healthy crack chicken

A healthier Mexican inspired version of the very popular "Crack Chicken", this Instant Pot Crack Chicken is as versatile as it is addictive.

Instant Pot Mexican Inspired Healthy Crack Chicken

chicken breast

salsa (if it’s

juice of 1 lime

chili powder

cumin

onion powder

garlic powder

salt

black pepper

1/3 less fat cream cheese cream cheese

shredded pepper jack cheese

black beans, drained and rinsed

toppings: pico de Gallo

Place chicken breasts in the pressure cooker pot in a single layer across the bottom, as much as possible.

Add salsa, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

Secure the lid and turn pressure release knob to a sealed position.  Cook at high pressure for 20 minutes.

While chicken is cooking, prepare pico de gallo and guacamole if using homemade.

When pressure cooking is complete, use a natural release.

Remove the chicken to a plate and shred with two forks or place it in a food processor and pulse a few times for a smaller dice, being careful not to overprocess it to the point that it turns to mush.

Add cream cheese and pepper jack cheese to the pot.  Select saute to melt the cheese and whisk until smooth.  Stir in the black beans and shredded chicken.

Use the chicken for quesadillas, taquitos, hard shell tacos, soft taco wraps, taco salad, etc.  Serve with pico de gallo, salsa, guacamole, sour cream, cilantro, or any other favorite Mexican style toppings.

Place a freezer safe ziplock inside the pressure cooker pot.  Arrange the chicken in a single layer with the other ingredients in step 1.  Seal the bag and freeze inside pressure cooker pot until solid, then remove the bag from the pot and return to the freezer until ready to use.

When ready to cook, add 2-3 tablespoons of water to the pressure cooker pot.  Remove chicken and other ingredients from ziplock and place inside the pot.

Cook at high pressure for 30 minutes then proceed with the remaining directions above.

Freezer Instructions

My favorite kitchen hack is to grate up fresh ginger root and then freeze it in about 1 tbsp measurements in an ice cube tray. I add a little water to each one to make sure they stick together. Then I can just pop them in anything in calls for. My husband loves to put a cube in his smoothies. I need to go try that guacamole one! I can never make a great guacamole!

This was one of the first real Instant Pot recipes I tried and oh. my goodness. It was so good! Will definitely be making this again. Even my picky husband loved it!

I made this as part of a Cinco de Mayo menu.  When I was done, I tried it, and was like, "eh, pretty good."  But then ten minutes later, I was eating more.  And then again.  And then I realized how the dish earned its name.

Brought it in for lunch the next day and it was even better. 

The only change I'd make next time is more spice and some hot sauce.

Give it a go; you won't regret it.

Absolutely Amazing!!!!!!  Figured out mid-dinner that I forgot the chili powder.  We hadn't noticed and had already given it 5/5!   Since it was so good without it, I'm very much looking forward to making it again with it -).   Thanks for such a fun, easy and tasty recipe, Marci!

Very good, but you really should try the real crack chicken.  Honestly, I don't think this recipe has much less fat and calories than the original (I eliminate the bacon in mine though) if that's what's holding you back.

This was so good and easy to make.  Thank you

I love this recipe! My husband and I make it about once a week! I am prepping freezer meals for when I have a baby in June. I’m curious: if I were to make the whole recipe, cream cheese and all, will it freeze ok? I have a food saver. I thought about freezing leftovers so all I had to do was reheat it. Think it would work ok?

This dish is really a lifesaver, and you can easily store it in the freezer and use it with lots of other food. It tastes quite good and is really easy to make. Thank you very much.

A regular family favourite......makes everyone smile ....especially when the grandchildren....are the chefs!!!!!

Who knew it would be Instagram worthy “Gota take a shot of that”

Delicious!  I made with the exact spice ingredients and salsa measurements per the recipe, used mild Pace Brand Picante, added a little water. Substituted cheddar cheese for pepper jack since I can't do spicy anymore.  After cooking the chicken breasts, I thought there might be too much liquid, so I took some out when I removed the breasts for shredding.  Added the cheeses, the shredded chicken, and slowly added the liquid back to the pot, using almost all of it.  Rolled in in tortillas and served with a side salad.  This recipe is a keeper!

I made this with chicken tenders but they were not totally thawed and I needed to cook them for ten minutes so they would shred easily. The recipe was absolutely delicious. I used spicy Mexican cheese to replace the pepper jack but followed the recipe to a t otherwise and I will definitely make again. Thanks for sharing.

Loved this! Used straight avocado chunks on the accompanying lime-dressed salad. The food processor shredded the chicken perfectly! I posted a photo on Facebook. Thanks, Marci!

You're completely right, I've been making this regularly for 3 years now and it's still a favorite. I add it over some cilantro lime rice and it's soooo good, it's like a healthy comfort food.

https://content.jwplatform.com/videos/mWVTvhxo.mp4

Top 2 healthy crack chicken recipes from across the web

The most viewed healthy crack chicken recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine

Top Tags

Instant Pot Mexican Inspired Health...

Instant Pot Mexican Inspired Health...

Top 2 healthy crack chicken recipes from across the web

The most viewed healthy crack chicken recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engineic_arrow_forward_48px

Top Tags

Instant Pot Mexican Inspired Health...

Instant Pot Mexican Inspired Health...

The most viewed healthy crack chicken recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine