Crockpot Salsa Chicken
This Crockpot Salsa Chicken is an easy way to get dinner on the table, even when you don’t have time to cook. With less than five minutes of prep and just a few simple ingredients, this recipe is sure to be a family favorite!
For more easy crockpot recipes, be sure to check out my Mississippi Pork Roast, Crockpot Cheeseburger Soup, and Crockpot Cream Cheese Chicken Chili.
When schedules get busy, quick and easy meals are a necessity. Even though it’s summer and our schedules and commitments have lessened a bit, I still love easy dinners so that we can spend more time relaxing, playing outside, or hanging out near the water.
Quick, easy, and delicious are the perfect words to describe this Crockpot Salsa Chicken. My mom made this a lot when we were growing up, and we loved eating it as tacos. I make it all the time now, especially on days when I know I won’t have much time to make dinner.
The best thing about Crockpot Salsa Chicken is how quick it is to prep. Just throw some chicken breasts, salsa, seasonings, black beans, and corn into the slow cooker and let it cook on low all day. Once you get home, shred the chicken with a couple of forks, then serve it over soft or hard taco shells with your favorite toppings!
Ingredients for Crockpot Salsa Chicken (See measurements in the recipe card below!)
- chicken breasts
- chunky salsa
- salt
- garlic powder
- cumin
- canned black beans
- frozen corn
- taco toppings, optional
How to Make Crockpot Salsa Chicken – Step by Step
Step 1: Add chicken to crockpot
Place chicken breasts evenly in the bottom of your slow cooker and sprinkle with salt.
Step 2: Add other ingredients
Pour the salsa over the top of chicken, then sprinkle with garlic powder and cumin. Add the black beans and corn and stir until everything is combined and chicken is well coated.
Step 3: Cook
Cook on low for 5-6 hours. Remove the lid and shred the chicken with two forks, then mix.
Step 4: Shred chicken and serve
Serve in taco shells, tortillas, lettuce wraps, etc. with you favorite toppings.
Crockpot Salsa Chicken – Tips and Notes
- Make it creamy. For a deliciously creamy version, add a block of cream cheese on top of your ingredients before cooking.
- Salsa Recommendations: Feel free to use your favorite salsa in this recipe. I personally like (and recommend) just using a jarred mild chunky salsa.
- Instant Pot option: You can also make this Crockpot Salsa Chicken recipe in the Instant Pot! See my instructions for this step below.
HOW TO MAKE Salsa CHICKEN IN THE INSTANT POT
On super busy nights, or when I forget to put everything in the crockpot in time, I like to make this in the Instant Pot. Add 1/2 a cup of chicken broth or water to the bottom of your Instant Pot, then add the rest of the ingredients on top. Cook on high pressure for 10 minutes, then allow the pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes. Release any remaining pressure, remove the lid, and shred chicken as directed.
CAN I USE FROZEN CHICKEN?
Yes! You can use frozen chicken in either the crockpot or Instant Pot version. You might need to increase the cook time by about 1-2 hours in the slow cooker. For the Instant Pot, cook on high pressure for 20 minutes with a 10 minute natural release before manually releasing any remaining pressure.
CAN I USE CHICKEN THIGHS?
Yes! Chicken thighs work great in place of chicken breasts. All instructions and cook times remain the same for thighs.
Serving Suggestions
This crockpot salsa chicken tastes great tucked into soft or hard tortillas for tacos, but here are a few other ideas to put your chicken to good use!
- Homemade nachos: spread your prepared salsa chicken over tortilla chips for homemade nachos.
- Lettuce wraps: for a lighter meal option, stuff large lettuce leaves with salsa chicken.
- Burrito Bowls: serve over rice along with your favorite toppings like Pico de Gallo, guacamole, and more.
- Taquitos: pull out your air fryer and use your salsa chicken to make easy taquitos!
- Enchiladas: stuff into tortillas, roll up, and top with green salsa and cheese to make enchiladas.
STORING LEFTOVERS
Store any leftover salsa chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stove over low heat, in the microwave, or in your crockpot using the warm setting.
More delicious Taco Recipes You Should Try!
