Salsa Verde Chicken Thighs

  • Level: Easy
  • Yield: 4 to 6 servings
  • Total: 1 hr
  • Active: 15 min
The tender chicken in this recipe tastes like it's been simmering for hours, but we used a pressure cooker to cut down on time while still yielding the same slow-cooked flavor. This chicken is great in tacos, in quesadillas or even cold on a salad—the possibilities are endless!
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Ingredients

1 pound tomatillos, husked, rinsed and sliced in half

1 jalapeño, stemmed and halved lengthwise (see Cook's Note)

1/2 yellow onion, cut into quarters

1 packed cup fresh cilantro leaves

2 tablespoons lime juice plus lime wedges, for serving

3 cloves garlic, smashed and peeled

Kosher salt

1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs

For serving: charred tortillas, sour cream, shredded lettuce, grated cheese, pico de gallo and guacamole

Directions

Special equipment:
a 6- or 8-quart Instant Pot® multi-cooker
  1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.
  2. Add the tomatillos, jalapeno and onion to the lined baking sheet and roast until the vegetables are soft and starting to brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool slightly.
  3. Add the roasted vegetables and any juices from the baking sheet to a blender. Add the cilantro, lime juice, garlic and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cover and blend until no large chunks remain, about 15 seconds. Add additional salt to taste.
  4. Add the salsa verde to a 6-quart Instant Pot® and nestle the chicken thighs into the sauce. Follow the manufacturer's guide for locking the lid and preparing to cook. Set to pressure cook on high for 15 minutes (see Cook's Note).
  5. After the pressure-cook cycle is complete, follow the manufacturer's guide for quick release and wait until the quick-release cycle is complete. Being careful of any remaining steam, unlock and remove the lid.
  6. Add the chicken to a serving bowl and top with the salsa verde. Serve with charred tortillas, sour cream, shredded lettuce, grated cheese, pico de gallo, lime wedges and guacamole.

Cook’s Note

For a less spicy salsa verde, remove the seeds from the jalapeño. Settings may vary on your Instant Pot® depending on the model. Please refer to the manufacturer's guide.

Let's Get Cooking!

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Marie L.

How my goodness how tasty this was. Already told hubby I will make more next week. I do wonder if I can use chicken breasts. Also will switch to the slow cooker method because I hate my 5-in-1 pressure cooker. At 72 fighting cancer this machine feels like a monster 😤😥

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