Instant Pot Chicken Tamales – YES PLEASE!
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Making homemade tamales is a big deal. There’s a lot involved from making the masa for tamales to preparing the corn husks.
Why make it more complicated? Here’s an authentic Mexican recipe made in almost HALF the time as the traditional way.
For Father’s Day, Christmas, or any special occasion, you have to try this delicious instant pot tamales recipe.
Also check out: Instant Pot Red Pork Tamales
Table of Contents
- 1 Step-by-Step Instructions
- 2 👩🏼🍳 Pro Tip:
- 3 🫔 More Tamales Recipes
- 4 How to Make Salsa Verde
- 5 🌽 How to Prepare the Corn Husks
- 6 🥣 Masa for Tamales
- 7 How to Assemble Tamales
- 8 For the Newbie Tamale Maker:
- 9 ⏰ How to Cook Tamales in the Instant Pot
- 10 Downside to Instant Pot Tamales:
- 11 🙋🏻♀️ Frequently Asked Questions
- 12 More Tamales Recipes
- 13 🍴How to Serve Tamales
- 14 😋 Hungry for More?
- 15 Instant Pot Chicken Tamales
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Add raw chicken, salt, pepper, bay leaf, onion, and garlic to a large stock pot.
- Cover with water. Cook for 45 minutes.
- Let cool before shredding.
Discard the onion, garlic, and bay leaf. Reserve the chicken broth for another day.
You can very easily use rotisserie chicken. Just remove the skin.
We are following the same recipe as traditional Chicken Salsa Verde Tamales but cooked faster.
👩🏼🍳 Pro Tip:
Save yourself time and make the filling DAYS before the assembling happens.
Cook the chicken up to 4 months ahead and freeze in a sealable bag and up to 5 days in the fridge.
🫔 More Tamales Recipes
- Jalapeno and Cheese Tamales
- Beef Tamales
- Tamales Dulces
- Chicken Mole Tamales
- Tamales de Rajas con Queso
How to Make Salsa Verde
- Shred the chicken and add roasted salsa verde recipe.
- Cook on low heat.
You want the mixture to be saucy. Mexican food is all about the sauce.
Yes, you can use store bought green salsa.
🌽 How to Prepare the Corn Husks
- Separate the dry corn husks and remove any debris like hairs.
- Soak them for 20 minutes in hot water.
Do the corn husks move easily?
If so, great. You’re in business.
If not, then add more hot water and let them soak longer.
To make tamale making go faster, soak the husks the night BEFORE. Then drain and rinse before assembling.
This way, the corn husks are ready to go.
🥣 Masa for Tamales
There’s no shame in buying pre-made masa dough.
For those you interested in a healthier option, there’s also Masa with Olive Oil.
It is completely vegan and 100% better for you than the lard kind.
How to Assemble Tamales
- Spread thin layer of masa with the back of a spoon.
- Add about a tablespoon of cooked chicken (depending on the size of your tamal) to the center of the masa.
- Spoon over salsa verde.
- Fold both sides in and over the chicken filling. Fold the pointy top inward.
- Set aside and repeat.
Tamales need to be cooked upright.
Because we are making these tamales in an Instant Pot, make sure to fold them SHORTER than longer.
The tamales can be fat, but not too tall, or the lid won’t fit.
For the Newbie Tamale Maker:
- Get a little help from your friends. Invite them over to help with the assembling.
- Or, ask them to bring different tamale fillings.
⏰ How to Cook Tamales in the Instant Pot
- Insert trivet, or crate, to the bottom of the instant pot.
- Add water to the bottom. This is only 1 cup of water.
- Assemble the tamales on top of the trivet, open end facing upward.
The trivet will create a small lift so the tamales are NOT sitting in water while cooking. Almost like a steam rack.
Downside to Instant Pot Tamales:
You can only make a small batch. You can’t make a huge amount like with traditional steamers.
- Place lid. Set the valve to SEALING.
- Adjust the cook time settings. Set timer.
