Have you ever wished for a recipe that literally cooks itself? A magical meal where you spend about two minutes putting ingredients into a pot, walk away for a few hours, and come back to the incredible aroma of a perfectly cooked, delicious dinner. It is the ultimate dream for anyone with a busy schedule.
This is the beautiful, simple magic of a “dump-and-go” slow cooker meal. There’s no browning, no pre-sautéing, just the simple and satisfying act of combining a few ingredients and letting your crock pot do all the hard work. It is a true game-changer that completely frees up your day.
Today, we are making the absolute easiest of them all: this incredible Dump-and-Go Salsa Chicken. This recipe uses just three simple ingredients to create the most tender, juicy, and flavour-packed shredded chicken you’ve ever had. Get ready to master the art of the truly effortless meal.
The Ultimate “Lazy Day” Meal Prep: Easy Crockpot Chicken Recipe
This Easy Crockpot Chicken Recipe is the absolute definition of a “set it and forget it” meal. The simple process involves placing chicken breasts in your slow cooker and pouring a jar of salsa over the top. The slow cooker then works its magic, gently cooking the chicken until it is so tender it falls apart with a fork.
A Perfect Simple Meal Prep Idea for Healthy Family Dinners
You will find that this is the perfect simple meal prep idea. You can make a large batch on a Sunday to use for a week of quick and easy lunches and dinners. It is also one of the absolute best healthy family dinners, as it creates a versatile, lean protein that can be used in tacos, bowls, or salads that everyone will love.
Your Guide: What Can I Do with a Jar of Salsa and Chicken?
For anyone wondering what can I do with a jar of salsa and chicken, the easiest and most delicious answer is to combine them in your slow cooker. You simply place your raw chicken breasts in the bottom of the crock pot and pour a full jar of your favorite salsa right over the top. After a few hours of slow cooking, the chicken becomes unbelievably tender and shreds effortlessly, having absorbed all the zesty, delicious flavor of the salsa.
Why You’ll Love This Dump-and-Go Salsa Chicken
You are going to love this recipe because it is arguably the easiest meal prep recipe in the entire world, requiring only about two minutes of active prep time. You’ll also adore how incredibly tender, juicy, and flavour-packed the chicken turns out, making it perfect for a huge variety of meals. Plus, it’s a healthy, budget-friendly, and versatile recipe that will simplify your busiest weeks.
Nutritional Benefits
This beautiful and simple meal prep is a wonderfully healthy and nourishing dish. The chicken breast is a fantastic source of high-quality, lean protein, which is essential for muscle health and for keeping you feeling full and satisfied. The salsa is packed with vegetables like tomatoes, onions, and peppers, providing a great boost of essential vitamins like Vitamin C with very few calories.
Full Recipe
Are you ready to create the easiest and most versatile meal prep of your life? This detailed guide will walk you through the unbelievably simple “dump and go” process for this flavour-packed and tender salsa chicken. Get ready to master a new weekly staple that will save you so much time and effort in the kitchen.
Let your slow cooker do all the work! This Dump-and-Go Salsa Chicken is the easiest crock pot meal prep you’ll ever make. With just a few ingredients, you get tender, flavorful chicken perfect for tacos, salads, or bowls.
Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 4-6 hours (on low) | Total Time: 4 hours 5 minutes | Yield: 6-8 servings | Category: Dinner, Lunch, Meal Prep | Method: Slow Cooking | Cuisine: Mexican-inspired, American | Diet: Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Low-Carb
Essential Ingredients for Dump-and-Go Salsa Chicken
This incredibly easy meal prep recipe comes together with just three simple ingredients.
- Chicken: 2 lbs (about 1 kg) of boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salsa: 1 jar (16 oz / 450g) of your favorite salsa
- Seasoning: 1 packet (1 oz / 30g) of taco seasoning
Ingredients Notes
A little more detail on our key ingredients will ensure your salsa chicken is a spectacular success.
- The Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are the perfect lean protein for this healthy recipe. You can place them in the slow cooker whole, as they will become incredibly tender and easy to shred after hours of slow cooking. You can also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs if you prefer.
