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If you’re looking for an easy Instant Pot or slower cooker meal for busy weeknights, or when hosting football watch parties, give these Instant Pot Beer-Braised Chicken Tacos a try!
As we all know, Instant Pot (or slow cooker) recipes are great for busy weekdays. Simply prepare your meal then walk away and let the Instant Pot do the work! Which is what makes these recipes perfect for football watch parties or when hosting in general as well. You can get your recipe started then prepare everything else ahead of your guests’ arrival.
For these Instant Pot Beer-Braised Chicken Tacos, chicken is first perfectly seasoned and then browned. Next, the chicken slowly simmers in a delicious chipotle mixture that is brightened by a bottle of beer. And if you’ve never cooked chicken in beer, you are in for a treat. It adds the perfect flavor to the sauce while also helping to tenderize your chicken. But don’t worry, the alcohol cooks off so this is still great for the whole family — my girls loved this recipe!
While your chicken is cooking, you’ll make a quick avocado crema that only further brightens this dish. Pile up your tortillas with your preferred toppings — I like the full work-up with shredded lettuce, thinly sliced radishes, cilantro, and cotija cheese — then top with the avocado crema and all you’ll need are lime wedges + another beer for drinking, and you are set!
To make this even easier when serving your family or guests, you can also set up a build-your-own taco station. Set the chicken out with all of the topping options and let everyone create their own perfect tacos or lettuce cups, making it even easier for you!
For another delicious taco recipe, try my Saucy Chipotle Chicken Tacos!
Instant Pot Beer-Braised Chicken Tacos
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 4 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs trimmed of excess fat
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil more as needed
- 2-3 chipotle pepper in adobo minced
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- Two 4-ounce can mild chopped green chiles
- One 12-ounce bottle Modelo Especial sub Pacifico
For the Avocado Crema:
- 1 large ripe avocado peeled and seed removed
- ¼ cup jarred jalapeno slices
- 2 tablespoons brine from the jarred jalapeno slices
- â…“ cup fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems
- 1 garlic clove peeled
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice about 1 lime
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Optional For Serving:
- Corn tortillas or lettuce cups
- Shredded iceberg lettuce
- Radishes thinly sliced and cut into matchsticks
- Cilantro leaves
- Cotija cheese
- Lime wedges
Instructions
Prepare the Chicken | Instant Pot Method:
- In a small bowl, combine the salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, paprika, and garlic powder. Stir until well incorporated. Season both sides of the chicken with this seasoning mix.
- Turn the Instant Pot on the sauté function and heat the oil. When hot, in batches to not overcrowd the Instant Pot, sear the chicken until golden brown on both sides, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Set browned chicken aside and continue cooking until all chicken is browned, adding additional oil if your Instant Pot runs dry.
- Next, add the chipotle pepper and tomato paste. Stir to toast the paste, about 1 minute. Add the green chiles and beer to the Instant Pot and whisk to combine.
- Nestle the chicken back into the Instant Pot and turn the saute function off. Securely fasten the lid on top of the Instant Pot, making sure the vent is sealed. Press the “manual” and then set the time to 15 minutes. Walk away from the Instant Pot and let it do its thing! Note: If your IP doesn’t have a manual button, set it to ‘high pressure.’
- When the cook time is complete, release the pressure manually by carefully turning the valve. When all of the pressure has been released, remove the lid and transfer the chicken to a rimmed baking sheet (do not discard the remaining liquid in the IP). Using two forks, shred the chicken then add back to the Instant Pot.
Prepare the Chicken | Slow Cooker Method:
- In a small bowl, combine the salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, paprika, and garlic powder. Stir until well incorporated. Season both sides of the chicken with this seasoning mix.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken until golden on each side, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Set aside.
- In the bottom of a slow cooker, combine the chipotle peppers, tomato paste, green chiles, and beer and whisk until well combined. Nestle the chicken into the sauce, cover and cook on high for 4 hours, or low for 6.
- When cook time is complete, shred the chicken with two forks directly in the slow cooker or transfer the chicken to a rimmed baking sheet to shred with two forks (do not discard the remaining liquid in the slow cooker) and add the chicken back to the slow cooker. Serve with avocado crema.
Make the Avocado Crema:
- In a blender or using an immersion blender, combine the avocado, jalapeno slices and brine, cilantro, garlic, lime juice, and salt. Set aside.
- Serve as desired and top with the avocado crema.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Photography and styling by Eat Love Eats.
This recipe was simple and delicious. Every recipe I have made of yours has always been a winner in our house. Thank you!
I am making this for 6 so 2 lbs of chicken thighs. It still says to use 1 modelo bottle. Is this accurate even though it’s less chicken thighs than serving 12 (4 pounds)?
I want to make this for 6 people. The recipe calls for the same amount of beer as serving for 12. Is this accurate even though it is less chicken?
These are SO good! And easy! And I just want to eat avocado crema with a spoon! You knocked it out of the park with this one, Alex! Will be on our weekly rotation!
So tasty and easy to pull together! The crema was a hit – love the addition of the jarred jalapeños and brine, never would’ve thought to try that and it was so yummy!
Thanks, Meghan!!
Made these tonight for a football get together and and the entire family loved them! I followed the recipe exactly. So flavorful!! Another winner recipe, Alex!
Thank you, Erin!! Glad they were a winner!
Yum!!! Made this tonight and it was delicious! For the crockpot version, should the shredded chicken be added back to the pot/juices like you do for the Instapot version?
You can shred it directly in the slow cooker depending on the style of yours, but if not, yes, shred then add it back into the slow cooker! Just updated the directions. Glad you enjoyed this!!
Delicious!!! So flavorful.
I always forget about my Instant Pot but I’ll definitely be making these again! The chicken is super tender & flavorful, the topping suggestions are spot on & the avocado crema is a total rockstar. Perfect for entertaining or a quick weeknight dinner with plenty of leftovers!!
Wowza! I used skinless bone in chicken thighs and the bones easily fell away from the chicken when shredding. The chicken was spiced perfectly and the avocado crema had the perfect zing! Radish matchsticks and watercress added extra crunch and pep. Can’t wait to make this for friends!