Easy Chicken Tinga In The Instant Pot

This easy Instant Pot Chicken Tinga recipe is one the whole family will love! Loaded with big and bold Mexican flavors and smoky heat from the chipotle, this easy-peasy dish will make you the dinner winner tonight!

What Is Chicken Tinga?

It might have a funny name, but the amazing flavors in this easy Instant Pot recipe are nothing to laugh at! Chicken Tinga is a Mexican shredded chicken recipe enhanced with chipotle in adobo, onions, and tomatoes. It’s not too spicy and can be used in many different ways.

Ingredients to Make Chicken Tinga in the Instant Pot

• Canned Tomatoes - We’re be using 1 (14.5 ounces) can of fire-roasted tomatoes
• Chipotles in Adobo - Look for these small cans in your grocery store. You’ll need 2 whole peppers or more if you want your tinga spicier.
• Chicken - Use boneless and skinless chicken in this recipe.
• Onion - A whole yellow onion goes into this Instant Pot chicken recipe.
• Garlic - Fresh and minced finely.
• Ground cumin
• Mexican Oregano 
• Bay leaf - Dried.
• Chicken broth - Use unsalted chicken broth or stock.
• Adobo sauce - You’ll need an extra tablespoon of sauce from the canned chipotles.

**Find the full list of ingredients along with the recipe instructions at the end of this post**

How to make chicken tinga instant pot

Perfect on Taco Tuesday or wherever you’re craving flavor, this amazing dish is ready in no time. Here’s how to make it:

• Use a blender to puree the canned tomatoes and chipotle peppers. Scrape down the sides of the blender if needed, then set this mixture aside.
• Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
• Turn the Instant Pot to the Sauté setting. Add the olive oil when hot (when reading HOT) and add the onion, garlic, cumin, and oregano, and cook for 2 minutes. Add the chicken broth to deglaze the insert.
• Place the chicken breast, the tomato puree, and 1 tablespoon of adobo sauce. Place the lid on the Instant Pot and lock it in place. Turn the steam release knob to the Sealing position.
• Cancel the Sauté setting and then press the Pressure Cook/Manual button (or dial) and the + or - button (or dial) to choose 12 minutes. The pot will take a few minutes to build up the pressure before the timer starts.
• When the cooking cycle has finished, and the chicken is cooked, let the pot sit undisturbed for 10 minutes. Then do a Quick Release of the pressure by turning (or pressing) the knob towards the venting position. 
• When the metal pin in the lid drops down, you can open the lid facing away from you. Transfer chicken to a clean cutting board; shred the chicken with two forks into bite pieces.
• Return the shredded chicken breasts to the pot and stir to coat with the sauce, season with salt and pepper if desired. 
• Enjoy!

Tips To Making The Perfect Instant Pot Chicken Tinga

• Start with thawed chicken. Yes, you can cook frozen chicken in the Instant Pot but this easy Chicken Tinga recipe cooks so much more evenly if your chicken is already thawed.
• Let the chicken cool a bit before shredding it - it will be too hot when it just comes out of the Instant Pot.
• Turn the Instant Pot back on Saute and thicken the sauce if runny. Then add the chicken back into the sauce to heat it through.
• Like it spicier? Add 3-4 whole chipotles when making this recipe, instead of just 2.
• Add salt! Tomatoes and chicken need salt. Even though you seasoned the chicken before cooking it, your sauce will probably need more salt. Give the cooked sauce a taste, and add more if necessary. A squeeze of lime also helps bring out the flavors.

What to serve with chicken tinga?

Just pass a fork! Not only is Chicken Tinga delicious on its own, but it goes so well in so many different dishes. Here are just a few ways to use chicken tinga.

