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This super easy Instant Pot Chicken Tacos meal is just right for busy families wanting both yummy and fast — delicious, tender shredded chicken in just 30 minutes! It’s the perfect weeknight dinner with homemade taco seasoning and your favorite toppings and may become a family favorite.

Two soft instant pot chicken tacos filled with shredded chicken, fresh cilantro, and a creamy white sauce are served on a white plate, with fresh cilantro leaves visible in the background.


 

⏰ Ready in just 30 minutes from start to finish, these chicken tacos are perfect when you need a quick, satisfying meal. The pressure cooker does all the work while you prep your favorite taco toppings!

Table of Contents

My 2 Best Tips For Making Instant Pot Chicken Tacos

Natural Pressure Release: Allow at least 10 minutes of natural pressure release before manually releasing remaining pressure. This prevents the chicken from becoming tough and ensures maximum tenderness for your shredded chicken tacos.

Add a Splash of Lime Juice: Brighten the finished shredded chicken with fresh lime juice and chopped cilantro. This adds a fresh finish and makes the chicken tacos taste like they came from a high-quality restaurant!

Melissa in her kitchen smiling in front of the starting ingredients for the chicken the quinoa salad and skillet chicken on the wood block in front of her

🩷 Melissa

The magic of pressure cooking transforms boneless skinless chicken breasts into perfectly tender, juicy shredded chicken. Even frozen chicken breasts work beautifully!

Simply add chicken, seasonings, and a bit of chicken broth to your pressure cooker, set the timer, and let the Instant Pot work its magic. No stirring, flipping, or constant monitoring required!

This shredded chicken taco filling works in soft tacos, hard shells, burrito bowls, quesadillas, and more. Load up with shredded cheddar cheese, salsa, and your favorite taco toppings for endless variety.

Two soft instant pot chicken tacos filled with shredded chicken, fresh cilantro, and a creamy white sauce are served on a white plate, with fresh cilantro leaves visible in the background.
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Instant Pot Chicken Tacos

By: Melissa Griffiths
This super easy Instant Pot Chicken Tacos meal is just right for busy families wanting both yummy and fast — delicious, tender shredded chicken in just 30 minutes! It's the perfect weeknight dinner with homemade taco seasoning and your favorite toppings and may become a family favorite.
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Natural Release Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 4
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Ingredients 

  • 2 ½ – 3 pounds chicken breasts
  • 1 cup salsa
  • 1 cup chicken broth

Taco Seasoning — or use 1 packet of store-bought taco seasoning

Instructions 

  • Add all of the ingredients to your Instant Pot. Stir until the seasonings are dissolved.
  • Pressure cook on high for 15 minutes. Let sit for 10 minutes for a natural release, and then finish with a quick pressure release.
  • Shred the chicken with two large forks. Serve your chicken on corn of flour tortillas piled high with your favorite taco toppings.

Notes

Recipe Variations & Substitutions:
  • Feel free to use your favorite kind of store-bought taco seasoning or a simple blend of Mexican spices for this recipe.
  • If you don’t have any chicken broth then you can just use water. The chicken broth just helps bolster the flavor of the shredded chicken by complimenting the taco seasoning.
Shredding Tip: Your chicken should be tender enough to shred very easily with two forks. You can also place the chicken in a bowl and use an electric hand mixer to quickly shred it or place it in the bowl of a stand mixer.
Save the Cooking Liquid: Don’t discard the flavorful cooking liquid! Use it to moisten the shredded chicken if needed, or save it as a base for soup or rice. It’s packed with delicious chicken and spice flavors that shouldn’t go to waste.
Serving Suggestions: This TexMex flavored chicken is so versatile! It’s perfect on nachos, quesadillas, and salads, or even just mixed into a bowl of rice and beans.
Storing & Reheating Leftovers:
  • Store the cooked shredded chicken in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • Reheat in the microwave for about 45-60 seconds.
  • Or freeze for up to 3 months.
Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

How To Make Chicken Tacos In A Pressure Cooker

Raw chicken breasts in a white bowl, topped with a reddish-brown spice mix and marinade—perfect for making flavorful Instant Pot chicken tacos—set on a white marble surface.

Step 1: Add all of the ingredients to your Instant Pot. Stir until the seasonings are dissolved.

Three cooked chicken breasts in a round white pot, covered in a reddish-brown sauce, are perfect for making instant pot chicken tacos and sit on a white marble surface.

Step 2: Pressure cook on high for 15 minutes. Let sit for 10 minutes for a natural release, and then finish with a quick pressure release.

A white bowl filled with shredded, seasoned Instant Pot chicken tacos sits on a white marble surface.

Step 3: Shred the chicken with two large forks.

Three soft instant pot chicken tacos filled with shredded chicken, cheese, and fresh cilantro are arranged in a white taco holder on a marble surface. Nearby are a tortilla, salsa, Cholula hot sauce, a striped towel, and fresh cilantro.

Step 4: Serve your chicken on corn of flour tortillas piled high with your favorite taco toppings.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use frozen chicken breasts in this recipe?

Frozen chicken breasts work perfectly in this instant pot chicken tacos recipe. Just add an extra 2-3 minutes to the cook time. The pressure cooker will safely cook frozen chicken to the perfect temperature while keeping it incredibly tender.

Can I substitute chicken thighs for chicken breasts?

Yes! Skinless chicken thighs work wonderfully and actually stay even more moist. Use the same cook time, though thighs are more forgiving if slightly overcooked.

What’s the best liquid to use for pressure cooking?

Use 1 cup of chicken broth for the most flavor, though water works in a pinch. The liquid creates the steam needed for pressure cooking and adds extra taste to your chicken taco filling.

Three soft instant pot chicken tacos filled with shredded chicken, cheese, and fresh cilantro are arranged in a white taco holder on a marble surface. Nearby are a tortilla, salsa, Cholula hot sauce, a striped towel, and fresh cilantro.

More Tasty Chicken Dinner Recipes To Try

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