• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Fun Recipe Ideas
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • About Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home | Main Dishes

    Instant Pot Chicken Tacos

    Published: May 17, 2022 · Modified: Aug 13, 2022 by Sherri · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Pin
    Share
    Tweet
    This Instant Pot Chicken Tacos recipe makes taco night fast and delicious. Tender, perfectly seasoned chicken that's shredded to fill warmed tortillas and then top with your favorite Mexican toppings.
    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    tortilla filled with shredded chicken, cherry tomato, and cheese

    This Instant Pot Chicken Tacos recipe makes taco night fast and delicious. Tender, perfectly seasoned chicken that's shredded to fill warmed tortillas and then top with your favorite Mexican toppings.

    closeup of a soft taco shells with shredded chicken, tomatoes and cheese

    Easy Pressure Cooker Chicken Tacos

    Looking for an easy recipe for your Instant Pot? This one is quick, healthy and hits the spot not only for Taco Tuesday but for busy weeknights anytime.

    Taco night doesn’t have to be a hectic meal. Even novice chefs can make these mouthwatering chicken tacos with an instant pot. With just a few simple ingredients, the process takes much less time than in a conventional oven or stove, making it a great all-in-one recipe for weeknight meals.

    Serve in flour or corn tortillas or even use it for burrito or taco bowls, taco salads or chicken enchiladas too!

    Jump to:
    • Easy Pressure Cooker Chicken Tacos
    • ✨ Here is why this recipe is amazing:
    • 🥫 Ingredients needed:
    • 📝 Ingredient notes:
    • 🔄 Substitutions
    • Favorite toppings for tacos
    • 🔪 How to make Shredded Mexican Chicken in an Instant Pot, basic instructions
    • ❄️ Storage Tips
    • 📝 Frequently asked questions, answers and tips:
    • 👩‍🍳 Chef Tip
    • What to Serve with Chicken Tacos
    • Instant Pot Chicken Tacos
    • Sherri
    flat tortilla with shredded chicken, diced tomato, and mexican cheese

    ✨ Here is why this recipe is amazing:

    • The perfect dinner for busy nights that will quickly become a family favorite!
    • Super simple to make!
    • Wonderful for feeding a crowd!
    • Easy to double for meal prep.
    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    tortilla filled with shredded chicken, cherry tomato, and cheese

    🥫 Ingredients needed:

    two raw chicken breasts, and several white bowls with taco seasoning, chicken broth, diced jalapeno peppers, chipotle peppers and olive oil

    📝 Ingredient notes:

    • ½ cup chicken broth
    • ¼ cup salsa
    • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 tablespoons taco seasoning - Make your own homemade taco seasoning!
    • 1 jalapeno and/or chipotle in adobo

    🔄 Substitutions

    • Use frozen chicken breasts as well as fresh. It's so great in a pinch. Just up the cooking time by 4 minutes.
    • You can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs if you prefer or a mix of breasts and thigh

    Favorite toppings for tacos

    • shredded Mexican cheese or Mexican queso fresco
    • mild or hot Salsa or pico de gallo or this roasted tomatillo salsa
    • diced avocado or Easy Homemade Guacamole
    • black beans or pinto beans
    • sour cream
    • diced jalapeno peppers
    • chopped red onion
    • corn or Black Bean Corn Salsa
    • lime juice

    🔪 How to make Shredded Mexican Chicken in an Instant Pot, basic instructions

    1. Add the chicken stock and salsa to the Instant Pot and stir to combine.
    two large raw chicken breasts sprinkled with taco seasoning
    1. Drizzle the chicken breasts with olive oil and sprinkle with taco seasoning then place in Instant Pot.
    two raw chicken breasts in an instant pot with seasonings and diced peppers
    1. Add the diced jalapeno and/ chipotle pepper on top of the chicken, if using.
    2. Place the lid on the Instant Pot and turn the value to the sealed position.
    3. Set to Manual cooking, high pressure, for 12 minutes.
    4. Once the timer goes off, allow the pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes. Then, carefully turn the valve to release the remaining pressure.
    two cooked chicken breasts in an instant pot pressure cooker in a broth
    1. Using two forks, shred chicken in the juices.
    cooked shredded chicken in a pressure cooker

    ❄️ Storage Tips

    Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can also freeze it by placing the cooled chicken in plastic zip closure bags and freeze for up to 2 months.

