Description
This Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken recipe delivers tender, flavorful shredded chicken perfect for tacos, burritos, nachos, or served over rice. With a blend of spices, smoky chipotle peppers, and zesty salsa, it’s an easy, hands-off meal ideal for busy days and meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasonings
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Sauce
- 16 ounces salsa
- ¼ cup chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Add the chicken breasts to the bottom of the slow cooker. Evenly season the chicken with black pepper, cumin, salt, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder to build a flavorful base.
- Add the sauce: Pour the salsa and chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce over the seasoned chicken, ensuring the chicken is well coated with the smoky and tangy mixture.
- Cook the chicken: Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 3 hours and 30 minutes or on low for 6 hours, until the chicken is tender and fully cooked through.
- Shred the chicken: Carefully remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred it using two forks. For quicker shredding, use a stand mixer on low speed for less than 60 seconds.
- Combine and serve: Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir well to coat it thoroughly with the sauce. Serve hot in tacos, burritos, nachos, or over rice and enjoy your delicious meal.
Notes
- To save time shredding, use a stand mixer on low speed for under 60 seconds rather than shredding by hand.
- Divide shredded chicken into meal-sized portions and freeze in airtight containers for up to 3 months for easy future meals.
- Choose a jarred salsa with plenty of liquid instead of thicker options like pico de gallo for best sauce consistency.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
