Easy & Flavorful Instant Pot Chicken Tacos: Your Go-To Weeknight Meal
Transform your taco night with this incredibly flavorful and ridiculously easy Instant Pot shredded chicken! Perfect for satisfying your Mexican food cravings, this versatile chicken is fantastic in tacos, salads, quesadillas, burritos, and more – keeping your meals exciting all week long.
Taco night holds a special place in my heart as perhaps my favorite meal of the week. Who can resist the vibrant flavors and customizable fun that Mexican cuisine offers? If I could enjoy something as delicious as Sour Cream Enchiladas multiple times a week, I absolutely would. But when it comes to speed and simplicity without sacrificing taste, nothing beats this Instant Pot Chicken.
The beauty of using an Instant Pot for chicken lies in its ability to deliver perfectly cooked, incredibly tender, and juicy results in mere minutes. This recipe is a game-changer for busy evenings, allowing you to whip up a delicious meal faster than you might think. Plus, it’s ideal for meal prepping; you can easily make extra to enjoy flavorful leftovers throughout the week in various dishes.
I’ve developed a true obsession with my Instant Pot recently, constantly exploring new recipes and applications. On those particularly hectic nights, dishes like Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin have become life-savers. The sheer convenience of pulling chicken straight from the freezer when no dinner plans are in sight, only to emerge with a mouth-watering meal just minutes later, is nothing short of magical.
While I’m not a huge proponent of cooking chicken in a crock pot – as it often tends to dry out too quickly for my liking – the Instant Pot works wonders. It transforms chicken into a consistently tender and succulent dish, ready so fast you’ll barely have time to chop your taco toppings!
How to Make Effortless Instant Pot Chicken Tacos
Creating these delightful Instant Pot Chicken Tacos is surprisingly straightforward, requiring minimal ingredients and effort. The process is designed for speed and maximum flavor, making it perfect for both novice and experienced cooks. Here’s a breakdown of the simple steps:
- Season the Chicken Generously: Begin by coating your boneless, skinless chicken breasts on both sides with a liberal amount of taco seasoning. I often use an entire packet to ensure the chicken is deeply infused with flavor, and the resulting sauce also benefits from the rich seasoning.
- Add the Tomatoes: Next, pour in a can of Rotel tomatoes. These are my preferred choice because they offer a fantastic kick of spice and maintain their texture well during the high-pressure cooking process. However, feel free to substitute with your favorite salsa, diced tomatoes, or even fire-roasted tomatoes for a slightly different flavor profile.
- Introduce the Liquid: It’s crucial to add about 3/4 of a cup of liquid to the bottom of your Instant Pot to prevent burning and ensure proper pressure building. Water or chicken broth both work perfectly here; the chicken will absorb enough flavor from the seasoning and tomatoes.
- Pressure Cook to Perfection: Secure the lid of your Instant Pot, ensure the vent is sealed, and set it to cook for 15 minutes under high pressure. If you’re starting with frozen chicken breasts, increase the pressure cooking time to 20 minutes. Once cooking is complete, allow a natural pressure release for 5 minutes, then perform a quick release of any remaining pressure until the float valve drops and the lid unlocks safely.
- Shred and Serve: Carefully remove the perfectly cooked chicken from the pot. Using two forks, easily shred the tender chicken right in the pot, mixing it with the flavorful juices at the bottom. This ensures every strand of chicken is coated in the delicious sauce. Load up your shredded chicken into warm tortillas and customize your tacos with your favorite toppings – think shredded cheese, crisp lettuce, diced tomatoes, black olives, a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt, spicy jalapeños, creamy avocado or guacamole, and fresh cilantro.
A fantastic aspect of this recipe is its flexibility: you can use either fresh or frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts! When cooking from frozen, plan for approximately 20 minutes under high pressure, adjusting slightly based on the thickness of your chicken pieces. The Instant Pot handles both states with equal ease, making it a truly adaptable recipe for any weeknight.
Minimal Ingredients, Maximum Flavor
These Instant Pot Chicken Tacos truly highlight the power of simplicity. At their core, you only need three main ingredients: the chicken, a packet of quality taco seasoning, and a can of Rotel tomatoes. That’s it! The magic happens as these humble components come together under pressure, resulting in chicken that’s incredibly tender and bursting with savory, slightly spicy flavor from the seasoning and tomatoes. The minimal ingredient list not only simplifies grocery shopping but also proves that extraordinary taste doesn’t require a long, complicated list.
Mastering Your Instant Pot for Perfect Chicken
For those new to the Instant Pot or looking to refine their skills, cooking chicken to perfection is one of its greatest strengths. The sealed environment ensures that moisture is locked in, preventing the dry, bland chicken often associated with other cooking methods. Always ensure your sealing ring is properly seated and the lid is locked. The 5-minute natural release followed by a quick release allows the chicken to rest slightly, reabsorbing juices, which contributes to its superior tenderness. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different brands of taco seasoning or even make your own blend to perfectly suit your spice preference.
