↑
  • Recipes by Type
    • Recipe Index (Search)
    • All Recipes
    • Restaurant Copycat Recipes
    • Recipes by Method>>>
      • 30-Minute Meals
      • Air Fryer
      • Instant Pot
      • Slow Cooker
      • Meal Prep Bowls
      • Sheet Pan Dinners
      • One Pot Recipes
      • Freezer-Friendly
      • Grilling & BBQ
      • Stir Fries
      • Pasta
    • Recipes by Diet>>>
      • Kid-Friendly
      • Gluten-Free
      • Low Carb
      • High Protein
      • Whole 30
    • Recipes by Protein>>>
      • Chicken
      • Beef
      • Seafood
      • Vegetarian
    • Recipes by Holiday>>>
      • Game Day
      • Valentine’s Day
      • St Patrick’s Day
      • Easter
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
      • Christmas
    • Recipes by Season>>>
      • Winter Recipes
      • Spring Recipes
      • Summer Recipes
      • Fall Recipes
  • Recipes by Course
    • Appetizer
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner Ideas
    • Salads
    • Soups
    • Snacks
    • Side Dishes
    • Desserts
    • Dressings, Sauces & Spice Mixes
  • Resources
    • About Me
    • How to Meal Prep
    • Resource Guides
    • Contact Me
  • eBooks

The Girl on Bloor

Meal prep for busy people!

Start here Contact Privacy Policy
  • Recipes by Type
    • Recipe Index (Search)
    • All Recipes
    • Restaurant Copycat Recipes
    • Recipes by Method>>>
      • 30-Minute Meals
      • Air Fryer
      • Instant Pot
      • Slow Cooker
      • Meal Prep Bowls
      • Sheet Pan Dinners
      • One Pot Recipes
      • Freezer-Friendly
      • Grilling & BBQ
      • Stir Fries
      • Pasta
    • Recipes by Diet>>>
      • Kid-Friendly
      • Gluten-Free
      • Low Carb
      • High Protein
      • Whole 30
    • Recipes by Protein>>>
      • Chicken
      • Beef
      • Seafood
      • Vegetarian
    • Recipes by Holiday>>>
      • Game Day
      • Valentine’s Day
      • St Patrick’s Day
      • Easter
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
      • Christmas
    • Recipes by Season>>>
      • Winter Recipes
      • Spring Recipes
      • Summer Recipes
      • Fall Recipes
  • Recipes by Course
    • Appetizer
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner Ideas
    • Salads
    • Soups
    • Snacks
    • Side Dishes
    • Desserts
    • Dressings, Sauces & Spice Mixes
  • Resources
    • About Me
    • How to Meal Prep
    • Resource Guides
    • Contact Me
  • eBooks
Home » Recipes » Instant Pot » Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Shredded Chicken Tacos

Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Shredded Chicken Tacos

7/23/22

Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe

These Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Shredded Chicken Tacos are so delicious – they've got less than 10 ingredients and are ready in 30 minutes!

Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Pulled Chicken Tacos

Ingredients and substitutions

  • Chicken breasts – boneless skinless chicken thighs will also work for this recipe.
  • Lime juice – fresh lime juice is best but bottled lime juice will work in a pinch.
  • Olive oil – or another neutral oil like peanut oil, sunflower oil or avocado oil.
  • Honey – coconut nectar, agave nectar or maple syrup would be the best substitutes here.
  • Taco seasoning – use a pre-made taco seasoning or a homemade blend using chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cumin and sea salt.
  • Chicken broth – vegetable broth would also work.
  • Cilantro – cilantro is a key element for this recipe, but feel free to leave it out or replace it with parsley.
  • Corn tortillas – flour tortillas or lettuce wraps would also be delicious, I just like the taste of corn tortillas.

Toppings

Healthy Meal Plan Cover.

Learn how to meal prep the better, faster way!

