Print
Overhead view white bowl filled with instant pot salsa chicken served over rice and lettuce

Instant Pot Salsa Chicken with Cilantro-Lime Crema

Everyone loves this easy Instant Pot Salsa Chicken meal! You get flavorful shredded chicken in minutes that tastes good on everything! Make it into a healthy bowl meal with our Cilantro-Lime Crema, or serve it in a tortilla, tacos, or any way you please.

Prep: 10 minsCook: 20 mins (includes time to build pressure)Total: 30 mins
Servings: 8 servings 1x

Ingredients

For the Salsa Chicken:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
  • 1 cup diced yellow onion
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 (14-16 ounce) jar of your favorite salsa (mild or medium)
  • 1 (15 ounce) can no salt added black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 (15 ounce) can no salt added sweet corn, drained (may sub 1 ½ cups frozen corn)
  • ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth or water 
  • 2 tablespoons Homemade Taco Seasoning (or taco seasoning of choice) 
  • 1 teaspoon fine salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts

For the Cilantro-Lime Crema

  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 23 tablespoons lime juice (juice of 1 lime) + ½ teaspoon lime zest
  • ¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves
  • ½ teaspoon honey
  • 1 small garlic clove or ¼ teaspoon garlic powder 
  • ⅛ teaspoon fine salt

Optional for serving: serve the salsa chicken over cooked rice or cauliflower rice, top with sliced avocado, cilantro-lime crema, thinly sliced jalapeno, lime wedges, fresh chopped cilantro, pickled red onion, and a side of blue corn tortilla chips

Instructions

Instant Pot Directions:

  1. Select the ‘saute’ function on the Instant Pot. Once hot, add the oil and diced onion. Stir occasionally cooking for 3-4 minutes or until onions start to become tender. Add the garlic and continue to cook for 1 minute, stirring occasionally to prevent garlic from burning.
  2. Add salsa, black beans, corn, broth, taco seasoning, salt, and pepper to the Instant Pot. Stir then place the chicken on top and gently press them into the salsa mixture.
  3. Place the lid on the Instant Pot, lock it into place, and make sure the vent is in the sealed position.
  4. Set Instant Pot to ‘High Pressure’ setting then set the cooking time for 10 minutes.
  5. Once cooking is completed, allow natural releasing of pressure for 3-4 minutes then switch the valve to ‘vent’.
  6. When all of the pressure releases and the lid unlocks, remove the chicken and shred the chicken with two forks. Toss chicken back into the pot to coat with sauce.
  7. To make the cilantro-lime crema: Add the ingredients to a small blender cup or small food processor and blend until smooth. 
  8. Assemble the bowls with suggested serving options.

Slow Cooker Directions:

  1. To make this recipe in a slow cooker instead of an Instant Pot, saute the garlic and onion in a skillet oil on the stove top until softened. Add the sauteed garlic and onion to the slow cooker.
  2. Add the salsa, black beans, corn, broth, taco seasoning, salt, and pepper to the slow cooker. Stir, then place the chicken breasts on top and press them gently into the salsa mixture. Cook for 3-4 hours on high or 5-6 hours on low.
  3. Remove the chicken and shred the chicken with two forks. Toss chicken back into the slow cooker to coat with sauce.
  4. To make the Cilantro-Lime Crema: Add the ingredients to a small blender cup or small food processor and blend until smooth. 
  5. Assemble the bowls with suggested serving options.

Nutrition Information

  • Serving Size: 1 cup chicken + 2 tablespoons crema
  • Calories: 325
  • Fat: 11 g
  • (Sat Fat: 6 g)
  • Sodium: 730 g
  • Carbohydrate: 24 g
  • (Fiber: 5 g
  • Sugar: 8 g)
  • Protein: 30 g
  • Cholesterol: 123 mg

Dietary

© The Real Food Dietitians
Recipe By: Stacie Hassing