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Weeknight style Instant Pot BBQ Beer Pulled Chicken Tacos…with spicy avocado jalapeño ranch and sweet corn slaw. Because loaded tacos are just better. Shredded chicken in a spicy BBQ beer sauce stuffed into warmed tortillas to make the best saucy tacos. All made in the instant pot (along with slow cooker and stove-top variations). Serve each taco with a creamy, spicy avocado jalapeño sauce, fresh corn slaw, and a little cheddar cheese too. The perfect weeknight dinner…comes together in minutes and is so delicious too! Bonus, this saucy BBQ chicken is great leftover and piled high onto your favorite tortilla chips from some seriously delicious BBQ chicken nachos.
Say hello to your new favorite weeknight taco. I know, BBQ chicken tacos sound a little off, but trust me, these are so good. Habitual actually, because anything with sweet and spicy BBQ sauce is always fingerlickin’ good.
The one thing I have on my mind right now more than anything is back to school. Somehow we have entered into late August. Little sister Asher is headed back to school this Thursday, and sadly summer is starting to wind down. Just writing that has me a little sad. Most summers I’m ready to move ahead and enter into fall. But this year, I wish summer could stay a bit longer. Anyone else?
So with that mindset, I’m holding onto summer in every which way possible, and trying to incorporate all the summer produce I can get my hands on. Today it’s corn, tomorrow it’ll be plums…then more corn, zucchini, herbs, sweet peaches, and everything else. These seasonal recipes are always my favorite and these tacos are no exception. Not only are these tacos easy to make, they’re a great way to use up summer cabbage, corn, and herbs. They’re also perfect for busy weeknights. And even better for upcoming Monday night football…currently all my brothers and dad seem to talk about these days. They’re also just plain delicious.
So DELICIOUS.
Here is how you make these BBQ beer pulled chicken tacos.
First up, you can make this chicken in the instant pot, the slow cooker, or on the stove-top. I wanted to make sure that everyone could enjoy these saucy tacos so I gave directions for all.
You’ll want to combine the chicken with a few seasonings, your favorite beer, and your go-to BBQ sauce. I’m a huge fan of my homemade BBQ sauce. I also really like Primal Kitchen BBQ sauce, which is what I use when I don’t make my own. You can either cook quickly in the instant pot, or cook low and slow in the slow cooker. For this recipe, either option is just as good. It just depends on how little or how much time you have. Once September hits, I always prefer slow cooking so that warming smells can run through my house. It’s always kind of cozy to slow cook once the weather cools off a bit. But until then, I use the instant pot.
Now, if you don’t love beer or just don’t drink it, you can easily use chicken broth, or even apple cider, in place of the beer. The beer adds a deep flavor to the sauce, but it’s definitely not a must, so do what works best for you!
While the chicken is cooking, make the avocado ranch, which I took straight out of the original HBH cookbook. I LOVE this ranch so freaking much. It’s light, healthy, tangy, and really great with so many things. It’s just a simple mix of ripe avocado, tangy buttermilk, herbs, spicy jalapeño, a squeeze of lime, and a pinch of salt. Simple, but good.
The ranch is also used in the sweet corn slaw, which is just shredded cabbage, grilled corn, and chives. Tossing the slaw with the ranch gives it so much flavor, but keeps the recipe incredibly fresh and simple too.
Once the chicken is finished cooking, shred, and stuff it into warmed tortillas. Then add sharp cheddar cheese, plenty of slaw, and extra ranch for serving.
It’s a very different taco, but again, trust me. These tacos are a game-changer…
And speaking of games. These are not only great for busy weeknights, but how fun will these be for Monday (Thursday+Sunday) night football! The chicken can slow cook all day, then everyone can build their own tacos for dinner.
Easy, fun, and all-around good. Excited to have these tacos in my rotation.
Oh, and a meal prep tip for you! You can easily make a big batch of this chicken on Sunday or Monday nights. Then just serve up throughout the week. You can use the chicken in tacos, incorporate into salads for lunch, or my personal favorite…repurpose the chicken to make some serious KILLER nachos. Oh my gosh, that will be so good, you must do this!
If you make these instant pot BBQ beer pulled chicken tacos, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Watch The How To Video:
Instant Pot BBQ Beer Pulled Chicken Tacos.
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 578 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons chipotle chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 2 cups of your favorite BBQ sauce
- 1/2 cup of your favorite beer, or use chicken broth (I use Pumpkin beer)
- 3 cups shredded cabbage
- 2 cups grilled or steamed corn
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro roughly, chopped
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
- warmed corn or flour tortillas and shredded sharp cheddar cheese, for serving
Avocado Ranch
- 1 avocado, halved
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup fresh cilantro
- 1 jalapeño, halved and seeded
- juice from 1 lime
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- kosher salt
Instructions
Instant Pot
- 1. In the bowl of your instant pot, combine the chicken, chili powder, garlic powder, paprika, cinnamon, 1 1/2 cups BBQ sauce, the beer, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Cover and cook on high pressure/manual for 8 minutes. Once done cooking, use the natural or quick release function and release the steam. 2. Switch the instant pot to sauté and cook 5 minutes, until the sauce thickens. Shred with two forks. Add remaining BBQ sauce, if desired. 3. Meanwhile, make the ranch. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and creamy, adding additional buttermilk, 1 tablespoon at a time, as needed to thin the sauce.4. To make the slaw, add the cabbage to a bowl with a few spoonfuls of the ranch and toss to combine. Add the corn, cilantro and chives, and season with salt.5. Stuff the cheese and chicken into the warmed tortillas. Top with slaw and addition ranch. Enjoy!
