5-Minute Prep: Best Instant Pot Chicken Tacos Recipe

Hey there, busy home cook! 👋

Let me tell you about a dinner game-changer that's about to become your new best friend! You know those hectic weeknights when everyone's hungry, time is tight, and you still want to put something amazing on the table? Well, these Instant Pot chicken tacos are here to save the day!

Think about it - in the same time it takes to watch one episode of your favorite show, your Instant Pot will transform regular chicken into the most tender, juicy, flavor-packed taco filling you can imagine. The magic happens when all those wonderful Mexican spices get sealed in with the chicken, creating something that tastes like it's been cooking all day long.

The best part? While your Instant Pot is doing all the hard work, you're free to help with homework, catch up on emails, or just take a much-needed breather. When that timer beeps, you'll have perfectly shredded chicken that's ready to be tucked into warm tortillas and topped with all your favorite fixings.

Why You'll Love This Instant Pot Chicken Tacos Recipe

Hey friend, let me tell you why these Instant Pot chicken tacos are about to become your new favorite dinner buddy!

You know how sometimes the tastiest Instant Pot Chicken Tacos seem to take forever to make? Well, this is where your Instant Pot becomes your kitchen superhero! It does something pretty amazing - it takes all those wonderful Mexican spices and literally pressures them into the chicken, creating flavor that tastes like it's been cooking all day long. But here's the magical part - it does it in a fraction of the time!

Think about those busy nights when you're juggling a million things but still want to put something special on the table. That's where these tacos really shine. Instead of babysitting a pot on the stove or waiting hours for a slow cooker, your Instant Pot transforms ordinary chicken into tender, juicy, perfectly seasoned taco filling while you're helping with homework or catching up on your day.

The best part? These Instant Pot Chicken Tacos taste like they came from your favorite Mexican restaurant - you know, the one where the servers know your name and bring extra salsa without asking? But you made them right in your own kitchen! Whether you're keeping up the Taco Tuesday tradition or just need a quick dinner that'll make everyone smile, these tacos deliver that "made with love" taste without keeping you chained to the kitchen.

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love This Instant Pot Chicken Tacos Recipe
• Ingredients
• Instant Pot Chicken Tacos Instructions
• Equipment For Instant Pot Chicken Tacos
• Storage and Meal Prep
• Recipe Variations
• Top Tip
• Grandma's Magic Touch:
• FAQ
• I'd love to hear how your Instant Pot chicken tacos turned out!
• Related
• Pairing
• Instant Pot Chicken Tacos Recipe

Ingredients

Hey there, let's get everything ready for some amazing Instant Pot Chicken Tacos! I'll help you organize all these ingredients so making dinner will be a breeze! 🌮

For Our Star Player - The Chicken:

• Start with 2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts - this will make plenty for everyone with maybe even some leftovers (which, trust me, you'll want!)
• We'll need 1 cup of chicken broth to help create that amazing sauce
• Grab a 14 oz can of diced tomatoes - these add such nice flavor and color
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil to get things started right
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced (or more if you're a garlic lover - I won't judge!)
• 1 medium onion, diced - this adds such wonderful flavor to our sauce

Our Flavor-Boosting Seasoning Mix:

• 2 tablespoons of chili powder - this is our base flavor
• 1 tablespoon of ground cumin - it adds that authentic Mexican warmth
• 1 teaspoon each of paprika, oregano, and salt - these work together like best friends
• ½ teaspoon of black pepper for a little kick
• And if you're feeling adventurous, ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper - totally optional, you know your family's spice tolerance best!

For The Fun Part - All The Toppings:

• 12-15 tortillas (corn or flour - whatever makes you happy!)
• Fresh lime wedges for that perfect zing
• Diced onions for crunch
• Plenty of chopped cilantro for freshness
• Crisp shredded lettuce
• Juicy diced tomatoes
• Your favorite shredded cheese (the more the merrier!)
• A dollop of cool sour cream
• And creamy avocado slices because... well, avocado makes everything better!

Instant Pot Chicken Tacos Instructions

Let me walk you through making these amazing Instant Pot chicken tacos - it's easier than you might think! 🌮

Getting Everything Ready:

First, let's set ourselves up for success! Mix all those wonderful seasonings in a small bowl - this is your flavor magic that'll make everything delicious. While you're at it, get your onion diced and garlic minced. Take a look at your chicken breasts - if they're super thick, just slice them in half so they'll cook evenly and soak up all that flavor.

