Description
How to make tender shredded Mexican chicken with smoky spices and lime that’s perfect for tacos, burritos, and meal prep in your Instant Pot or slow cooker.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 cup chicken broth, low sodium
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Flavor Builders
- 1 can (4 oz) diced green chiles
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons lime juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Mexican Seasonings
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prep Chicken: Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper. If using breasts, pound to even thickness. This ensures even cooking and prevents dry spots in your finished shredded chicken.
- Mix Seasonings: Combine all spices in a small bowl. Heat oil in Instant Pot on sauté mode, then add spice mixture and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. This blooms the spices perfectly.
- Sauté Aromatics: Add onion and garlic to the pot, cooking for 2-3 minutes until softened. Stir in tomato paste and cook another minute until it darkens slightly and becomes aromatic.
- Add Liquids: Pour in chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Add green chiles and lime juice, then nestle chicken pieces into the liquid. Don’t worry if not fully covered.
- Pressure Cook: Seal Instant Pot and cook on high pressure for 15 minutes. For slow cooker, cook on low 4-5 hours. Natural release for 10 minutes, then quick release remaining pressure.
- Shred Chicken: Remove chicken and shred with two forks. Return to pot and mix with cooking liquid. Taste and adjust seasoning with more lime juice, salt, or spices as needed.
- Final Touch: Let chicken absorb flavors for 5 minutes before serving. The meat should be tender, juicy, and easily shreddable. Serve immediately or store for later use.
Notes
- Don’t skip the natural pressure release or chicken will be tough.
- Save some cooking liquid to keep shredded chicken moist during storage.
- Chicken thighs stay juicier than breasts but either works perfectly.
- Taste and adjust seasoning after shredding as flavors concentrate.
- Freezes beautifully for up to 3 months in airtight containers.
- Double the recipe for easy meal prep throughout the week.
Allergy Information: None
Nutrition
- Calories: 285 calories
- Fat: 8g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Protein: 42g