Pressure Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Laura

I use the canned sauce technique all the time, it makes for a yummy stew, mild Herdez is my go to unless I buy it fresh from a Mexican grocer, I am lucky enough to be in San Diego. If you make it with pork butt and let it really reduce you get the yummiest carnitas. Adding green fresh garbanzos, when in season, or a handful of verdolagas or another green makes it a super complete meal, no need for extra starches

Janice Girard

No slow cooker, no onion or garlic powder. Sautéed a cut up onion, then the garlic and cumin. Combine with all other ingredients including boneless, skinless thighs. Bring to boil on stovetop, then into 350 degree oven with lid on Dutch oven for 30 minutes, then lid off for 15 more. Served with flour tortillas, cilantro, scallions, queso, and sour cream, sides of rice and beans. Rave reviews!

Stephanie

One of our favorite recipes. We make it at least once a month. We will often throw in frozen corn, diced red bell peppers, spinach, or any other veggies we may have in the fridge at the end, while the sauce is reducing. Serve with avocado, shredded cheese, sour cream, and cilantro, with tortilla chips or taco shells. Sometimes we’ll also serve with pickled jalapeños and red onions, but I find it doesn’t even need it. Always a winner.

Chloe

Loved. I would maybe add closer to 1.75-2 lbs or chicken maybe next time because there is so much sauce. I would also salt and pepper the chicken first. But delicious and so easy.

Laura

I know this is old, but for future reference for others, I always pressure cook my chicken from another salsa chicken recipe for 30 minutes and let natural release either 15 minutes or completely, makes the chicken much softer.

Tips & Changes

If you’re getting a burn notice, you salsa verde may not have enough water so you can add a bit of chicken broth. You could also have issues with the seal - if the pressure doesn’t built up properly in your instant pot the base is just heating the food and liquid isn’t being produced and it will either burn or cook forever.

Barbara

Spoiler — this is one of those notes that is only inspired by the recipe. I had no salsa verde in the house and no way to get any so I followed the suggestion to make some with roasted veggies: onion, green pepper, jalapeño, tomatoes, garlic and... random zucchini that needed a purpose. Roasted everything, pureed, added cumin and chicken, pressure cooked as instructed — so insanely delicious wrapped in soft tortillas!

Reba

I don't have a pressure cooker so I sauteed onion and garlic in a dutch oven then added chicken thighs and cooked a little longer. I added salsa and a little chicken broth, brought to a boil, and put lid on the pot then transferred to the oven. Cooked in the oven at 375 for 20 minutes. Took out and shredded the chicken. I cooked on the stove top w/out lid until sauce reduced. Served w/ tortillas and got raved reviews.

Miriam

After following the recipe above: wet flour tortilla on both sides, place spoonful of meat, a little grated jack cheese and roll it up. Repeat for 3-4 tortillas. Sit them right next to each other in a pan and top with extra sauce and cheese. Heat in 400 degree oven or toaster oven for 15 minutes. Delicious enchiladas!

Izzy V

I made this but on the stovetop! As advised by another commenter, I sauteed a chopped onion, then added the finely (sort of) chopped garlic and cumin, then added the salsa verde (for anyone interested, Trader Joes' salsa verde is exactly the amount you need) and chicken thighs. I covered for 20 min on the stove on medium low, then added a cup of frozen fire-roasted corn (TJs again) and drained black beans). Shredded the chicken and added it back, served with sliced avocado and chips. Amazing!

rose

This is an all time favorite in my house. Highly recommend using the Trader Joe’s tomatillo refrigerated salsa verde. So good. I usually serve it with the One pot rice and beans recipe as well. Delish.

Aviel

I was skeptical about this right up until the end. I was worried the salsa I bought was too bland and if there were enough other spices. I stuck to the instructions though and after adding the lime juice, cilantro, and salt, the stew came to life! It was delicious! I served it over rice with chopped avocado and queso fresco. I’ll definitely be making it again, and now that I understand the dish maybe I’ll improvise.

