Why This Easy Salsa Verde Chicken Recipe Will Become Your New Favorite

There are countless reasons why this Instant Pot salsa verde chicken has earned a permanent spot in my meal rotation, and it’s sure to become a cherished recipe in your home too. Its simplicity, speed, and incredible flavor profile make it an unbeatable choice for any home cook.

• Cook Once, Enjoy for Days: This zesty, flavorful chicken, along with its incredibly fast cooking time, is a true lifesaver for busy families. By preparing a single batch, you’ll have a generous amount of tender, juicy shredded chicken that can be creatively incorporated into various meals throughout the entire week. Imagine fresh tacos one night, flavorful quesadillas the next, and even a hearty salad for lunch – all from one initial cooking session! This dish is the epitome of smart meal prep.
• Effortlessly Quick and Simple: The process couldn’t be easier. Simply place your chicken into the Instant Pot, pour your chosen salsa verde over it, add a few optional spices to elevate the flavor, and press start. The active cooking time is minimal, allowing you to focus on other tasks. While the added spices enhance the depth of flavor, if you’re truly pressed for time, the chicken and salsa alone create a delicious meal. This hands-off approach makes it perfect for those hectic evenings.
• Unbelievably Adaptable: The Instant Pot method for cooking shredded chicken is remarkably flexible. Beyond salsa verde, you can easily substitute the salsa with chicken broth for a plain, versatile shredded chicken base. This unflavored chicken can then be seasoned in countless ways to suit any cuisine or dish you desire. Furthermore, for those who prefer traditional cooking methods, I’ve included detailed instructions on how to achieve the same fantastic salsa verde chicken using a slow cooker, offering maximum convenience and choice.

Before the Instant Pot revolutionized my cooking, I frequently relied on my slow cooker for beloved recipes like Crockpot Fiesta Chicken and Verde Chicken Pozole. While these slow-cooked dishes remain favorites, the Instant Pot’s ability to deliver a delicious meal in under an hour is unparalleled for last-minute dinner plans. Aside from some of my quick 30-minute skillet dinners, it stands out as the absolute fastest way to get a flavorful, satisfying meal on the table, especially on a demanding weeknight.

Key Ingredients for Your Salsa Verde Chicken

This recipe is famously simple, often referred to as “2-ingredient salsa verde chicken” because the core components are just chicken and salsa. However, a few optional spices can truly amplify the flavors, transforming a simple meal into something extraordinary. Below are some notes on the main ingredients, helping you make the best choices for your dish. For the precise measurements and the complete ingredients list, please refer to the printable recipe card located further down the page.

• Chicken: For perfectly shredded chicken, I highly recommend using boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs. Both options shred beautifully after cooking, absorbing all the delicious salsa verde flavor. Chicken breasts typically cook a bit faster, while thighs offer a richer flavor and tend to stay even moister. If opting for chicken thighs, be mindful that they might require a slightly longer cooking time to reach optimal tenderness.
• Salsa Verde: The heart of this dish! Whenever I have a fresh batch on hand, I love using my homemade salsa verde for its unparalleled fresh and vibrant flavors. However, a high-quality jar of store-bought green salsa works wonderfully and provides an excellent shortcut for busy days. Be sure to choose a brand you enjoy. If you’re in the mood for a different flavor profile, you can easily adapt this recipe to make Instant Pot salsa chicken by simply substituting green salsa with a jar of red salsa.
• Spices (Optional but Recommended): To truly enhance the Mexican-inspired flavors, I suggest adding a blend of garlic powder, dried oregano, ground cumin, and chili powder. These spices complement the tomatillo and chili notes of the salsa, adding warmth and depth. Feel free to adjust the quantities to suit your personal taste preferences or experiment with pre-made blends like taco seasoning or fajita seasoning for convenience. If you’re aiming for absolute simplicity, skipping the additional spices entirely is also an option, letting the natural flavors of the chicken and salsa shine.

Elevate Your Meal with Optional Toppings

No matter how you choose to serve your salsa verde chicken – whether over fluffy rice, tucked into tortillas, or as part of a vibrant salad – these optional toppings add a burst of freshness, texture, and flavor that truly complete the meal. Mix and match to create your perfect bite:

• Diced Avocado or Guacamole: Creamy, rich avocado adds a delightful contrast to the tangy salsa and helps cool any spice. Freshly made guacamole offers an extra layer of flavor and texture.
• Chopped Cilantro: A sprinkle of fresh cilantro brightens the entire dish with its distinctive, aromatic notes. It’s an essential herb in Mexican cuisine.
• Queso Fresco or Cotija Cheese: These crumbly, salty Mexican cheeses add a wonderful savory element and a creamy texture without being overpowering. Queso fresco is milder, while cotija offers a sharper, saltier kick.
• Cafe Rio Dressing or Mexican Crema: A drizzle of creamy dressing or Mexican crema adds a luxurious, cooling finish. Cafe Rio dressing brings a unique blend of tangy and sweet, while crema offers a rich, sour cream-like counterpoint.
• Lime Wedges, for Serving: A squeeze of fresh lime juice just before eating is transformative, adding a final burst of acidity that brightens all the flavors and ties the dish together beautifully.

