Instant Pot Salsa Chicken

I love making Instant Pot salsa chicken with frozen breasts or fresh because it is such a cheap meal with just 4 ingredients. It has become our favorite meal for taco Tuesdays!

Instant Pot Salsa Chicken with Frozen Chicken Breasts

If you need to make frozen chicken in Instant Pot with a lot more flavor I have an option for you here!! Only difference between fresh, defrosted or right out of the freezer is a few more minutes of pressure cooking. That is it!! That means you can still be the savior of meal time when everyone is hangry around 6pm. 😉

Ninja Foodi Salsa Chicken

Using this machine doesn’t change the cook time so just follow below no matter what you have to cook. Made as one of our Ninja Foodi recipes you just want to use the lid that is not attached. That one seals shut to pressure cook on high until the meat is fork tender.

Is there a difference in cook time with frozen breasts vs. fresh in Instant Pot?

I do add a few more minutes if using frozen boneless skinless chicken breasts because they cannot be sliced like if they were defrosted. Thawed is always better for a more even cook but honestly there isn’t a HUGE difference.

Can you cook chicken with just salsa?

You can especially if it is on the more liquidy style. You do need a touch of liquid but typically what is in the jar is enough because the meat will release juices as they cook as well. I like a chunky Salsa (mild or medium), what we use for Crockpot salsa chicken too.

For the bit of added liquid you can use either water or chicken broth, just a touch is all you need. The salsa juices are in there too remember. 😉 Then to add easy flavor just dump in some taco seasoning right from the packet or homemade taco seasoning.

Other Ingredients You Can Add for Flavor

The two things I like to add if I have them on hand are red and green Bell peppers sliced, and some white or yellow Onions sliced are nice for added flavor and texture too. But optional……

There are a few other choices you could make and add in there too. 1 cup drained and rinsed black beans and kernel corn work too. I do prefer frozen vegetables so they hold up their texture a bit more but canned works too.

I buy some small flour tortillas, shredded cheese and a few avocados with sour cream if I am making tacos.

Can you double this recipe?

I used 2 large boneless chicken chicken breasts. You could easily add up to 4-5 depending on their size. If using frozen chicken breasts the cook time is basically the same, I like to add another 3 minutes just to make sure you can shred the chicken easily.

Some people have been apprehensive because they say you need at least 1.5 cups of water or cooking liquid to cook anything or you’ll get the burn notice. This is not true. The chicken will produce chicken broth when cooked, and the salsa has at least 1/2 cup of juices.

Can I stack chicken breasts?

Yes. Unlike cooking air fryer frozen chicken breasts, the high pressure will reach each piece and with enough time they’ll be fall apart tender. Just be aware that there is a fill line inside the pot, don’t pass that.

You can serve it over Instant Pot white rice too like we did above, both ways are good.

Other Instant Pot chicken Recipes you’ll Love

This Instant Pot chicken recipe is the perfect quick lunch or dinner your whole family will surely love. It’s one of those meals that I make on my oops days. Forgot to defrost meat the night before? NO problem, but it works with fresh from the store too with this or our Instant Pot chicken cacciatore.

You can make our Pressure cooker beer can chicken, shred and make these with salsa over the top. Here you will cut your chicken breasts in half lengthwise and put inside your Instant Pot or pressure cooker. Sprinkle your taco seasoning on top of them.

You can also make our simple and tender Instant Pot teriyaki chicken dish which we normally cut into cubes to begin with but will soak up the sauce well either way. If you want to batch cook I would pressure cook breasts, shred, and then use it for meals in the next few days.

Instant Pot chicken noodle soup is something you can make with the leftovers, a lot quicker when the meat is precooked already. Or throw it into our creamy Instant Pot crack chicken casserole that the kiddos will love.