By Becky Hardin
Published Oct 2, 2023
Crockpot Salsa Chicken is a quick and easy chicken recipe that is full of Mexican-inspired flavors. This crockpot chicken is easy to prep and great for busy weeknights. Use it for tacos, nachos, and enchiladas or just serve it over rice and enjoy!
What’s in this Crockpot Salsa Chicken Recipe?
If you are looking for a prep-and-go chicken dinner that will simmer to tender perfection in your slow cooker, this salsa chicken is what you need! You only need a handful of ingredients and a few minutes of prep.
- Chicken Breasts: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts work best, but you could also use thighs. You’ll need about 2 pounds total.
- Salt + Pepper: Seasons the meat to bring out its natural flavor.
- Salsa : Use your favorite store-bought or make your own. Mild, medium, or hot– the choice is yours!
- Yellow Onion : Adds a touch of earthy sweetness.
- Garlic: Adds an earthy flavor and a pungent aroma.
- Chili Powder: Adds a bit of spice. Use more or less to your personal tastes.
- Cumin: Adds a warm and earthy flavor.
- Jalapeños: Add a pop of freshness, color, and heat! Leave them out for a less spicy dish.
Pro Tip: No extra liquid is needed for this recipe – the salsa helps keep the chicken moist.
Variations on Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken
This slow-cooked salsa chicken is a great base for endless variations. You can swap the spices for taco seasoning or fajita seasoning for a different flavor. Experiment and try different salsas, like salsa verde , chunky salsa, black bean and corn, avocado and corn salsa , tomatillo avocado salsa , mango salsa , or pico de gallo !
There’s no need to brown the chicken before cooking it! It’s going to be tender and juicy all on its own.
I do not recommend cooking chicken from frozen in the crockpot, as it spends too much time in the “temperature danger zone”, which could cause food poisoning.
This is where your personal tastes and preferences really come into play. It’ll all depend on what kind of flavor you are going for and how much heat you want to bring to your salsa chicken dish.
Definitely. Reduce the cooking time by 30 minutes if using jarred/canned jalapeños.
Yes and no. Chicken does need to cook at a low temperature for quite a while to become tender, but it can also turn out overcooked and tough if you’re not careful. Make sure to remove the chicken from the crockpot as soon as it reaches 165°F.
If your chicken is tough, it is either under- or overcooked. Undercooked chicken will not shred because it needs time for the muscle fibers to break down. Overcooked chicken will shred, but it will look dry and stringy. Make sure to use enough salsa to keep the chicken moist, and check the temperature if you’re unsure if it’s done.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover crockpot salsa chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a pot set over medium-low heat or in the microwave in 30-second increments until warmed through.
How to Freeze
Freeze crockpot salsa chicken in an airtight container or Ziplock bag for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
This slow cooker salsa chicken is always great over a plate of cilantro lime rice . Top it with some extra salsa, guacamole , shredded cheese, and sour cream! You can also fold it up into tortillas to make chicken tacos or make chicken burrito bowls .
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ▢ 2 cups salsa store-bought or homemade
- ▢ 1 cup diced yellow onion
- ▢ 3 teaspoons minced garlic
- ▢ 1 tablespoon chili powder
- ▢ ½ tablespoon ground cumin
- ▢ ¼ cup jalapeño slices
For Serving (Optional)
- ▢ Cooked white rice
- ▢ Tortillas flour or corn
- ▢ Fresh cilantro for garnish
- ▢ Shredded cheese
- ▢ Guacamole
- ▢ Sour Cream
Video
Instructions
- Place the chicken breasts in an even layer in the bottom of a crockpot. 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Add the salt, pepper, salsa, onion, garlic, chili powder, and cumin on top. ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, 2 cups salsa, 1 cup diced yellow onion, 3 teaspoons minced garlic, 1 tablespoon chili powder, ½ tablespoon ground cumin
- Cover and cook on high for 3 hours.
- Shred the cooked chicken in the crockpot and top with the jalapeño slices. Cover and cook for an additional 30 minutes. ¼ cup jalapeño slices
- Serve the chicken on top of rice or in tacos garnished with fresh cilantro and your favorite taco toppings. Cooked white rice, Tortillas, Shredded cheese, Guacamole, Sour Cream, Fresh cilantro
Equipment
- Crockpot
Becky’s Tips
- Feel free to use your favorite pre-made salsa for this recipe.
- Adjust the heat by using a hot salsa and adding more jalapenos!
- No extra liquid is needed for this recipe – the salsa helps keep the chicken moist.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Crockpot Shredded Chicken Recipes We Love
- Crockpot Shredded Chicken
- Crockpot Italian Chicken
- Crockpot Chicken and Gravy
- Crockpot Mexican Shredded Chicken
- Crockpot BBQ Chicken
Crockpot Salsa Chicken Recipe
Equipment
- Crockpot
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 cups salsa store-bought or homemade
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- 3 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- ½ tablespoon ground cumin
- ¼ cup jalapeño slices
For Serving (Optional)
- Cooked white rice
- Tortillas flour or corn
- Fresh cilantro for garnish
- Shredded cheese
- Guacamole
- Sour Cream
Instructions
- Place the chicken breasts in an even layer in the bottom of a crockpot. 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Add the salt, pepper, salsa, onion, garlic, chili powder, and cumin on top. ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, 2 cups salsa, 1 cup diced yellow onion, 3 teaspoons minced garlic, 1 tablespoon chili powder, ½ tablespoon ground cumin
- Cover and cook on high for 3 hours.
- Shred the cooked chicken in the crockpot and top with the jalapeño slices. Cover and cook for an additional 30 minutes. ¼ cup jalapeño slices
- Serve the chicken on top of rice or in tacos garnished with fresh cilantro and your favorite taco toppings. Cooked white rice, Tortillas, Shredded cheese, Guacamole, Sour Cream, Fresh cilantro
Video
Notes
- Feel free to use your favorite pre-made salsa for this recipe.
- Adjust the heat by using a hot salsa and adding more jalapenos!
- No extra liquid is needed for this recipe - the salsa helps keep the chicken moist.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
