We're making the Cuban staple, vaca frita de pollo in an Instant Pot. The process of making this shredded chicken dish is a labor of love. The chicken is twice cooked to ensure it's tender yet crispy on the exterior.
Growing up, vaca frita was one of my favorite dishes. It's one of my favorite comfort foods and my mom still makes it for me when she knows I need some cheering up. It's a Cuban cuisine staple that's available at most Cuban restaurants
Why you'll love this vaca frita de pollo
- This is perfect for meal prepping.
- This shredded chicken is a nutritious protein option for children.
- Can be easily customized.
- Great for weeknight dinners.
What do you eat chicken vaca frita with?
Vaca frita de pollo is traditionally paired with white rice, and black beans or plantains. Some people have recently created vaca frita de pollo sandwiches with the chicken sandwiched in a bun topped with tomatoes, potato sticks and cheese. Either option is delicious! You can also use this shredded chicken for some delicious tacos
Ingredients needed for this chicken vaca frita
- Chicken Breasts
- Bay leaves
- Salt
- Sazon completa
- Water
- Yellow Onions
- Garlic cloves
- Lime juice
- Vegetable oil
Instructions needed to make this crispy shredded chicken
- Place the water, salt, bay leaf sazon completa and chicken breasts into your Instant Pot and set for 40 minutes at high pressure in the meat/stew setting
- Once the 40 minutes are up, release the steam and remove the beef from the pot. Reserve about ½ cup of the broth from the Instant Pot.
- Using two forks, shred the cooked chicken meat to your desired size. Place the shredded chicken on a large plate or cutting board and top with the garlic, lime juice of one lime and onions and allow to rest for 5 minutes.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add two tablespoons of oil. You don't want to over crowd the pan, so you may need to sear the meat in two batches.
- Once the oil is hot, add in your chicken, sliced onions and minced garlic. Baste the meat with ¼ cup of reserved broth while it's sautéing. Flip the meat every couple of minutes until it reaches your desired crispness.
Variations and Substitutions for this traditional Cuban dish
- If you don't have an Instant Pot available, you can use a pressure cooker .
- Don't have yellow onions, you can use white onion.
- If you don't have limes, you can use sour oranges.
- If you don't prefer chicken breast, you can use chicken thighs.
- You can also makes this dish out of beef.
- Instead of water, you can opt for no-salt chicken broth.
Storage for this Cuban shredded chicken
Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for upto 4 days.
Check out these other Latin Recipes
Vaca Frita De Pollo
Shredded chicken bread thats filled with delicious Cuban seasonings
Servings: 4
Calories: 336kcal
Ingredients
- 1½ lbs Chicken Breasts
- 1 Bay leaf
- 1½ yeaspoon Salt
- 1 tablespoon Sazon completa
- 4 Water
- 1 large Yellow Onions sliced
- 4 cloves Garlic cloves minced
- 2 tablespoon Lime juice Juice of 1 lime
- ¼ cup Vegetable oil
Instructions
- Place the water, salt, bay leaf sazon completa and chicken breasts into your Instant Pot and set for 30 minutes at high pressure in the meat/stew setting
- Once the 30 minutes are up, release the steam and remove the beef from the pot. Reserve about ½ cup of the broth from the Instant Pot.
- Using two forks, shred the cooked chicken meat to your desired size. Place the shredded chicken on a large plate or cutting board and top with the garlic, lime juice of one lime and onions and allow to rest for 5 minutes.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add two tablespoons of oil. You don't want to over crowd the pan, so you may need to sear the meat in two batches.
- Once the oil is hot, add in your chicken, sliced onions and minced garlic. Baste the meat with ¼ cup of reserved broth while it's sautéing. Flip the meat every couple of minutes until it reaches your desired crispness.
Notes
Variations and Substitutions for this traditional Cuban dish
If you don't have an Instant Pot available, you can use a pressure cooker . Don't have yellow onions, you can use white onion. If you don't have limes, you can use sour oranges. If you don't prefer chicken breast, you can use chicken thighs. You can also makes this dish out of beef. Instead of water, you can opt for no-salt chicken broth.Storage for this Cuban shredded chicken
Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for upto 4 days.Nutrition
Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 336kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 109mg | Sodium: 526mg | Potassium: 705mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 57IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg
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