Let's Get Cooking:

Now for the fun part! Start by waking up your IInstant Pot Chicken Tacos with the SAUTÉ mode. Once it's hot, add your olive oil and let those onions dance around in there for 2-3 minutes until they're soft and fragrant. Toss in your minced garlic for a quick 30-second encore - your kitchen should be smelling amazing right about now!

Hit CANCEL (goodbye, sauté mode!), and let's add our star ingredients. Place your chicken breasts in the pot and give them a generous sprinkle of your seasoning mix. Pour in that chicken broth and tomatoes - they're going to help create the most incredible sauce.

The Magic Moment:

Close up your Instant Pot Chicken Tacos (make sure that valve is set to SEALING), and set it for 12 minutes on HIGH PRESSURE. This is your chance to get those toppings ready! After the cooking time is up, let it naturally release for 5 minutes - think of it as a little rest for the chicken. Then carefully release any remaining pressure.

The Grand Finale:

Here comes the fun part! Take out that perfectly cooked chicken and shred it using two forks - it should pull apart like butter. Pop it back in the pot to soak up all those amazing juices for a few minutes. Meanwhile, warm up your tortillas (I like to give them a quick toast in a dry skillet).

Equipment For Instant Pot Chicken Tacos

• 6-quart Instant Pot or larger
• Measuring spoons
• Cutting board
• Sharp knife
• Two forks for shredding
• Small bowl for mixing seasonings

Storage and Meal Prep

The cooked Instant Pot Chicken Tacos can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For meal prep, portion the shredded chicken into individual containers and store toppings separately. The chicken also freezes well for up to 3 months – perfect for future taco nights!

Recipe Variations

• Make it spicier by adding extra cayenne pepper or diced jalapeños
• Use chicken thighs instead of breasts for richer flavor
• For a low-carb option, serve over cauliflower rice or lettuce wraps
• Add a can of black beans or corn to the pot for extra texture and nutrition

Grandma's Magic Touch:

You might wonder what grandma would think about using an Instant Pot Chicken Tacos, but here's a secret - she'd probably love it! While she spent hours perfecting her recipes, she always said the most important ingredient was making sure there was plenty of time to spend with family instead of being stuck in the kitchen. This recipe captures that same spirit, using modern tools to create those deep, developed flavors she was famous for.

Here's what grandma would have loved about making Instant Pot Chicken Tacos this way:

• Just like she taught us to toast our spices to wake up their flavors, the Instant Pot's sauté function lets us build those same rich flavor foundations
• Remember how she'd always say "patience makes perfect" while waiting for meat to become tender? The Instant Pot creates that same fork-tender texture, just much faster
• She always insisted on letting flavors meld together - that's why we let the shredded chicken sit in its cooking liquid for those final few minutes, just like she would
• And most importantly, she'd love how this quick cooking method means more time for what really matters - gathering around the table with loved ones

As grandma always said, "Good food brings family together, but the best meals are the ones where you're not too tired to enjoy the company." This recipe honors her wisdom by creating those same slow-cooked flavors while giving you more time to make memories around the table.

FAQ

I'd love to hear how your Instant Pot chicken tacos turned out!

This recipe transforms simple chicken into incredibly tender, flavor-packed taco filling that's infused with Mexican-inspired spices. The pressure cooking method helps all those aromatic ingredients - the chili powder, cumin, garlic, and onions - penetrate deep into the meat, creating layers of flavor that taste like they've been developing for hours instead of minutes.
Speaking of flavorful chicken dishes, if you enjoyed this recipe, I think you'll absolutely love our Smothered Chicken Recipe next. While it takes us from Mexican-inspired cuisine to Southern comfort food, it shares that same principle of transforming chicken into something extraordinarily tender and flavorful. Both recipes show how the right cooking method and seasonings can elevate simple chicken into a memorable meal.

And please don't forget to share a photo of your creation! There's something special about seeing how everyone builds their perfect taco - whether you're team corn tortillas or flour, extra spicy or mild, loaded with toppings or keeping it simple. Your photo might just inspire someone else to fire up their Instant Pot and create their own taco feast! 📸

Related

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Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with Instant Pot Chicken Tacos