Paulie D

This is probably my favorite NYT Cooking recipe yet. Absolutely love it. I use canned diced jalapenos instead of fresh to save on time. Usually about half a 4 oz can. Also as others have mentioned you can add more chicken to this as it does make a lot of sauce.

Laura

Absolutely fabulous! Simmering the sauce was a must.

adjustments

- chicken breast 10 min instead

Sam

This was so tasty and so easy. Adding all the fun toppings (Pepitas, crushed tortillas, avocado, queso fresco) gave this flavorful dish lots of fun texture!

Great

Great

Ally

Realized I didn’t have onion powder or cumin after I’d started cooking, so I used a packet of Sazon with garlic and onion. Worked in a pinch! Made this with chicken breast, cooked high pressure 10 minutes. Worked great as a rice bowl for lunch and as a topping for nachos for dinner. Will be adding this to my regular rotation.

Theresa

Herdez sauce (canned or jarred) is wonderful for this. A double recipe makes enough for 2 (9 x 13") pans of enchiladas. I use 8 bone-in thighs (skins removed) and cook for 30 min, natural release. Freezes well.

Julian

Friends call my version "crack chicken":-Chop a bacon strip into small 1/4-1/3 inch lardons and render till crispy in a pan-Sauté a finely diced yellow onion for 10 minutes on medium till they get some Maillard-Slice 8-cloves of garlic and sauté them in the center of the ban with direct contact till aromatic (~60 sec) then mix into onion to slow cooking-Add chopped jalapeño, bay leaf, 1 tsp of oregano to all your spices (1-2 min)-Deglaze with your salsa -*Now* add to your pot

Jen

Can I do this with bone in skinless thighs and, if so, how do I adjust the cooking time?

Mike

Tastes like it is. Chicken with a jar of salsa shortcut. Pretty Americanized version of salsa verde

kade

Very good, easy, and fast. I had extra potatoes lying around so instead of rice I served with roasted russets. Topped with sour cream and cheddar. Delicious. Will make again.

ginny washburn

Use much less slasa verde. In my opinion, the amount recommended in the recipe makes the stew too wet. I've used 7oz. That works well.

Matt Pritchard

Delicious and (very) low effort weeknight dinner option for us. This is in rotation once or twice a month at our house.

Diane

Fantastic recipe. I used a small onion and omitted the two powders. I used three breasts, otherwise followed. I served in bowls layering rice, cumin corn/black beans mix, shredded cheese, chicken mix, and topped with chopped avocado. Ate with chips and washed down with a cold beer.

Andrea

This has gone into regular rotation at our house. It's so flavorful yet such a simple recipe. I would serve this to guests, it's so good. I use the Trader Joe's jarred salsa verde and their chopped green chiles and have gotten into the habit of always keeping them on hand for this recipe. I make this without any changes or modifications. Reducing the sauce is key!

Marciaweez

I love the ease of pressure cooking, but in my experience it kills some of the flavor. I found myself adding garlic powder afterward and still missing the flavor complexity I wanted. I might fry up the garlic separately and cook it into the sauce for a bit after pressure-cooking.

Elisabeth

Go-to dish I make often and, although it is perfect as-is, the recipe is also forgiving about substitute ingredients based on what is on hand. But to keep the spirit of the dish, I would not stray far from recipe except in a pinch. I have substituted poblanos for green chilis, and others have made suggestions. I like adding fresh corn in summer season and black beans, as suggested. I want to make this dish in the slow cooker, but it is a perfect pressure cooker last minute dinner.

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Pressure Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can you overcook chicken in a pressure cooker? ›

Because you can't check on the chicken as it cooks (without waiting for the pot to de-pressurize, at least) the pressure cooker does require more of an educated guess when it comes to the cooking time. It's easy to overcook it if you're not careful, which will result in chicken that's not tender.

Do you have to saute chicken before pressure cooking? ›

Any searing or browning should be done prior to pressure cooking (this can often be done in the same pot – however, avoid using the pressure cooking option until browning is complete).

Why is my pressure cooked chicken rubbery? ›

Rubbery Instant Pot shredded chicken is usually the result of overcooking the meat.