- The Salsa: The quality and flavor of your salsa will have the biggest impact on the final taste of your dish, so be sure to choose a brand and a spice level that you already know and love. You can use a chunky or a restaurant-style salsa, and a mild, medium, or hot version depending on your preference for heat.
- The Taco Seasoning: A simple, store-bought packet of taco seasoning is a fantastic shortcut that adds a huge amount of savory, complex, and smoky flavor to the chicken with zero effort. You can use either a regular or a low-sodium version depending on your dietary needs.
How to Save Hours in the Kitchen
Let’s walk through the incredibly simple “dump and go” steps to create this perfect meal prep.
- Step 1: Place Chicken in the Slow Cooker. Place your raw, boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a single layer in the bottom of your slow cooker.
- Step 2: Add Salsa and Seasoning. Pour the entire jar of salsa evenly over the top of the chicken breasts. Sprinkle the packet of taco seasoning all over the salsa.
- Step 3: Let the Slow Cooker Work Its Magic. Do not stir. Simply place the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on the LOW setting for 4-6 hours, or on the HIGH setting for 2-3 hours.
- Step 4: Shred the Chicken. The chicken is done when it is cooked through and very tender. Use two forks to shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker, right in the delicious salsa and juices.
- Step 5: Combine and Serve. Stir the shredded chicken with the sauce until everything is well combined. Serve warm in tacos, salads, or bowls, or let it cool and portion it out for your weekly meal prep.
Storage Options
This dump-and-go salsa chicken is the ultimate meal prep recipe, and it stores beautifully. Once the chicken has cooled completely, you can portion it out into individual airtight containers. It will stay fresh and delicious in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, making for a very easy, healthy, and satisfying grab-and-go lunch.
This shredded chicken also freezes wonderfully. Simply let it cool completely and then portion it into freezer-safe zip-top bags or containers. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Variations and Substitutions
This simple recipe is a fantastic and versatile template that you can easily adapt. For a creamy version, you can stir in about 4 ounces of softened cream cheese during the last 30 minutes of cooking. To add some extra fiber and make the meal stretch even further, you can add a can of rinsed and drained black beans or corn to the slow cooker along with the other ingredients.
Practical & Valuable Tips
For the best result, do not add any extra liquid to the slow cooker; the chicken and the salsa will create plenty of delicious juices as they cook. The absolute easiest way to shred the chicken is to do it directly in the slow cooker with two forks once it is finished cooking. Finally, for the most flavourful result, be sure to use a high-quality salsa that you would enjoy eating with chips.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I use frozen chicken breasts for this recipe? Yes, you can cook the chicken breasts from frozen. You would simply need to increase the cooking time on LOW to about 6 to 8 hours.
- Can I make this recipe in my Instant Pot? Absolutely! You would simply place all the ingredients in your Instant Pot, secure the lid, and pressure cook on HIGH for about 12-15 minutes. You would then perform a natural pressure release for 10 minutes before shredding the chicken.
- This recipe seems too simple. Is it really flavorful? Yes, it is unbelievably flavourful! The magic of the slow cooker is that it allows the chicken to cook slowly for hours, making it incredibly tender and allowing it to absorb all the delicious, zesty flavors of the salsa and the taco seasoning.
- What are the best ways to use this shredded salsa chicken? The possibilities are endless! It is fantastic as a filling for tacos, burritos, quesadillas, or enchiladas. It is also a perfect, high-protein topping for a fresh salad, a baked potato, or a big plate of nachos.
- Can I use a different protein instead of chicken? This “dump and go” method also works beautifully with other cuts of meat. A boneless pork loin or a beef chuck roast would both be delicious cooked in the salsa and then shredded.
Conclusion
This Dump-and-Go Salsa Chicken is the ultimate solution for a healthy, delicious, and incredibly easy meal prep. It’s a dish that takes all the stress and effort out of your weekly cooking routine, delivering a versatile and flavour-packed protein that you can use in countless ways. It is a foolproof, budget-friendly recipe that is guaranteed to become a new staple in your home. This is a family-friendly meal prep tip for busy weeks. If you love this simple and delicious recipe, don’t forget to share it and save it to your favorite slow cooker recipes board on Pinterest!
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