- Once the cycle is complete, move valve to venting, or steam release, for a quick release.
- Let the tamales sit in the steamer pot for 10 minutes. DO NOT open the lid!
What if the tamales are not ready after 10 minutes?
If after 10 minutes, the tamales are still mushy, add more water to the bottom of the pot, cover with lid, set valve to sealing, press HIGH PRESSURE button, and cook for 5 minutes. Release the valve. Let them sit again for an additional 10 minutes.
🙋🏻♀️ Frequently Asked Questions
The masa needs to come together and set. Let the tamales sit in the instant pot for 10 minutes before testing a tamal, or they will be mushy. After 10 minutes, open the lid and test a tamal. Tamales are ready when they peel away from the corn husks easily.
Add 1 cup of water to the instant pot. Place the trivet in the pot.
Arrange the tamales. Cover with the lid. Move valve to sealing. Pressure Cook High. Set timer. 5 minutes for thawed tamales, and 15 minutes for frozen tamales. Release the valve. Let sit with the lid on for 5 minutes before removing.
If you don’t have a trivet or steamer basket, roll up a few balls of aluminum foil. Add the water. Then, place a heat-proof safe bowl above the balls. A broken sieve without a handle or mesh strainer would work great! Then assemble the tamales upright as best as you can. They need to be lifted above the water in order to steam. Also note, that you might not be able to cook many tamales.
I own an 8-quart Instant Pot and 16 big tamales fit perfectly. About 2 dozen small tamales, but it really depends on the size of your instant pot AND the size of your tamales.
More Tamales Recipes
🍴How to Serve Tamales
I like to add a big spoonful of salsa verde or salsa roja on top of the tamales. Or, for breakfast, serve with a sunny-side up egg. Some people will add sour cream. And you can’t forget the Champurrado, or if it’s the holidays Ponche Navideño!
😋 Hungry for More?
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Did you make this recipe? Please rate the recipe below!
Instant Pot Chicken Tamales
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 4 lb chicken any cut, or whole chicken
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 onion cut in half
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 bay leaf
- 8 cups water
For the Salsa Verde:
- 2 lbs tomatillos husks removed
- 4 serrano peppers
- 2 garlic cloves
- ¼ onion rough chopped
- 4 cups water enough to cover the tomatillos
- 1 bunch cilantro
- 1 teaspoon salt
For the Tamales:
- 16-24 Corn Husks pre-soaked in hot water
- 2 ½ cups prepared masa (or more, depending on size of corn husks)
- 1 cup Water
Instructions
- For the Chicken:
- Add the chicken, salt, pepper, onion, garlic, bay leaf, and water to a large stock pot.
- Cook for 45 minutes.
- Discard the onion, garlic, and bay leaf.
- Store the chicken broth for another recipe.
- Once cool enough, shred the chicken.
- Set aside until ready to use.
For the Salsa Verde:
- Rinse the tomatillos and place in a large stock pot.
- Add serranos, garlic, and onion to the pot.
- Cover with water.
- Bring to a boil and cook for 7 minutes.
- Discard water.
- Place tomatillos, onion, garlic, and serranos to a blender.
- Add cilantro and salt to the blender.
- Blend until smooth. Set aside until ready to use.
- How to Assemble Tamales:
- Soak the corn husks in a warm water for 20 minutes.
- Drain water. Shake off any excess water.
- Smear a thin layer of prepared masa on each corn husk.
- To the middle of the masa layer, add a tablespoon of the chicken.
- Add a spoonful of salsa verde over the chicken.
- Fold one side of the corn husk in and over the chicken.
- Fold the other side in.
- Fold the pointy top to the center of the tamale.
- Stand upright and set aside.
- Repeat until there are no more corn husks left.
- Place the steam rack crate on the bottom of the Instant Pot.
- Add 1 cup of water.
- Place all the uncooked tamales on the rack.
- Open side up.
- Lock the lid in place.
- Turn the valve to “SEALING.”
- Set the Instant Pot to pressure cook at high pressure 35 minutes.
