Easy Instant Pot Mexican Shredded Chicken

Name: Easy Instant Pot Mexican Shredded Chicken
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 22 min
Ingredients: 2 lbs Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts (3-4 breasts); 1 cup Salsa; 1 cup Chicken broth; 2 tbsp Taco Seasoning; Salt and pepper to taste

With only 4 simple ingredients and less than 30 minutes, this Instant Pot Mexican Shredded Chicken is an easy and healthy dinner to make!

A bowl of Instant Pot Mexican Shredded Chicken is in front of the Instant Pot. — Top the chicken with lime juice and freshly chopped cilantro.

Making shredded chicken in the slow cooker is a common way of making dinner, but it can take so long! Instead of the slow cooker, use your Instant Pot! Your dinner will be ready in less than 30 minutes and ready to enjoy with your family!

This delicious recipe is an easy Instant Pot dinner your whole family will love! Your Taco Tuesday will never be the same after you enjoy this healthy meal!

Ingredients to Gather

An overhead shot of the ingredients for Instant Pot Mexican Shredded Chicken — You only need a few basic ingredients for this recipe!

Chicken. 2 pounds of boneless skinless chicken breasts (3-4 large breasts).
Chicken broth. You can use homemade chicken broth or store bought.
Taco seasoning. Homemade or store bought taco seasoning will work here too!
Salsa. Same thing! Homemade salsa or your favorite store bought salsa will work. I used store bought because that is what I had on hand.
Salt and pepper to taste. Depending on how salty your taco seasoning is would depend on how much salt you should use.

What Type of Chicken To Use

For this recipe I am using boneless skinless chicken breasts, but you could use boneless skinless chicken thighs if that is what you have on hand or what your family prefers.

This recipe is a great option for dinner too when you only have frozen chicken on hand. You can use frozen chicken and just increase the cook time by 5 minutes.

I wouldn't use chicken with the bone in it. It would take a longer time to remove the meat from the bones and it's much easier to use boneless chicken in this recipe.

A fork is lifting the chicken out of the bowl. — With only 4 ingredients, this chicken dinner is easy to make an a healthy option for the family!

Equipment to Gather

Instant Pot. I have 6-quart Instant Pot that works great!
Measuring Spoons
Cutting Board
Measuring Cups

How To Make Instant Pot Mexican Shredded Chicken

Add all the ingredients to the Instant Pot. Close the lid of the Instant Pot and set the cooking time to 22 minutes on high pressure. After the cook time has ended, quick release the remaining pressure.

Take the chicken breasts out of the Instant Pot and shred them on a cutting board with two forks. Place the shredded chicken back into the cooking liquid and give it a stir.

An optional step is to add a squeeze of lime juice to the chicken to brighten the flavors. Serve immediately.

All the ingredients are added to the Instant Pot — Add all the ingredients to the Instant Pot.

a stand mixer is used to shred the chicken breasts. — A stand mixer makes quick work of shredding the chicken.

The shredded chicken is in the Instant Pot being held by tongs. — Use tongs to remove the chicken from the Instant Pot.

Tips and Tricks

The Instant Pot will take 10-15 minutes to come up to pressure before it will start cooking.
A stand mixer or hand mixer is handy to shred the chicken. Add the chicken breasts to the bowl of the stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and turn the mixer on low. Let it shred for 1-2 minutes until the chicken is fully shredded.
You can use premade taco seasoning or you can easily and quickly make your own homemade taco seasoning.
If you are making this ahead of time, feel free to natural release the pressure and let the chicken stay in the Instant Pot until you are ready to shred it.
Serve this chicken with a Mexican Moscow Mule for a fun and festive dinner!

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do with leftovers?

Place leftovers in an airtight container and keep them in the refrigerator up to 4 days. To reheat them, place them in a microwave safe bowl and microwave them for 1-2 minutes. This Mexican chicken recipe is also great for meal prep!

Can I freeze this chicken?

Yes! Place the shredded chicken into a freezer bag or freezer safe containers and make sure to label them. They will stay in the freezer up to 3 months. To defrost, place the chicken in the refrigerator and let it defrost.

How should I serve this chicken recipe?

Serve this Mexican shredded chicken in burrito bowls, on top of taco salad, or taco shells with Instant Pot cilantro lime rice or Instant Pot Mexican rice for a delicious, spicy dinner any night of the week! Top this easy recipe with sour cream, pico de gallo, black beans, more salsa, and lots of shredded cheddar cheese!

An overhead shot of a bowl with the Instant Pot Mexican Shredded Chicken — This is perfect for Taco Tuesday or for Burrito bowls!

More Recipes to Try!

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📖 Recipe