What To Serve With Your Delicious Chicken Tacos
Elevate your taco night experience by pairing these fantastic Instant Pot Chicken Tacos with a variety of classic and complementary side dishes. These additions will create a complete and satisfying meal that tastes like it came straight from your favorite Mexican restaurant:
- Homemade Refried Beans: Creamy, savory, and always a crowd-pleaser.
- Mexican Rice: Fluffy, flavorful, and a staple for any taco feast.
- Slow Cooker Black Beans: Easy, healthy, and a great source of plant-based protein.
- Homemade Guacamole: Fresh, creamy avocado goodness is a must-have topping and side.
- Restaurant Style Salsa: Bright, zesty, and perfect for dipping or drizzling.
- Homemade Flour Tortillas: For an extra special touch, warm, soft homemade tortillas are unbeatable.
- Corn Salad: A refreshing mix of corn, bell peppers, red onion, and cilantro.
- Elote (Mexican Street Corn): Grilled corn on the cob slathered with mayonnaise, cotija cheese, chili powder, and lime.
- Simple Green Salad: A light, crisp salad with a lime vinaigrette to balance the rich flavors.
Got Leftovers? Repurpose for Delicious Meals All Week!
One of the many benefits of this Instant Pot Chicken Taco recipe is how wonderfully it lends itself to making extra for future meals. This shredded chicken is a fantastic component to have on hand, simplifying meal prep and adding flavor to a variety of dishes throughout the week. You can store the cooked and shredded chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, ready to be incorporated into quick lunches or dinners.
For longer storage, this chicken freezes beautifully. Simply transfer the cooled shredded chicken, along with a bit of its cooking liquid to prevent drying, into an airtight freezer-safe container or a heavy-duty freezer bag. It will keep well in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to use it, just let it thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating and serving. This makes it an ideal option for batch cooking and ensuring you always have a quick, healthy protein source at your fingertips.
Instant Pot Chicken Tacos are also a phenomenal choice for hosting a party or gathering. Setting up a taco bar allows guests to customize their own meals, catering to all tastes and dietary preferences. The best part? Doubling the amount of chicken in the Instant Pot typically doesn’t require any significant extra cook time, making it incredibly efficient for feeding a crowd. Just prepare a generous batch of this flavorful shredded chicken, arrange a spread of delicious toppings – everything from various cheeses and salsas to fresh veggies and different types of tortillas or chips – and let your guests build their perfect taco creations. It’s a fun, interactive, and undeniably delicious way to entertain!
More Easy Dinner Recipes You’ll Love
If you’re constantly on the lookout for quick, easy, and delicious dinner ideas, you’ve come to the right place. Beyond these amazing Instant Pot Chicken Tacos, our kitchen is a treasure trove of simple yet satisfying recipes designed to make weeknights stress-free. From comforting classics to inventive twists, these dishes leverage accessible ingredients and straightforward cooking methods to bring joy back to your dinner table. Here are some more of our top picks for effortless meals:
- Greek Meatballs: Flavorful meatballs baked on a single sheet pan with vegetables for easy cleanup.
- Lemon Turkey Cutlets: Light, zesty, and quick-cooking, perfect for a healthy meal.
- Instant Pot Turkey Chili: A hearty and comforting chili, made incredibly fast in your pressure cooker.
- Meatballs Subs: Classic comfort food with a fresh bruschetta twist, perfect for family dinner.
- Ground Beef Stroganoff: A creamy, savory, one-pot wonder that’s incredibly satisfying.
- Instant Pot BBQ Chicken: Tender, smoky BBQ chicken ready in a flash, ideal for sandwiches or salads.
- Grilled Chicken Sandwich: A simple yet delicious classic, perfect for a casual meal.
- Cafe Rio Chicken: A beloved copycat recipe that brings restaurant-quality flavors to your home.
Instant Pot Chicken Tacos
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Equipment
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Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1 10 oz can Rotel tomatoes
- 3/4 cup water
Instructions
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Generously season both sides of the chicken with taco seasoning.
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Add all of the ingredients into the Instant Pot. Ensure your liquid is at the bottom, then place chicken on top, followed by Rotel.
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Close the lid, ensure the sealing vent is set to ‘Sealing’, and cook for 15 minutes under high pressure. If using frozen chicken, set for 20 minutes under high pressure. Once cooking is complete, allow the pressure to naturally release for 5 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure until the float valve drops.
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Carefully remove the chicken and shred it using two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the Instant Pot and mix with all the flavorful juices at the bottom.
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Serve the warm, shredded chicken over tortillas with your favorite toppings like cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, avocado, or cilantro. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
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