I have wanted an Instant Pot for a LONG TIME. But it was never a huge priority, so it always took a back seat to buying other things we needed. I put off getting an Instant Pot out of pure ignorance and now I’m so mad at myself!
The Instant Pot is AMAZING! I am so in love. I’ve only used it a few times, and already I have so many ideas of recipes I want to adapt and try in my Instant Pot. (This is the one I have.)
The very first thing I made in my Instant Pot was Shredded Taqueria-Style Salsa Chicken.
Instant Pot Shredded Taqueria-Style Salsa Chicken
This chicken is by far the best chicken (and the easiest chicken) I have ever made.
First, it’s important to understand that when you make shredded chicken, the amount of chicken you end up with is far more than you would think. We cooked an entire value-pack of chicken breasts and it made so much shredded salsa chicken that we ate it in at least five or six different meals!
Second, cooking chicken with the Instant Pot is insanely easy. All you have to do is put the chicken in the Instant Pot, put on the lid, seal it, press the poultry button, set the timer to 20 minutes — 10 for a regular size package of chicken breasts — and then wait (or relax).
When the chicken is done cooking, you vent the Instant Pot and the chicken is so juicy and tender that it begins to fall apart the minute you start to pull at it with a fork. It practically shreds itself.
Cooking Frozen Chicken In The Instant Pot
I was so excited to use my brand new Instant Pot, then was so upset when I realized that I forgot to defrost the chicken. The value pack we bought was frozen solid in one giant block of chicken. Crap!
I decided to go for it anyway and cook frozen chicken in the Instant Pot.
First, I placed the package of chicken in some warm water for a few minutes — just long enough to be able to break the block into a couple pieces so all the chicken fit in the Instant Pot.
Then, to account for the chicken being frozen, I increased the cook time from 20 minutes to 30 minutes, and it worked like a charm! The chicken came out perfectly!
Instant Pot Smoky Taqueria-Style Salsa Chicken
You only need three things to make the juiciest, most delicious Taqueria-style shredded chicken you have ever had.
Prep Time
Cook Time
Total Time
Ingredients
- 1 boneless, skinless chicken breasts value pack
- 3 cans Herdez Salsa Taquera
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- Place the entire value pack of chicken in the Instant Pot. Add the water and salsa. Seal the Instant Pot lid, press the poultry button and adjust time to 20 minutes. When the chicken is done cooking, vent the Instant Pot.
- Transfer the chicken breasts to a large platter. DO NOT discard the salsa/water mixture.
- Using two forks, shred the chicken breasts. Transfer the shredded chicken to a large bowl and add the water/salsa mixture to keep the chicken tender and juicy.
- Serve immediately.
Notes:
If your value pack of chicken is frozen, break the frozen chicken breasts apart so they will all fit in the instant pot and adjust the cook time on the Instant Pot to 30 minutes.
