Slow Cooker Chicken Salsa Meals

I call this a starter sauce because it can make many different meals and is the start of creative ideas for weeknight dinner meals.

Chicken breasts are simmered slowly, making a rich sauce with fork-tender chicken that slices or shreds perfectly.

The chicken doesn’t need to be browned just use fresh, not frozen chicken with a few of our suggestions and serving ideas you can have a unique meal every time you make this.

You can substitute any boneless meat and that information is also provided in our recipe card below.

If you love easy and tasty chicken recipes, you may also like to try Chicken Enchiladas with Creamy Sauce or our favorite White Chicken Chili.

Scroll down to the bottom hit print and all the ads will disappear.

Slow Cooker Chicken One Recipe Budget Meals

This slow cooker chicken salsa recipe is budget-friendly and can be made with just two ingredients.

This chicken dish is economical, but you can have a new meal with just some serving ideas every time you make this.

Check out all our suggestions to make different meals with our chunky chicken salsa made in the slow cooker.

Serving Salsa Suggestions

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken Salsa Tips:

• boneless chicken breast or thighs should be fresh, not frozen
• try steak, ground beef, pork, or ground chicken with this same cooking method
• use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken is at 165 degrees internal temperature
• use homemade store-bought salsa, chunky style mild, medium, or hot
• we substitute chopped plum tomatoes 
• hot or sweet peppers can be added
• browning the chicken first will give the sauce a richer flavor
• this recipe can be done all on the stovetop as well just simmer until chicken is cooked and tender around 30 minutes
• instant pot can be used on the pressure cooker mode for 25 minutes
• for baking,  place chicken in an oiled sprayed baking dish or on a parchment-lined casserole dish for easier cleanup
• add vegetables close to the end of cooking so they stay firm

Pin for later

Easy Chicken Substitutions

This chicken recipe is super easy and so flavorful.

Easy to prepare and you certainly can use any meats your family prefers or you have on hand.

This sauce for this chicken dish is a big hit no matter how you adapt it!

salsa chicken, slow cooker salsa chicken, chicken salsa tacos, chicken salsa pasta, chicken salsa nacho, chicken salsa rice

Mexican food, slow cooker recipes, chicken recipes, salsa recipes

American, Mexican

Yield: 8

Author: Claudia Lamascolo

Print

With ImageWithout Image

Slow Cooker Chicken Salsa Meals

This is a starter sauce with chicken to pour over rice, bread, and pasta and it can be many other meal possibilities. Deliciously made in the slow cooker.

Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 4 HourTotal time: 4 H & 5 M

Ingredients

• 4 chicken boneless breasts or 6 chicken thighs
• Note: substitute 2 pounds of any of these meats ground beef, ground turkey, or ground chicken. Also, pork tenderloin, boneless steak, and venison can be used
• 1 16-ounce jar of salsa (we used mild and chunky)
• Note: taco sauce, chili sauce, or enchilada sauce can be substituted for salsa
• add vegetable broth or water if this gets too thick
• Note: options below of to your taste preference if you prefer more seasoning or would like to make your salsa for this recipe
• Optional Homemade Salsa: hot sauce, cayenne pepper for heat, 1 seeded sliced bell, jalapeno or hot pepper,1 cup of taco sauce, 2 plum tomatoes, 1 handful of fresh or dried herbs of choice IE: cilantro, chopped fresh basil, freshly chopped oregano, 2 teaspoons each of cumin and chili powder, 1 teaspoon granulated garlic powder, 1/2 sweet onion chopped. salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Cube the chicken or meat you’re using into cubes.
2. Note: if using ground meat saute it first in a few teaspoons of oil then drain the oil.
3. Place the meat into an oil spray slow cooker pot and place the meat into the slow cooker.
4. Pour the salsa (jarred or the homemade recipe) on the meat.
5. If you are using any additional vegetables add them also on top of the salsa.
6. Turn it on high heat for 4 hours and low heat for 6 hours.
7. At 2 1/2 hours check and see if there is enough liquid if not add a little broth or water.
8. This chicken can be served shredded with two forks or sliced.
9. See Notes for serving suggestions.

Notes

Serving Salsa Suggestions

• pour chicken salsa over cooked pasta, or rice
• topping for nachos
• air fried hot pockets (filled tortilla)
• serve over peas or another vegetable
• pour over garlic bread
• pour over a baked potato
• filling wraps
• a great filling for tacos
• pour over steamed vegetables
• pour over sauteed greens
• add beans to make a chicken chili
• add this filling to an empanada
• use this filling to make tortilla lasagna
• serve this chicken salsa over a salsa topped with crunchy tortilla
• use this added to Spanish rice
• add olives, and white beans and serve baby shells
• serve over quinoa
• serve over sauteed tofu

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken Salsa Tips:

• boneless chicken breast or thighs should be fresh, not frozen
• try steak, ground beef, pork, or ground chicken with this same cooking method
• use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken is at 165 degrees internal temperature
• use homemade store-bought salsa, chunky style mild, medium, or hot
• we substitute chopped plum tomatoes 
• hot or sweet peppers can be added
• browning the chicken first will give the sauce a richer flavor
• this recipe can be done all on the stovetop as well just simmer until chicken is cooked and tender around 30 minutes
• instant pot can be used on the pressure cooker mode for 25 minutes
• for baking, place chicken in an oiled sprayed baking dish or on a parchment-lined casserole dish for easier cleanup
• add vegetables close to the end of cooking so they stay firm

Nutrition Facts

Sodium (milligrams)

715.03 mg

Cholesterol (grams)

169.84 mg

The default measuring system for this website is US Customary. Unit conversions are provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. While we strive to provide accurate unit conversions, please be aware that there may be some discrepancies.

https://www.whatscookinitalianstylecuisine.com/2024/03/slow-cooker-chicken-salsa-meals.html

These are all copyright-protected images and content. Do not reprint/reuse this recipe or its images without my written permission.

Pin for later

Try Some of Our Other Favorite Recipes

Chili Mac
Hot Dog Chili
Vegetarian Chili
Fish Tacos with Chili Lime Sauce
Old World Chili
Italian Chili Merlot
Vegetarian Chili
Guinness Chili
White Chicken Chili
Texas Beef Skillet