Salsa Chicken

This Crock Pot Salsa Chicken Recipe comes together with a handful of simple ingredients for a delicious set-it-and-forget-it meal. Use the meat to make tacos, burritos, salads, and more! 

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Why You’ll Love This Crock Pot Salsa Chicken Recipe

• Easy – Just combine the ingredients, and let the slow cooker do all the heavy lifting. All you have to do is come back, and shred the chicken before serving! 
• Versatile – You can enjoy the meat as-is, or add it to a variety of recipes for a boost of protein. 
• Great for meal prep – You can easily make a big batch to store in the fridge or freezer and reheat for quick meals throughout the week whenever you need them.

More Reader Favorite Slow Cooker Recipes

• Slow Cooker Chipotle Beef Burrito Bowls
• Slow Cooker Ribs
• Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
• Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken
• Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken
• Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken

Recipe Ingredients

Chicken breast: You’ll need two pounds of boneless, skinless chicken for this recipe. I prefer to use chicken breasts because they are quite a bit leaner than thighs. However, boneless skinless chicken thighs will also work if that’s what you prefer. 

Salsa: Use your favorite homemade or store-bought red salsa. 

Lime juice: The acidity helps tenderize the meat and adds a bit of citrus flavor. Freshly squeezed is best!

Seasonings: Dried cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, dried oregano, and paprika create a savory, Tex-Mex-inspired flavor. 

How to Make Salsa Chicken in the Crock Pot

Step One: Add the chicken, spices, salsa, and lime juice to the base of a slow cooker. 

Step Two: Cover, and cook the chicken on high for 2 to 3 hours or on low for 4 to 5 hours until the chicken is fork-tender and easy to shred. 

Step Three: Remove the chicken from the slow cooker, and use two forks to shred the meat. 

Step Four: Return the meat to the slow cooker, and stir to combine and coat it in the salsa. Then, cover, and keep on warm until you’re ready to eat! 

Serving Suggestions

There are so many ways to use this salsa chicken! Some of my favorite ways to put it to use include: 

• Burritos or Burrito Bowls – Build a Chipotle-style burrito or bowl with cilantro lime rice, salsa chicken, and your favorite toppings. 
• Salads – I love to meal prep a bunch of salsa chicken and use it as a topping over salads for quick, healthy meals throughout the week. 
• Tacos – Use the shredded meat to make soft or hard-shell tacos! 
• Chicken Quesadillas – Stuff your quesadillas with shredded chicken to make them extra filling. 
• Nachos – Sprinkle the chicken over a pile of tortilla chips, and don’t forget to add plenty of cheese.  

How to Store and Reheat

Store: Transfer leftover chicken to an airtight container, and store it in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

Freeze: Allow your salsa chicken to cool completely. Then, transfer it to a freezer-safe container, and freeze for up to 3 months. 

Reheat: Thaw frozen chicken in the fridge overnight. Then, reheat it in 30-second intervals in the microwave. Or, warm it in a skillet or small pot over medium heat on the stove. 

More Delicious Chicken Recipes

• Orange Chicken Meatballs
• Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs
• Chicken Parmesan Pasta
• Greek Yogurt Chicken 
• Buffalo Chicken Tenders
• Easy Buffalo Chicken Bites

I hope you give this Crock Pot Salsa Chicken Recipe a try! It’s an easy protein option that’s great for meal prep. If you do give this recipe a try, let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @allthehealthythings on INSTAGRAM. Your reviews and ratings help support All the Healthy Things and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you trust and love.

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Recipe by: Ashlea Carver / All the Healthy Things | Photography by: Sierra Inn