This secret is ingredient makes the cream cheese chicken so super tasty and delicious.

Where Can I Buy Everything But The Bagel Seasoning?

You can buy Everything but the bagel seasoning from the spice isle at trader joes for around $1.99.

How To Make Everything But The Bagel Seasoning At Home

If you don’t live or have access to Trader Joes, you can make your own Everything but the bagel seasoning. Here is a quick recipe:

• TBSP Poppy Seeds
• 1 TBSP Sesame Seeds
• 1 tsp dried garlic granules
• 1 tsp dried onion flakes
• 1/2 tsp coarse salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

Making Your Instant Pot Cream Cheese Chicken Breast

Step One: Mix Your Seasoning

Begin by mixing together your 1.5 TBSP cream cheese, red pepper flakes, and everything but the bagel seasoning.

Step Two: Score And Add Cream Cheese To Chicken Breast

Score each chicken breast about eight times. Depends on how large your breast is.

Between each score, add in your cream cheese mixture.

step three: Add Extra Seasoning To Your Chicken

Take 2 tablespoons of your everything but the bagel seasoning and add to your food processor. If you do not have one, you can the back of your spoon or a knife to create a finer texture. Add on top of each chicken breast. 

STEP FOUR: COVER WITH FOIL

Create a boat with your aluminum foil with the chicken breast inside each one.

Step Five: Add Water And Trivet

Add one and a half cups of water to your instant pot. Place the trivet inside and add each chicken breast covered aluminum foil to your instant pot. If you have a tall trivet, you can add that in for the third breast to rest on. If not, they can lay on top of one another.

STEP SIX: SET TO HIGH PRESSURE

Cook for 18 minutes on high pressure. Once the chicken is done, allow them to naturally release for about five minutes, followed by a manual release by pulling the valve to release pressure.

STEP SEVEN: CHECK IT’S COOKED

Insert of food thermometer to make sure that each chicken breast is 165°. If you don’t have one, check the the chicken with a fork to ensure it’s cooked through.

Step eight: Add more Seasoning to taste

You can top each chicken with a little bit more seasoning, or chicken flakes. I like to eat it with a side of salad, a baked potato, or macaroni salad! Enjoy!

CAN I USE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF CHICKEN?

Yes! This recipe works with chicken thighs as well, however the cook time will be a little bit different. I would recommend adding another minute or so onto the cook time to ensure that they are cooked through entirely. You can also use pre-cooked shredded chicken and then warm it up in your instant pot on saute mode.

Is it Safe To Use Foil In The Instant pot?

Yes! You can create a boat with your aluminum foil so that it does not get in direct contact with the pot. I did this for all three of my chicken breasts and they were perfect! The chicken was moist, tender, and extremely flavorful.

How long will the Cream Cheese Chicken Breast stay good in my refrigerator?

cream cheese chicken breast will keep good in the refrigerator for about 4-5 days. It can be stored in a ziplock bag with all of the air sucked out. I would recommend to use a vacuum sealer for this process as it will ensure that your chicken

How long can you freeze Cream Cheese Chicken Breast?

I would recommend freezing the cooked chicken with the cream cheese mixture inside .

Once it has completely cooked through, allow to cool for 20 minutes on your counter. It is important that the chicken reaches room temperature before you freeze it.

About Angela Milnes

Angela Milnes is a Qualified Early Years Teacher who has specialised in teaching. She has a wealth of experience teaching young children and adults. Angela has also taught cooking classes and loves to share both family recipes and easy instant pot recipes here on The Instant Pot Table. Follow her on Pinterest!