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.

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.

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.

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Pressure Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken Recipe (2024)

FAQs

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.

Can you pressure cook chicken too long? ›

They cook quickly in the Instant Pot, but if you don't cook them long enough they get a weird, rubber-like texture that's nearly impossible to chew, and if you cook them too long, their texture gets dry.

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.

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

Cooking a whole chicken is remarkably simple. All you need is your pressure cooker, the trivet or steamer basket that comes with it, a cup of chicken broth or water and a whole chicken. Place the cooking liquid in the bottom of the pressure cooker and then lower in the steamer basket.

Which is better pressure cooker or slow cooker? ›

Slow cookers are much better for cooking root vegetables and tough cuts of meat because the long, low-temperature cooking process is great for adding moisture and breaking down fat. Pressure cookers can get hot enough for meats and vegetables to brown in them when cooking, but slow cookers can't.

Does chicken cook faster in pressure cooker? ›

Pressure cookers save you time by cooking foods TWO to TEN times faster than other cooking methods. They are the fastest way to cook delicious meals: beef roasts, chicken, rice, dry beans, you name it.

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

Open the pot, then use a digital thermometer to check the thickest part of a piece of chicken—it should be at least 165oF. If the chicken is not quite up to temperature, put the lid back on with the vent closed and cook for another minute or two.

How long does it take to cook chicken in a pressure cooker? ›

Pressure cook on high for 8-10 minutes for fresh chicken breast, and 10-12 minutes for frozen chicken (depending on the thickness of the breasts). Cook time stays the same no matter how much chicken you add to the pot; the pot will just take longer to come to pressure.

Does chicken need to be submerged in pressure cooker? ›

It will take a few extra minutes for the Instant Pot to come to pressure as well as about a 50 percent increase in cook time. You should also use enough cooking liquid to fully submerge the chicken, which ensures quick transfer of heat into the meat and, most importantly, even cooking.

Does a pressure cooker dry out chicken? ›

Oh also, when you make this, don't skip the part where I tell you to add some water or chicken broth to the Instant Pot (or crockpot). You'll want to do this so that the meat doesn't dry out. I also add the broth to the containers with cooked chicken to help keep it moist.

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

The connective tissue is turned to gelatin after slow cooking in moist heat for several hours. That is why tough meats become “fork tender” in the slow cooker.

How do you keep chicken from getting rubbery? ›

Remove the chicken from the heat at 150 to 155 F; it will maintain its temperature long enough to kill any harmful bacteria but will also ensure you don't have rubbery chicken breasts.

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).

Why does so much water come out of my chicken when I cook it? ›

When you cook previously frozen chicken, more liquid will be forced out “because the cells were destroyed or broken open by ice crystals.”

How much liquid do you need for pressure cooking? ›

Add Liquid

“Jiggle top” cookers need a minimum of one cup of water, while valve cookers need at least half a cup. Put food in the cooker first, then add water. When learning how to use a pressure cooker, make sure the unit is never more than two-thirds full of liquid, so the steam has enough space to accumulate.

What is the most efficient way to cook chicken breast? ›

About This Method: This technique from Food Network starts by having you pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness, season them with salt and pepper, and cook one minute per side in a skillet over medium-high heat. You then add two tablespoons of chicken stock, cover the pan, and bake at 300°F for eight minutes.

Does chicken breast go tough in slow cooker? ›

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. Included with each meal is a set of instructions to help you cook the meals.

Does chicken breast soften in slow cooker? ›

Slow cooking uses moist heat. The slow cooker is best for meats that have a lot of connective tissue and that are very tough (and typically fairly inexpensive). The connective tissue is turned to gelatin after slow cooking in moist heat for several hours. That is why tough meats become “fork tender” in the slow cooker.

Why is slow cooking better than pressure cooking? ›

Slow cookers can take less fashionable cuts of meat and really make something special. They offer the advantage of adding extra depth to your cooking. Adding red wine, herbs & spices to the slow cooker can take your dish to another level. Slow cookers are energy efficient.

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