Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas combines tender chicken, colorful peppers, and spices to create a satisfying and nutritious dinner that’s perfect for the whole family. Plus, thanks to the use of the Instant Pot, it comes together in just minutes, making it the ultimate time-saver for busy weeknights.
Pressure cooker chicken fajitas are also a fantastic option for Cinco De Mayo or any Taco Tuesday. This Mexican style dish has all the flavors you crave with nutrients you need! Even the pickiest of eaters get excited when they see this chicken recipe featured on the dinner table.

Table of Contents
Instant Pot Fajitas
It is no secret that we are huge fans of cooking with chicken. From pastas and casseroles to baked and air fryer chicken, you will find chicken frequently being served in our home. It’s because chicken is affordable, versatile and very kid friendly!
We also really enjoy any meal that can be made in the instant pot. This kitchen appliance has changed the way we make dinner, for the better. It is how we can make a speedy meal that doesn’t compromise on flavor or texture.
Now with our instapot fajitas recipe, you can add another great meal option to the menu rotation. Simply dump in the prepared ingredients then let the instant pot do the rest while you gather fajita toppings.
You’ll also like Oven Baked Chicken Tacos, Oven Baked Tacos, Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Tacos and Taco Quesadillas.
Keep reading to learn how to make chicken fajitas, storage instructions, meal prep ideas and our top tip for feeding fajitas to picky eaters.
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken tenderloin, sliced ✅
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
- 1.25 ounces taco seasoning ✅
- 3 large peppers, sliced red, green and orange
- 1 large red onion, sliced
- 1/3 cup water
- 1/2 lime, juiced
- 8 corn tortillas
Gluten-Free Guide: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten.
How To Make
Place the chicken into a mixing bowl. Drizzle with a little olive oil and add 1/2 of the pack of taco seasoning. Stir well. Place into the bottom of the instant pot.
Add the liquids to the instant pot
Add the water and lime juice to the instant pot.
Prep the peppers
Add the peppers and onions to a mixing bowl. Drizzle with oil and add the rest of the taco seasoning. Stir well. Add on top of the chicken in the instant pot. Place the lid on the pot and turn the valve to sealing.
Cook
Set the instant pot to high pressure for 4 minutes. Once the time is up do a quick release and remove the lid.
Serve
Serve with corn tortillas and your favorite toppings.
Serving Suggestions
Serving instant pot chicken fajitas with corn tortillas or our Homemade Gluten-Free Tortillas quickly turns this recipe into a complete meal, but you wouldn’t want to miss out on all the fun of adding fajita toppings! Consider any of the ideas below when making fajitas at home.
What Do You Put on Fajitas
- Fresh lime juice
- Cilantro
- Black olives
- Pico de Gallo
- Guacamole or avocado chunks
- Shredded cheese
- Sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
- Roasted corn
- Quinoa or rice
- Black beans or refried beans
You can also opt to serve the quinoa, rice, corn and beans as side dishes instead of toppings. It helps create a heartier meal especially if you have tweens or teens in your home.
Storing Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas
In the fridge: Place leftovers in a covered container for up to 3 days in the fridge.
In the freezer: Add chicken and vegetables to a Ziploc bag or freezer safe container to freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheating Instructions
Reheat leftovers from the fridge in the microwave or on the stove over low heat.
If frozen, thaw overnight in the fridge then reheat in the microwave or skillet. Defrosting can help the chicken to evenly reheat without becoming tough and chewy.
Tips For Making Fajitas
- Warm the corn tortillas to prevent them from breaking when folded with the ingredients.
- Cut the chicken tenders into thin strips or chunks. This will allow the chicken to fully cook without overcooking the vegetables.
- Set up a toppings bar on the dinner table to allow everyone to customize their fajitas.
- If you are challenged by a picky eater, slicing a variety of bell pepper colors is key. You can then encourage them to pick their favorite color of bell pepper to try with their meal.
- Use chicken tenders, chicken breasts or boneless, skinless chicken thighs for fajitas.
- Season with a packaged taco seasoning or make a quick homemade seasoning.
- Purchase fresh chicken in bulk when on sale then slice and freeze until you are ready to make chicken fajitas.
- Make a double or triple batch to meal prep and use in burritos, tacos, tostadas, salads, wraps or sandwiches during the week. Leftovers can easily be enjoyed at home or packed as a lunchbox meal.
- Meal prep by placing sliced chicken, peppers and onions into a Ziploc bag and storing in the freezer for up to 3 months. Pour ingredients into the instant pot, add the liquid and increase the cooking time by 5 minutes when ready to cook.
- Turn into shredded chicken fajitas by removing the chicken from the instant pot after cooking, shredding then mixing back with the peppers and onions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, frozen chicken can be used by increasing the cooking time by 5 minutes. You will also want to slice the peppers and onions into thicker strips to prevent overcooking.
According to the USDA, frozen chicken can be stored safely indefinitely. However, for the best quality, texture and flavor, it is recommended to freeze then use within 1 year.
You can use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature has reached a minimum of 165°F.
Thaw chicken overnight in the fridge or do a quick thaw by placing the chicken in a Ziploc bag under cold running water until defrosted. It is recommended that you do not thaw chicken by leaving on your countertop at room temperature due to food safety concerns.
Kids In The Kitchen
Cooking tips and suggestions for kids making this recipe.
- Practice food safety by always washing your hands with soap after handling raw chicken.
- Slice the peppers and onions roughly the same size to help all the vegetables cook evenly.
- A quick release on the instant pot is when you manually open the value after the timer sounds. Be cautious as steam is likely to spray quickly out of the top.
More Instant Pot Chicken Recipes
- Instant Pot Chicken Stir Fry
- Mississippi Chicken (Instant Pot)
- Instant Pot Chicken Soup With Rice
- Instant Pot Chicken Stew
- Chicken A La King (Instant Pot + Stovetop)
CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.
The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.
Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken tenderloin, sliced ✅
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
- 1.25 ounces taco seasoning ✅
- 3 large peppers, sliced red, green and orange
- 1 large red onion, sliced
- 1/3 cup water
- 1/2 lime, juiced
- 8 corn tortillas
Instructions
- Prep the chicken. Place the chicken into a mixing bowl. Drizzle with a little olive oil and sdd 1/2 of the pack of taco seasoning. Stir well. Place into the bottom of the instant pot.1 pound chicken tenderloin, sliced, 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided, 1.25 ounces taco seasoning
- Add the liquids to the instant pot. Add the water and lime juice to the instant pot.1/3 cup water, 1/2 lime, juiced
- Prep the peppers. Add the peppers and onions to a mixing bowl. Drizzle with oil and add the rest of the taco seasoning. Stir well. Add on top of the chicken in the instant pot. Place the lid on the pot and turn the valve to sealing.3 large peppers, sliced, 1 large red onion, sliced, 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided, 1.25 ounces taco seasoning
- ⭐️Cook. Set the instant pot to high pressure for 4 minutes. Once the time is up do a quick release and remove the lid.
- Serve. Serve with corn tortillas and your favorite toppings.8 corn tortillas
Notes
Fajita Toppings
- Fresh lime juice
- Cilantro
- Black olives
- Pico de Gallo
- Guacamole or avocado chunks
- Shredded cheese
- Sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
- Roasted corn
- Quinoa or rice
- Black beans or refried beans
Nutrition
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