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Delicious and easy salsa verde chicken in the crockpot is prepared with tender chicken breasts, flavorful tomatillo sauce called salsa verde, and juicy diced tomatoes. This healthy crockpot chicken is incredibly flavorful and extremely easy to make. Just place everything in the slow cooker and walk away.
For more salsa verde goodness, try my avocado tomatillo salsa or my pork chile verde.
Hey there, lovelies! If you love shredded chicken dishes like my pulled chicken recipe, this salsa chicken is a must-try! Get ready to transform your easy dinners with this amazing salsa verde chicken crock pot recipe. Green salsa chicken is a breeze to make and packed with tons of flavor. Simply toss chicken breasts with tomatillo salsa verde, tomatoes, and onions into your slow cooker, and let it do the magic. It’s the ultimate “dump and go” chicken dinner that’s perfect for busy days.
My easy recipe for slow cooker salsa chicken is probably the first dish I ever made in a slow cooker. It really couldn’t have been easier; I poured a jar of salsa into the crock pot, arranged some chicken on top of that, and 4 hours later, din din was served! And I looked like I totally knew what I was doing!
After that successful recipe, I moved on to bigger things, like dumping salsa on top of beef and peppers inside the crock pot and calling it beef fajitas! And now, here we are, still living on the edge and making salsa verde chicken in the crock pot. It’s creations like this that make me feel like a dinner-hero!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts: I like to use chicken breasts here but you can also include chicken thighs for a richer flavor.
- Salt and Black Pepper: Essential for seasoning and enhancing the overall flavor.
- Yellow Onion: White onion can work if needed.
- Garlic, Minced: I like to use fresh garlic but garlic powder will work in a pinch.
- Roasted Diced Tomatoes: Contributes acidity, sweetness, and a slightly smoky flavor.
- Salsa Verde: The tomatillo sauce provides the cooking liquid plus a tangy and slightly spicy flavor. For a different flavor profile, you can use tomato salsa instead.
- Ground Cumin & Chili Powder: These common Mexican spices are used for warmth, mild heat, and depth of flavor.
- Chopped Parsley or Cilantro: Fresh herbs add freshness and color to the finished dish. Either herb works well, depending on your preference.
- Jalapeno slices, for garnish: Adds a bit of extra heat and a pop of color. Omit if you prefer a milder dish or substitute with sliced green bell peppers for a non-spicy option.
How To Make Salsa Verde Chicken in the Crock Pot
If you’re looking for an easy and delicious meal, this salsa chicken is your answer. With just a few minutes of prep, you can have a great dish that’s perfect for Sunday dinners, parties, and gamedays. Just set it and forget it, and come back to tender, flavorful salsa chicken that’s ready to be shredded and served.
- Prepare the slow cooker: Lightly spray the crockpot with cooking spray.
- Season and layer: Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper and place them in the crock pot. Arrange diced onions and minced garlic over the chicken breasts.
- Combine the ingredients: Add in the roasted diced tomatoes, salsa verde, ground cumin, and chili powder; stir to combine.
- Cook: Cover and cook on High for 3.5 to 4 hours or on Low for 5 to 6 hours.
- Shred: Transfer the chicken breasts to a cutting board and shred them with two forks.
- Mix: Stir the shredded chicken back into the crock pot. Taste and adjust the seasonings if needed.
- Garnish and serve: Top with fresh parsley or cilantro and jalapeno rings. Serve in tacos, chicken flautas, over salads, or with fiesta rice.
Recipe Tips
- Pre-cook the aromatics: For an extra depth of flavor, sauté the onions and garlic in a skillet before adding them to the crock pot.
- Spice it up: If you like a bit more heat, add some diced jalapenos or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the mix.
- Use bone-In chicken: For more flavor, you can use bone-in chicken breasts or thighs, but be sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
- Serve with more toppings: Serve green salsa chicken with additional toppings like avocado slices, shredded cheese, and a dollop of sour cream.
Serving Suggestions
Enjoy the simplicity and taste of this slow cooker salsa verde chicken and make a complete meal with it by serving the shredded chicken in this baked tacos recipe or in these chicken enchiladas. You can also serve it over jasmine rice for a hearty bowl.
It’s also fantastic atop a crisp quinoa salad with your favorite fresh veggies or alongside homemade potato waffles and air fryer onion rings for a savory bite. Whether it’s for a weeknight dinner, a party, or a game day spread, this versatile dish is going to be a hit!
How To Store Leftovers
This recipe makes great leftovers for chicken salad sandwiches. Store completely cooled shredded chicken in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for 3 to 4 days or freeze it for up to 3 months.
More Crockpot Chicken Recipes
- Crock Pot Chicken Marsala
- Crock Pot White Chicken Chili
- Slow Cooker Crack Chicken
- Slow Cooker Chicken Breast
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Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken
Ingredients
- 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 14.5 ounces canned roasted diced tomatoes
- 2 cups salsa verde
- ½ tablespoon ground cumin, or to taste
- ½ tablespoon chili powder, or to taste
- chopped parsley or cilantro, for garnish
- 1 jalapeno, sliced into rings, for garnish
Instructions
- Lightly grease the crock pot with cooking spray.
- Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper and place them in the crock pot. Arrange onions and garlic over the chicken breasts.
- Add in the tomatoes, salsa verde, cumin, and chili powder; stir everything around to combine.
- Cover and cook for 3.5 to 4 hours on High or 5 to 6 hours on Low.
- Remove the lid and transfer the chicken breasts to a cutting board; using two forks, shred the chicken.* Then, stir the shredded chicken back into the crock pot. Taste for seasonings and adjust accordingly.
- Top with fresh herbs and sliced jalapenos, and serve in tacos, with rice or salads.
Equipment
Notes
Serving: You can serve the salsa verde chicken with flour tortillas, sandwich bread, and/or burger buns. Or serve it as is over rice or a salad.
Storage: Place leftovers in a container with a lid and refrigerate for 3 to 4 days.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
I need to use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts. Will this be OK?
Hi!
Yes, that works too. However, chicken thighs may need a longer cooking time. If you’re using bone-in chicken, it will take even longer to cook through. If you have an instant-read meat thermometer, the chicken is done when its internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Ok great, thank you!
This cooks just the same with thighs. They have plenty of time to cook over 5-6 hrs.
There are only 2 of us so can you tell me how long to cook if I cut the recipe in half? I’ve never had luck with chicken in the crockpot, it always comes out dry. I really want to try this recipe. Thanks in advance.
Hi!
To avoid dry chicken, I highly recommend using an instant-read meat thermometer. This tool is incredibly helpful for checking the doneness of your chicken without overcooking it. For safety, cook the chicken until its internal temperature reaches 165°F. Once it hits this temperature, you can stop cooking, even if it’s sooner than you expected. Since you’re using fewer chicken breasts for this recipe, I’d start checking the chicken at the 2-hour mark.
Super easy to make and so good over rice!! I added some Flavor God garlic lovers seasoning and I didn’t have tomatoes so I added half a jar of picante salsa instead. So easy and delicious!!
My family loved this recipe. I had never used salsa verde before, but was willing to try the recipe. It was a hit! Will be making this one again!
Lacked flavor even though it smelled delicious. I even added extra seasonings.
For the roasted diced tomatoes do you mean Fire roasted diced tomatoes?
If not can you tell me exactly what you use?
Thank you
Yes, that’s fire roasted diced tomatoes in a can.