Easy Crockpot Salsa Chicken

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Get ready for the ultimate in easy-peasy cooking with this Crockpot Salsa Chicken recipe. It’s the magic of just two ingredients, bringing you a light, healthy dish bursting with that unbeatable Mexican flavor.

Suitable for Low Carb, Keto, Paleo, Whole30, and Gluten Free diets. Weight Watchers Points included. 

crockpot salsa chicken in a ceramic serving dish

Guys, making Crockpot Salsa Chicken is soooo unbelievably easy. All that’s needed is 2 ingredients – chicken and a jar of salsa – and your slow cooker.

And if you want to spice it up a bit (pun intended!), you can add some fajita or taco seasoning to really amp up the Mexican flavor, especially for Cinco de Mayo or Day of The Dead.

Like these Crockpot Chicken Fajitas, what’s great about this Salsa Chicken is that there really is no prep work. It is a true dump-and-start, one-pot slow cooker dish. A meal light and healthy, full of flavor with minimal clean up…..now that’s my kind of dinner.

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Slow Cooker Chicken Salsa is an ideal meal prep recipe, too. You can whip up a batch and pair it with so many other things throughout the week.

Salsa Chicken is a great base for tacos, goes well on a salad, makes the perfect lettuce wrap, and is fantastic. Especially when served with Guacamole.

mashed potatoes topped with a serving of salsa chicken

P.S. One of my very favorite ways to serve it is on top of delicious Crockpot Mashed Potatoes. Seriously, folks, you gotta try it! #somuchyum

Check out my collection of Dump and Start Crockpot Recipes for even more awesome, easy dinner ideas.

Why Make This Crockpot Salsa Chicken

  • Easy peasy – There is really no prep work, and it’s pretty much a dump-and-start salsa chicken breasts recipe.
  • Meal prep – Use it to make all sorts of meals all week.
  • Feeds a crowd – It’s easy to double or triple for gatherings.
  • Budget-friendly – Makes a frugal meal that’s full of incredible flavor.

Want to make your meal prep even easier? Then check out this collection of awesome Dump and Start Crockpot Recipes for all sorts of stress-free dinner ideas.

Ingredient Notes

  • Chicken – Opt for boneless, skinless chicken breasts for a lean and versatile protein base.
  • Salsa – Choose a quality salsa, either store-bought or homemade, based on your heat preference. Blended or smooth salsa works best for this recipe.
  • Fajita or Taco Seasoning (optional) – Add a tablespoon of fajita or taco seasoning to enhance the Mexican flavors in this salsa chicken breast. Ensure it aligns with dietary guidelines if following Keto, Paleo, or Whole30.

Ready to learn how to make this Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken Recipe? Grab those chicken breasts and the other ingredients, and I will show you…

Handy Tip: Use Good Kitchen Tools!

For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.

How To Make Crockpot Chicken Salsa

Get complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

  1. Spray the crock pot liner with cooking spray. Add chicken breasts to the crockpot.
  2. Top with fajita seasoning or taco seasoning (if using), and add the salsa.
  3. Cover and cook on high (cook mode) for 4 hours.
  4. Take chicken breasts out and shred the chicken with two forks. Reduce salsa if you wish. 
  5. Return chicken to crock pot and stir everything together. Serve with fresh cilantro, black beans, cauliflower rice, brown rice, and green chiles. You get it, and don’t forget your favorite toppings and a squirt of lime juice.
image collage showing the steps for making slow cooker salsa chicken.

Expert Tips

  • Cook for a shorter time if you want chicken that you can slice instead of shredded chicken.
  • If you want a thicker Chicken Salsa meal, you can remove some salsa liquid when shredding the chicken.
  • Put the chicken in a bowl and use a hand mixer or your stand mixer to shred it easily.
  • Check the internal temperature of your chicken with a meat thermometer to ensure the temperature has reached 165 degrees F / 74 degrees C.  
  • I prefer to use smooth, blended salsa for this simple recipe. 
  • When reheating, you may want to add some extra salsa to help prevent the chicken from drying out.
  • To stick to Keto, Paleo, and Whole30 dietary guidelines, check the ingredients in your taco seasoning, fajita seasoning, and store-bought salsa.
  • Remember that Slow Cookers and Crockpots can cook at different temperatures. Check your make and model, and consult the manual for recommended cooking times. 
top down view of the finished chicken salsa inside the crockpot.

Delicious Variations

While this is super delicious just the way it is, feel free to try some of these other variations; 

  • Swap the meat – use chicken thighs, turkey breast, or pork.
  • Spice it up – add some hot sauce, chilli powder, diced jalapeños, or enchilada sauce, or use poblaño peppers or bell peppers for extra flavor.
  • Add toppings – avocado slices, guacamole, sour cream, black olives, diced tomato, lime wedges for some fresh lime juice, fresh-made pico de Gallo,shredded cheese and no-soak Crock Pot Pinto Beans.
the shredded crockpot salsa chicken in a ceramic dish and ready to be served.

Prep And Storage

Crockpot Salsa Chicken is the ultimate meal prep solution, making it such a great recipe. The options and ideas for this are endless. It compliments so many dishes and can be used with various meals for prepping meals ahead of time. Think Taco Tuesday, Salsa Chicken Style!

