Three-ingredient Mexican Shredded Chicken cooks in just 10 minutes in the Instant Pot! Moist, delicious shredded chicken with south-of-the border flavor is so great in everything from Mexican dishes to salads.
This Mexican chicken recipe is delicious and also one of the easiest Instant Pot recipes you'll make. It's a great recipe for an easy dinner and a healthy meal with minimal effort and maximum flavor! The whole family will love it.
You can use it in so many ways. This easy Mexican shredded chicken recipe is a low carb low calorie keeper!
Jump to:
- Why you'll love it
- What makes this skinny?
- Recipe Ingredients Notes
- Cooking Times for Large or Frozen Chicken Breasts
- How to Make Instant Pot Mexican Shredded Chicken - Step-by-Step
- Best Method to shred chicken
- Variation
- Recipe Tips
- How to Use the Mexican Shredded Chicken
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Storing Leftovers
- More recipes you'll love!
- Recipe
Why you'll love it
Having an ingredient like this Mexican shredded chicken is a 'must have' in your skinny food arsenal. You'll love it because:
- it's so FAST & EASY to make
- only 3 ingredients
- it's moist and packed with flavor
- easy to to change up to give it different flavor and heat levels
- it can be used in SO many ways (ideas below)
- can be made with fresh or frozen chicken
- great for meal prep
What makes this skinny?
It's made of only lean boneless chicken breasts, seasoning and salsa. All are low in calories. No oil is needed or used.
Recipe Ingredients Notes
Only three simple ingredients are needed!
Salsa. Use restaurant-style, or a more liquid salsa for this recipe versus a less liquid salsa like pico de gallo. It can be smooth or chunky but should have more liquid (see photos).
You can make it as spicy (or mild) as you prefer. Just pick the heat level you like when you select the salsa you'll use.
Taco Seasoning. Store-bought or homemade taco seasoning can be used. We like using homemade taco seasoning which has a perfect blend of spices and is not as salty tasting as store bought taco seasoning.
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts. You'll need 2 pounds of boneless skinless breasts are used; 4 8-ounce breasts as an estimate.
Chicken breasts range widely in size and the larger the breasts the longer cooking time is required. Aim for 4 boneless breasts equaling a total of 2 pounds.
Cooking Times for Large or Frozen Chicken Breasts
Instructions are included for larger chicken breasts and frozen ones too.
Up to 12 ounces - 10 minutes cook time
Over 10 ounces or using frozen chicken breasts - 15 minute cooking time
How to Make Instant Pot Mexican Shredded Chicken - Step-by-Step
Full printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
STEP 1. Preparation
Combine the salsa and taco seasoning and stir to fully mix (photo 1).
Pour half of the salsa mixture into the Instant Pot. Spread to lightly cover the insert bottom (photo 2).
Add the chicken breasts side by side (photo 3) and pour the remaining sauce over them (photo 4).
STEP 2. Pressure Cook
Seal the lid and set the vent to SEALING. Set the Instant Pot to HIGH PRESSURE (Manual setting) for 10 minutes.
NOTE: if using frozen chicken breasts or very large breasts (12-ounces or more) set the time to 15 minutes instead.
When cooking completes allow a NATURAL RELEASE for 10 minutes. NOTE: the pressure may not take that long to release.
Follow with a Quick Release to relieve any remaining pressure.
Remove the chicken from the pressure cooker and keep the Instant Pot on WARM (default setting after cooking).
STEP 3. Shred the chicken
Use our favorite method to shred chicken (below) or place the chicken on a cutting board and use 2 forks to shred the chicken. Return it to the Instant Pot (photo 6). Turn the meat to fully coat with the sauce.
Best Method to shred chicken
This is a life-changer tip if you haven't done it before. Using a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, place the cooked chicken breasts into the bowl of the stand mixer. Run the mixer on a very low speed just to shred the chicken. High speeds will shred the chicken into very small pieces (usually smaller than you'll want).