- When done, turn the valve to "venting."
- It will release any leftover steam.
- Let stand for 10 minutes.
- Remove the lid very carefully.
- The tamales are ready when they peel away from the corn husk easily.
rika
I love tamales and I love cooking with my instant pot! This recipe looks easy to make! Yum!.
Maggie U
Hope you try it! It’s delicious
katrina m kroeplin
omg yes please! i love me some tameles! i have to make this
Maggie U
Glad you enjoyed this Katrina!
Anosa Malanga
I am into cooking since the pandemic happened, I was able to find time making my own food and I am so glad I find so many interesting recipes to try over the internet.
Maggie U
Hope you try this one, It’s pretty good!
Kita Bryant
Oh my goodness I have got to try these. The Instant Pot is a miracle tool.
Maggie U
This recipe it’s so good! Hope you try it
Beth
This looks like a great way to prepare tamales. I want to try this soon. I will have to see if my local store sells corn husks and prepared masa.
Maggie U
Hope you make this recipe soon.
Kathy
I love tamales. I have never tried them in an instant pot though. I can’t wait to give it a try. I love using my instant pot.
Maggie U
This recipe it’s easy and delicious. Hope you try it!
MELANIE EDJOURIAN
Wow, it’s really good you can make these in an instant pot. It makes preparing food so easy.
Maggie U
So easy! Hope you try this recipe.
Chef Dennis
I am really loving your Instant Pot Chicken Tamales, Maggie! it looks really delicious and satisfying. Will definitely have this for our dinner.
Maggie U
I think so too delicious glad you liked it
Nikki Wayne
I haven’t tried making one like ever. This one sounds great for my first time.
Maggie U
Hope you try this recipe. It’s really yummy!
Monica Simpson
My friend’s family has a tradition on Christmas to make tamales. I should see if they’re willing to try the Instant Pot this time!
Maggie U
It’s so much easier! Hope you try it
Michael
Something new for me. Well, at least I can experiment soon since we all have the time now lol
Maggie U
Hope you try it! It’s amazing!
Bri
Is there anything the Instapot can’t do?? It’s a crazy amazing product!
Maggie U
Love it too! Hope you try this recipe
Ciara
These look amazing I have never had a Tamale. I’m gonna pin this so I can try it later !
Maggie U
It’s delicious. Hope you try it!
Sarah Bailey
Now this sounds like a great instant pot idea. I have to admit I do love a chicken dish so I’m going to have to try this myself.
Maggie U
Great. It’s a really yummy dish, hope you try it
Amber Myers
Yes please, these look amazing! I will have to try them out for sure.
Maggie U
So glad you enjoyed this!
Athena
I love my Instant Pot. Not sure I ever thought Tamales could be made in them. This is an awesome revelation!
Maggie Unzueta
It’s seriously the most awesome cooking invention since sliced bread. I love my instant pot, but I love Instant Pot Chicken tamales more. 😉
Cindy Ingalls
Yummy. An instant pot would be perfect for making tamales. These look so delicious.
Maggie Unzueta
Right! I seriously couldn’t believe how easy it was to make Instant Pot Chicken Tamales.
Blair
We cook with a lot of chicken. We have been using less beef. This is a meal I think whole family would enjoy.
Maggie Unzueta
Yes! I mean who doesn’t love chicken tamales. lol. Especially when they are done quicker.
Kim Seghers
I’m drooling over here! I love love love homemade tamales! Your recipe looks amazing! I love that you made them in an instant pot because I have an instant pot! Pinning this recipe to make ..YUM!
Maggie Unzueta
Awesome! These Instant Pot Chicken Tamales are delicious, if I say so myself. 😉
Erin Sluka
I have always wanted to make my own tamales but not sure why I am intimidated by making them fro scratch. This sounds like a great recipe to try
Maggie Unzueta
It’s really not that hard to make tamales. It just takes a long time. Check out the video here: https://inmamamaggieskitchen.com/red-pork-tamales/ It has a step-by-step video on how to make tamales. Good luck!