How to Prepare Salsa Verde Chicken (Instant Pot & Slow Cooker Methods)

This recipe offers two convenient cooking methods to suit your schedule and kitchen equipment. I personally adore my Instant Pot for its speed and efficiency, but the slow cooker yields equally delicious results with less hands-on time. You’ll find detailed, printable instructions for both cooking methods in the comprehensive recipe card at the end of this post. Here’s a breakdown of how to prepare your juicy salsa verde chicken:

Instant Pot Method

• Prepare the Chicken: Begin by placing the trivet (the metal rack that comes with your Instant Pot) inside the inner pot. This helps keep the chicken slightly elevated from the direct bottom, preventing scorching and ensuring even cooking. Arrange your boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs neatly on top of the trivet.
• Add the Flavorful Sauce: In a separate bowl, whisk together your salsa verde with the optional spices – garlic powder, dried oregano, cumin, and chili powder. This ensures the spices are well distributed. Carefully pour this flavorful mixture evenly over the chicken in the Instant Pot, making sure the chicken is well coated.
• Pressure Cook to Perfection: Securely seal the Instant Pot lid and ensure the steam release valve is set to the “sealing” position. Select the “Poultry” or “Manual/Pressure Cook” setting and set the cooking time for 13 minutes on high pressure. Once the cooking cycle is complete, carefully perform a quick-release of the pressure by turning the steam release valve to the “venting” position. Always exercise caution and keep your hands and face away from the hot steam as it escapes.
• Shred and Coat: Once the pressure has fully released and the float valve has dropped, carefully open the lid. Using tongs, transfer the cooked chicken breasts to a cutting board or a shallow plate. Employ two forks to easily shred the tender chicken. Return the shredded chicken to the Instant Pot, mixing it thoroughly with the remaining salsa and flavorful cooking juices. Stir well to ensure every strand of chicken is deliciously coated.

Slow Cooker Method

For a more hands-off approach that allows flavors to meld over several hours, the slow cooker method is perfect. The steps are largely similar to the Instant Pot, but with extended cooking times:

• Combine Ingredients: Place your boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs directly into the basin of your slow cooker or Crock-Pot. In a bowl, mix your salsa verde with the optional spices (garlic powder, oregano, cumin, chili powder) and pour the mixture over the chicken, ensuring it’s well covered.
• Slow Cook: Secure the lid on your slow cooker. Cook the chicken on the “Low” setting for 3-4 hours. The chicken is ready when it is incredibly tender and can be easily shredded with a fork. Cooking on low and slow allows the flavors to deepen and the chicken to become incredibly succulent.
• Shred and Serve: Once the chicken is thoroughly cooked, remove it from the slow cooker and shred it using two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the pot, stirring it back into the flavorful salsa and juices until every piece is coated. Serve immediately with your favorite accompaniments.

Ensuring Your Chicken is Perfectly Cooked

The key to delicious and safe chicken is ensuring it reaches the correct internal temperature. Chicken is fully cooked and safe to eat when it reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF (74ºC) at the thickest part of the breast or thigh. After the cooking cycle, always verify the doneness of your chicken using an instant-read thermometer before shredding. This step is crucial for food safety and optimal texture.

• If the Temperature is Slightly Below 165ºF: If your thermometer reads just shy of the target 165ºF, don’t worry. Simply return the chicken to the Instant Pot or slow cooker, close the lid, and let it rest for an additional 5 minutes. The residual heat will continue to cook the chicken, bringing it up to the safe temperature. Check the temperature again after resting.
• If Your Chicken is Significantly Undercooked (Below 160ºF): Should the chicken temperature be well below 160ºF, it requires further cooking. If using the Instant Pot, reseal the lid and cook on “Manual/High Pressure” for an additional 1-3 minutes. This short burst of pressure cooking should be sufficient. For slow cooker users, return the chicken to the pot, cover, and continue cooking on low for another 30 minutes before rechecking the internal temperature. Always prioritize food safety by ensuring your chicken reaches 165ºF.

