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Salsa Chicken in the Instant Pot

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Salsa chicken is a great quick dinner when you make it in the instant pot. You can even start with dry black beans. Make some rice and get your favorite toppings ready while it cooks.

Burrito bowl made with cilantro lime rice, salsa chicken, salsa, sour cream, and shredded cheese in front of an instant pot.

Salsa chicken is the perfect topping for burrito bowls or filling for burritos. It is made fast and easy in the instant pot.

About the Recipe

This recipe is  super economical and starts with dried beans, but you can easily sub in canned black beans if you’d rather.

Ever since we first tried crockpot salsa chicken however many years ago, it has been a favorite dinner. It’s a super simple dump and go slow cooker recipe that nets big flavor.

Dry black beans in the bottom of an instant pot.

We love it on some cilantro lime rice and piled high with our favorite toppings like sour cream, avocado, cheese, cilantro and more salsa. It also makes a great burrito filling if that’s more your style.

But sometimes dump and go recipes are still too much work on a busy weekday morning. And sometimes you get home from work and no dinner is planned.

Chicken, salsa, corn and taco seasoning added to instant pot.

That is where the instant pot can come to your rescue! You can start with dry beans and even frozen chicken and still have dinner on the table in under an hour.

Using dry beans makes this dinner super affordable, but if you happen to have cans of black beans they will work too! It will even shave a few minutes off the cook time!

bowl of cilantro lime rice topped with salsa chicken and toppings.

So next time you are in a panic about what you’ll make for dinner, relax! The instant pot will make it easy for you!

More Instant Pot Recipes

For more Tex-Mex flavors, try making Instant Pot taco soup or salsa verde pork. Both are delicious and using the pressure cooker makes them so much faster.

Rice bowl topped with salsa chicken, salsa, cheese, and sour cream in front of Instant Pot.

Some of our other favorites include Instant Pot chicken risotto, and Instant Pot lasagna soup. Of course you can make a great ham and bean soup in the Instant Pot as well.

If you like the ease of using a pressure cooker, check out my full collection of Instant Pot recipes for more inspiration.

Burrito bowl made with cilantro lime rice, salsa chicken, salsa, sour cream, and shredded cheese in front of an instant pot.

Salsa Chicken in the Instant Pot

Carlee
Salsa chicken is a great quick dinner when you make it in the instant pot. You can even start with dry black beans! Make some rice and get your favorite toppings ready while it cooks!
4.73 from 11 ratings
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Dinners
Cuisine American
Servings 8 Servings
Calories 260 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 1 pound chicken breasts boneless, skinless
  • cups dried black beans*
  • cups frozen corn
  • 1 cup salsa
  • 1 package taco seasoning
  • 3 cups water*
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • cilantro to taste

Instructions
 

  • Spray instant pot insert with cooking spray.
  • Place all ingredients but the cilantro in the instant pot. Cook on high pressure for 35 minutes, then allow to slow release the steam.
    1 pound chicken breasts, 1½ cups dried black beans*, 1½ cups frozen corn, 1 cup salsa, 1 package taco seasoning, 3 cups water*, 1 medium onion
  • Shred chicken with two forks, then stir in chopped cilantro.
    cilantro to taste
  • Serve in burritos or over rice with your favorite toppings.

Notes

* if using canned beans, reduce water to ¾ cup and reduce cooking time to 15 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 260kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 27gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 48mgSodium: 342mgFiber: 7gSugar: 4g
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Recipe Rating




Evelyn

Friday 29th of December 2023

Does timing change if using frozen chicken?

Carlee

Saturday 30th of December 2023

No, you can keep the same timing. It will just take an extra minute or two to come to full pressure.

Amy

Monday 6th of November 2023

The recipe says cook 35 mins then in the description it says 25 minutes and later on it says to shave off 15 minutes of the cook time if you’re using canned black beans. So,cook it for 35 minutes not 25 we went with the 25 and the beans were not done we used dry beans. It was super tasty, will make again.

Carlee

Tuesday 7th of November 2023

I am glad you liked it. I will take a look at the instructions and try to make them more clear. Thank you!

Big Rigs 'n Lil' Cookies

Wednesday 6th of March 2019

I made part of this in the IP tonight, and I was wondering if I couldn't change that up to the whole meal in the IP! I'm all over this!

Carlee

Thursday 14th of March 2019

Just chuck it all in there! I've been having fun experimenting with the IP lately. You'll have to let me know if you have any favorites!

Carlee

Tuesday 26th of February 2019

It makes these kind of recipes so quick and easy.

Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen

Tuesday 19th of February 2019

This looks really good and is pushing further convincing me that I need to get myself an instant pot--I'm seeing so many great IP recipes lately!