Instant Pot Achiote Chicken (Pollo Pibil)

Bring the Yucatan to your table with Instant Pot Achiote Chicken, also known as Pollo Pibil, a saucy chicken dish with a slightly sweet and peppery sauce.

While Achiote Chicken, or Pollo en Achiote in Spanish, is often slow cooked for hours, we are instead making it in the Instant Pot to transform it from a slow cooked meal to a quick and easy dinner!

I was introduced to this saucy Achiote Chicken by a friend who used to live in the Yucatan and was excited to share her favorite dish with us.

My husband and I both fell in love with this dish! It has become one of our favorite Chicken Recipes! When served with Cilantro Lime Rice, Chicken Pibil makes a fantastic meal. It became one of our go-to recipes as part of our Mexican Recipes collection.

My husband said that I had to get the recipe for that “Yucatan Chicken” and make this at home! My friend taught me how to make it and what substitutes I could use if I couldn’t find certain ingredients. Since then I have made this Instant Pot recipe often and it has become one of our favorite Instant Pot Recipes.

Table of Contents

• What Is Achiote Chicken?
• Why You’ll Love Pollo Pibil
• What Do I Need To Make Achiote Chicken?
• Pollo Pibil Easy Instructions With Photos
• Pro Recipe Tips
• What To Serve With Chicken Pibil
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
• More Recipes You’ll Love
• Recipe
• Reviews

What Is Achiote Chicken?

Achiote Chicken, or Pollo Pibil, is a chicken dish from the Yucatan that is marinated in an achiote paste, wrapped in banana leaves, and cooked in a “pib” which is an underground oven that is lined in stone and cooks the food with steam and smoke. However, this recipe has been adapted for the Instant Pot, which is perfect for steaming foods.

Achiote paste, or Recado Rojo in Spanish, is made with annatto seeds, which gives the chicken its unique rich flavor that is slightly sweet and peppery and gives the sauce its reddish color.

While traditionally made with banana leaves and bitter orange, both of which may be difficult to find in grocery stores, I have made this achiote chicken recipe optional for the banana leaves and used regular orange juice combined with lime juice instead of bitter orange.

Why You’ll Love Pollo Pibil

• Flavor. The achiote paste, combined with orange juice, lime juice, and spices adds bold peppery flavor to the chicken and the sauce.
• Texture. The chicken comes out tender and juicy after pressure cooking, and infused with the flavor of the marinade.
• Easy. By making it in an Instant Pot, it makes it a hands-off, one-pot meal, that cooks quickly instead of cooking for hours.

What Do I Need To Make Achiote Chicken?

Equipment

The affiliate links below will allow you to see the product on Amazon.com. If you purchase one of the items, I will receive a very small commission on the product, which does not increase the price.

• Instant Pot – I use this Instant Pot Duo 7 In 1 Pressure cooking for my recipes.
• Food Processor – This one is a popular, highly rated food processor.
• Blender – If you prefer to use a more standard counter blender, then this Ninja Blender and food processor is a good option.

Ingredient Notes

Below, I discuss the ingredients and possible substitutions if you don’t have a specific ingredient. However, if you are looking for the specific measurements of each ingredient, scroll down to the bottom of this article, just above the comments, for the printable recipe card, which includes all the ingredients and the specific amounts of each one.

• Achiote Paste – This reddish paste, made from annatto seeds, can be found in most Mexican stores, and in the Mexican aisles at Walmart or on Amazon. This is a key ingredient and a must-have for this recipe.
• Orange juice – Whether freshly squeezed or from concentrate, use your favorite orange juice.
• Lime juice – I recommend using freshly squeezed lime juice.
• Chicken Broth – You can use chicken broth, chicken stock, or water.
• Mexican oregano – found in the Mexican aisle of most grocery stores or you can use regular oregano.
• Ground cumin – This robust earthy seasoning is found in most grocery stores. I don’t recommend making any substitutes for this ingredient.
• Ground cloves – If you don’t have cloves, you could use allspice instead.
• Onion – I used a white onion. However, you could use a yellow onion, or sweet onion.
• Tomatoes (not pictured) – I sliced up 2 roma tomatoes. However, you could use the tomatoes that you have on hand even if they are not roma tomatoes.
• Garlic – Feel free to use whole garlic cloves or pre-minced garlic.
• Chicken pieces – you can use the leg pieces, or a whole chicken cut up
• Banana leaves – optional

Pollo Pibil Easy Instructions With Photos

Make The Marinade: 

• Place the achiote, orange juice, oregano, lime juice, cumin, cloves, and garlic in a food processor or blender. If you are using the habanero, place it in the blender, too.
• Blend until smooth.

OPTIONAL: Brown The Chicken:

• Press the Saute Button on High. When hot, add oil, and heat until it is shimmering.
• Add the chicken pieces in the instant pot.
  • OPTIONAL: If using the banana leaves, follow the directions below.
• Cook 2 to 3 minutes, and then turn to brown the other side for about 2 minutes.
• Remove the chicken and set aside.

Deglaze The Pot:

• Pour about a 1/4 cup of water or chicken broth in the Instant Pot.
• Using a wooden spoon, scrape the bottom of the pot to remove the bits of food that might be stuck to the bottom.

Pressure Cook The Chicken:

• Return the chicken to the Instant Pot.
• Pour the marinade over the chicken. (You can marinate the chicken for a few hours if you want a more intense flavor.)

• Seal the instant pot and pressure cook for 12 minutes. It will take extra time to build up the pressure.

• When the chicken has finished cooking, slow release for 10 minutes, then do a quick release.

• Serve with Mexican white rice and tortillas. This is also great with sliced cucumber and tomatoes.

Pro Recipe Tips

If you use banana leaves, below are the steps to take:

• Wash them thoroughly then heat them on a large pan to soften them.
• Cut them into large pieces  – large enough to wrap a piece of chicken.
• Brush the chicken with the marinade and place in the banana leaf.
• Add a slice of onion and fold the banana leaf over the chicken, fold the other ends over to make a package.
• Place in a large pan and cover with saran wrap. Marinate in the refrigerator overnight.

What To Serve With Chicken Pibil

• Mexican Rice
• Cilantro Rice
• Mexican Cauliflower Rice
• Mexican Cabbage Slaw

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How long will Achiote Chicken last?

• Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 7 days.
• This can also be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

More Recipes You’ll Love

• Instant Pot Mexican Chicken and Rice
• Chicken Empanadas
• Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas

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