  • Make Ahead – This chicken recipe is soooo simple to make. There isn’t much to do ahead of time because this is pretty much a dump-and-start recipe the whole family will love. 
  • Reheat If you want to reheat your Salsa Chicken, use one of these methods: 
    • Oven – place chicken and salsa in an oven-safe dish, cover it with foil, and bake at 425F / 218C for about 20 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165F / 74C.
    • Microwave – put food in a safe container, cover it with a damp towel and reheat for about a minute, or until warm. 
    • Stovetop – Heat oil in a pan, then add the Chicken Salsa and heat until internal temperature reaches 165F/74C. 
  • Store – Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. 
  • Freeze – Use this for an awesome freezer meal prep solution. Guys, I loooove making a big batch of this easy recipe in advance, then freeze it, thaw, and reheat when needed. Follow these super handy tips below on how to freeze for later and reheat to enjoy. Freeze-cooled crockpot chicken for up to 3 months in an airtight container.
  • Meal Prep – Make Crockpot Salsa Chicken in larger batches by effortlessly doubling or tripling the recipe for additional meals or convenient freezer storage.
close up view of the finished recipe inside the crockpot

FAQs

How Do You Shred Chicken?

Once you’ve cooked your chicken in the Crockpot, you can easily shred it.

Use forks – Simply transfer the cooked meat to a plate or bowl and use two forks to pull it apart and shred.

Can You Use Frozen Chicken?

No, you can’t use frozen chicken. To safely use frozen chicken for any slow cooker recipe, I recommend thawing it before you start cooking it. 

You want to ensure your chicken is fully thawed before cooking since frozen meats might not reach a safe temperature in the crockpot before it gets contaminated.

Don’t forget to use your meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the meat before serving.

Can You Use Overlap Chicken In The Crockpot?

Yes, you can; you can minimally overlap the chicken breasts when you place them in the slow cooker. But it’s better for the chicken if they aren’t overlapping as they try to cook. 

salsa chicken served on mashed potatoes.

Similar Recipes

Looking for more EASY, delicious, and flavorful recipes? I’ve got you covered. Check out my full collection of Crockpot recipes, or start a few of my most popular recipes:

Serving Crockpot Mexican Shredded Chicken With:

  • Spiced Crockpot Pinto Beans – Pair the savory Crockpot Shredded Chicken with spiced pinto beans for a hearty and well-balanced meal.
  • Instant Pot Mexican Rice – Serve the flavorful shredded chicken over a bed of Instant Pot Mexican Rice for a delicious fusion of textures and tastes.
  • Jalapeno Strawberry Margaritas – Kick up the flavor with a refreshing Jalapeno Strawberry Margarita to complement the Mexican-inspired dish.

Uses For Salsa Chicken

Having shredded chicken breasts on hand is great for meal prepping on those busy weeknights. Here are some great uses for this crockpot salsa chicken

So here’s the deal, the list is endless add it to burritos, burrito bowls, tortilla chips, nachos, taquitos and more. Just go make salsa chicken now! This is the easiest recipe.

the completed crockpot salsa chicken recipe inside the slow cooker insert.

More Slow Cooker Recipes

Be sure to check out these other absolutely delicious slow cooker recipes for dinner tonight;

Weight Watchers Points 

There are 0 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.

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crockpot salsa chicken in a ceramic serving dish
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5 from 5 votes

Easy Crockpot Salsa Chicken

An incredibly versatile, budget-friendly, and effortlessly prepared Mexican crockpot salsa chicken.
Prep Time2 minutes
Cook Time4 hours
Total Time4 hours 2 minutes
Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: american, western, Tex-Mex
Diet: Gluten Free, Low Fat
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 254kcal
Author: Bintu Hardy

Ingredients

  • 1 pound (450g) boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 2 Cups (500ml) salsa
  • 1 tablespoon fajita or taco seasoning optional

Instructions

  • Place chicken breasts in a crockpot.
  • Top with fajita seasoning or taco seasoning if using, followed by the salsa.
  • Cover and cook on high for 4 hours.
  • Take chicken out and shred. Reduce salsa if you wish.
  • Return chicken to crockpot and stir everything together.
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Notes

  • Cook for a shorter time if you want chicken that you can slice instead of shredded chicken.
  • If you want a thicker Chicken Salsa meal, you can remove some salsa liquid when shredding the chicken.
  • Put the chicken in a bowl and use a hand mixer or your stand mixer to shred it easily.
  • Check the internal temperature of your chicken with a meat thermometer to ensure the temperature has reached 165 degrees F / 74 degrees C.
  • I prefer to use smooth, blended salsa for this simple recipe.
  • When reheating, you may want to add some extra salsa to help prevent the chicken from drying out.
  • To stick to Keto, Paleo, and Whole30 dietary guidelines, check the ingredients in your taco seasoning, fajita seasoning, and store-bought salsa.
  • Storage – Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. 
  • There are 0 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.

Nutrition

Calories: 254kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 3180mg | Potassium: 1632mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 2134IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 133mg | Iron: 2mg

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5 from 5 votes

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Recipe Rating




5 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    My family loves chicken so this recipe was a hit! The salsa chicken is delicious and so flavorful!

  2. 5 stars
    We are huge chicken fans in this family, and this recipe looks not only easy but so delicious too! I can’t wait to try it!