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.

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.

Longer Cooking

I had to go back to cook the chicken even longer. I am not totally sure why?? Just FYI that it might need longer cooking.

judith

Since I don't know what I'm doing with my brand new Instant Pot, I decided to experiment. After removng the chicken and finding the sauce too thin, I added half a cup of brown rice and set the Instant Pot to cook the rice. It is absolutely perfect. I added the scallions and cilantro after, with some salt and lime juice, and I'm a very happy cook!

Taylor

very bland. Used TJ's salsa verde and maybe that was the problem

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Pressure Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can you overcook chicken in a pressure cooker? ›

Chicken can get a rubbery texture in the instant pot when over cooked. To avoid this, try not to over cook your chicken.

Does pressure cooking chicken longer make it more tender? ›

This dinner staple cooks up perfectly every time in the Instant Pot. You can aim for firm but juicy chicken for cubing, or let it cook a little bit longer for tender shredded chicken.

Why is my pressure cooked chicken rubbery? ›

It's easy to throw in an Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup or shred it in Healthy Chicken Enchiladas. Rubbery chicken is usually an indicator of overcooked chicken. The longer the chicken cooks, the more moisture it loses, and without moisture, the protein fibers become elastic, AKA rubbery.

Why is my pressure cooker chicken tough? ›

Without watching over your shoulder in your kitchen, the most likely reason is overcooking. Pressure cookers are powerful, and it can be a fine line between perfectly done vs. too much. Longer cook times squeeze more moisture out of the tissue, leaving it drier and tougher.

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

chicken requires 18 minutes of high pressure cooking. Add 6 minutes of cooking time per additional pound. Note: You can submerge your chicken directly in the cooking liquid, especially if you want to make chicken stock. However, the steamer basket method ensures crispy skin and won't wash away the seasoning.

How long should I pressure can raw 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).

Do you cover meat with liquid in a pressure cooker? ›

While you may cover meat almost completely for a conventional braise, use just enough liquid for the cooker to reach pressure – during pressure cooking the meat will release it's own juice and braise in that flavorful liquid, instead. DO use fresh herbs.

How do chefs get chicken so tender? ›

Low and slow cooking methods like braising, stewing, or smoking are most effective when trying to create tender, succulent chicken.

Why does KFC pressure cook their chicken? ›

PRESSURE FRYING

Leading to a product that cooked faster and maintain more its juices, since less moisture evaporates into steam. Thus, pressure frying produces the most consistently flavorful fried chicken, and is faster than any other method when cooking in higher volumes.

Can chicken be white and still undercooked? ›

Color is not a reliable indicator of safety or doneness. Safely cooked poultry can vary in color from white to pink to tan. All poultry should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F (73.9°C) as measured with a food thermometer.

What makes chicken tough and chewy? ›

In addition, chicken breast has less fat and can become dry (chewy or rubbery) if cooked for too long. Without moisture, the protein fibers in the chicken become elastic.

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.

How do you know when pressure cooked chicken is done? ›

Be forewarned: You must check the internal temperature of the cooked meat at the thickest part has reached 165℉ with a food thermometer. A Quick pressure release is recommended immediately after cooking is finished – natural release is likely to overcook chicken breast.

How do you soften chicken without a pressure cooker? ›

1) Marinate the chicken in water, wine, or other liquids for up to an hour before cooking. This will tenderize the meat and add flavor. 2) Slowly cook the chicken on low heat with a lid on top for about 15-20 minutes per pound of chicken. The lid prevents the chicken from drying out too much.

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. Earlier, I explained how ingredient size affects the cooking time.

Can chicken still be pink after pressure cooking? ›

Color does not indicate doneness. The USDA further explains that even fully cooked poultry can sometimes show a pinkish tinge in the meat and juices. This is particularly true of young chickens whose bones and skin are still very permeable.

What happens if you overcook pressure cooker? ›

It is possible to overcook a pot roast in the pressure cooker. More than anything, you will dry out your roast if you cook it for too long. Most of the beef flavor will run out into the sauce. On one hand, your sauce may be super flavorful, but your meat could be dry.

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