Take my free challenge and learn how to prep for 5 dinners in just 1 hour each week

    We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at anytime.
    • Red onion – sweet onions or green onions can be used in place of red onions. Leave this out altogether if you don’t like onions.
    • Lettuce – iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce or spinach can also be used.
    • Coleslaw mix – coleslaw mix or just chopped cabbage would work instead.
    • Cheese – use your favourite type of shredded  cheese like Tex Mex or Monterey Jack.
    • Salsa – use fresh tomatoes, pico de gallo or any salsa of your choice.
    • Sour cream – Geek yogurt is a low-fat substitution option.
    • Avocado – use avocado slices or guacamole.
    • Pickled jalapenos – use raw jalapenos for a spicier kick.
    Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Pulled Chicken Tacos

    How to make shredded chicken tacos

    1. Add the chicken ingredients to the Instant Pot.
    2. Cook on high pressure for 2 minutes.
    3. Do a quick release of the pressure.
    4. Shred the chicken breasts.
    5. Stir everything together.
    6. Assemble your tacos and enjoy!
    Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Pulled Chicken Tacos

    Re-purposing the shredded chicken

    Shredded chicken is super versatile and can be used for a number of recipes. You can make a big batch of these cilantro lime tacos and use the leftover shredded chicken to make burrito bowls, salads or even wraps. You can even experiment with different flavour combinations – more flavour options include BBQ, teriyaki or even jerk inspired chicken.

    Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Pulled Chicken Tacos

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What are chicken tacos made of?

    These chicken tacos are super easy to make and only require less than 10 ingredients. For the shredded chicken all you need is chicken breasts, lime juice, olive oil, honey, taco seasoning, chicken broth and cilantro. Then just add on your favourite toppings, serve them on tortillas and you’re good to go!

    What chicken is best for shredding?

    Boneless skinless chicken breasts or boneless skinless chicken thighs are best for shredding. Either will work, you just want to make sure the chicken doesn’t have any skin or bones since you won’t be able to shred it as easily. I used chicken breasts for this recipe to make it a bit healthier but chicken thighs can also be used and might even be juicier.

    How many calories are in this recipe?

    This recipe has 383 calories per serving. It’s a great low-calorie meal option and a healthier spin on taco night! If you want a low-carb option, swap out the corn tortillas for lettuce wraps.

    Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Pulled Chicken Tacos

    Storing and reheating

    Store the leftover chicken and taco toppings separately in the fridge for up to 5 days. When reheating the chicken, sprinkle some water over top to make sure the meat stays juicy, then reheat the chicken in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. Once you've warmed the leftover chicken, assemble your tacos and add on your fresh toppings.

    Freezing the chicken

    You can freeze the cooked shredded chicken in an airtight glass container or in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. When you're ready to enjoy the chicken, defrost it in the fridge overnight, then reheat it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. To keep the chicken from drying out, make sure to sprinkle some water over top before reheating. Use it to make fresh tacos or repurpose it for burrito bowls, salads or wraps.

    Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Pulled Chicken Tacos

    More taco recipes

    • Carne Asada Tacos
    • Instant Pot Chicken Tinga Tacos
    • Instant Pot Sriracha Chicken Tacos

    Meal prep tools for this recipe

    • The Instant Pot DUO Plus 60 is the version I use in this recipe.
    • I love these corn tortillas!
    • And this is my fave taco seasoning if you don’t feel like making your own!
    • Get your square glass meal prep bowls here for packing up your leftovers.
    • And of course I get all my free-range chicken breasts from Butcher Box!
    Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Pulled Chicken Tacos

    Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Shredded Chicken Tacos

    These Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Shredded Chicken Tacos are so delicious – they've got less than 10 ingredients and are ready in 30 minutes!
    4.59 from 117 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American, tex mex
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 383kcal
    Author: Taylor Stinson

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb chicken breasts
    • 1/3 cup lime juice
    • 2 tbsp olive oil
    • 2 tbsp honey
    • 1 tbsp taco seasoning
    • 1 cup chicken broth
    • 1 cup chopped cilantro (divided)
    • corn tortillas

