
Instant Pot Chicken Tacos
These Chicken Tacos may look like your typical tacos, but let me assure you, they are so much better. I don’t know about you, but I try and use my Instant Pot as often as possible. This amazing magic cooking machine that was invented, makes my life so much easier. You are literally throwing all the ingredients into a giant pot (your meat can even be frozen), hitting start, coming back 30 minutes later and BOOM your dinner is done. This is the DREAM.
With this recipe your chicken can be frozen or fresh, you just have to adjust your time and water amount accordingly. If you are using frozen chicken, you use less water but more time, and if you are using fresh chicken, it will take more water, but less time to cook.
Since everyone will be using different sizes and thickness of chicken, the base time to do is about 18-20 minutes (not including quick release time). I recently made it, and used smaller thinner chicken tenderloins, so it didn’t take nearly as long to cook. The most important thing to remember with this recipe, is after you do the quick release, take off the lid and check the internal temperature. It should always be 165 degrees F or more. If its not, put the lid back on and set for another 5 minutes.

A great thing about tacos, is that they are so customizable to your liking. If you like your tacos spicier, you can use a spicy salsa and add chopped jalapeños. Maybe you’re not a fan of brown rice, omit it and use cooked quinoa if you wish. I love using corn tortillas, but flour tortillas are amazing as well!
Here are some of my favorite taco toppings:
Shredded cheese
Diced red onion
Avocado
Sour cream
Olives
Jalapeños
Cilantro
Tomatoes
Salsa
Lime or lemon wedges

Instant Pot Chicken Tacos
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 12–16 small tacos 1x
Description
These are the Best Instant Pot Chicken Tacos, full of juicy and moist shredded chicken. Perfect on tortillas, burritos, or even on top for lettuce for a great taco salad.
Ingredients
Instant Pot Chicken Tacos:
- 6 small chicken tenderloins, or 2-3 large chicken breasts (see notes)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 can black beans (15.25 oz), drained and rinsed
- 1 1/2 cups frozen corn
- 1 heaping cup of salsa
- 3/4 cup red onion, diced
- 2 large garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup cooked brown rice
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 3/4–1 cup water (see notes)
For Serving:
- Corn tortillas
- Optional toppings: Cheese, Sour Cream, Diced red onion, Avocado, Diced jalapeños
Instructions
- In the Instant Pot, add all the ingredients except for the cooked brown rice and tortillas. Mix together with a spatula. Make sure the chicken is fully covered in liquid/salsa so that it doesn’t dry out.
- Put the lid on and click “Manual” and set it for 20 minutes. Do anywhere from 15-20 minutes if your chicken is fresh, set it from 20-25 minutes if your chicken is frozen. After timer goes off, do quick release. Open and take the temperature of the chicken, make sure it is 165 degrees. If it is lower than that, close the lid and set it on manual for another 5 minutes. Do quick release again and re check the temperature of the chicken.
- After it is done, shred the chicken and add back into the instant pot bowl. Mix in the cooked brown rice.
- Warm up corn tortillas on a cast iron skillet for a few minutes. Spoon some chicken mixture into the corn tortillas and add any additional toppings!
- Enjoy!
Notes
If using frozen chicken, only add 3/4 cup of water. If using fresh, not frozen chicken, add 1 cup of water to the instant pot.
Always check the temperature of the chicken, to make sure it is fully cooked through. 165 degrees F is the temperature to look for. If it is lower than then, pop the instant pot lid back on, and set it for another 5 minutes. Then do a quick release and recheck the chicken’s temp again.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: Mexican
Keywords: Instant Pot Recipes, Instant Pot Tacos, Chicken Tacos, Tacos, Instant Pot Chicken Tacos, Quick and Easy Recipes