Slow Cooker
- 1. In the bowl of your slow cooker, combine the chicken, chili powder, paprika, cinnamon, 1 1/2 cups BBQ sauce, the beer, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours. Once the chicken is done cooking, shred with two forks. Stir in the cilantro and remaining BBQ sauce, if desired. 2. Follow the directions as directed above for steps 3-5.
Stove-Top
- 1. Combine the chicken, chili powder, paprika, cinnamon, and a pinch each of salt and pepper in a bowl. 2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large heavy bottomed pot over medium-high heat. When the oil shimmers, add the chicken and sear the chicken on both sides, about 3-4 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and add 1 1/2 cups BBQ sauce and the beer. Cover and simmer the chicken for 1-2 hours. If the sauce gets too thick, add additional beer to thin the sauce out. Once the chicken is done cooking, shred with two forks and stir in the cilantro and remaining BBQ sauce, if desired. 2. Follow the directions as directed above for steps 3-5.
The crockpot is doings it’s job, I’m sure looking forward to trying these tacos…
Quick question: the nutritional value is based on per serving …. How much is one serving? 1 taco or 2 ??
Hey Karen,
It’s based on 2 tacos per serving:) I hope you love this recipe, thanks for trying it out! xTieghan
Absolutely outrageous flavor!! Everyone was going “ummm, oh my goodness, ummm” while we were eating. If we had been eating these in a restaurant, nearby diners would have told their waiters, “We’ll have what they’re having.” These flavors really do work wonderfully together. These have been requested again for the weekend. I’m making a double batch. Someone asked how T knows to put all the flavors together that she does in her recipes, and my answer was, “I don’t know. It kind of ruins you for anyone else’s cooking though, doesn’t it?” I was told that yes it does. I have about 100 cookbooks that I have collected over the years, every cookbook author from A to Z, but we return repeatedly to T’s recipes online and in her books.
Hey Lorena,
Happy Friday! Thanks so much for sharing your feedback and trying this recipe out! Love to hear that it was enjoyed:) xxTieghan
Went into my Instant Pot on the highest slow cooker setting this morning, to be ready for lunch. The spices smelled amazing!! (smoked paprika and chipotle, ahhhhh) I’ll prepare the slaw and ranch dressing just before serving. I love, love chicken tacos. ? Thanks for another “set it and forget it in the slow cooker” recipe T. We’re just on this side of the worst of the summer heat down here in Southern Nevada ??, and I won’t want to turn on the oven any more than necessary. ❤️❤️
Hey Lorena,
Happy Friday! Thanks so much for sharing your feedback and trying this recipe out! Love to hear that it was enjoyed:) xxTieghan
For the avocado ranch could we substitute the buttermilk with something dairy-free?
Hey Stephanie,
Sure, a dairy free milk or yogurt would work well for you! Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xx
This was a HUGE hit for our taco night. Everyone was skeptical at first but it went quicker then the beef alternative I had! I was sort of bummed I didn’t have leftovers for the week. Will be putting this into rotation!
Hey Nicole,
Happy Sunday!! Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am so glad to hear that it was enjoyed! xx
There were pretty tasty, but I feel like the chicken was tough .. I followed the recipe like it’s stated… maybe I should cook the chicken longer? Could I use jackfruit in this?
Hi Laura,
Thanks for giving the recipe a try! What kind of chicken did you use? It should be super tender. I have never used jackfruit, but you could certainly give it a try! xTieghan
I loved this recipe! Not too heavy for an evening meal and delicious! I cut the BBQ sauce a bit because i don’t like it too sweet or saucy. The slaw was delicious!
Hi Nanette,
Wonderful! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it. Have the best weekend:) xTieghan
Made it on the stovetop b/c I don’t have an Instant Pot. Very tasty. My mind kept thinking it deserved carmelized onions to be added as a toping. I’ll do that with the leftovers (YUM) tonight.
Hi Fawn,
Awesome!! I am thrilled to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! Happy Holidays!? xT
Is there any way to preserve the avocado Ranch so I can use it the next day or should I just make it in small batches?
Hi there! I would just make it in small batches, it’s best enjoyed the day of! xTieghan
I have been following your blog for SO long now and I finally tried one of your recipes (no idea what took me so long…I doubted I could pull it off)! My husband and I absolutely loved this recipe! I used the holiday coffee peanut butter porter from trader joes and also used the package of southwest salad mix from trader joes instead of the cabbage and cilantro because thats what I had on had and I saw that those are some of the ingredients included in it that salad mix. It turned out wonderful! Thank you so so much for all your amazing recipes, I can’t to try more!
Hi there! Thanks so much for trying out this recipe! So glad to hear it was enjoyed ? xTieghan
IN the video you show 4 avacado halves? My sauce tasted somewhat bitter and I think it was the cilantro? Or maybe needs more avacado
Hey Helen,
Sorry to hear this. Was there anything you adjusted in the recipe? Please let me know how I can help! xTieghan
Hi
Can I make this with a small pork tenderloin that i already have? Shelley
Hey Michelle,
You could give it a try, I just don’t think pork tenderloin is going to pull like you really want it to. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This recipe sounded a little odd combining bbq sauce with tacos, but I’ve loved all your recipes, so I knew it would be good, and I was right. Delicious and easy meal!! Definitely putting in the rotation! Thanks for yet another fantastic meal!
Hey Kristin,
Thanks a lot for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad to hear that it was enjoyed!! xxTieghan
these were amazing! My husband and I both loved them:) a perfect dinner for a weeknight. have a great week:))
Hey Kaila,
Thanks a lot for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad to hear that it was enjoyed!! xxTieghan
Excellent recipe! My husband was skeptical because he doesn’t love barbecue sauce but he loved it! Thank you so much.
Hey Amy,
Awesome! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed and appreciate you giving it a go! Have a wonderful week:) xTieghan