    Topping ideas

    • diced red onion
    • Lettuce
    • Coleslaw mix/chopped cabbage
    • Shredded cheese
    • salsa
    • sour cream
    • Diced avocado
    • Diced tomatoes
    • Pickled jalapenos

    Instructions

    • Dump all ingredients for chicken in Instant Pot, adding half of the cilantro and saving the other half for after. Add raw chicken breasts last. Set to manual and pressure cook on high for 3 minutes (add 2 more minutes if using larger breasts).
    • Instant Pot will take about 10 minutes to pre-heat and then the 3 minutes to cook. When complete, press cancel and do a quick release of the steam, waiting until the pressure gauge drops back down and the lid is safe to open.
    • Remove lid and chicken breasts. Shred with two forks. Add back to Instant Pot sauce along with the remaining half of the fresh cilantro. Stir well until everything is combined. Chicken will be sitting in extra liquid so use a slotted spoon to serve.
    • Add chicken to warm corn tortillas along with toppings of your choice. Serve and enjoy!

    Video

    Notes

    Use boneless skinless chicken thighs instead of breasts if you prefer dark meat.
    Swap out the corn tortillas for lettuce wraps for a low-carb option.
    Reuse the shredded chicken in burrito bowls, salads and wraps.
    Store the leftovers separately in the fridge for up to 5 days. Sprinkle some water over top of the chicken then microwave for 1-2 minutes.
    Freeze the shredded chicken for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight then reheat as normal.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 383kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 1130mg | Potassium: 656mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 750IU | Vitamin C: 23.9mg | Calcium: 150mg | Iron: 1.8mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @TheGirlonBloor or tag #thegirlonbloor!
    These Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Shredded Chicken Tacos are so delicious – they've got less than 10 ingredients and are ready in 30 minutes! #cilantrolime #chickentacos #instantpot These Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Shredded Chicken Tacos are so delicious – they've got less than 10 ingredients and are ready in 30 minutes! #cilantrolime #chickentacos #instantpot

    Previous article:
    « Easy Instant Pot Pepper Steak
    Next article:
    Protein Oatmeal {Meal Prep Breakfast} »

    About Taylor Stinson

    Hey there, my name's Taylor! I’m the founder of The Girl on Bloor, a food blog where I share healthy meal prep recipes for busy people. I'm a busy city girl living in downtown Toronto on (you guessed it!) Bloor Street. I've got 10 years experience meal prepping, along with a Master's degree in journalism, and you can find my work across the internet featured on publications such as Buzzfeed, HuffPost, Women's Health, Reader's Digest and more. I also run the awesome 5-Day Meal Prep Challenge, which is a free email course and Facebook group where I share my meal planning strategies and easy meal prep tips and recipes. Be sure to check out my free beginner’s guide to meal prep and follow me on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram to get my latest recipes and meal prep tips!

    Comments

    1. Yazmin says

      February 17, 2021 at 17:16

      Is there anything I could use to substitute honey?
      thank you in advance

      Reply
      • Taylor Stinson says

        February 17, 2021 at 20:00

        Hi Yazmin! You could sub in maple syrup instead or even brown sugar or coconut sugar!

        Reply
    2. Gayle says

      December 14, 2020 at 15:19

      5 stars
      Great meal, easy, feeds a lot of people. Had 8 adults and nothing leftover in chicken mixture.

      Reply
      • Taylor Stinson says

        December 14, 2020 at 18:05

        So happy you guys enjoyed 🙂

        Reply
    3. Haley says

      November 14, 2019 at 13:38

      Does the nutrition information include the tortillas as well? I’m trying to figure out where all of the carbs are coming from. I know honey has some, but not that much for one serving.

