Looking for some easy dinner ideas? This Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Chicken is so simple, budget-friendly, and can be used in many different ways!
{Struggle with feeling like there’s nothing to cook? Try this huge list of 50+ easy family dinner recipes!}
The following is a guest post by Danielle Miller from BorrowedBites.com:
Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken
You may remember me from my first post where I wrote all about my deep love for the Sunday Dinner Tradition we have with family, but that is not the only thing I have a deep love of. I also love quick dinners. I mean I do enjoy spending hours in the kitchen cooking, but only when I want to. Haha!
Enter this quick and easy, inexpensive, no-brainer Mexican Chicken recipe that can be used many different ways. It’s the kind you plop in the slow cooker and use all week. Or you can make a large batch and freeze the leftovers into smaller portions for a quick meal whenever.
The best part? It takes just 4 ingredients and a slow cooker. The perfect answer when you need something simple and quick. Can I get an amen?
Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Chicken Ingredients
Like I said, you only need a few ingredients for this very simple Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Chicken! Here’s what you’ll need:
- 4 chicken breasts
- Oil, salt, and pepper: These are traditionally considered “free” in a recipe.
- A jar of your favorite green salsa. Herdez is my go-to, but I also like the Walmart brand and Trader Joes also makes a delicious one.
- Chipotle Chile Powder*: This ingredient is the real secret to the flavor in this recipe, so do not skip it! If you are not familiar with this ingredient, it is made of smoked jalapeños that have been ground into a powder. It adds smokiness and a touch of spice. Each brand has a different heat level, so I would start with a little less and increase until the desired heat level is reached. I usually get mine at Smith’s (a Kroger store) when they do BOGO sales. I love it so much and put it in a lot of different recipes — including this White Chicken Chili and these Skillet Chicken Fajitas.
- Brown Sugar: For just a touch of sweet. Feel free to substitute with honey if you want a more natural option.
*If you really don’t want any heat in your Mexican Chicken then you can substitute with smoked paprika (not regular), but the flavor won’t be quite the same. Delicious but not quite as developed.
How to Make Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Chicken
1. Coat every inch of the chicken breasts in oil and place them in the slow cooker.
2. Season with salt and pepper.
3. In a bowl or measuring cup, mix the salsa, chipotle chili powder, and brown sugar. Stir to combine.
4. Pour salsa mixture over the chicken breasts and turn the slow cooker on low for 3-4 hours.
5. At the three-hour mark, check to see if the breasts are shreddable. If they are not, leave them in the slow cooker for another hour.
6. If they are ready to shred, use two forks to pull them completely apart.
7. Keep the shredded chicken breasts and juices in the slow cooker on low for an extra hour to soak up all the flavorful juice.
8. Serve immediately or turn the slow cooker to “keep warm” for up to two hours.
(Scroll to the bottom of this post for more detailed directions and a printable recipe!)
Mexican Shredded Chicken – Slow Cooker Tips
- First, coat the chicken breasts in a bit of oil. My favorite is olive oil, but your favorite cooking oil will work just fine. Chicken breasts are very lean and therefore can dry out easily. The oil helps keep them from drying out during the cooking process.
- Second, once the chicken breasts are shredded, let them soak up the juices that are in the slow cooker for an hour. Then the inside is just as flavorful and juicy as the outside!
How to Use Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken
After cooking your Mexican Shredded Chicken in the slow cooker, there are endless options for ways to use it. Here are just a few ideas:
- As a part of a build-your-own burrito bowl or taco bar. Everyone gets exactly what they want in their own bowl or taco. Options might include cilantro rice, black beans, lettuce, cheese, salsa, avocado, cilantro, etc. (You could also use this in place of the ground beef in these Build-Your-Own Haystacks!)
- Add to a bagged Southwestern salad mix for a quick and easy protein choice. It’s such an easy way to spruce of a salad and provide some variety!
