Name: Zesty Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 6 h
Total time: 6 h 15 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: Mexican-American
Ingredients: 1 tbsp ground cumin; 1 tsp salt; 2 chipotle peppers in adobo, minced (or 2 tbsp sauce); 2 cups fresh refrigerated salsa (medium or hot); 2 tsp garlic powder; 2.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs; Fresh cilantro and lime wedges for serving; Juice + zest of 2 limes; Optional: 1 cup frozen corn, 1 can black beans (drained)

Tender chicken breasts slow-cooked in a zesty homemade salsa with lime, cumin, and chipotle until fall-apart juicy. The ultimate versatile filling for tacos, bowls, nachos, or salads—effortless flavor explosion!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This Zesty Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken is pure weeknight genius: three ingredients turn into the most flavorful, juicy chicken that literally shreds itself while you do nothing. The fresh salsa, lime, and smoky chipotle create a bright, bold taste that’s never boring, and the chicken stays perfectly moist thanks to the slow cooker. It’s naturally gluten-free, low-carb, and makes enough for multiple meals—tacos one night, bowls the next, nachos on game day. One batch feeds a crowd, reheats beautifully, and tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen when it took 5 minutes of prep!

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Use chicken breasts for lean or thighs for extra juicy.
Fresh salsa > jarred for brighter flavor.
Add corn or black beans last hour for instant meal.
Shred right in the pot—easiest cleanup ever.
Reserve some cooking liquid to keep leftovers moist.
Finish with fresh lime and cilantro—it wakes everything up.
Double the batch—it freezes like a dream.

Yield: 8 Servings

Zesty Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

Juicy, zesty salsa chicken that shreds itself—perfect tacos, bowls, or nachos!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 6 hours

Additional Time 10 minutes

Total Time 6 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tsp salt
2 chipotle peppers in adobo, minced (or 2 tbsp sauce)
2 cups fresh refrigerated salsa (medium or hot)
2 tsp garlic powder
2.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
Fresh cilantro and lime wedges for serving
Juice + zest of 2 limes
Optional: 1 cup frozen corn, 1 can black beans (drained)

Instructions

Dump the chicken: Place chicken in the slow cooker—your 5-minute dinner starts now!
Salsa bath: Pour fresh salsa all over the chicken—coating is key!
Zesty magic: Add lime juice, zest, chipotle, cumin, garlic powder, and salt.
Toss gently: Give everything a quick mix so flavors start mingling.
Set it & forget it: Cook on low 6–7 hours or high 3–4 hours—until chicken shreds easily.
Optional add-ins: Stir in corn and black beans last hour—they stay perfect.
Shred like a pro: Remove chicken (or shred right in the pot!)—it falls apart instantly.
Sauce it up: Return shredded chicken to the pot and toss in all that glorious sauce.
Bright finish: Squeeze extra lime and sprinkle fresh cilantro—flavor explosion!
Serve your way: Pile into tacos, bowls, nachos, or salads—dinner is served!

Notes

Fresh salsa makes all the difference—jarred works in a pinch.
The chicken gets even better the next day—perfect for meal prep.
Use the leftover cooking liquid as an amazing enchilada sauce.

Nutrition Information

Yield

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 344Total Fat 19gSaturated Fat 5gUnsaturated Fat 14gCholesterol 131mgSodium 826mgCarbohydrates 6gFiber 2gSugar 3gProtein 35g

The recipes and nutritional information on Crock Pot Meal are for informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare provider for personalized dietary advice.