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Crockpot Salsa Chicken is the kind of recipe designed for busy families! With just a handful of ingredients and almost no prep, it turns into tender, flavorful shredded chicken that works for tacos, bowls, burritos, and more. It's simple, budget-friendly, and reliably delicious every single time.
Love set it and forget it slow cooker dinner recipes? Don't miss my recipes for Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken, Slow Cooker Steak Fajitas, and Slow Cooker Pulled Pork.
Crockpot Salsa Chicken at a Glance
- Serves: 8 generous servings
- Prep Time: Just 5 minutes. Dinner is ready in 3 to 6 hours depending on your cooking setting.
- Main Ingredients: Chicken, salsa, taco seasoning, and fresh lime. Black beans and corn can be added to stretch the meal further.
- How to Serve: Pile into tacos, stuff into quesadillas, serve over rice, or use for burrito bowls.
- Why This Recipe Works: Salsa adds flavor, but the taco seasoning builds savory depth and the fresh lime brightens every bite, turning a handful of pantry staples into a flavorful meal.
Kristen's Key Tips
This recipe is nearly effortless, but these simple tips help create juicy chicken with the best flavor and texture.
- Season in layers, not just on top. Seasoning both sides of the chicken ensures every bite has flavor.
- Use your favorite jarred salsa. Fresh pico de gallo contains too much liquid and won't provide the same flavor or consistency.
- Stretch the meal with beans and corn. The option is completely yours. I personally like to add in frozen corn and a can of black beans to stretch this meal to feed more mouths, while adding in additional flavor and fiber.
- Finish with fresh lime. It may seem optional, but it's not. The acidity brightens everything and makes this dish feel fresh, even when made with pantry staples.
Happy Cooking! xo Kristen
Notes on Ingredients
- Chicken: Chicken breasts or thighs both work well. Chicken thighs stay slightly juicier, while chicken breasts shred easier.
- Salsa: Use jarred salsa that is chunky or smooth; mild, medium, or hot. But keep in mind that the flavor carries the dish. Select one with a flavor you enjoy and a heat level tolerated by everyone in your family.
- Beans (optional): If adding canned beans, I would recommend using black beans, pinto beans, red beans, or kidney beans. Give them a good rinse before adding to the crockpot.
- Corn (optional): Frozen corn kernels OR canned corn that has been rinsed and drained.
- Lime: Opt for fresh lime juice over jarred lime juice for a pop of freshness that balances the dish.
Recipe Modifications
- Use Salsa Verde: Instead of traditional red salsa, switch things and use store-bought or homemade salsa verde.
- Make It Creamy: After shredding the chicken, stir 8 ounces cubed cream cheese into the shredded chicken and cook on low for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until smooth and creamy.
- Make it Spicy: Use hot or spicy salsa or add 1 minced jalapeno for a bold, spicy kick of flavor.
- Low-Sodium: Omit the salt in the homemade taco seasoning and use a low-sodium salsa.
How to Make Salsa Chicken in the Slow Cooker
Layer, cook, shred, and serve! With just about 5 minutes of hands-on effort, this dump and cook slow cooker recipe delivers a versatile, flavorful meal.
Step One: Layer Ingredients
Add boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs to the base of the slow cooker. Sprinkle half the taco seasoning over the top, flip, and season the other side.
If using, add the drained and rinsed beans and frozen corn (no need to thaw) over the chicken. Then, pour the salsa evenly over the chicken, beans and corn. Resist the urge to stir. Keeping the salsa on top helps the chicken cook evenly.
Step Two: Slow Cook
Place the lid on the crockpot and cook on LOW for 5-6 hours or HIGH for 3 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through and easily shreds with a fork. If the chicken doesn't shred easily, pop the lid back on the slow cooker and continue to cook in 30 minute intervals.
Step Three: Shred Chicken
Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and place it on a cutting board or in a large bowl. Shred the chicken with two forks or dice into bite-sized pieces.
Step Four: Finish with Lime
Return the shredded chicken back to the slow cooker, along with the zest and juice of fresh lime, and stir to combine. Adding the lime at the end preserves its bright flavor and keeps it from becoming muted during the long cooking time.
Serving Suggestions
From tacos and burritos to salads and rice bowls, this salsa chicken can be used in countless ways. Below are a few of my personal favorite serving suggestions.
- Rice Bowl: Serve over steamed rice with toppings of choice. Instant Pot Spanish rice, Instant Pot cilantro lime rice, or Instant Pot brown rice are all great options.
- Burritos or Tacos: Serve just as you would classic taco meat or carnitas, in warmed tortillas with lettuce, sour cream, cheese, etc.
- Quesadilla: Layer shredded cheese on a tortilla, top with a thin layer of the chicken mixture, add more cheese, and finish with a second tortilla. Pan-fry or bake until golden and cheese has melted. Slice and serve with sour cream.
- Taco Salad: Top shredded lettuce with salsa chicken and your favorite toppings. Serve with a side of tortilla chips or top with tortilla strips.
- Enchiladas: Replace the cooked shredded chicken with equal amounts of this crockpot shredded salsa chicken to make chicken enchiladas, salsa verde enchiladas, or chicken enchilada casserole.
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Crockpot Salsa Chicken
Video
Ingredients
- cooking spray
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast
- 2 teaspoons taco seasoning
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans or pinto beans , drained and rinsed
- 1 cup frozen corn kernels
- 2 cups salsa
- 1 lime, juiced
Instructions
- Lightly spray the insert of the slow cooker with cooking spray.
- If needed, trim any fat from the chicken, then place the chicken in a single layer in the slow cooker. Sprinkle half the taco seasoning over the chicken, flip, and sprinkle the opposite side of the chicken with the remaining seasoning.
- Top the chicken with the drained beans, corn, and salsa, in that order.
- Place the lid on the crockpot and cook on Cook on LOW for 5-6 hours or HIGH for 3 hours, or until the chicken shreds easily.
- Remove the chicken to a clean cutting board and shred it with two forks. Return the shredded chicken back to the slow cooker, add the juice of 1 lime and stir to combine.
- Serve over rice, on tortillas, and top with cilantro, shredded cheese, sour cream, jalapenos, etc.
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Can I use leftover salsa chicken to make chicken tortilla soup? If so, how.
Hi Diana! That would be a great way to repurpose leftovers! If using my slow cooker recipe, prepare the base of the soup as directed, omitting chicken and added salt. Cook on low for 4-6 hours to let flavors meld together. Stir in 1-3 cups of leftover salsa chicken and heat for an additional 30 minutes to warm through.
Excellent and super easy! Thanks for this recipe!
You bet! Happy to hear you enjoyed!
We did this tonight on a bed of rice. It was excellent!
Thrilled to hear you enjoyed! Thank you for sharing!
Delicious easy to make dish! I love all your recipes! Thanks Kristen!
You are very welcome, Kimmie! I appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment and review 🙂
We love this classic recipe so much! Definitely a go-to at our house! Thanks for sharing.
I love this recipe easy, quick and flavorful. Perfect for busy weeknights!
I am glad you enjoyed, Melissa! I love turning to this recipe on busy weeknights as well.
This dish is delicious and easy to make! I really love your recipes Kristen!
Thank you!
Thanks Kimmie! I appreciate you leaving a comment and always am thrilled to hear you are enjoying my recipes!
this was something new that I have never seen and I cannot thank you enough for sharing this amazing recipe
You are very welcome! I am actually making this for dinner again tonight myself 🙂