Instant Pot Jerk Chicken Tacos with Pineapple Salsa
RVing and tacos go hand in hand, am I right? And if you’ve spent any length of time here on TREKKN, then you know one of our favorite RV kitchen tools is the Instant Pot and one of our favorite food groups is tacos.
These Instant Pot Jerk Chicken Tacos with pineapple salsa are the perfect summer meal because they’re quick, easy, and full of summer flavors from the jerk seasoning and salsa.
If you’ve never used an Instant Pot in your RV, you might want to read our post, Tips and Tricks for Using an Instant Pot in Your RV. It covers things like how many amps an Instant Pot draws, the different sizes available, where to store it in your RV and more.
What is Jerk Seasoning?
My first experience with Jerk chicken and the amazing Jerk seasoning was on the first night of my honeymoon. Which was, ahem, 23 years ago as of today.
No, we didn’t honeymoon in Jamaica. Our first night was actually spent in Texas and then it was on to Colorado. But Todd found a little Jamaican restaurant on the water in this little Texas town. And it was perfect.
The food was incredible. The music was fantastic. And we both sat there eating, soaking in the fact that we were married and that the busy part of planning a wedding was over.
As we were looking at the menu, I remember thinking ‘what the heck is Jerk chicken?‘
What is jerk seasoning made of? Here’s how MyRecipes.com explains it:
Jamaican Jerk Seasoning Blend. From merely hot to incendiary, this Caribbean jerk seasoning gets its kick from a blend of ingredients such as chiles, thyme, cinnamon, garlic, and nutmeg.
If you’re really into the history of Jerk seasoning, Thrillist.com wrote: “the handiest jerk guide ever produced.“
Which is the Best Store-Bought Jerk Seasoning?
Honestly, who knows? I purchased what was available to me at our local grocery store and I’ve been fairly pleased with it.
I bought Adams Jamaican Jerk Seasoning and my only complaint is it doesn’t have enough heat. Its ingredients are sugar, sea salt, spices, onion, pimenta (allspice), and chili pepper. If you want a little more kick, you can always add a pinch more chili pepper.
I’ve heard good things about Walkerswood jerk seasoning and might be trying that next.
Traditional Hot and Spicy Jamaican Jerky (2 pack)
How to Make Jerk Chicken in the Instant Pot
Making Jerk Chicken in the Instant Pot is incredibly easy. Here are the ingredients you need:
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp Jerk seasoning
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger (or 1 tsp fresh)
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1 tbsp cilantro
- 12 corn or flour tortillas
Here’s how to make Jerk Chicken tacos:
- Combine garlic, Jerk seasoning, ginger and salt. Spread mixture on all sides of the chicken breasts.
- Place chicken in Instant Pot. Add lime juice, orange juice and cilantro.
- Manually set Instant Pot for 12 minutes
- After the timer goes off, do a quick release
- Take chicken breasts out of Instant Pot and shred
- Pour half of the leftover juice in Instant Pot out, leaving the other half in the Instant Pot
- Put shredded chicken back in Instant Pot and mix with juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
If you want a little more Jerk flavor, sprinkle the chicken with more seasoning.
How to Make Pineapple Salsa
The yummy Pineapple Salsa is from a Hello Fresh meal. They serve it with Beef tacos, but it’s just as good with these Jerk Chicken Tacos.
I tweaked the recipe just a bit.
Ingredients:
- 2 Roma Tomatoes
- 8 oz can pineapple tidbits, drained
- 2 tbsp red onion
- 1 tbsp (or more, depending on desired heat) jalapeno, finely diced
- 1/4 cup cilantro, roughly chopped
- pinch of lime zest
- juice from half a lime
- salt and pepper to taste
How to make pineapple salsa:
- Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
Making the Instant Pot Jerk Chicken Tacos
Here’s the order I follow:
- Prepare the chicken and get it in the Instant Pot
- While chicken is cooking, make the pineapple salsa
- Warm the corn tortillas in a skillet or wrap flour tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave for 1 minute
That’s it! Dinner is served.
Do you want more RV-friendly recipes and tips for cooking in your home on wheels? Be sure to check out our RV & Camping Recipes page.
Your Instant Pot Jerk Chicken Tacos Printable Recipe
Instant Pot Jerk Chicken Tacos
If you're looking to mix things up for taco night, these Instant Pot Jerk Chicken Tacos with pineapple salsa are it! Because this recipe uses store-bought Jerk Chicken seasoning and the Instant Pot, you can have dinner on the table in no time
Ingredients
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp Jerk seasoning
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger (or 1 tsp fresh)
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1 tbsp cilantro
- 12 corn or flour tortillas
Instructions
- Combine garlic, Jerk seasoning, ginger and salt. Spread mixture on all sides of the chicken breasts.
- Place chicken in Instant Pot. Add lime juice, orange juice and cilantro.
- Manually set Instant Pot for 12 minutes
- After the timer goes off, do a quick release
- Take chicken breasts out of Instant Pot and shred
- Pour half of the leftover juice in Instant Pot out, leaving the other half in the Instant Pot
- Put shredded chicken back in Instant Pot and mix with juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
If you want a little more Jerk flavor, sprinkle the chicken with more seasoning.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 426Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 96mgSodium: 579mgCarbohydrates: 50gFiber: 5gSugar: 11gProtein: 43g
Your Pineapple Salsa Printable Recipe
Pineapple Salsa
An easy and refreshing homemade pineapple salsa recipe perfect to top beef or chicken tacos with.
Ingredients
- 2 Roma Tomatoes
- 8 oz can pineapple tidbits, drained
- 2 tbsp red onion
- 1 tbsp (or more, depending on desired heat) jalapeno, finely diced
- 1/4 cup cilantro, roughly chopped
- pinch of lime zest
- juice from half a lime
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 36Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 75mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 1gSugar: 7gProtein: 0g
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Julie specializes in helping you whip up delicious meals in your tiny RV kitchen, as well as RV organization tips and helping fellow RVers make their RV feel like home. Her favorite RVing spot is in Banff National Park in Canada where yes, the water really is that blue and the people really are that nice.
Just made this and it was delicious! I didn’t have any ginger so skipped that, it was not missed. Also made some mango salsa which was fantastic. I will definitely make this again. Great flavors.
That is great to hear, Charles! So glad you liked it, and we just might have to try your variation and see how we like it as well.
This has definitely become one of our favorites…in fact, it sounds perfect for dinner tonight! Thanks for the reminder.
Cheers!