Suitable for Gluten-Free diets. Post includes WW points. Instant Pot Chicken Tacos are really easy to make using pantry staples, with minimal prep and effort. So easy that you can totally make these for dinner tonight, for any taco night gathering, potluck, a game day eat and Cinco de Mayo any Mexican celebration. I love making this for a crowd, especially in the form of a simple taco bar, put everything out, and guests can dip in and out with what they want. You can also use the shredded chicken for a nachos bar or platter or salad, burritos and enchiladas .
Easy Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Tacos
Like the Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas and 2 ingredient Instant Pot Salsa Chicken, this is a simple fuss free recipe – simply add meat and seasoned salsa to the pressure cooker, cook for a few minutes and shred. Then add that shredded chicken breast to every thing and anything. Add a simple salad and some rice to this shredded chicken tacos for a more complete meal for dinner tonight. If you love tacos then you certainly want to give this easy Instant Pot version a try.
Why Make This Recipe
Prep ahead – The shredded Mexican Chicken is great for prep ahead and weekly meal prep.Flexible – you can easily make this using fresh or frozen chicken.Customizable – make sure to have lots of toppings so everyone can customize their dinner. Budget friendly – made with affordable ingredients you probably already own.
Ingredient Notes
Chicken breasts – this recipe calls for boneless skinless chicken breasts. I have also made this with chicken thighs (which require a little more cook time). You can use frozen chicken breasts but you would need to add a couple of minutes to the cook time compared to fresh chicken breasts and make sure the chicken pieces are added separately not as a big lump since they would not cook through like this.Chicken stock – to cook the meat in. Feel free to use vegetable stock or chicken broth instead.Taco seasoning – this can be store bought or homemade. Add more or less to you taste.Tortilla – this recipe uses warm tortillas. To keep it gluten free these are corn tortillas but you can use flour tortillas or hard taco shells.Tomato salsa – alternatively you can use flavored diced tomatoes of your preference.Lime zest – this optional ingredient adds a little citrus lift.You favorite toppings – get creative and add all your favorite toppings.
Does it get any better than that?? I don’t think so. Now that I’ve convinced you that you MUST make Instant Pot Chicken Tacos, let me show you …
How to Make Instant Pot Chicken Tacos Step by Step
Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.
Add stock to the Instant Pot insert and add meat into the stock.Mix together, salsa, seasoning, coriander (cilantro) and lime zest (if using – highly recommended for the best flavour).Top meat with the salsa mixture.Close pot, set valve to sealing, select the manual or pressure cook button (dependent upon IP model), select high pressure and set the timer to 8 minutes for thin breasts or 10 minutes for thick breasts. (Note: My chicken breasts were 4 cms/0.4 in thick and I used the 10 minute timing.) Do a natural pressure release and then take meat out of the electric pressure cooker and shred chicken with two forks. Sauté the remaining liquid till it reduces in about half, switch off heat and add the shredded meat back in. Chef’s Tip: This step adds moisture to your shredded chicken and helps better infuse flavour. Assemble tacos with your desired toppings.
Look at that shredded chicken…
Tips for Making Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Tacos
For a lighter option, omit the tortillas and serve over a bed of lettuce (romaine is a good choice). This will also make the recipe Keto and Paleo.If you’re not gluten-free, you can use wheat flour tortillas if you prefer.If you want to make your own corn tortillas (easy to do), follow my How to Make Corn Tortillas tutorial.The leftover cooking liquid makes a great base for cooking rice, pasta, soups and more.Cooking time does not include time needed for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure or for the pressure to release.
Delicious Variations
Add heat – with cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, chili powder, chipotle, hot salsa or chipotle.Add citrus – using added lime juice or lemon juice. You can also try pineapple juice. This lifts up the flavor. Vary the seasonings – you can add in things like garlic powder, onion powder, oregano etc.
Toppings for Instant Pot Chicken Tacos
Some Instant Pot tacos topping ideas for you:
CornShredded lettuceShredded red cabbageGreek yogurtRadishesLimesSour creamCheese like cheddar and Monterey jack and queso.Coriander (cilantro)Avocado slicesAvocado sauceCut up tortilla chips
Storage
Storage – store cooled cooked shredded meat in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.Freeze – freeze in meal prep containers or flat layed ziploc bags with all the air removed and freeze for up to 3 months.If you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, you can use as a base for meal prep. Add to sandwiches and rice or pasta dishes and taco bowls throughout the week.
FAQs
More Instant Pot Chicken Recipes
For more chicken recipes why not try these below
Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup.Instant Pot Shredded Chicken.Instant Pot White Chicken Chili.Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas.Instant Pot Chicken And Mushrooms.Instant Pot Rasta Pasta.And the wild card – these grilled Lamb Tacos loved by the whole family.
What to Serve with Instant Pot Chicken Tacos
Instant Pot Black Beans.Instant Pot Mexican Rice.Corn Tortillas.Adobo Guacamole.Parmesan Crusted Chicken.
Happy taco-eating, folks.
Weight Watchers Points
(Chicken Only) I have included the Weight Watchers points for the shredded chicken below. For the tacos, calculate additional points based on the toppings you use.
0 Blue Plan Smartpoints per serving3 Blue plan smartpoints per serving
Originally published July 2018.
