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It’s great to have taco meat in the freezer waiting to be used for a quick lunch or easy dinner. Since I was making the filling for my Chicken Emapanadas, I decided to triple the recipe so I would have plenty to freeze.
I also wanted to use frozen chicken breasts, but I wanted to use them without having to defrost them first. I was inspired by Frieda’s From Frozen to Fabulous in 12 Minutes: BBQ Chicken. Cooking them in the pressure cooker allows you to avoid defrosting and results in moist, tender, flavorful chicken. Perfect for any recipe.
I froze the taco meat in ½ cup portions in quart size Freezer Ziplocs. The perfect amount for one individual serving.
If you don’t have a pressure cooker, you could cook the chicken in the crockpot for 8 hours, or check out my Shredded Pork Tacos post to get a method for cooking it in the oven.
Visit Pressure Cooking Today for all my pressure cooking recipes.
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Pressure Cooker Chicken Taco Filling
Ingredients
- 1 large onion diced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 6 large chicken breasts frozen*
- 1 can 10 oz. diced tomatoes with green chilies (Rotel Original)
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Heat the oil in pressure cooker pot for 2 to 3 minutes. Sauté the onion until tender, approximately 10 minutes.
- Add the chicken, tomatoes, chili powder, salt and pepper.
- Cover and lock lid in place. Select High Pressure and 12 - 15 minutes cook time (depending on how large your breasts are). When timer beeps, turn off and use a quick pressure release. *If using thawed chicken breasts reduce cook time.
- Remove chicken from pressure cooker and shred. Return shredded chicken to pressure cooker pot and stir to combine with tomatoes and juice in pot.
- Select Sauté and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally until all liquid is absorbed/evaporated.
Jamie
We saw pressure cookers somewhere on our walk yesterday and I mentioned them to JP and he rolled his eyes and said “I never understood the purpose”! Ha! If one brings me a yummy meal like these tacos – which I am often in the mood for, then that is purpose enough, right?
Claire @ Claire K Creations
That sounds delicious. I’ll give it a go in the slow cooker. I’m so obsessed with Mexican food at the moment it would be great to have it a few minutes away.
Bonnie
Thanks for another great pressure cooker recipe to try. I currently have a whole bunch of chicken breasts marinating in asian marinade for shish-kebobs tomorrow. I wish I had saved some for tacos. Maybe Asian tacos. It’s a thought.
Kathia
My godness these tacos make me so hungry! I no not have a pressure cooker but I do have a crook pot that I use often. I love chicken tacos
Paula
I haven’t used a pressure cooker in over twenty years! Not sure I’d remember how LOL. Your tacos look very appetizing and I love that plate you have them served on.
Donna
I just invested in a pressure cooker – soooo happy I visited you today! Thanks!
Rachelle
This sounds like a delicious and simple recipe! Chicken tacos are one of my favorite foods (especially with a bit of ranch). I’ll have to give this one a try. Thanks!
Faith
This sounds really flavorful and I love how it’s cooked in a pressure cooker! Definitely a huge time-saver.
Barbara | Creative Culinary
I went to a demonstration yesterday at Williams Sonoma on Memphis barbecue. They had cooked the ribs in a pressure cooker. What a time saver! I’m thinking of getting one too though I haven’t used one since I used my mom’s 3 decades ago!
Barbara
Cooking ribs in a pressure cooker is a great idea. Thanks!
Isabel in Spain
Hi Barbara, Sounds like a great way to not have to worry about defrosting the chicken beforehand. But, I have a question – is the time give for a standard pressure cooker or for the super fast variety. Mine is the Kuhn Rikon super fast and I wonder if it would be the same time??? Do you have any idea about this?? Thanks
Barbara
I have a Cuisinart 6 quart electric pressure cooker. I don’t know if yours would cook faster or not. You could try it for a shorter time and give it more time if necessary. I checked mine after 20 minutes and it wasn’t done, so I cooked it 5 more minutes. Since the chicken and liquid were hot it came back up to pressure really quickly. Gooc luck.
Kari H.
So I don’t have a pressure cooker. Would you use the same amount of time in a slow cooker on High? Just wondering how I could make this without the pressure cooker.
Barbara
I’ve had good luck cooking frozen chicken in the crockpot. I would cook it 8 hours based on Dana’s Lime Chicken Empanada recipe.
Miriam Barton
Tacos sure sound great! And you take such lovely pictures :), Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters
Barbara
What a sweet comment. I’ve really been working on taking better shots. Thanks!
Lucy@The Sweet Touch
Maybe I need to get a pressure cooker – this looks fabulous!
Helene
I haven’t used a pressure cooker in years. I like your tip about cooking frozen meat in it since most of the time I forget about defrosting my meat. Nice taco filling.
Kim
I love the idea of taking frozen chicken straight from the freezer and popping it into a crock pot or pressure cooker. It sure comes in handy when you’ve forgotten to thaw your meat!
Nicole@HeatOvenTo350
I love my pressure cooker, and I love new, easy recipes to use in it. This one would definitely be a winner at our house. Thanks for sharing it!
Maris (In Good Taste)
I have never used a pressure cooker but it seems like I have been missing out. This looks fabulous
Cathy at Wives with Knives
This looks so delicious, Barbara. I like your suggestion to freeze individual servings. Often I cook for one and it is so nice to pull something out of the freezer that is just the right amount. I’ll use a crockpot. I still have visions of my mother’s old pressure cooker and all the steam it produced. I was sure it would explode at any minute.
Barbara
Thanks! My mom’s pressure cooker always made me nervous too!
Rosa
Mmmhhh, I could eat that stuff all the time! A grest way of cooking the chicken.
Cheers,
Rosa
Kitchen Belleicious
Do you know that I have never used a pressure coooker. My husband asked if I wanted one last year for my birthday and I said I don’t think so but after reading your post I think I need one. Do you use yours alot? Its basically like a faster slow cooker right?
Barbara
That’s a perfect description. Any recipe that is great in a crockpot would probably be great and much faster in a pressure cooker. I don’t think to use it often, but when I remember to I’m always glad i did.
Nisha
A friend of mine has recently been raving about pressure cookers. Sounds like a kitchen gadget to add to my wishlist!