Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

The definition of a dump-and-go dinner: five ingredients, one slow cooker, and four hours later you have juicy shredded chicken in a smoky salsa sauce with black beans and corn. It's lean, high in protein, and ridiculously versatile — tacos on Tuesday, bowls on Wednesday, salads on Thursday. This is meal prep that doesn't feel like meal prep.

Bowl of juicy shredded slow cooker salsa chicken with black beans, corn, fresh cilantro and lime wedges
Prep time10 min
Cook time4 hr
Total4 hr 10 min
Yield6 servings
CuisineAmerican
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🧺Ingredients

  • 1½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 (16 oz) jar salsa — your favorite brand
  • 1 (1 oz) packet taco seasoning
  • 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup frozen corn kernels

👩‍🍳Instructions

  1. Season the chicken. Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of your slow cooker and sprinkle the taco seasoning evenly over both sides.
  2. Add everything else. Pour the salsa over the chicken, then scatter the black beans and corn around and over the top. Stir gently to combine — no need to be precious about it.
  3. Cook low and slow. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours (or HIGH for 2 to 3 hours), until the chicken is fall-apart tender.
  4. Shred. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and shred it with two forks — it should fall apart. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir it into the sauce.
  5. Serve it your way. Pile into warm tortillas, spoon over cilantro-lime rice, toss into salads, or load into bowls with your favorite toppings.

💡 Meal-prep tips

Control the heat with your salsa: mild for the family, hot for the brave. Leftovers keep 4 days in the fridge and freeze beautifully for up to 3 months — thaw overnight and warm in a skillet. For extra richness, stir in 4 oz of cream cheese during the last 30 minutes (that makes 6 ingredients, but we won't tell). Chicken thighs work just as well; cook 30 minutes less.

Bowl of juicy shredded slow cooker salsa chicken with black beans, corn, fresh cilantro and lime wedges
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