Description
This Crockpot Salsa Chicken recipe is an easy, flavorful meal perfect for busy days. Tender chicken breasts or tenders are slow-cooked with taco seasoning and salsa, then finished with fresh lime juice for a zesty touch. It’s a simple, hands-off way to prepare a delicious Mexican-inspired dish that can be served in tacos, burritos, salads, or on its own.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken tenders or breasts
- 1 ounce taco seasoning packet
- 2 cups salsa
- 1 lime (juice only)
Instructions
- Add Chicken: Place the chicken tenders or breasts into the crockpot in an even layer.
- Season Chicken: Sprinkle the taco seasoning evenly over the chicken to ensure all pieces get flavorful coating.
- Add Salsa: Pour the salsa over the seasoned chicken, covering as much as possible without stirring.
- Cook Chicken: For chicken tenders, cook on high for 2 hours or on low for 4-6 hours. For chicken breasts, cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 7-8 hours until the chicken is tender and fully cooked.
- Shred Chicken: Using two forks, clean hands, or a hand mixer, shred the chicken directly in the crockpot to mix with the salsa and seasoning juices.
- Add Lime Juice: Squeeze fresh lime juice over the shredded chicken to add brightness and enhance the flavors.
- Serve: Serve the salsa chicken as desired—great for tacos, burritos, salads, or over rice. Enjoy immediately while warm.
Notes
- Ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F for safe consumption.
- You can customize the spice level by selecting mild or hot salsa and taco seasoning.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated up to 4 days and freeze well for up to 3 months.
- Use fresh lime juice for best flavor, but bottled lime juice can be substituted in a pinch.
- Shredding with a hand mixer is a quick way to get evenly shredded chicken without effort.
