Crock Pot Salsa Chicken

Healthy, flavorful and supremely tender chicken…all easily done in the Crock Pot. It’s ideal for busy nights, gatherings, and meal prep.

This healthy Easy Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken is incredibly flavorful, tender, and versatile. Serve it in tacos, burritos, enchiladas, or in a bowl over rice. It’s destined to become a family favorite. Amy Dong

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Salsa Chicken in the Slow Cooker

I’m a dance show fan, but I’ve never watched any of the Step Up movies until I realized how quickly time passes on the treadmill with those flicks. The storylines are nil and it’s all predictable, but the feisty music is perfect for taking my mind off the fact that the windchill isn’t letting me bring my sneaks outside. Sometimes a girl just needs a bit of flavor and spice…

Amy Dong

Flavor and spice. That’s exactly what you’ll get with this Easy Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken. It’s shining with bright and bold flavors; it’s also amazingly healthy.

Dishes like this salsa chicken or this salsa verde chicken are destined for everything from busy weeknights to casual gatherings to easy meal prep.

Make the Most of Your Crock Pot

I am such an admirer of meals like this one. Shockingly easy, wonderfully delicious, and a crowd pleaser. If you’ve got hungry eaters, or you’re using this recipe for meal prep, feel free to double up on it. To keep things interesting, serve salsa chicken a few different ways throughout the week.

Family and friends will adore this salsa chicken for making their own rice bowls, tacos, or burritos. I personally love mixing it into a Mexican style salad, and it’s no loss of elbow grease for me. Win win.

You basically toss everything into your lovely Crock Pot. Set it and forget it. Go on with your day. Do some work, make your calls, watch a dance show, whatevs.

Six hours later, you’ll be rewarded with the most tender and scrumptious salsa chicken you’ve ever sunk your teeth into.

Amy Dong

This Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken is scrumptious by the forkful, wonderful in and of itself. Use either chicken breasts or thighs; since it’s basically simmered in a salsa mixture, it cooks up juicy and tender.

Ways to Serve Salsa Chicken

• Pile salsa chicken onto tortillas for a delish taco or burrito.
• Ladle it over brown rice or white rice, for a mouthwatering burrito bowl
• This salsa chicken is so flavorful in bowl of mixed greens, you don’t even need dressing if you want to keep it extra healthy.

Easy Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 6 hours hrs

Serves 6

• 8 boneless skinless chicken thighs
• 24 ounces salsa, your favorite brand, or homemade
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 1/2 cups frozen sweet corn kernels
• 14.5 ounces black beans, drained, from a can
• salt and black pepper to taste
• Optional for Serving: freshly sliced avocado, shredded cheddar cheese, lime wedges, extra salsa

Cook Chicken: Towel dry chicken pieces. Place chicken in slow cooker. Mix salsa, garlic powder, onion powder, and ground cumin together. Spoon over chicken. Cook on low for 6 hours if chicken is defrosted, 8 hours for frozen chicken.

Shred and Season: 1 hour prior to finish, remove chicken and shred with forks. Place shredded chicken back in slow cooker along with corn and beans. Finish cooking for the last 1 hour. If needed, season with additional salt and pepper.

Serve salsa chicken with your choice of toppings, with extra salsa on the side if desired.

Notes

Meal Prep: Double the recipe—serve some tonight and divvy the rest up for this week. Or, freeze in freezer-friendly containers with lids for future meals.

Serving Ideas: Try salsa chicken in rice bowls, soft or crunchy tacos, burritos, or in a Mexican style salad.

We recommend chicken thighs for tender results. If using whole skinless/boneless chicken breasts, use 4 chicken breasts. Note that chicken breasts tend to be drier.

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Nutrition (per serving)