      Reply
      • Taylor Stinson says

        November 15, 2019 at 07:23

        Yes it does include the tortillas! To make this recipe low carb, leave out the honey and turn the tacos into a salad/burrito bowl 🙂

        Reply
    4. Brittany says

      June 10, 2019 at 19:01

      Any recommendations on cook time if doubling the recipe?

      Reply
      • Taylor Stinson says

        June 11, 2019 at 08:52

        I would add 3-4 minutes to the cook time!

        Reply
    5. Sara says

      August 6, 2018 at 19:37

      I think the cooking time is off. I just pulled my chicken out of the instant pot and it was still pink!

      Reply
      • Taylor Stinson says

        August 8, 2018 at 16:35

        Hey Sara…it may depend on the size chicken breasts you used! I used medium-sized chicken breasts and have tested the time multiple times…maybe I will recommend a longer cook time to account for varying sizes of chicken breasts!

        Reply
        • C says

          October 15, 2019 at 22:48

          I think it’s going to be more like 10-15 minutes if leaving the breasts whole. If you diced them, the timing on this recipe would work.

          Reply
    6. Heather says

      August 6, 2018 at 13:35

      Have you ever tried these with chicken thighs instead of breasts? Just wondering how the cook time would change.

      Reply
      • Taylor Stinson says

        August 8, 2018 at 16:38

        Hey Heather – unfortunately I haven’t but you could give it a try. Maybe add 2-3 more minutes to the cook time and use 5 medium-sized thighs. I can’t guarantee it because I haven’t tested it myself though!

        Reply
      • D newman says

        May 3, 2021 at 20:37

        Tried it with thighs tonight. Cooked on high pressure for 6 minutes. The thighs were cooked through but were a little too greasy. The flavor of the broth is excellent. I believe this recipe is much better with breast

        Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Taylor Stinson

    Oh hey there, welcome!!

    I'm Taylor Stinson, a busy city girl living in downtown Toronto. Looking to switch up your weekly meal prep routine? I've got you covered with healthy recipes and meal planning resources. Join 1.5 million other monthly readers and dive in! MORE ABOUT ME..

    Most Popular

    Korean Chicken Meal Prep Bowls

    20+ Healthy Meal Prep Lunch Ideas for Work

    Starbucks Mango Dragonfruit Refresher

    Starbucks Mango Dragonfruit Refresher

    The Best Carne Asada Fries

    The Best Carne Asada Fries (Loaded Fries)

    An overhead shot of 7 mason jars, each filled with a different smoothie.

    The 7 Best Healthy Smoothies {Minimal Ingredients + Meal Prep Tips}

    Korean Chicken Meal Prep Bowls

    Korean Inspired Chicken Meal Prep Bowls

    Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup

    15+ Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes for Meal Prep

    Healthy Meal Plan Cover.

    Meal prep in just 1 hour with my free challenge!

    Take back your weekends and put dinner on the table in 20 minutes or less

      We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at anytime.

      Amazing Summer Recipes

      8 different Chicken breasts in a variety of Marinades, pictured in ziploc bags.

      Best Chicken Marinades – 20+ Ways!

      Iced Guava Passionfruit Drink

      Iced Guava Passionfruit Drink {Starbucks Copycat}

      Three bowls each filled with chicken corn chowder.

      Healthy Chicken Corn Chowder {One Pot}

      How to Make Boneless Wings

      Buffalo-BBQ Boneless Wings {Super Easy}

      August recipes collage

      Top Recipes for August {Recipe Roundup}

      A close-up of a meal prep container with roasted baby potatoes, kale salad and baked BBQ chicken inside.

      Baked BBQ Chicken {Meal Prep}

      Copyright ©2022, The Girl on Bloor. All Rights Reserved.
      Design by Pixel Me Designs

      We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites
      Learn how to meal prep...the FAST way!
      Download my dinner prep cheatsheet so you can prep ingredients in 1 hour each week. That way, dinner comes together in just 15-20 minutes each night!
      YOUR NAME:
      YOUR EMAIL: