Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken – Easy, Versatile & Full of Flavor
Looking for a simple, delicious dinner that practically makes itself? This 3 ingredient slow cooker salsa chicken is the answer. The chicken turns out juicy, tender, and full of bold flavor—perfect for tacos, burrito bowls, salads, or wraps. With just a few pantry staples and almost no prep, this recipe is ideal for busy weeknights or easy meal prep.
Why This Recipe Works
- Hands-off cooking – toss in the ingredients and let the slow cooker handle it.
- Incredibly versatile – use the shredded chicken in countless dishes.
- Customizable flavor – change up the salsa, adjust the seasoning, or add veggies and beans.
- Great for leftovers – keeps well in the fridge or freezer.
- Doubles well – makes it easy to feed a crowd
- Healthy – Low Carb | Gluten Free | Customizable Spice Low carb / KETO approved
- Budget Friendly – Only 3 affordable ingredients required
Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken Recipe – 3 ingredients & 3 easy steps
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 2 cups salsa (choose your preferred heat level)
- 1–2 tbsp taco seasoning (store-bought or homemade)
Instructions
- Place boneless chicken breasts in the slow cooker.
- Sprinkle with taco seasoning and pour salsa over the top.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 5–6 hours or HIGH for 2½–3 hours, until the chicken shreds easily.
- Note > The more chicken you use, the longer it may take. Periodically check on it to make sure everything is coated and positioned well- That’s all there is to it.
As far as slow cooker recipes go, this slow cooker salsa chicken recipe ranks at the top of my list. It requires little to no effort and yet the results are incredibly rewarding. I use this recipe to make chicken tacos, chicken enchiladas, stuffed peppers and more. Best yet, it can made in advance and even frozen. How great is that?
Check out this How to Video to see how easy it is to make this easy slow cooker salsa chicken recipe.
Recipe suggestions:
- Tex-Mex salads (or topped on any salad)
- Chicken Enchiladas (my favorite!)
- Wraps with lettuce, tomato & cheddar cheese (a side of sour cream or guac doesn’t hurt!)
- Hard shell or soft tacos (most common!)
- The ever reliable….quesadilla (who doesn’t love a quesadilla?)
Pro Tips:
• If the sauce is thin after cooking, (all salsas are different) simply remove the chicken from the slow cooker and place in a large bowl and discard some or all of the excess moisture. Alternatively, just drain the whole mixture in a colander.
• When hosting Taco night, I rinse out the slow cooker and re-add the now shredded chicken, and set the slow cooker to “keep warm” until ready to use. I set up the taco bar and everyone can help themselves and build their own tacos!
Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 2 lbs Boneless chicken breasts (approx 3-4 chicken breasts)
- 3 tsp Taco seasoning
- 1 jar salsa (enough to cover chicken)
Instructions
- Lay the chicken breasts into the bottom of the slow cooker
- Add 3 teaspoons of taco seasoning and use tongs to coat the chicken.
- Add salsa.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 5–6 hours or HIGH for 2½–3 hours, until the chicken shreds easily.
- Remove chicken to a bowl to shred, adding a tablespoon at a time of reserved liquid if dry. Add about 1/2 cup of fresh salsa to enhance flavors, if desired.
1 thought on “Easy Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken”
Salsa chicken is probably my most coveted recipe. I’m not one of those people who loves to spend a ton of time in the kitchen and typically dread meal prep. But, this recipe is so easy, it literally cooks itself! It is extremely versatile. I love to use it in tacos, in salads, and more!