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Easy Juicy Instant Pot Salsa Chicken Recipe for Perfect Weeknight Dinners

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A quick and easy Instant Pot recipe featuring juicy, tender chicken breasts cooked with flavorful salsa and spices, perfect for busy weeknights.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 cup medium or chunky salsa
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil (optional, for browning)
  • Fresh cilantro (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Pat 1.5 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts dry with paper towels.
  2. In a small bowl, mix 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon chili powder (optional), 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.
  3. Rub the spice blend evenly over both sides of each chicken breast.
  4. Optional: Set the Instant Pot to ‘Sauté’ mode and heat 1 tablespoon olive oil. Brown the chicken breasts for about 2 minutes per side until lightly golden.
  5. Turn off ‘Sauté’ mode. Pour 1 cup of salsa over the chicken breasts in the pot, spreading it gently to cover them.
  6. Seal the Instant Pot lid and set the valve to ‘Sealing.’ Cook on ‘Manual’ or ‘Pressure Cook’ high for 10 minutes (15 minutes if using frozen chicken breasts).
  7. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes, then switch the valve to ‘Venting’ to release remaining pressure.
  8. Open the lid and check that the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). If not, cook a few more minutes using ‘Sauté’ mode with the lid off.
  9. Optional: Transfer chicken to a bowl and shred with two forks. Return shredded chicken to the pot and mix with salsa juices.
  10. Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro before serving.

Notes

Pat chicken dry before seasoning to help spices stick better. Browning chicken before pressure cooking adds flavor but can be skipped. Use natural pressure release to keep chicken juicy. Add a splash of water or chicken broth if salsa is too thick. Leftovers store well in fridge up to 4 days or freezer up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: Instant Pot, salsa chicken, easy dinner, weeknight meal, pressure cooker chicken, quick recipe, healthy chicken

Find it online: https://eliplate.com/easy-juicy-instant-pot-salsa-chicken-recipe-for-perfect-weeknight-dinners/