Instant Pot Salsa Lime Chicken with Cilantro Lime Rice option, is a one pot recipe for making great tacos, burritos, salads and more.
Tacos and Burritos and Rice, oh my! This Instant Pot Salsa Lime Chicken with Cilantro Lime Rice is better than Drive Thru Fast Food and is ready in less than 15 minutes.
Yep, you heard me right. The rice and the chicken cook at the same time, in the same pot.
For this recipe both white and dark meat chicken work very well.
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Ingredients for Instant Pot Salsa Lime chicken
- Chicken
- Salsa – homemade or fresh
- Limes
I used fresh Salsa, but there are jarred options available like Newman’s Own or even a fruit salsa like Mrs. Renfro’s Mango Habanero Salsa, so plan your seasonings accordingly.
If you are thinking about doing a taco bar, consider making my Pressure Cooker Drive Thru Tacos too, as they are incredibly incredible! 🙂
For the most flavor, it is always a good idea to marinate chicken overnight, or for at least 30 minutes. You can easily pop it into a baggie and place in the fridge over night.
One of my favorite seasonings for making a Mexican style chicken is True Lime – Lime, Garlic Cilantro and/or your favorite seasonings. I also love to add cumin to get a nice smoky, yummy flavor.
If you are making your own salsa, just cut up tomatoes, onions, green peppers, cilantro and anything else you enjoy.
Fresh lime really takes the flavor up to another level. I like to add it after the chicken is cooked too.
If you would like rice with your Pressure Cooker Cilantro Lime Rice my Pressure Cooker Perfectly Cooked Pot In Pot Rice recipe is perfect to turn this Instant Pot Salsa Lime Chicken recipe into a one pot meal!
You will just need to use a pan and a trivet, suitable for cooking in any Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker.
I use one of the pans from my Ekovana Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker Stackable Pans Set and a stainless steel trivet. The flat bottom of the pan and the stainless steel ensures even and quicker cooking.
After the rice pan has been removed from the Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker, it is time to shred the chicken.
Shred the Instant Pot Salsa Lime Chicken with a couple of forks or a Hand Mixer. There will be enough liquid to pour over your Cilantro Lime Rice.
I like to pour a bit of liquid over my Pressure Cooker Frijoles, too, which I serve on the side, or tuck into my tacos.
Squeeze some more lime over the top, if you like, for a really fresh taste.
The Instant Pot Salsa Lime Chicken can be used in tacos, burritos, burrito bowls, lettuce wraps and more. Serve with Cilantro Lime Rice and my Pressure Cooker Frijoles (re-fried beans).
Don’t laugh, but we like to use Taco Amigo Tongs so that the tacos don’t fall over.
That’s not sour cream on top, that is my Homemade Greek Yogurt. I replaced sour cream with Homemade Greek Yogurt for almost everything where sour cream is used. That’s easy on the wallet too!
More Instant Pot Easy (dump/push) Chicken Recipes to Make:
- Instant Pot Pesto Chicken Low Carb + Video!
- Instant Pot BBQ Ranch Chicken (Pressure Cooker)
- Instant Pot Italian Chicken Olive Garden
- Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Japanese Chicken Curry
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Here is your handy printable recipe:
Ingredients
- 2 pounds Chicken Breasts Boneless/Skinless boneless and skinless or 2 pounds Chicken Thighs, skinless and with or without bones
- 2 teaspoons True Lime Garlic Cilantro
- 1 teaspoon Ground Cumin
- 1 teaspoon Sea Salt or to taste
- 15 ounces Fresh Salsa (jarred is fine)(more can be used)
- 1-2 Limes
Rice
- Pressure Cooker Perfectly Cooked Pot Pot Rice recipe
- 2 TBL Fresh Cilantro Leaves chopped
- 1 tsp True Lime Garlic Cilantro
- 1 TBL Butter
Recommended Products
Instructions
- Remove all fat from chicken.
- Sprinkle seasonings on both sides of chicken.
- Add seasoned chicken to Pressure Cooker cooking pot.
- Pour on Salsa and squeeze one lime over the chicken.
- If making this a One Pot Meal, add the Cilanto Lime Rice now.
- Lock on Lid and Close Pressure Valve.