- Put inside enchilada burritos (aka wet burritos).
- Add it to these 15 minute corn tortilla quesadillas. A great way to use up tortillas and whatever melty cheese you have on hand.
- Use as a filling in enchiladas, burritos, tacos, or taquitos.
Mexican Chicken Slow Cooker Recipe
Ingredients
- Olive Oil
- 4 Chicken Breasts trimmed
- Salt
- Pepper
- 16 ounces Green Salsa Herdez or similar
- 3 Tbsp Chipotle Chile Powder
- 2 Tbsp Brown Sugar
Instructions
- Coat every inch of the chicken breasts in oil and place them in the slow cooker.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- In a bowl or measuring cup, mix the salsa, chipotle chili powder, and brown sugar. Stir to combine.
- Pour salsa mixture over the chicken breasts and turn the slow cooker on low for 3-4 hours.
- At the three-hour mark, check to see if the breasts are shreddable. If they are not, leave them in the slow cooker for another hour.
- If they are ready to shred, use two forks to pull them completely apart.
- Keep the shredded chicken breasts and juices in the slow cooker on low for an extra hour to soak up all the flavorful juice.
- Serve immediately or turn the slow cooker to “keep warm” for up to two hours.
Notes
- If making a large batch be sure that your slow cooker is large enough and note that it might take longer to cook.
- If you don’t want to use chipotle chili powder you can substitute with smoked paprika. It will not have the same depth of flavor, but it is still tasty.
Nutrition
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How to Store Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Chicken
If you have any leftovers, simply place them in a tightly sealed food storage container and refrigerate for up to a week.
You can also portion this out for the freezer. We recommend dividing it up into 2-cup portions (or whatever your family would eat in one meal) in zip-top bags and freezing them flat.
Pulled Chicken Slow Cooker Mexican FAQs
You may not have used enough liquid, or maybe you just haven’t cooked it long enough for it to become “pull-apart tender”.
No, it would be extremely difficult, if no impossible to shred raw chicken. It would also create VERY tough, dry meat by trying to shred it before as all the juices would escape during the cooking process.
If you need to shred a large amount of chicken, put the cooked chicken in a bowl of your stand mixer and turn it on. It will shred perfectly in seconds! You can also use a large bowl and hand mixer if you don’t have a stand mixer.
More like this Mexican Chicken Slow Cooker Recipe
Recipes with just a few ingredients can be a lifesaver when things are busy or the pantry and refrigerator are looking a bit empty. Here are a few other favorite dinner ideas that are super simple:
- Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Tortellini Soup — This recipe is so simple to make and it’s a fun twist on traditional chicken noodle soup. Plus, it can be made ahead in the crock pot!
- Super Simple Sheet Pan Dinner — This recipe is so versatile, comforting, filling, and easy. Plus, you can switch it up easily depending on what ingredients you have on hand.
- Crockpot Taco Soup — This one is super simple to make and really versatile!
- 4 Ingredient Potato Soup — A consistent favorite on the blog. It’s a recipe passed down from my grandma that’s easy on the wallet and yummy on the tummy!
- 4 Ingredient White Chocolate Churro Popcorn – This is great to up your movie night snacks, but it is also fantastic for taking to a party. Plus it is easily customizable; just toss in a few sprinkles that match the holiday or team you’re celebrating!
- 4 Ingredient Chicken Marinade — Perfect for loading up the freezer ahead of grilling season. This chicken is great on its own or chopped up and tossed in a salad for lunch.
- Over 50 Cheap and Easy Dinner Ideas — When it seems like there’s nothing to cook, look in your pantry and see if you can whip up one of these simple ideas!
- 20 Quick & Easy Make-Ahead Dinners — These freezer-friendly dinner recipes are SO easy to make ahead of time and have ready when you need them! So many delicious options!!
Have you ever tried making Mexican Shredded Chicken in the Slow Cooker? Any other great ideas? Let’s hear!
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