These Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas are a one-pot wonder! This family favorite is quick, easy, healthy, and loaded with tender chicken and crisp veggies!
If you’ve been a follower of Show Me the Yummy then you know how much Trevor and I love our Friday Night Mexican Nights. We’ve moved multiple times throughout the years, but our Friday nights have always stayed the same. Our go-to when we go out? Fajitas!
These instant pot chicken fajitas are restaurant quality and BONUS you don’t have to leave the house. 😉
Ingredients
This simple ingredient list creates a quick, healthy, and flavor packed dinner the whole family will love!
- Olive Oil – used to sauté the fajita veggies directly in the instant pot AND whisked with the spices to create a delicious and flavorful spice rub for the chicken breast.
- Paprika, Cumin, Chili Powder, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Salt, and Pepper – a simple, sweet, and slightly spicy seasoning blend to give the chicken fajitas that classic fajita flavor.
- Chicken Breasts – use 2 (8 oz) boneless and skinless chicken breasts for perfectly cooked chicken in the instant pot.
- Orange Juice, Lime Juice, Lemon Juice, and Soy Sauce – used in the bottom of the instant pot to help steam and flavor the chicken. This combination creates a citrusy, tangy, and salty flavor.
- Red, Green, and Yellow Bell Pepper and Red Onion – the classic fajita veggie blend cooked until crisp-tender.
- Tortillas, Sour Cream, Shredded Lettuce, Guacamole, Feta, Pico de Gallo, and Cilantro – for serving, if desired.
How to make
These instant pot chicken fajitas are ridiculously easy to make!
- Mix olive oil with the seasonings to create a paste then rub the mixture evenly over the chicken breasts. Allow that to sit at room temp for 30 minutes or up to 8 hours in the fridge.
- Pour orange juice, lime juice, lemon juice, and soy sauce into your instant pot, top with the trivet, the place the chicken on the trivet. Cover and cook for 10 minutes. Release the pressure in the instant pot then remove the chicken and liquid (don’t discard.)
- Clean the instant pot, then add in oil and veggies. Sauté until the veggies are crisp tender then season with salt and pepper.
- Slice the chicken into smaller pieces.
- Assemble your fajitas and enjoy!
How to season fajitas
Season fajitas with a spice rub and a marinade:
- Homemade spice rub. Whisk together olive oil with paprika, cumin, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cover the chicken breasts in the spice rub and let sit for 8 hours in the fridge (preferred) or 30 minutes at room temp.
- Marinade. We’re using orange juice, lime juice, lemon juice, and soy sauce to place in the instant pot while the chicken cooks. This helps steam and flavor the chicken. It also acts as a great dipping sauce for the assembled fajitas!
Can you use frozen chicken?
Technically, yes but I do recommend using fresh or thawed chicken. It soaks up the flavor from the spices better than frozen chicken would.
If you decide to use fully frozen chicken:
- Pour orange juice, lime juice, lemon juice, soy sauce, and frozen chicken into the bottom of a 6 quart Instant Pot.
- Cover and lock the lid, making sure the pressure valve is pointed towards SEALING.
- Cook on HIGH pressure for 25 minutes.
- Remove chicken, cube, then toss together with 2 tablespoons olive oil, paprika, cumin, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. If it’s dry, stir in the leftover juices in the instant pot.
Can you stack chicken in an instant pot?
You can, but you won’t have to with this recipe, because we’re only using two chicken breasts.
If you do stack the chicken, you’ll want to make sure each piece is seasoned well beforehand. Otherwise some bites of the chicken will be super seasoned and others will be bland.
What to serve with chicken fajitas
Top these fajitas with all your favorite toppings — I love guacamole, pico de gallo, sour cream, and shredded cheese — and serve next to your favorite Mexican inspired sides:
How to store
Store leftover fajita chicken and veggies in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for 2-3 months.
To reheat, thaw in the fridge if frozen then microwave to warm or reheat back in the instant pot.
– Jennifer
Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas
Equipment for this recipe
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt more to less to taste
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 (8 oz) boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce or gluten free alternative
- 1 red bell pepper sliced
- 1 green bell pepper sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper sliced
- 1 small red onion sliced
- Tortillas, sour cream, shredded lettuce, guacamole, feta, pico de gallo, cilantro etc. optional for serving
Recipe Video
Instructions
- Mix together 2 tablespoons olive oil, paprika, cumin, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Rub the mixture evenly over the chicken breasts.
- Allow to marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes or preferably up to 8 hours in the fridge.
- Pour orange juice, lime juice, lemon juice, and soy sauce into the bottom of a 6 quart Instant Pot.
- Place trivet into the Instant Pot.
- Place chicken onto the trivet.
- Cover and lock the lid, making sure the pressure valve is pointed towards SEALING.
- Cook on HIGH pressure for 10 minutes.
- Allow the Instant Pot to naturally release for 5 minutes, then do a quick release by flipping the pressure valve to VENTING.
- Remove chicken and set aside for 10 minutes.
- Drain liquid and set aside to drizzle on chicken. Don’t discard, the liquid has a ton of flavor.
- Clean Instant Pot, then proceed with remaining steps.
- Hit SAUTE on Instant Pot.
- Once it reads HOT, add in the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil, sliced peppers, and sliced onions.
- Cook, stirring often, until veggies are crisp tender, or cooked to your liking, about 10 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Slice chicken, then assemble fajitas to your liking!
- Take 5 seconds to rate this recipe below. We greatly appreciate it!
Notes
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Nutrition Information
*Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on products used.