Essential Tips for Perfect Salsa Verde Chicken Every Time

Achieving perfectly tender and flavorful salsa verde chicken is simple with these helpful tips and considerations:

• Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts? Absolutely! Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are an excellent alternative to breasts, often resulting in even juicier, richer-flavored shredded chicken. However, they typically require a slightly longer cooking time to become fork-tender. When cooking thighs in the Instant Pot, I recommend allowing the pressure to release naturally for about 5 minutes before performing a quick-release. This extra natural release time helps tenderize the meat further. For more detailed guidance on cooking chicken thighs in the Instant Pot, refer to my dedicated Instant Pot chicken thighs recipe.
• How spicy is salsa verde? The spice level of salsa verde can vary significantly, ranging from very mild to quite fiery, depending on the brand, the type of green chilies used, and the amount of chilies in the recipe. This means your salsa verde chicken can be as gentle or as bold as you desire! If you or your family are sensitive to spice, look for a jar of salsa verde explicitly labeled “mild.” Conversely, if you love heat, seek out medium or hot varieties, or consider adding a pinch of cayenne pepper or a chopped jalapeño to your salsa blend.
• Ensure Enough Liquid for Instant Pot Cooking: This is a critical tip for Instant Pot users. Always make sure there is sufficient liquid (the salsa itself usually provides this) covering the bottom of the Instant Pot. Not only does adequate liquid prevent the dreaded “burn” notice, which can occur if there isn’t enough moisture to create steam and pressure, but it’s also essential for keeping your salsa verde chicken incredibly moist and tender throughout the high-pressure cooking process. The liquid creates the steam needed for pressure cooking and infuses the chicken with flavor.

Delicious Serving Suggestions for Salsa Verde Chicken

The versatility of this shredded salsa verde chicken means it pairs beautifully with a wide array of side dishes and serving styles. Here are some of our favorite ways to enjoy it, transforming a simple chicken dish into a complete and satisfying meal:

• Classic Accompaniments: Serve it generously over fluffy white or brown rice, or opt for a lighter, nutrient-packed alternative like cauliflower rice. For a unique twist, spoon it onto a vibrant Mexican quinoa salad with creamy avocado dressing.
• Mexican-Inspired Favorites: It truly shines as the star of tacos, nestled into warm corn or flour tortillas and topped with fresh avocado slices and a crunchy Mexican coleslaw. You can also roll it up into delicious enchiladas, smothered in extra green sauce and cheese, or create hearty, satisfying burritos.
• Perfect Side Dishes: Complement your meal with traditional Mexican sides such as savory homemade refried beans, tender slow-cooker black beans, or sweet and juicy corn on the cob (which, incidentally, also cooks up incredibly fast in the Instant Pot!).

More Creative Ways to Utilize Shredded Salsa Verde Chicken

As mentioned, one of the greatest advantages of this recipe is its ability to provide multiple meals from a single batch. Don’t let any of that delicious shredded salsa verde chicken go to waste! Get creative with these other easy and flavorful ideas:

• Chicken Fajita Casserole: Layer with peppers, onions, and cheese for a comforting and hearty bake.
• Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas: Combine with sour cream and cheese, roll into tortillas, and bake for a rich, creamy dish.
• Chicken Quesadillas: Quickly assemble cheesy quesadillas on the stovetop or for an extra crispy result, make them in the air fryer!
• Taco Bowls and Chipotle Bowls: Create customizable bowls with rice or lettuce, beans, corn, avocado, and your favorite toppings for a healthy and satisfying meal.
• Chicken Nachos: Pile high on tortilla chips with plenty of cheese and your favorite nacho toppings for a crowd-pleasing snack or appetizer.

Storing and Reheating Your Salsa Verde Chicken Leftovers

One of the many benefits of this salsa verde chicken recipe is how well it stores and reheats, making it fantastic for meal prep. Properly storing and reheating ensures your leftovers remain as delicious as the day you made them:

• Refrigerate: Any leftover shredded salsa verde chicken should be transferred to an airtight container and stored in the refrigerator. It will maintain its delicious flavor and texture for up to 4 days, ready for quick meals throughout the week.
• Reheat: To prevent the shredded chicken from drying out during reheating, I recommend warming it gently. You can either use a microwave, stirring occasionally until heated through, or reheat it in a skillet over medium-low heat. For best results and to maintain moisture, stir in a little extra salsa verde or a splash of chicken broth before warming.
• Freeze: This shredded salsa verde chicken freezes exceptionally well, making it perfect for long-term meal planning. Allow the chicken to cool completely to room temperature before portioning it into freezer-safe airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Ensure as much air as possible is removed from freezer bags to prevent freezer burn. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy it, thaw the frozen chicken overnight in the refrigerator before reheating as directed above.

Explore More Instant Pot Chicken Recipes

If you’ve fallen in love with the convenience and delicious results of cooking chicken in your Instant Pot, you’ll be thrilled to discover these other fantastic recipes:

• Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas
• Instant Pot Chicken Adobo
• Instant Pot BBQ Chicken
• Instant Pot Crack Chicken