Instant Pot Chicken Ropa Vieja
Yield: 4 servings
Active Time: 10 minutes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 18 minutes in Instant Pot
How the MyFreezEasy Freezer Meal Plans Work
Add to plan
Delicious flavors come together with this shredded chicken recipe!

Ingredients for Single Meal

  • 12 - boneless chicken thighs
  • - Salt and pepper
  • 1 - red bell pepper(s)
  • 1 - green bell pepper(s)
  • 1 - small white onion(s)
  • 1 - 15 oz. can(s) crushed tomatoes
  • 1 - Tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 - Tbsp cumin
  • 1/2 - cup(s) green olives
  • Side: - rice**
  • Side: - salad**
  • 1 - gallon-size freezer baggie(s)
With MyFreezEasy, you can...
  1. Set up your own freezer meal plan with all your favorite freezer meals.
  2. Personalize the month's themed meal plans.
  3. Download any and all of the 8 themed meal plans released each month.
Also, as a member, you get access to our Freezer Meal Plan Builder (option to adjust serving sizes) & the MyFreezEasy mobile and tablet apps. No more spending hours on Pinterest searching for recipes, adjusting the math on the serving sizes, writing your own shopping list and trying to figure out the step-by-step for the freezer meal prep session!! We do all of that for you - in minutes! Learn more about becoming a MyFreezEasy member!

Cooking Directions for Single Meal

  1. Seed and slice the bell peppers. Slice the onion.
  2. Place the chicken thighs into the base of the Instant Pot and season with salt and pepper. Add the sliced bell peppers and onions, crushed tomatoes, vinegar, cumin and green olives. Add in 1 cup warm water.
  3. Steam valve: Sealing.
  4. Cook on: Manual/High for 18 minutes. See note below if cooking from frozen.
  5. Release: 10-minute Natural or Natural release.
  6. Cook the rice, as directed.
  7. Once chicken is cooked, shred with 2 forks into the sauce.
  8. Prepare the salad.
  9. Serve Instant Pot Chicken Ropa Vieja over rice with salad.

Freezeasy Meal Prep Directions

  1. Seed and slice 2 green bell peppers and 2 red bell peppers.
  2. Slice 2 onions.

To each gallon-size plastic freezer baggie, add the following ingredients:

  • 12 boneless chicken thighs
  • Salt and pepper
  • Half of the sliced green and red bell peppers
  • Half of the sliced onions
  • 1 - 15 oz. can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp cumin
  • 1/2 cup green olives

Remove as much air as possible and seal. Add label to baggie and freeze.

Freeze & Thaw Instructions

Put baggie in the freezer and freeze up to 6 months in fridge freezer or 12 months in a deep freezer. Thaw in the fridge overnight, or a warm bowl of water for about 20 minutes, before transferring to the Instant Pot and cooking as directed. If cooking from frozen, please add 4 to 7 minutes to the pressure cook time for total of 22 to 25 minutes.

Special notes

Serve with cauli-rice for Paleo/Whole30 meal.

Dairy-Free Modifications

Recipe is dairy-free when served with dairy-free sides.

Gluten-Free Modifications

Recipe is gluten-free when served with gluten-free sides.

Printable Label Recipe Title

Instant Pot Chicken Ropa Vieja

Printable Label Instructions

Thaw, add hot water to Instant Pot and then add contents of baggie. Cook on high pressure for 18 minutes with sealed valve; then natural release. Add 4 to 7 minutes to pressure cook time if cooking from frozen.
Serve over rice with side salad.

Become a MyFreezEasy Member