Description
Delightful Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken brings zesty flavors straight from south of the border, blending tender meat with bold spices. Hearty comfort meets authentic cuisine, inviting you to savor each perfectly seasoned bite of this easy, mouthwatering meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 cup diced onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 cup salsa or diced tomatoes
- Optional: 1/2 cup black beans
- Optional: 1/2 cup corn
- Optional: 1 jalapeno
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 1 packet taco seasoning (or 2 tablespoons homemade seasoning mix)
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
Instructions
- Position chicken pieces evenly across the bottom of the slow cooker ceramic insert.
- Sprinkle taco seasoning generously over the chicken, ensuring complete coverage.
- Pour salsa across the chicken, creating a uniform liquid layer.
- Mince fresh garlic and diced onions, distributing them evenly throughout the mixture.
- Squeeze fresh lime juice over the ingredients to enhance flavor complexity.
- Cover slow cooker and set temperature to low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours until chicken becomes exceptionally tender.
- Once cooking completes, use two forks to meticulously pull and separate chicken into delicate, uniform shreds.
- Incorporate optional ingredients like black beans, sweet corn kernels, or chopped jalapenos for additional texture and flavor intensity.
- Allow additional 15-30 minutes of cooking to integrate new ingredients and concentrate flavors.
- Transfer succulent shredded chicken to serving vessel, ideal for tacos, rice bowls, or traditional Mexican-inspired culinary creations.
Notes
- Select boneless, skinless chicken breasts for even cooking and easy shredding in the slow cooker.
- Use low-sodium taco seasoning to control salt content and customize spice levels for different taste preferences.
- Drain excess liquid from salsa to prevent the chicken from becoming too watery and maintain a rich, concentrated flavor.
- Swap traditional salsa for homemade or roasted salsa to elevate the dish’s complexity and freshness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours (on Low) or 4 hours (on High)
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg