4 Ingredient Salsa Chicken
Juicy seasoned chicken perfect for tacos! This 4 Ingredient Salsa Chicken is an easy, dump-and-go slow cooker dinner recipe. The result is juicy, shredded chicken that’s great for meal prep, and busy night dinners.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- ⏲️Ready In: 10 Minutes Prep and 4 Hours Cooking
- 👪Serves: 5
- 🍽 Calories: 330 kcals
- 📋Main Ingredients: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, salsa, tortillas.
- 📖 Dietary Notes: Dairy-free and can be gluten-free if you check your seasoning.
- ⭐ Why You’ll Love It: The easiest dinner recipe, it’s juicy, versatile, and perfect for busy sports nights.
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This crockpot salsa chicken has become one of our go-to easy slow cooker dinners because it takes almost no prep but still turns out flavorful every time. The chicken slowly cooks right in the salsa, which helps keep it juicy and tender enough for tacos, burrito bowls, salads, or easy meal prep lunches (taco spaghetti skillet is great for this too!).
After making shredded salsa chicken repeatedly one thing to note is that chunky salsa gives the best texture and helps the chicken stay from getting watery while it cooks. We also love how easily this recipe stretches into multiple meals throughout the week. I’ve even used it as a base in my layered BLT dip in place of beef.
Jump to:
- A Quick Look At The Recipe
- Why The Recipe Works💭
- Ingredients and Substitutions
- Flavors To Try
- How To Make 4 Ingredient Salsa Chicken
- Helpful Hints
- How To Enjoy It
- 4 Ingredient Salsa Chicken FAQs
- More Easy Chicken Dinner Recipes
- Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken Skillet
- BBQ Chicken Breast In The Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Thighs [2 Ingredients]
- Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken (4 Ingredients)
Why The Recipe Works💭
Texture: Cooking it in a slow cooker means the chicken stays juicy and tender without needing to add many ingredients.
Budget-friendly: Since there are only 4 ingredients, these slow cooker chicken tacos are great for your grocery bill (check out these foods to buy in bulk to save money, too).
Meal prep: The shredded chicken works for tacos, bowls, quesadillas, and nachos, making it a cook once, eat twice kinda thing.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Chicken breasts: Breasts work best for this recipe as you’ll need to shred them. Though you can use thighs, you’ll have to cut them into pieces, and they give off more juices, making the chicken a bit watery.
- Salsa: The flavor you choose will change the taste of the chicken dinner. For best results, use a chunky salsa to keep the chicken juicy.
- Taco seasoning: If you need this meal to be gluten-free, double-check that your seasoning is gluten-friendly or make your own with cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and paprika.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Flavors To Try
Below are a few ways we’re adjusted the slow cooker shredded salsa chicken and enjoyed it.
- Make it spicy: Best for adults only. Use hot salsa, add diced jalapeños, or stir in chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.
- Make it creamy: Stir in cream cheese or sour cream after shredding the chicken for a creamy taco filling.
- Add beans or corn: Black beans and corn make the salsa chicken heartier and stretch it even further for meal prep and it ends up with an almost enchilada feel.
How To Make 4 Ingredient Salsa Chicken
Step 1: Place the chicken breasts at the bottom of the slow cooker and sprinkle the seasoning over top.
Step 2: Add in the salsa and cook for 4 hours on low.
Step 3: Using two forks, remove the chicken breasts and shred them before putting them back into the slow cooker.
Step 4: Give it all a stir and serve your chicken tacos.
Note
You can also shred the chicken directly in the crockpot juices to keep it extra flavorful and moist.
Helpful Hints
Pro tip: Tortillas For Tacos
Warm the tortillas before serving so they stay soft and easier to fold around the filling.
- Texture: If the salsa chicken seems too thin after shredding, leave the lid off for a few minutes to help some liquid cook down.
- Storing: Add leftover salsa chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Keep some of the cooking liquid with the chicken to help it stay juicy when reheating.
- Freezing: Let it cool completely, then store it in freezer-safe containers or bags for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Reheating: Reheat crockpot salsa chicken gently on the stovetop or in the microwave with a spoonful of the leftover sauce or broth to keep the chicken moist and flavorful.
How To Enjoy It
Below are a few ways we enjoy the shredded salsa chicken:
- As salsa chicken tacos! Place avocados, red onions, sour cream, and green onions on the table with the tortillas for a delicious taco night.
- As the base of Greek chicken gyros to make them a bit faster.
- In place of shrimp in my favorite low carb shrimp fried cauliflower rice.
- On top of bowls or added to eggs for more protein.
4 Ingredient Salsa Chicken FAQs
More Easy Chicken Dinner Recipes
If you tried this Crockpot Salsa Chicken Recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes!
Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken (4 Ingredients)
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 16 ounce jar chunky salsa
- 1/2 ounce half packet taco seasoning
- 5 Flour tortillas
- Any topping you prefer
Instructions
- Arrange the chicken breasts at the bottom of the crockpot.
- Sprinkle the taco seasoning over the chicken breasts.
- Pour the salsa over the chicken breasts.
- Cook on low for 4 hours.
- Remove the chicken from the crockpot and use two forks to pull it apart and roughly shred it.
- Add the chicken back to the crockpot, stir, and serve on tortillas topped with your favorite taco toppings.
Video
Notes
- Use chunky salsa for the best texture and to keep the chicken from becoming too watery while cooking.
- Don’t overcook the chicken, or it can dry out, especially when using lean chicken breasts. 4 hours on low tends to be the sweet spot.
- Store the shredded chicken with its juices so that you can bring back the same texture when it’s reheated.
- If the salsa chicken seems too thin after shredding, leave the lid off for a few minutes to help some liquid cook down.
- Toppings not included in the nutrition.
- Makes 4-6 servings but the nutrition is based on five.
Nutrition
Equipment
- slow cooker
This dinner saves my sanity on busy nights (and when I’m out of groceries!) because it’s so easy to throw together and there’s so many ways to use it!