    📝 Frequently asked questions, answers and tips:

    Can you Make Chicken Tacos in a Slow Cooker?

    Yes, you can make this recipe in a slow cooker as well. You will not need the chicken broth. Just add the chicken to the crockpot and top with the seasonings and salsa. Cook on low for 5-6 hours.

    How do you reheat shredded chicken and keep it moist??

    There are a few ways to reheat chicken. 1. In a microwave: place in a microwave safe bowl and cover with a damp paper towel. Heat for 30 seconds on high then stir and repeat if necessary. 2. On the stovetop: Place chicken in a small pot and add a tablespoon of water. Cover with a lid and heat on medium heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring often and checking to make sure there is water. Add another tablespoon at a time if necessary. 3. In the oven: Place chicken in a baking dish, add 2 tablespoons of water and cover with foil. Preheat oven to 325° F and then heat for 5-6 minutes.

    👩‍🍳 Chef Tip

    Use a food processor to shred the chicken after cooking. Just pulsing a few times is all it takes.

    Use 1 tablespoon of chili powder, one tablespoon garlic powder and one teaspoon of cumin instead of taco seasoning if needed.

    What to Serve with Chicken Tacos

    Cilantro Lime Rice

    Honey Jalapeno Mexican Cornbread

    Cilantro Lime Coleslaw

    Pineapple Margarita

    Elote Corn Dip (Street Corn Dip!)

    tortilla filled with shredded chicken, cherry tomato, and cheese

    Instant Pot Chicken Tacos

    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 35 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American, Mexican
    Servings 4
    Calories 169 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • ½ cup chicken broth
    • ¼ cup salsa
    • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
    • 1 jalapeno and/or chipotle in adobo diced (optional)

    Instructions
     

    • Add the chicken broth and salsa to the Instant Pot and stir to combine.
    • Drizzle the chicken breasts with olive oil and sprinkle with taco seasoning.
    • Place the chicken breasts in the Instant Pot.
    • Add the diced jalapeno and/ chipotle pepper on top of the chicken, if using.
    • Place the lid on the Instant Pot and turn the value to the sealed position.
    • Set to Manual cooking for 12 minutes.
    • Once the timer goes off, allow the pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes. Then, carefully turn the valve to release the remaining pressure.
    • Using two forks, shred the chicken in the juices.
    • Use in tacos, in bowls, burritos, salad or on nachos

    Notes

    Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
    Use homemade taco seasoning or store bought packets.
    Use chicken thighs if desired.
    Nutritional information does not include tortillas or other optional toppings.
     

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1servingCalories: 169kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 24gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 73mgSodium: 448mgPotassium: 467mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 230IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 11mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword Instant Pot chicken tacos, Instant pot shredded chicken
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    Sherri Hagymas headshot

    Sherri

    Recipe Developer and Food Photographer

    • Visit Website (opens in a new tab)
    • Visit Twitter account (opens in a new tab)
    • Visit Facebook account (opens in a new tab)
    • Visit Instagram account (opens in a new tab)
    • Visit Pinterest account (opens in a new tab)
    Pin
    Share
    Tweet
    « Skillet Potatoes
    4th of July Strawberries (Firecracker Strawberries) »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    sidebar

    Popular Posts

    • Pineapple rum punch cocktail with pineapple wedge and mint
      Pineapple Mango Rum Punch
    • green beans with red chiles in bowl with chop sticks
      Asian Green Beans
    • Burnt Ends Baked Beans square feature
      Burnt Ends Baked Beans
    • Garlic Bread Pizza Recipe

    Meet the team:

    Fun Recipe Ideas Founders (L-R) Sarah Mock, Sherri Hagymas, Lisa O'Driscoll, Krista Romano, Corinne Schmitt, Kristy Richardson, Alicia Murray, Andrea Updyke

    A weekend away, brainstorming, laughing, eating and of course, wine drinking is all it took for these ambitious women to come together to bring you all the fun recipe ideas you will need to feed your family and entertain your friends.

    Meet the team...

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Fun Recipe Ideas