It only takes 30-60 seconds. No mess, no fuss. It works for other cooked meats too!
Variation
Boneless skinless chicken thighs can also be used. Adjust the calories accordingly.
Recipe Tips
Coat the chicken with the sauce. After cooking and shredding the chicken putting it back in the Instant Pot and coating it with sauce makes a huge difference. This allows more surface area of the chicken to be coated with the sauce which makes the chicken moister and more flavorful.
Store leftovers with the sauce. Keep the sauce to store with any leftovers or if freezing the chicken.
How to Use the Mexican Shredded Chicken
This delicious recipe will become a favorite especially when you realize how many ways there are to use it! Here are some ideas:
- Any Mexican food recipes: enchiladas, burritos, tostadas, nachos, taquitos
- In soups and salads (great for a Taco Salad)
- In omelets or air fryer frittatas
- Over cauliflower Mexican rice with some black beans, fresh shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, favorite toppings and a drizzle of lime juice (think slimmed down burrito bowls). Use a dollop of non-fat plain Greek yogurt on top of the chicken instead of sour cream.
- On our Black Bean Spaghetti taco pasta
Frequently Asked Questions
The only important aspect is using a more watery salsa. The rest is up to what you enjoy. If you love a smoky, spicy salsa chipotle salsa is great. Love green chilies? Try a salsa verde. You could even use enchilada sauce. It's a very flexible recipe.
Yes although monitor it closely. The blades of a hand mixer tend to process the chicken into smaller pieces faster than the paddle attachment of a stand mixer.
Storing Leftovers
In the Refrigerator:
Store in an airtight container with the cooking liquids for up to 4 days.
In the Freezer:
Add the chicken and cooking liquids to a freezer safe container or freezer bag. Remove as much air as possible. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Thaw in the refrigerator. Reheat in the microwave. Consider freezing in single portion servings for easy use for emergency dinner rotation!
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Recipe
Instant Pot Mexican Shredded Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup restaurant-style salsa
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning homemade or store bought
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts 4 8-ounce chicken breasts
Instructions
- Combine the salsa and taco seasoning; stir to fully mix together.
- Pour half of the mixture into the Instant Pot and spread to lightly cover the the bottom of the insert.
- Place the chicken breasts beside each other in the Instant Pot. Pour the remaining salsa mixture on top of the chicken.
- Close the lid, set the valve to SEALING. Select MANUAL HIGH PRESSURE and adjust the time to 10 minutes.
- After the cooking completes, allow a Natural Release for 10 minutes or until the pressure is released (it may be shorter than 10 minutes).
- Open the lid and turn the Instant Pot to WARM. Remove the chicken from the instant pot and shred with two forks or using a stand mixer with paddle attachment.
- Place the shredded chicken back into the Instant Pot and coat fully with the sauce.
Notes
Up to 12 ounces - 10 minutes cook time
Over 10 ounces or using frozen chicken breasts - 15 minute cooking time How to Store In the Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container with the cooking liquids for up to 4 days. In the Freezer: Add the chicken and cooking liquids to a freezer safe container or freezer bag. Remove as much air as possible. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator. Reheat in the microwave. Consider freezing in single portion servings for easy use for emergency dinner rotation!
Red says
Can this be adjusted to a 8 qt. instant pot, and if so, how much more salsa would be required?
Toni Dash says
We've only made the recipe in a 6 quart Instant Pot Red so I couldn't verify based on experience how it will cook in an 8 quart. However, the base amount of liquid for a 6 quart per Instant Pot brand is 1 cup and 1 1/2 cups for an 8 quart. So at a minimum I would increase the salsa amount to 1 1/2 cups. Do let us know how it turns out!
Lizet says
I've made it several times already. It delicious and we get 2 meals out of it.
Tayler says
I’ve made this chicken several times and it always turns out perfectly. We love putting it on tacos!