• Make Chicken Tinga Tacos - Add cilantro, raw onion, and lime. 
• Chicken Tinga Tostadas - With avocado, fresh onion, and cheese.
• Top Mexican rice or Spanish rice with chicken tinga.
• Chicken Tinga Enchiladas - Fill corn or flour tortillas with the chicken meat and top with your favorite sauce. Heat and enjoy!
• Tinga quesadillas - Melty cheese and chicken tinga are a perfect match! 
• Tinga nachos - Load your nachos with incredibly flavorful shredded chicken.
• Add the chicken to a veggie bowl or to burrito bowls

Toppings for Chicken Tinga

If you want to eat the Chicken Tinga as it is, consider jazzing it up with some of these toppings:

• Guacamole
• Avocado slices
• Lime 
• Black Beans or refried beans
• Corn tortilla
• Sour cream
• Cotija cheese or queso fresco
• Fresh tomatoes
• Shredded lettuce

How To Double This Chicken Tinga Instant Pot Recipe

Without adjusting any other ingredients, you can add a small chicken breast to this Chicken Tinga pressure cooker recipe. But if you want more chicken than that, I recommend doubling all the ingredients EXCEPT for the chicken broth.

Is Chicken Tinga Gluten-Free? 

Yes, this is gluten-free Chicken Tinga. Not only that, but it’s also low carb and keto Chicken Tinga.

Frequently Asked Questions

Other Instant Pot Chicken recipes

Healthy Instant Pot Chicken Piccata

Healthy Instant Pot Mediterranean Chicken 

Also, check these Mexicans super easy instant pot pork posole (Pozole) and Healthy Instant pot chicken fajitas

I hope you enjoy this Mexican instant pot chicken tinga and make it part of your taco Tuesday menu or include it on your meal planning for the week. 

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Continue to Content

EASY INSTANT POT CHICKEN TINGA

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Additional Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Chicken tinga in the instant pot is a juicy chicken with a smoky chipotle sauce that is amazingly delicious and is all you need if you want everyone's new favorite meal in your home.

Print

Ingredients

• 1 (14.5 oz.) can unsalted roasted tomatoes
• 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. (Add more if you want it spicy)
• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• Salt and pepper
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, sliced
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano
• 1 bay leave
• 1 / 3 cup unsalted chicken broth
• 1 Tablespoon of adobo sauce​

Instructions

1. In a blender add roasted tomatoes and the chipotle peppers and blend until smooth, set aside.
2. Seasoned chicken breasts with salt and pepper to taste, set aside
   
3. Turn the pressure cooker on to the Sauté setting. Add the olive oil when hot (when reading HOT) add onion, garlic, cumin, and oregano, cook for 2 minutes. Add chicken broth and deglaze.
4. Add the chicken breast, the tomato chipotle peppers puree along with the 1 tablespoons of adobo sauce. Place the lid on the pot and lock it in place. Turn the steam release knob to the Sealing position.
   
   ( I do have an ultra if you have an ultra or newest models, DON'T press the release knob).
   
5. Cancel the Sauté setting and then press the Pressure Cook/Manual button (or dial) and the + or - button (or dial) to choose 8 minutes. The pot will take a few minutes to build up the pressure before the timer starts.
6. When the cooking cycle has finished, let the pot sit undisturbed for 10 minutes. Then do a Quick Release of the pressure by turning (or pressing) the knob towards the Venting position
7. When the pin in the lid drops down, you can open the lid facing away from you. Transfer chicken to a clean cutting board, remove the bay leave; shred the chicken with two forks into bite pieces.
8. Return the chicken breasts to the pot and stir to coat with the sauce, season with salt and pepper if you need it. Turn saute setting to make it thicker before serving with your choice from the list above in this post.
   
   (While you're using the saute setting don't use the lid)
   

Notes

1. Add more chipotle peppers if you want to add more heat.
2. For this instant pot recipe is very important that there is no steam coming out of your pot, so make sure your sealing ring is correct, and your steam release knob is turned to the sealing position.
3. The natural release time for this recipe is 11 minutes in case you want to wait the extra minute.
4. To buy the products used in this recipe click on the ingredients names.

Recommended Products

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  Instant Pot Ultra 6 Qt 10-in-1 Multi- Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Yogurt Maker, Cake Maker, Egg Cooker, Sauté, Steamer, Warmer, and Sterilizer

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 188Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 52mgSodium: 158mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 20g

Please keep in mind that the nutritional information is calculated using a nutrition facts calculator. It is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.

Please keep in mind that the nutritional information is calculated using a nutrition facts calculator. It is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.