How much water do you add to pressure cooked chicken? ›

Top Tips for Pressure Cooking Chicken

Add 1 cup of liquid to a 6 quart Instant Pot, or 1 ½ cups for the 8 quart. You can use water, broth, or another liquid to fill the cooker. I recommend using chicken broth when cooking chicken for better flavor.

Does chicken get more tender the longer you pressure cook it? ›

How long should I pressure cook frozen chicken thighs? Compared to breasts, chicken thighs have more fat and different types of muscle fibers which make them less prone to overcooking. Since you don't have to worry about drying them out, longer cook times can make them more tender.

Does chicken need to be submerged in a pressure cooker? ›

One is having the chicken submerged in the liquid and the other option is placing the chicken on top of the trivet. Submerging the chicken method is great for shredding in enchiladas, etc; while cooking the chicken on the trivet creates a firmer chicken that can be sliced for salads, etc.

How much time does chicken take to cook in a pressure cooker? ›

How Long to Cook Chicken in a Pressure Cooker. Boneless chicken breasts and thighs cook in the same amount of time—just 10 minutes at high pressure will do it! Just be sure to arrange the meat in a single, even layer in the pot, as it cooks more evenly that way. It should reach about halfway up the chicken.

How long should I pressure can raw chicken? ›

Times for pressure canning chicken are as follows: For boneless chicken (raw or hot pack), process jars at pressure for 75 minutes for pints and 90 minutes for quarts. For bone-in chicken (raw or hot pack), process jars for 65 minutes for pints and 75 minutes for quarts.

Is it better to slow cook or pressure cook chicken breast? ›

So can a Crock-Pot cook better chicken than an Instant Pot? Well, it really depends on what you're making. The Instant Pot cooks chicken much faster than its non-pressure counterparts, but the resulting texture isn't going to be the same as what you'd get with a slow cooker or Dutch oven.

How do you make chicken tender and not rubbery? ›

4 Steps to Tenderizing Chicken
  1. Debone the pieces of meat. To tenderize pieces of chicken, you'll need to remove any bones left in the meat. ...
  2. Pound the poultry. ...
  3. Marinate your chicken. ...
  4. Cook at an adequate temperature.
Oct 8, 2021

Why is restaurant chicken rubbery? ›

Overcooking might play a role in your chicken's tire-like texture. Leaving chicken in a pan, oven, or grill for just a little too long can suck the moisture right out and leave you with a dry, rubbery bird. Without moisture, the protein fibers in the chicken become elastic.

Why is my pressure cooker chicken tough? ›

Chicken can get a rubbery texture in the instant pot when over cooked. To avoid this, try not to over cook your chicken. Storing the chicken in chicken broth can help rehydrate the chicken and make it less rubbery.

Can you cook chicken in a pressure cooker without liquid? ›

Chicken Broth – The Instant Pot requires a minimum of 1 cup of water or liquid for the pressure to build. Plus, liquid makes your chicken moist and juicy. While you can use water, I much prefer broth for flavor. You can use store-bought chicken broth, my homemade chicken broth, or even bone broth.

What happens if you pressure cook chicken too long? ›

Because chicken breast is so lean, just a couple of extra minutes of cook time turns them from juicy to overcooked and dry. Thighs, on the other hand, are a fattier cut, and not prone to dry out as quickly even after an extra minute or two of cooking.

What happens if you overcook meat in a pressure cooker? ›

If you prepare meat in a pressure cooker and it turns out dry, this is usually because the meat has cooked too long & the natural juices have been squeezed out. The result is a tasty gravy but dry meat.

Can you cook too long in a pressure cooker? ›

Unfortunately, once you overcook a piece of meat in the pressure cooker, there's no going back. You'll be left with a pile of dry, crunchy, tasteless fibers and no amount of additional pressure cooking is going to put that moisture back into the meat.

How long do you pressure can chicken? ›

Once you're getting 4 “jiggles” per minute, or your dial gauge has come up to pressure, start your timer and process the chicken. If you're canning pint jars, you will process them for 1 hour 15 minutes (75 minutes). If you're using quart jars, you will process for 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes).

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