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Man's hands shredding chicken in a black crock pot.

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

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  • Author: Jessie
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 6 hours
  • Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes
  • Yield: Makes 4-5 cups 1x
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Cuisine: American

Description

An easy slow cooker salsa chicken recipe - perfect for meal prep and busy weeknights!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 4 large chicken breasts)
  • 1 cup of your favorite salsa

Instructions

  1. Toss chicken and salsa together in a slow cooker.
  2. Cook on low for 6-8 hours until chicken is tender and cooked through.
  3. Remove lid and let chicken cool for 10 minutes or so before shredding (so we don’t burn ourselves!)
  4. Use two forks to shred the chicken right in the crockpot. The chicken will absorb any liquid in the pot as you shred it - no need to drain any of the liquid.
  5. Serve immediately or let chicken cool completely before transferring to airtight containers. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for 3-4 months.

Notes

Equipment. We love our Crock Pot slow cooker for this recipe! Store cooled chicken in a Pyrex container or Stasher Bag (a reusable, dishwasher-safe alternative to ziploc bags).

Chicken cuts: We use boneless, skinless chicken breasts in this recipe, but you can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs or bone-in chicken if you prefer. Always make sure your chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees for safety. 

To scale this recipe for a crowd, use as many chicken breasts as you like - just plan to use about 1/4 cup of salsa per chicken breast. With more chicken, you may also have to extend the cook time - so keep an eye on it and make sure to test the internal temperature before serving.

Freezing and storing shredded chicken. This chicken will last 3-4 days in an airtight container in the fridge or 3-4 months in the freezer without losing flavor. You can freeze in portion sized helpings or a larger container - just remove the chicken to the fridge the day before you plan to use it so it can defrost.

In a hurry? Cook chicken on high heat (instead of low) for 3-4 hours. The chicken will typically be cooked through after 3 hours, but the additional hour of cooking time makes it much easier to shred.

Use this slow cooker chicken in tacos, salads, enchiladas, pasta, and more! We love adding it to a burrito bowl, an enchilada lasagna, or our favorite mac and cheese recipes.