Instant Pot Salsa Chicken: Only 3 Ingredients

Why I love this Salsa Chicken recipe

Making shredded chicken in the pressure cooker gives you perfectly tender pieces of meat. It only takes 3 ingredients. Load in the Instant Pot, set the cooking cycle and walk away!

The cooking time is only 18 minutes, and the pressure cooker will require time to pressurize and depressurize. But that is actually very flexible. I will typically set this up to cook and start the cycle, then leave the house to go run a few errands.

I recommend you wait at least 20 minutes after the cycle is done before releasing any remaining pressure and opening the Instant Pot. But I have let this go for an hour before touching it and it was just great. Gotta love that kind of flexibility. ❤️

Ingredients

How to make Salsa Chicken in the Instant Pot

To start, place the boneless skinless chicken thighs, taco seasoning, and salsa in the Instant Pot.

Set your Instant Pot to the Meat/Stew setting (18 minutes). Cover, seal, and start.

Once the Instant Pot is finished, allow it to depressurize for at least 20 minutes before using the quick release to vent the remaining pressure.

I typically set this up an hour or more before I need it and just let it vent naturally. The Instant Pot keeps the meat warm, and I use the time to make all the other items on my list. Just always verify that the Instant Pot is fully vented (all pressure has released) before removing the lid.

Shred the Salsa Chicken

Once you open the Instant Pot, take a couple forks and shred your meat. If you let the Instant Pot keep everything warm for a long time, simply stirring with a spoon might be enough.

One thing you will notice - this is quite "soupy" just from the liquid of the salsa and the meat juices.

If I want it a little drier I typically take some out and put it in a small bowl, then take "from the top" when using the meat for a burrito or chicken quesadilla. This helps prevent these meals from getting all soggy-nobody wants that!

If you are making burrito bowls or taco salads then the liquid is probably not a problem. It’s all a matter of personal preference.

Serving suggestions for Salsa Chicken

Use this instant pot salsa chicken recipe on the weekend, and save the chicken in the fridge in an airtight container. You'll be all set to make a quick dinner on a busy weeknight.

Use the delicious salsa chicken to make chicken quesadillas, chicken tacos, taquitos, or a burrito bowl. Add some black beans, tortilla chips, and a little sour cream and savor the flavor!

Serve with Brown Rice and Bean Bake, Black Bean Soup, and/or Crunch Wraps for a great Tex-Mex meal!

If you enjoyed this Instant Pot Salsa Chicken, you might want to check out my Keto Taco Casserole, Fajita Chicken or Keto Chicken Taco Casserole for even more Yummy Tex-Mex food.

p.s. goes great with a Keto Margarita!!

Salsa chicken is something the whole family will enjoy!

Sula’s Tips/Variations

I use chicken thighs, but boneless skinless chicken breasts are another great option.

Use your favorite salsa for this. If you have a jar of salsa in your fridge, just pull that out and use some in this recipe! Even homemade salsa works. I use medium “heat” salsa, but mild salsa or something more exciting would be fun to try. 😁

More Instant Pot Chicken Recipes

Instant Pot Chicken and Barley Soup

Instant Pot Chicken Stew

Instant Pot French Onion Chicken