3 Ingredient Chicken Tacos {Instant Pot or Slow Cooker} Recipe
This easy 3 Ingredient Chicken Tacos recipe uses either an Instant Pot or a Slow Cooker to quickly prepare tender, flavorful shredded chicken with just chicken breasts, salsa, and taco seasoning. Perfect for a hassle-free weeknight dinner, this versatile recipe creates deliciously seasoned chicken ideal for tacos or other Mexican-inspired dishes.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes (Instant Pot) or 2-5 hours (Slow Cooker)
- Total Time: 17 minutes (Instant Pot) or up to 5 hours (Slow Cooker)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts (fresh or frozen, about 3)
Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon taco seasoning
Sauce
- 1 cup salsa
Instructions
- Prepare Instant Pot: Place 1 cup salsa in the Instant Pot’s inner pot, then arrange the chicken breasts on top of the salsa.
- Season Chicken: Sprinkle 1 teaspoon taco seasoning evenly over the chicken breasts to infuse flavor.
- Secure Lid and Seal: Close the Instant Pot lid securely and make sure the pressure valve is set to the ‘sealed’ position.
- Cook Chicken: Set the Instant Pot to cook on high pressure for 12 minutes if using frozen chicken, or 8 minutes if using fresh chicken. The pot requires an additional 10-15 minutes to come to pressure before the countdown starts.
- Pressure Release: Once cooking time completes, allow a natural pressure release for 5 minutes, then perform a quick release to release any remaining pressure.
- Shred Chicken: Use two forks to shred the cooked chicken directly in the pot, mixing it thoroughly with the salsa to combine flavors.
- Prepare Slow Cooker Option: For slow cooking, place the salsa in the slow cooker crock, add the chicken breasts on top, and sprinkle taco seasoning over the chicken.
- Slow Cook Chicken: Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours until the chicken is tender.
- Shred and Mix: Shred the chicken using two forks and mix it with the salsa in the slow cooker.
Notes
- Can use fresh or frozen chicken breasts; adjust Instant Pot cooking time accordingly.
- If preferred, use homemade or store-bought salsa to customize flavor.
- Serve shredded chicken in taco shells or tortillas with your favorite toppings.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.
- Recipe can be doubled easily for larger groups.
Keywords: 3 ingredient chicken tacos, instant pot chicken tacos, slow cooker chicken tacos, shredded chicken tacos, easy taco recipe, quick chicken tacos