- Crockpot Beef Tacos
- Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Tacos
- Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
- Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken Tacos
- Chicken Taco Casserole
- Slow Cooker Taco Soup
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*If you try this recipe, please leave a comment and rating below. I love to hear from you and always appreciate your feedback!
Crockpot Salsa Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 16 ounce jar chunky salsa, I use mild
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped, optional
- Pico de Gallo, optional for garnish
- Guacamole, optional for garnish
Equipment
- 1 Crockpot
Instructions
- Place chicken breasts evenly in the bottom of slow cooker and sprinkle with salt.
- Pour the salsa over the top of chicken, then sprinkle with garlic powder and cumin. Add the black beans and corn and stir until everything is combined and chicken is well coated.
- Cook on low for 5-6 hours. Remove the lid and shred the chicken with two forks, then mix. Stir in cilantro, if using.
- Serve in taco shells, tortillas, lettuce wraps, etc. with you favorite toppings.
Notes
- Make it creamy. For a deliciously creamy version, add a block of cream cheese on top of your ingredients before cooking.
- Salsa Recommendations: Feel free to use your favorite salsa in this recipe. I personally like (and recommend) just using a jarred mild chunky salsa.
- Instant Pot version: Add 1/2 a cup of chicken broth or water to the bottom of your Instant Pot, then add the rest of the ingredients on top. Cook on high pressure for 10 minutes, then allow the pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes. Release any remaining pressure, remove the lid, and shred chicken as directed.
- Store any leftover salsa chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stove over low heat, in the microwave, or in your crockpot using the warm setting.
Looks great- can’t wait to try these!
This was absolutely wonderful!
I love black beans so I added 1 15oz of refried black beans.
This recipe is SO good. One of my faves!
This looks delicious a perfect taco stuffing or nacho topper! Thanks for another great recipe!
This is the type of meal my WHOLE family would love. And I love how easy it sounds!
Yum! This looks so good! Pinning. 🙂
Thank you so much, Marti, and for pinning, too!
Do you deliver? Cause…YUM!
Haha Christie! Do you happen to live in Hawaii?! If so, then girl, I will get them to you! 😉
I love this recipe. It’s just calling my name, and perfect for back to school.
Thank you so much, Kim! It’s like the easiest recipe ever, so definitely great for back to school!
Your tacos look delicious! My kids will love these!
Thank you, Michelle! My little guy loves it so I bet your kiddos will, too! 🙂
We love to have taco nights usually once a week. I love the simplicity of this recipe and the fact that it uses a slow cooker. Definitely making this. Thanks for sharing.
Yay Melissa! This would be great for taco night! It’s super duper easy. Hope y’all enjoy it! 🙂
These tacos look simply perfect! Thanks for sharing with us on Foodie Friday! I love back 2 school time too, it really is just so much fun
Thank you so much, Adelina! Back to school really is such a fun time!
Great Tacos and so easy, I love easy! Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and have a great weekend!
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Thank you, Miz Helen!
Thanks so much for the recipe! It’s perfect for a busy night. I love recipes that are simple, frugal, and delicious. Thanks, again. Pinning it now!
Thank you, Heather! I am the same way; can’t beat easy, frugal meals. Thank you for pinning, too! 🙂
LOVE this post because not only do those tacos look awesome, but those ideas at the bottom are great, too! We start school next week and I will be coming back to get some ideas. Can’t wait to try these tacos, pinned!
Thank you so much, Jen! I hope your kiddos have a great start next week. 🙂
Seriously- that’s MY theme song this time of year! LOL Great minds….. Love slow cooker recipes, who has time for much else anymore? YUM
Thanks Rachel! And that song…girl, I know what you mean! My son started back to preschool on Monday and it was definitely playing in my head. 😉
I make salsa chicken all the time, Ashlyn! It’s one of our easy go-to favorites. Yours looks especially delicious.
Thanks Carrie! It’s one of our favorites, too. Great minds think alike. 😉
I bet these smell awesome cooking away in the slow cooker! I’m definitely gonna make these in the next few weeks because school started up down here, and we are already busy!
They’re perfect for busy days, Jaren! Hope your kiddos are enjoying being back at school and you’re getting a little break, too! 🙂
You can’t go wrong with tacos!
I totally agree, Christine!