Prepare Instant Pot Chipotle Chicken for a quick and easy meal! It transforms boring chicken breasts into flavorful, smoky, and slightly spicy shredded chicken. The ideal way to celebrate Taco Tuesday!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Made with Pantry Spices
- Done in Less Than Thirty Minutes
- Gluten Free, Dairy Free, and Low FODMAP Recipe
Featured Ingredients
- Chicken Breasts - Boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
- Chicken Broth - Use homemade or a low sodium option.
- Garlic Infused Olive Oil - Adds additional fat and garlic flavor
- Spice Mix: Chipotle chili powder, dried oregano, ancho chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper - a balanced, flavorful spice mix.
- Lime Juice - Adds brightness to the cooked chicken.
See the recipe card for the exact measurements and complete instructions.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Grab a 6-quart Instant Pot. Make sure the sealing ring is securely placed inside the cover. To the liner pot, add the chicken broth, garlic oil, and spices. Stir.
Step 2: Nestle the chicken breasts into the spicy broth at the bottom of the pot. Place lid on and set the valve to sealing if needed. Cook the chicken on high pressure for 12 minutes.
Once the timer beeps to indicate the chicken is done, allow the Instant Pot to naturally release pressure for 10 minutes. After ten minutes, quick release any remaining pressure.
Step 3: Using tongs, remove the chicken breasts. Shred the chicken with two forks on a cutting board.
Once the chicken is shredded, add it back to the cooking liquid.
Step 4: Squeeze in the fresh lime juice and stir. I love to use my citrus juicer! It gets every drop of lime juice.
Keep the Instant Pot set to keep warm.
Tips and Tricks
Need to quickly shred chicken? Use an electric mixer or a stand mixer with a paddle attachment. Do this while the chicken is still warm for best results.
Want sliced chicken? Wait until the chicken breasts cool down. It will be much easier to slice.
Ingredient Swaps
- Love dark meat? Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead.
- Chicken Stock - Use chicken stock instead of chicken broth.
- Salsa - Swap out the chicken broth for your favorite salsa.
How To Use Shredded Chipotle Chicken
Chicken Tostadas: Grab a package of corn tostada shells from the grocery store. Pile on all the toppings you love to the top of the crispy shells.
Chipotle Chicken Tacos: Add a spoonful of shredded chicken to hard-shell tacos, corn tortillas, or flour tortillas.
Burrito Rice Bowls: Make a batch of Instant Pot cilantro lime brown rice and add a few spoonfuls of chipotle chicken. Then add homemade salsa, shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped romaine lettuce, and a scoop of low FODMAP guacamole.
Chicken Taco Salad: Swap out the ground beef for shredded chipotle chicken in a taco salad recipe.
Chicken Flautas: Swap the chicken for the chipotle chicken in the chicken flautas recipe. Make sure to drain off as much liquid as you can to keep the flautas crispy.
Reader Love
"We have used this chicken for a couple things already and can see so many more great meal options. Our favorite so far is the chipotle chicken rice bowls."
- Christie
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Toppings
- Salsa Options: Low FODMAP Salsa, Fresh Corn Salsa
- Creamy Options: Lime Crema, Avocado Lime Crema
- Veggie Options: Sauteed Bell Peppers, Pickled Jalapeno Peppers
- Sauce Options: Green Taco Sauce, Hot Sauce, Mexi-Ranch, Ranch Dressing
- Fresh Options: Fresh Cilantro, Green Onions, Fresh Lime Juice
Storing and Reheating
Store: Keep leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. This chipotle chicken tastes even better the next day.
Reheat: Place leftovers on a microwave safe plate and warm for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway in between cooking time.
Freeze: Chilled leftover chicken freezes great! Use a freezer-friendly container and freeze chicken for up to four months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
FAQs
Yes! I have used frozen chicken in the Instant Pot with success! I use the same cooking time and take the internal temperature with a digital thermometer. The chicken is done when it reaches 165 degrees F.
Yes! Place the chicken breasts, chicken broth, and spices into a freezer zip-top bag. Lay flat to freeze. Defrost enough to get all the liquid out of the bag. Then, proceed with cooking the chicken in the Instant Pot.
Yes! Cook the chicken and spices on low for 2-3 hours or until an internal temperature of 165 degrees F is reached.
What To Serve With Chipotle Chicken
Whether it is tostadas or chicken tacos, add a side of Instant Pot cilantro lime rice. Unless you are making rice bowls - then use it as the base of the bowl. Add a side of black beans and a slice of cornbread.
Additional Instant Pot Recipes
- Instant Pot Greek Chicken - A delicious Greek-inspired chicken recipe. Perfect for salads or wraps.
- Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken - A flavorful, not-too-spicy shredded buffalo chicken. It is great in rice bowls topped with ranch dressing.
- Instant Pot Wild Rice Blend - A hands-off way to make wild rice blend. It works as a simple side dish or as an ingredient in a casserole.
Still looking for delicious Instant Pot recipes? Discover an old favorite or something exciting and new!
Love This Recipe?
Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating + comment. It helps so much, and we love hearing from everyone! Thank You -Venessa
Recipe
Instant Pot Chipotle Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken breasts boneless and skinless about 2-3 breasts
- 1 cup chicken broth (Note 1)
- 2 tablespoons garlic infused olive oil (Note 2)
- 1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon ancho chili powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon lime juice about 1 lime
Instructions
- Place the sealing ring in the cover of a 6-quart Instant Pot.
- Add chicken broth, garlic oil and chipotle chili powder, dried oregano, ancho chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and ground black pepper to the inside liner pot. Stir until the spices are combined with the broth and garlic oil.
- Nestle the chicken breasts into the liquid.
- Add the cover, make sure the sealing ring is in place, and cook on high pressure for 12 minutes.
- Once done cooking, naturally release the pressure for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, release any remaining pressure and remove the cover.
- Remove the cooked chicken breasts and shred them with two forks on a cutting board.
- Place the shredded chicken back into the cooking liquid and stir.
- Add the lime juice to the shredded chicken. Stir again.
- Keep the Instant Pot set to keep warm.
- Serve the shredded chicken in tacos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, taco salads, or tostadas.
Christine Kainwo says
We have used this chicken for a couple things already and can see so many more great meal options. Our favorite so far is the chipotle chicken rice bowls. Some of our family also use cauliflower rice and either way- the flavor is great and everyone enjoys this meal.
Venessa Mandelkow says
I love it when a recipe works for more than one meal idea and everyone loves it! Thanks for commenting and letting me know! I love getting feedback and hearing how families are using recipes to get dinner on the table.
-Venessa