Instant Pot Queso Chicken
Quick and easy Instant Pot Queso Chicken can be served so many ways! Make this dinner early in the week and serve it a totally different way a few days later.
If you’re always looking for ways to simplify your family dinners, we are on the same page! I want to serve my family delicious meals, but I don’t have the time to spend hours in the kitchen or meal prepping or planning. We also can’t afford to eat out all the time.
One of the ways I’m accomplishing this goal is something I call Cook Once, Eat Twice. These are recipes you make early in the week, then a few days later you serve the leftovers in a whole new way as an entirely new dinner. By planning 2 meals in one, you’re saving money and time. Ready to see how it woks?
Instant Pot recipes are ideal for easy weeknight dinners, and this Instant Pot Queso Chicken recipe is sure to be one you’ll want to add to your regular rotation. Simply place all ingredients in the Instant Pot, and in 25 minutes a delicious dinner is ready. Want to know the best part? A few days later in the week you can turn the leftovers into a completely different meal. More to come on that later. Let’s get started!
Ingredients for Instant Pot Queso Chicken
How to Make Instant Pot Queso Chicken
Pour 1/2 cup water into the pot. Place chicken breasts in the water in a single layer.
Sprinkle taco seasoning on top of the chicken.
Pour salsa con queso and diced tomatoes and chilies over the top of the chicken
Squeeze in the juice of one lime being careful to avoid seeds getting into the pot.
Dot cream cheese chunks over the top, but do not stir.
Place the lid on the Instant Pot and set the valve to sealing. Program to run on the high pressure cook setting for 15 minutes. Allow it to naturally release for 10 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure.
Use 2 forks to shred the chicken.
Serve over tortilla chips as nachos or in taco shells.
Garnish with any combination of green onions, sliced black olives, avocado, or cilantro.
Other Ways to Serve Leftover Queso Chicken
In addition to serving Queso Chicken over tortilla chips and in taco shells, here are some other ways you can server the leftovers:
- Queso Chicken Pasta – Cook some egg noodles and use the Queso Chicken as a sauce on top. Garnish with extra shredded cheese of your choice.
- Queso Chicken and Rice – Serve over cooked yellow, Spanish, or white rice. (Leftovers from this meal can be served as burritos for lunch.)
- Queso Chicken Loaded Potatoes – Use as a topping for baked potatoes. Garnish with sour cream and chives.
- Queso Chicken Soup – Reheat Queso Chicken in a pot on the stovetop. Add a can of black beans and 1/2 bag of frozen corn. Add chicken stock to thin if desired.
Can I Make Queso Chicken in a Crockpot?
Absolutely! To make this recipe in a crockpot:
- Omit the 1/2 cup water
- Combine chicken breasts, taco seasoning, and Rotel in the crockpot.
- Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours.
- Remove chicken, shred with 2 forks, then return to the crockpot.
- Add Salsa Con Queso and Cream Cheese. Heat on low in the crockpot for 30 minutes.
- Stir well and serve!
Instant Pot Queso Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Water
- 4 Chicken breasts boneless, skinless
- 1 packet Taco Seasoning
- 15 oz Salsa Con Queso in jar, prepared
- 10 oz Rotel (or other diced tomatoes and chilies)
- 1 Lime juice only
- 8 oz Cream cheese
Instructions
- Pour 1/2 cup water into the pot. Place chicken breasts in the water in a single layer.
- Sprinkle taco seasoning on top of the chicken.
- Pour salsa con queso and diced tomatoes and chilies over the top of the chickenSqueeze in the juice of one lime being careful to avoid seeds getting into the pot.
- Dot cream cheese chunks over the top, but do not stir.
- Place the lid on the Instant Pot and set the valve to sealing. Program to run on the high pressure cook setting for 15 minutes. Allow it to naturally release for 10 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure.
- Use 2 forks to shred the chicken.
- Serve over tortilla chips as nachos or in taco shells.
- Garnish with any combination of green onions, sliced black olives, avocado, or cilantro.
Notes
Can I Make Queso Chicken in a Crockpot?
Absolutely! To make this recipe in a crockpot:- Omit the 1/2 cup water
- Combine chicken breasts, taco seasoning, and Rotel in the crockpot.
- Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours.
- Remove chicken, shred with 2 forks, then return to the crockpot.
- Add Salsa Con Queso and Cream Cheese. Heat on low in the crockpot for 30 minutes.
- Stir well and serve!
Other Ways to Serve Leftover Queso Chicken
In addition to serving Queso Chicken over tortilla chips and in taco shells, here are some other ways you can server the leftovers:- Queso Chicken Pasta – Cook some egg noodles and use the Queso Chicken as a sauce on top. Garnish with extra shredded cheese of your choice.
- Queso Chicken and Rice – Serve over cooked yellow, Spanish, or white rice. (Leftovers from this meal can be served as burritos for lunch.)
- Queso Chicken Loaded Potatoes – Use as a topping for baked potatoes. Garnish with sour cream and chives.
- Queso Chicken Soup – Reheat Queso Chicken in a pot on the stovetop. Add a can of black beans and 1/2 bag of frozen corn. Add chicken stock to thin if desired.
Nutrition
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This cookbook contains 20 easy-to-cook family dinners. You’ll have enough dinner ideas for 4 weeks without repeating a meal. Every recipe has a picture of the dish. At the bottom of each recipe is a link to the recipe post on FindingTimeToFly.com. Simply click on the link, and you’ll be taken directly to the recipe post with step-by-step in process photos.
