I love my pressure cooker. I’m not afraid of it, one bit. I’ve never had an “explosion”.
Dear fearful non-pressure cooker readers, please believe me when I tell you that there is nothing to fear. Today’s pressure cookers don’t growl or bite. They have been updated with safety features that makes pressure cooking fun. Imagine, a Beef Bourguignon (Beef Burgundy) cooked in 40 minutes, instead of 3 hours! Don’t you love it?
I have as slow cooker, and I use it every so often. The downside of slow cookers is that I don’t have time to load it up with ingredients in the morning. The night before, I’m usually worn out and don’t have the energy to chop and measure. With a pressure cooker, that’s not a problem! Pressure Cookers are the Ferrari of Slow Cookers!
What I discovered, when I saw this recipe on one of my most trusted pressure cooker recipe blogs, “Pressure Cooking Today” is that I can use frozen chicken! (Likewise, I’ve read that using frozen meats in a slow cooker is not recommended as being “food safety safe”.)
Fortunately, I had all the ingredients on hand and I got busy setting up my winter photography lights (I much prefer natural lighting…but there ya go.) Salsa, chopped onion, fresh garlic, tomato sauce…
Add the frozen chicken (yes, you can use thawed chicken, just reduce the cooking time by about 5 minutes). Cover and lock lid in place.
Test that the chicken has reached 165F. NOTE: my chicken breasts were quite large, so I had to cook an additional five minutes.
Full disclosure: I made this recipe over a year ago, and I wasn’t happy with my photos…then, I completely forgot to post it. (I don’t like taking food photos at night. I’m never happy with the artificial lighting.) I liked the recipe, so it’s time to share it with you.
I didn’t photograph the rest of the steps, but it’s simple. I placed the chicken into a casserole dish, and then used the browning/saute cycle to cook the sauce until it thickened. Then I spooned the sauce over the chicken and use a Mexican cheese blend. NOTE: Barbara used low-fat Mozarella.
TASTING NOTES: On a chilly night, this is a flavorful and comforting way to serve chicken. I liked the addition of the cumin and chili. It kicked up the flavor, but wasn’t dragon breathing hot for my delicate palate.
Yes, you can adapt this to a slow cooker, by all means. Once you remove the chicken from the slow cooker, pour the sauce into a pot and cook on the stove until thickened.
I’ve been asked on my thoughts about using a stove top pressure cooker vs. an electric pressure cooker I don’t dislike the stove top models, and there are some great ones available. I much prefer using an electric pressure cooker because I don’t have to worry about having to adjust the temperatures. I can brown meats well, and I just press buttons and wait for the beep to tell me my recipe is finished. It just doesn’t get any easier than that. One feature that I’m not finding in today’s electric pressure cookers is an 8-quart oval shape. That’s a shame, because I can fit roasts without cutting them up. Today’s pressure cookers seem to all be round in shape. Sigh. This is the model Electric Pressure cooker I would buy, if mine ever breaks.
Now, go buy a pressure cooker! You will love it and wonder what took you so long!
Cheesy Salsa Lime Chicken
Equipment
- Pressure Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 cup mild or medium salsa
- 1 onion diced
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 Tablespoon cumin
- 1 Tablespoon chili powder
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- olive oil
- 4 large boneless skinless chicken breasts, frozen*
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1/4 teaspoon of pepper
- 2 fresh limes juiced
- 1 cup grated low-fat Mozzarella I used a Mexican blend of Monterey Jack and Cheddar
- Fresh Cilantro for garnish
- Sliced green onion for garnish
Instructions
- Using the browning/saute setting, add heat olive oil. Cook the onion garlic, cumin and chili powder until softened– about 3 minutes.
- Add salsa, tomato sauce, chicken, salt, pepper and lime juice to pressure cooking pot. Cover and lock lid in place.
- Select High Pressure and 12 minutes cook time. When timer beeps, turn off and use a quick pressure release. Check and make sure the chicken is cooked to 165°.
- Preheat the broiler and spray a small casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray. Place the chicken in the dish.
- Select sauté and cook sauce, stirring frequently until sauce is desire consistency. Spoon sauce over chicken.
- NOTES: Be sure to check the temperature of the chicken. I had to cook mine for about five more minutes. The chicken breasts were large and frozen. If using thawed chicken, reduce the time by about five minutes.
- Sprinkle 1 cup shredded cheese on top of the chicken and sauce, put the dish in the oven and broil until the cheese is melted and starting to brown, about five minutes, but watch it carefully.
- Garnish with cilantro and sliced green onion. Extra delicious served with rice.
Notes
Growing up in Miami a pressure cooker was a much needed kitchen item. These were the days when pressure cookers had the seals which often had to be replaced. I can remember some of the best meals being produced in a pressure cooker.
Your Cheesy Salsa Lime Chicken is no exception. Thanks for sharing.
Velva
Why does it say to preheat the broiler? Do you mean the one in my oven?
Please ignore my last comment. I just didn't read far enough down the recipe. So sorry.
LOL, Sarah! No problem. I've done that before. Glad you found your answer. (Though a built-in broiler in a pressure cooker would be a pretty cool idea!)
I've always wished I had a pressure cooker AND knew how to use it! Lovely recipe.
I think we could eat this just about every night!
I made the mistake of scrolling past your commentary to the recipe card. The olive oil & onion are missing from the ingredients list. Had to make a last-minute run to the store for the onion – which I ALWAYS have on hand, except today 😐
Dear Unknown.. I am so sorry! Thank you for telling me. I have edited the recipe to reflect those ingredients. I hope that the recipe turned out okay for you.
No worries…it happens.
It was delicious; the leftovers even better! Thanks for the recipe!
You said to add tomato sauce, but not the paste. Am I to assume the paste goes in when the sauce does?
I am going to make this tonight, only when I place the chicken into the casserole dish, I am going to slice it first, then top with cheese and sauce, because I am going to serve it with tortillas!!
I want to make this tonight, and the recipe has disappeared!!!! Where can I find the recipe?