Description
A flavorful and easy-to-make Mexican chicken recipe cooked low and slow in a crock pot, perfect for meal prep or family dinners. Tender shredded chicken combines with black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, and spices, with an optional creamy twist using cream cheese. Serve it in tortillas, over rice, or salads with fresh cilantro and lime wedges.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) corn, drained
- 1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes with green chilies (like Rotel)
- 1 cup salsa (mild, medium, or hot)
Spices and Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Optional and Garnishes
- 4 oz cream cheese (optional, for a creamy version)
- Chopped fresh cilantro for serving
- Lime wedges for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the Slow Cooker: Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker, creating an even layer.
- Add Ingredients: Add the black beans, corn, diced tomatoes with green chilies, salsa, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir gently to combine the ingredients around the chicken, ensuring an even distribution of spices and vegetables without disturbing the chicken placement.
- Cook the Chicken: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours, until the chicken is tender and easily shreds with forks.
- Shred the Chicken: Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred it using two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and mix well with the other ingredients to combine flavors.
- Add Cream Cheese (Optional): For a creamy version, stir in the cream cheese during the last 30 minutes of cooking, allowing it to melt and incorporate thoroughly into the mixture.
- Serve: Serve the chicken warm, accompanied by rice, wrapped in tortillas, or atop salads. Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice for a fresh finish.
Notes
- You can use frozen chicken directly in the crock pot; just add an extra hour to the cooking time.
- This recipe is ideal for meal prep and freezes well for easy future meals.
- For a heartier dish, stir in cooked rice or quinoa before serving.