- Cook at High pressure for 6 minutes for dark meat. (See notes section)
- When Beep sounds, allow a 10 minute natural pressure release.
- Open lid and squeeze on more lime, if desired.
- Shred chicken and serve in taco shells, burritos, lettuce leaves, or on a salad.
Notes
For bone in breast - cook 5 minutes with a 10 minute Natural Pressure Release.
Kitchen Equipment and Essentials
- Instant Pot, Mealthy MultiPot or Pressure Cooker
- J.A. Henckels Classic 8 inch Chef's Knife
- Amco Advanced Performance 18/10 Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons
- Culina Stackable (Dry) Stainless Steel Measuring Cups
- Anchor Hocking Glass (Liquid) Measuring Cups
- Alpha Armour Salt Box with Spoon
- Sonder LA End Grain Teak Cutting Board, Juice Grooves & Compartments
- KitchenAid Hand Mixer - for baking and shredding chicken!
- Salbree Steamer Basket
- Stainless Steel Tall/Short Trivet & Egg Cooker Set
- Ekovana Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker Stackable Pans Set
- Cumin
- True Lime - Lime, Garlic Cilantro
- Homemade Greek Yogurt
- Pressure Cooker Perfectly Cooked Pot in Pot Rice recipe
- Taco Amigo Tongs
Krystal says
Could you make the cilantro lime rice with just fresh lime juice and fresh cilantro instead of the seasoning? If so, how much of each would you use? Would you need to also add other seasonings or spices? Thanks!
Jill says
Sure, of course. I bet it will be delish. Jill
Mary Barker says
So the water in the rice is what makes it come to pressure and you don’t get a burn notice with only salsa in the bottom with the chicken?
Mel says
This looks delicious. I’d like to give it a go but I’m not sure how much 1 “tub” of salsa is. Do you have a more specific measure?
Amy B says
If you’re doing pot-in-pot with boneless/skinless breasts (that only calls for a 4 minute cooking time), do you make any modifications to ensure the rice is cooked all the way?
Darcie says
How much dry rice do you use? No water?
Terry says
The recipe reads 1 fresh salsa. Can you specify 1 what? Thanks.
Beth says
Made this recipe with thighs last night and it was delicious! I used three different salsas. Want to make for larger group of 8 people, so if I double the meat to 4 lbs, should I add 2 minutes to the 6 minute cook time plus 10 minute release? I’m new to IP and am loving it. Thanks!
Cathleen says
Dumb question. I’m sure. How does the rice become Cilantro Lime Rice if you add NO flavor to it. Thank you.
Barbara says
Just made the chicken, it is terrific! Next time will make the rice too! My family loves it!
Bri says
This looks great! I would like to try this with Salsa Verde. Have you ever done that?
Suzanne says
I make it with double the chicken then a large jar of mild salsa and a large jar of salsa verde (and fresh lime juice). It’s even better this way!
Cori McBride Aguilar says
Jill
This recipe comes up on the Website under freezer meals, yet I dont see any specific instructions on how to freeze and make a freezer meal. Is is possible to do a frozen meal and still do Pot in Pot Rice?
Jill says
Hi Cori~
The chicken can be frozen with the salsa and when you are ready to cook, just add the water in the pot and then add the PIP rice/water on top.
Jill
Virginia Prest says
How much time if the chicken is frozen?
Natalie says
Hi,
I am new to your site and love it! I am sorry if this is a dumb question but what Is the name of the extra pan/pot that you use for the rice? I would like to buy it.
Thank you,
Natalie
Jill says
Hi Natalie~
It is not a dumb question at all. The pans that I have are no longer available, so I found something else, that I actually like better, as they do double and triple duty. It is actually a Tiffin, an Indian spice tray, but works well for PIP cooking and also, you get a bunch of mini pans for mini thing. Here is the link. http://amzn.to/2djxZEa
Jill
Miranda Cunningham says
would an ancher hockin glass bowl do? I got my pressure cooker in order to cut down space. I dont really want to go buy all new pans when not necessary.
Jill says
Miranda, do you have a stainless steel bowl? Jill
Tez Ramage says
Chooken l;ady was here aGain!!
Karla says
This sounds amazing!! My Dad is coming to visit and this is one of the meals I’m planning to make him while he’s here!!! Thank you Jill!