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Crock Pot Salsa Chicken

Crock Pot Salsa Chicken is an easy 2-ingredient slow cooker recipe made with boneless skinless chicken breasts and your favorite salsa. The chicken cooks until tender, then gets shredded and stirred back into the salsa for juicy, flavorful chicken that’s perfect for tacos, bowls, quesadillas, nachos, and more.

Crock-pot-salsa-chicken

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Crock Pot Salsa Chicken is an easy 2-ingredient dinner made with chicken breasts and your favorite salsa. The chicken cooks low and slow until it’s tender enough to shred, soaking up all that salsa flavor along the way. It’s one of those simple slow cooker recipes that gives you plenty of options for dinner without a lot of prep.

Crock-pot-salsa-chicken

I love making this when I know I have a busy day ahead and don’t want to think about dinner later. I can put everything in the Crock Pot, let it cook, and shred the chicken when we’re ready to eat. I especially love that I can use the chicken in different ways, so everyone can make dinner the way they like it.

Why I Love This Recipe


  • Only 2 ingredients — it really doesn’t get much easier.
  • Just a few minutes of prep before the Crock Pot takes over.
  • Tender, juicy shredded chicken with plenty of salsa flavor.
  • So many ways to use it — tacos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, nachos, salads, and more.
  • Great for meal prep because the shredded chicken can be used for different meals throughout the week.
Salsa-Chicken-Ingredients.

Ingredient Notes

  1. Salsa: Use your favorite homemade or store-bought salsa. Since the salsa provides most of the flavor, choose one you really enjoy.
  2. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast: Chicken breasts become tender and easy to shred in the slow cooker. Boneless skinless chicken thighs can also be used.
  3. Tortillas: Use your favorite flour or corn tortillas for serving the shredded salsa chicken as tacos.
  4. Toppings: Add your favorite taco toppings when serving. Shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado, lettuce, tomatoes, cilantro, or sliced jalapeños are all great options.

Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below

Crock-pot-Salsa-Chicken-on-table

How to Make Crock Pot Salsa Chicken

  1. Place 2–3 large boneless skinless chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker. Pour the salsa evenly over the chicken.
  2. Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 6–8 hours, or until the chicken is tender and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
  3. Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred it using two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir it into the salsa and cooking juices.
  4. Let the shredded chicken sit in the salsa for a few minutes so it can soak up the flavor.
  5. Serve warm in flour or corn tortillas with your favorite taco toppings, or use the salsa chicken in bowls, quesadillas, nachos, or salads.

Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below

Tips I Found Helpful

  • Choose a salsa you love. With only two main ingredients, the flavor of the salsa really comes through in the finished chicken.
  • Spread the salsa over the chicken so the breasts are well covered before cooking.
  • Keep the slow cooker covered. There’s no need to lift the lid or stir the chicken while it cooks.
  • Check the chicken for doneness. It should reach an internal temperature of 165°F and shred easily with two forks.
  • Don’t overcook the chicken. Slow cookers can vary, so start checking toward the lower end of the cooking time, especially when cooking on LOW.
  • Shred the chicken, then return it to the slow cooker. Stirring it back into the salsa and cooking juices keeps the chicken moist and gives it even more flavor.
  • If there’s more liquid than you want, use a slotted spoon when filling tacos or drain off a little of the excess liquid before serving.
  • Warm your tortillas before serving. A quick warm-up makes them softer and less likely to tear when filled with the salsa chicken. 🌮

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Boneless skinless chicken thighs can be used instead of chicken breasts. They work especially well in the slow cooker and shred easily once cooked.

No. For food safety, thaw frozen chicken before putting it in the slow cooker. Start with fresh or completely thawed chicken.

Use a salsa you already enjoy since it provides most of the flavor in this recipe. Mild, medium, or hot salsa will work depending on how spicy you want the chicken.

I love using the shredded chicken for tacos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, nachos, and salads. It’s an easy base that can be turned into several different meals.

Allow the chicken to cool, then store it with some of the salsa and cooking juices in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3–4 days.

Yes. Let the shredded chicken cool completely, then store it in a freezer-safe container with some of the salsa and cooking juices. Thaw it in the refrigerator before reheating.

slow-cooker-chicken

More Slow Cooker Recipes I Love

Crockpot-Salsa-Chicken
Yield: 8

Crock Pot Salsa Chicken

Crock-pot-salsa-chicken
5.0 Stars (2 Reviews)

Crock Pot Salsa Chicken is an easy 2-ingredient slow cooker recipe made with boneless skinless chicken breasts and your favorite salsa. The chicken cooks until tender, then gets shredded and stirred back into the salsa for juicy, flavorful chicken that’s perfect for tacos, bowls, quesadillas, nachos, and more.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 5 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 large chicken breasts
  • 1 16 oz Jar Salsa

Instructions

  1. Place 2–3 large boneless skinless chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker.
  2. Pour the salsa evenly over the chicken.
  3. Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 6–8 hours, or until the chicken is tender and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
  4. Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred it using two forks.
  5. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir it into the salsa and cooking juices.
  6. Let the shredded chicken sit in the salsa for a few minutes so it can soak up the flavor.
  7. Serve warm in flour or corn tortillas with your favorite taco toppings, or use the salsa chicken in bowls, quesadillas, nachos, or salads.

Notes

Use your favorite homemade or store-bought salsa since it provides most of the flavor in this simple recipe.

Cook the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and is tender enough to shred easily.

Slow cookers can vary, so begin checking the chicken toward the lower end of the cooking time to avoid overcooking.

After shredding, return the chicken to the slow cooker and stir it into the salsa and cooking juices. Let it sit for a few minutes before serving so the chicken can soak up the flavor.

For food safety, do not cook frozen chicken in the slow cooker. Thaw the chicken completely before

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 51Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 26mgSodium: 54mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 9g

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