How to cook: 10 Easy Instant Pot Recipes For Beginners
New to your Instant Pot? Unlock delicious meals with our easy Instant Pot recipes for beginners. This recipe for Shredded Chicken Tacos is a perfect first meal to master. Find quick, simple pressure cooker dinners. Learn how.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 oz packet taco seasoning or 2-3 tablespoons of homemade
- 1 cup salsa your favorite kind
- 1 lime juiced
- For serving: tortillas, cilantro, avocado, cheese, sour cream
Instructions
- Set your Instant Pot to the 'Sauté' function on normal heat. Add the olive oil. Once the oil is shimmering, add the diced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened.
- Add the minced garlic and sauté for another minute until fragrant. Press 'Cancel' to turn off the Sauté mode.
- Pour in the chicken broth and use a wooden spoon or spatula to scrape all the browned bits from the bottom of the pot. This step, called deglazing, is crucial to prevent the 'Burn' notice.
- Place the chicken breasts into the pot in an even layer. Sprinkle the taco seasoning over the chicken, then pour the salsa on top. Do not stir at this stage.
- Secure the lid on the Instant Pot. Make sure the steam release valve is turned to the 'Sealing' position.
- Select the 'Pressure Cook' (or 'Manual') button and use the +/- buttons to set the time to 10 minutes on High Pressure. The Instant Pot will take 5-10 minutes to come to pressure before the cooking timer begins.
- Once the 10-minute cook time is complete, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes (this is called a Natural Pressure Release or NPR). The float valve will likely still be up.
- After 10 minutes of natural release, carefully move the steam release valve to the 'Venting' position to release any remaining pressure. Once the float valve drops, it is safe to open the lid.
- Carefully remove the chicken breasts and place them in a large bowl. Use two forks to shred the chicken. It should be very tender and pull apart easily.
- Return the shredded chicken to the sauce in the Instant Pot. Squeeze in the fresh lime juice and stir everything together to coat the chicken in the delicious sauce.
- Serve the shredded chicken warm in tortillas with your favorite toppings like cilantro, diced avocado, shredded cheese, and sour cream.
Notes
Beginner Tip: The most common error for new users is the 'Burn' notice. Always make sure you have enough thin liquid (like broth or water) and that you've deglazed the pot after sautéing. Pouring thicker ingredients like salsa on top without stirring also helps prevent this.
Variations: You can use boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead of breasts for more flavor; the cook time remains the same. For a fuller meal, stir in a can of drained black beans or corn after shredding the chicken.
Storage: Leftover chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. It's fantastic for making quesadillas, nachos, or topping a salad later in the week.
