Salsa Chicken made in the Crock Pot
Chicken Salsa in Crock Pot- Versatile & Delicious
If you want an incredibly easy recipe that's full of flavor and doesn't break the bank, then chicken salsa in the slow cooker 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 Slow Cooker So Great?
1. One-Pot Chicken Salsa in the Slow Cooker
One-pot meals save time and freeze you up to do other things with your life. Ad in minimal cleanup and deliciousness and you got the perfect dish. Just bro, everything in your slow cooker and let it do the work for you.
2. Budget-Friendly
You can make this expensive chicken salsa dish with ingredients you may already have on hand. It's surprising how good this is considering how expensive it is to make.
3. Customizable!
If you really like spicy food, choose a salsa that's as hot as you are. Or even add some chipotle in adobo sauce. Yum! If you don't like that much heat, there are plenty of salsas that are mild and maybe even sweet. Pick a salsa you love to dunk your chips in and you will be go to go!. 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! My favorite part about this crock pot is if I want to brown some hamburger or sear a pot roast before slow cooking, I can do it right in the insert on the stove! YAY, one less pot. 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
A slow cooker, the most handy of kitchen gadgets is the crock pot. It really shows off when making chicken salsa in the slow cooker.
Pull out your chicken breasts or thighs and your favorite salsa. If you want to be extra, add some taco seasoning or some chipotle in Adobe for extra flavor.
Simply toss everything in the slow cooker: There's no need to sear or pre-cook anything!
Set it and forget it . Cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours. Either way, you get chicken that's tender and shreds with ease with the delicious salsa flavors.
The ultimate lazy grill recipe, but they still look like a hero.
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 30 to 40 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
Store in an airtight container. You can keep it in the fridge for up to four days.
Freeze It for Later: Put it in a container or bag, label it, and pop it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Reheating Tips
Add a little water or broth and reheat in the microwave. This keeps it moist and only takes a minute or two.
Skillet: Place a medium-sized skillet over medium heat. Add the ingredients, a bit of water if needed and stir 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. The crockpot is also great I would have an a party. You can make it in the crockpot <rserbon in the crockpot, and it keeps it hot during the whole party.
What to do with shredded chicken
Here are a few great ideas for what to make with leftover shredded chicken.
Besides the obvious, using the thicken in tacos or quesadillas, I’ve got even more ideas!
1. 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.
2) Taco Salad
Top a bed of lettuce with chicken, beans, corn, red onion, avocado, shredded cheese and top with a creamy southwest dressing or more salsa and sour cream.
For Dressing Combine:
1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
6 tablespoons fresh lime juice, (3 ounces)
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons taco or hot sauce
3. Nacho Party
Add tortilla chips to a baking sheet, sprinkle with cheese, add reheated chicken salsa and top with more cheese. Bake until the cheese melts, then add jalapeños, sour cream, and guacamole. And serve with, you guessed it, more salsa!
4. Make a Soup
1 can of chicken broth or stock
1 can of drained corn (or creamed corn)
1 can of diced tomatoes (I like fire roasted)
1 can of green chilies
1 can drained beans of your choice
and your leftover salsa chicken.
I like to add a little chili in adobo sauce for a bit of heat but that's optional. Add as much or as little chicken broth to get your desired consistency.
To thicken the soup, add a couple of corn tortillas and let them simmer until they break up and thicken the soup. They also add a great flavor.
They will dissolve and make a fabulous thicker soup! If you want a creamy soup, add some of heavy cream. Finally taste the soup and add more salt and pepper as needed. Delish!
5. Wrap or Sandwich
Top each slice of bread with a slice of Monterey Jack or pepper jack cheese, the chicken salsa, avocado, mayo (chipotle mayo if you have it) and grill it up. Panini style or in a skillet like you would a grilled cheese . There you've got a tasty sandwich.
6. Salsa Chicken with Rice
Simply serve your salsa chicken with rice. Top with sour cheese, avocado, jalapeños, chopped tomatoes, onion, canned drained beans, or any other accouterments 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.
Printable chicken recipe below!
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)
- You may add the cooking liquid back to the shredded chicken if desired. Add as much or as little as you'd like.
- Top with additional salsa if desired.
Notes
Serving Ideas;
1. Burrito Bowls
Add some chicken salsa to rice, beans, avocado, tomato, red onion, additional salsa and a little sour cream. There you go—it's just like what you get at Chipotle.
2) Taco Salad
Top a bed of lettuce with chicken, beans, corn, red onion, avocado, shredded cheese and top with a creamy southwest dressing or more salsa and sour cream.
For Dressing Combine:
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 6 tablespoons fresh lime juice, (3 ounces)
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons taco or hot sauce
3. Nacho Party
Arrange tortilla chips on a baking sheet, cover them with cheese, and add reheated chicken salsa on top and more cheese. Bake until the cheese melts, then add jalapeños, sour cream, and guacamole. And serve with, you guessed it, more salsa!
4. Soup Starter
To quickly make some southwest chicken soup, use a pot to mix your leftovers with: chicken broth, a can of fire-roasted diced tomatoes, canned corn, and drained black beans. I like to add a little chili in adobo sauce for a bit of hear. Just add as much chicken broth as needed to get your desired consistency. Taste the soup and add salt and pepper as needed. Add a couple of corn tortillas and simmer away if you want a thicker soup. They will disolve and make a luscious thicker soup! If you want a creamier soup, add a bitt of heavy cream. Yum!
5. Sandwich or Wrap Time
Top each slice of bread with a slice of Monterey Jack or pepper jack cheese, the chicken salsa, avocado, mayo (chipotle mayo if you have it) and grill it up. Panini style or in a skillet like you would a grilled cheese . There you've got a tasty sandwich.
6. Salsa Chicken with Rice
Serve your salsa chicken with rice. Top with sour cheese, avocado, jalapeños, chopped tomatoes, onion, canned drained beans, or any other accouterments you love.
photo by Skinny DIsh
