Chicken Salsa in the Crock Pot
Chicken Salsa in Slow Cooker- Versatile & Delicouse
If you want an incredibly easy recipe that's full of flavor and doesn't break the bank, then chicken salsa in a crock pot is perfect for you. It's seriously so easy. There's almost nothing to do. You just put everything in the crock pot, set it, and forget it. If you want a yummy and super simple meal that's also very cheap, you've got to try this chicken salsa in a crock pot recipe!
What Makes Chicken Salsa in the Crock Pot So Great?
1. One-Pot Wonder
One-pot meals save time, and this dish really shows how great they can be. You won't have to wash a ton of pans or deal with a mountain of dishes from this easy-to-make meal. Just mix everything together in your slow cooker and let it do the work for you. Dinner will be ready in a few hours.
2. Budget-Friendly Hero
You can make this cheap chicken salsa dish with ingredients you already have in your kitchen. You probably have chicken, some salsa, and maybe a few spices or canned beans lying around. This is a southwest chicken recipe that tastes really good even though it's easy and inexpensive to make.
3. Customizable AF
If you really like spicy food, choose a salsa that's as hot as you are. If you don't like that much heat, there are plenty of salsas that are mild and maybe even sweet. At their best, salsas taste fresh and bright. Veggies and herbs in salsa can make it almost addictive.
Looking for the best crock pot to buy?
Let me save you the search – the Cuisinart MSC-800 7-Quart 4-in-1 Cook Central Multicooker is a total game-changer! It’s not just a slow cooker; it sautés, steams, and browns too. Talk about multitasking! This beauty, with its sleek stainless steel and black design, will make you feel like a pro chef without breaking a sweat. When it comes to the best crock pot brand slow cooker, Cuisinart is hard to beat. So if you’re after the best slow cooker brand, trust me—this one’s worth every penny (and your dinner guests will agree).
How to Make Chicken Salsa in a Slow Cooker
The MVP of kitchen gadgets is the crock pot. It really shows how good it is when making chicken salsa. Here's what you need to know:
Organize your group: chicken breasts or thighs, your favorite salsa, and some extra stuff like beans, corn, or a taco seasoning packet.
Just toss everything in: There's no need to sear or pre-cook anything. Just layer it all in your slow cooker.
Just set it and forget it. That's the beauty of slow cooking. You can cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours. Either way, you get chicken that falls apart and is packed with the yummy flavors of salsa.
This cooking method is super satisfying but also super lazy. There's not much to do besides chop some veggies and pick your meat. The hardest part is choosing a seasoning mix (or making one from scratch). Everything goes in the slow cooker, and that's basically it.
Sweet Savory Steph
Chicken Green Salsa or Salsa Verde
Let's discuss green salsa chicken (also called chicken salsa verde). If you haven't tried salsa verde, it could really brighten your cooking. It's a sauce made from tomatillos, which are like little green tomatoes. Tomatillos have a bright, tangy flavor. When they're mixed into the salsa, their lively taste is perfectly balanced with savory, slightly spicy, and creamy flavors.
Why Salsa Verde?
It goes perfectly with chicken and makes it fresh and tangy.
It's the quickest way to make bold Southwest flavors with no extra effort.
Make It Your Own
Either buy salsa verde at the store to save time or make your own at home if you want to put in the effort and enjoy cooking.
If you want to increase the level of heat, add a can of green chiles or diced jalapeños.
If you're in the mood for creamy chili, add a spoonful of sour cream.
Not only is salsa verde delicious; it's also really useful. You can serve your salsa verde chicken over rice, fill it in tacos, or even spoon it over nachos for a really great snack.
How to Make Chicken Salsa in the Oven
Can you cook chicken salsa in the oven? Of course you can. Is it easier to make chicken salsa in a crock pot? Definitely. But if your slow cooker is busy making other delicious things, cooking chicken salsa in the oven will still give you the same tasty results.
If you're feeling like baking, here's how to do it:
Get the Chicken Ready: Put chicken breasts or thighs in a baking dish. Season with salt and pepper. Pour your salsa (red or green) over the chicken.
Put some foil over it and bake it at 375°F. After about 25 to 30 minutes, or when the chicken is done. (see note below) I love it when chicken is shredded right in the dish, soaking up all that saucy, savory goodness.
How to know if chicken is done?
I use a thermometer to double check if the chicken is done which is at 160-165 internal temperature).
How to tell if chicken is undercooked?
If you slice into the chicken and the juices aren’t clear and meat is still pink the chicken is undercooked. Keep cooking until you see clear juices and opaque white/dark meat.
Pro Tip
The oven method works, but it's not as easy as using a slow cooker. When I need to cook this faster, I actually like making it on the stovetop. I just make all the sauce ingredients into a sauce in one pan. Then, I put the chicken in and cover it until it simmers. The chicken gets really tender in about 20 minutes.
How to Store Leftovers
Assuming you manage to not eat everything during the meal (which usually happens), here's how to keep the food you don't eat safe and fresh.
Make sure your chicken salsa is at room temperature before you put it away for later.
Put everything in an airtight container. You can keep it in the fridge for up to four days.
Keep It for Later: You can easily freeze chicken salsa. Put it in a container or bag that can go in the freezer, label it, and freeze it for 1 to 3 months.
Reheating Tips
To microwave something safely and easily, add a little water or broth. This keeps it moist and prevents it from drying out. It only takes a minute or two. And if you do it right, you won't lose much taste or texture.
Skillet: Place a medium-sized skillet over medium heat. Add the ingredients, stirring occasionally.
Got time? Just set the Crock Pot to low and heat it up. The food will slowly get warm and taste almost like it did when it was freshly cooked.
What to Do with Leftovers
You don't have to eat the same boring leftovers! Use these smart ideas to make them exciting again:
1. Taco Night
Shred the chicken, heat the tortillas, and pile on your favorite toppings. Taco Tuesday just got better.
2. Burrito Bowls
Put some chicken salsa on rice, then add beans, avocado, and a little sour cream. There you go—it's just like what you get at Chipotle.
3. Nacho Party
Arrange tortilla chips on a baking sheet, cover them with cheese, and add reheated chicken salsa on top. Bake until the cheese melts, then add jalapeños, sour cream, and guacamole.
4. Soup Starter
To quickly make some southwest chicken soup, use a pot to mix your leftovers with: chicken broth, a can of diced tomatoes, and some veggies.
5. Sandwich Time
Fill a toasted bun with cheesy chicken salsa and you've got a tasty sandwich. But if you mix the salsa with chicken and melt some cheese on top, then put all that on the bun, you've got something heavenly.
6. Salsa Chicken with Rice
Simply serve your salsa chicken with rice. Top with cream cheese, avocado, jalapeños, chopped tomatoes, onion, canned drained beans, or any other accoutrements you love.
Why You’ll Love Chicken Salsa in the Crock Pot
Making this dish is about as easy as it gets. It doesn't require much skill, and it isn't very fancy. But you know what? Sometimes we just need some good, simple comfort food. And trust me, you'll get lots of "Mmm, this is so good!" sounds coming from everyone at the table.
There's no need to waste time when you can grab your crock pot, choose your salsa, and start cooking. That's exactly what we're going to talk about in this post. This dish is super flexible. You can prepare it the way you want, and it will turn out great.
Chicken Salsa in the Crock Pot
Ingredients
Instructions
- Add the chicken, salsa, salt, pepper, and cumin to a slow cooker. Mix it all together, then add the lid, and cook it for 2 ½ to 3 hours on high, or 4 to 5 hours on low.
- Remove and shred if desired. Serve (see notes)
Notes
Serving Ideas;
1. Taco Night
Shred the chicken, heat the tortillas, and pile on your favorite toppings. Taco Tuesday just got better.
2. Burrito Bowls
Add some chicken salsa to rice, beans, avocado, and a little sour cream. There you go—it's just like what you get at Chipotle.
3. Nacho Party
Arrange tortilla chips on a baking sheet, cover them with cheese, and add reheated chicken salsa on top. Bake until the cheese melts, then add jalapeños, sour cream, and guacamole.
4. Soup Starter
To quickly make some southwest chicken soup, use a pot to mix your leftovers with: chicken broth, a can of diced tomatoes, and some veggies.
5. Sandwich Time
Fill a toasted bun with cheesy chicken salsa and you've got a tasty sandwich. But if you mix the salsa with chicken and melt some cheese on top, then put all that on the bun, you've got something heavenly.
6. Salsa Chicken with Rice
Serve your salsa chicken with rice. Top with cream cheese, avocado, jalapeños, chopped tomatoes, onion, canned drained beans, or any other accouterments you love.
photo by Skinny DIsh
