When you think of a slow cooker meal, what usually comes to mind? For most of us, it’s a rich, heavy, and hearty stew, the kind of dish that is absolutely perfect for a cold winter’s day. But what if your slow cooker could make something completely and wonderfully different?
Imagine a dish that is light, bright, zesty, and absolutely bursting with vibrant, fresh flavor. A meal that is perfect for a warm day, for a healthy lunch, or for a light and deeply satisfying dinner. It’s a way to use your favorite convenient appliance in a whole new and unexpected way.
Today, we are making this incredible Crockpot Salsa Verde Chicken. It’s a simple “dump and go” recipe that creates the most tender, tangy, and delicious shredded chicken imaginable. Get ready to see your slow cooker in a whole new, sunny light.
The Ultimate Healthy & Easy Meal: Salsa Verde Chicken
This Salsa Verde Chicken is a fantastic recipe for anyone who loves clean and simple eating. The chicken becomes so incredibly tender and juicy as it cooks slowly in the tangy and flavourful green salsa. It’s a wonderfully versatile, low-calorie protein that is perfect for a healthy lifestyle.
A Perfect Low-Calorie Crockpot Recipe for Easy Meal Prep
You will find that this is an amazing low-calorie crockpot recipe. It is absolutely packed with incredible flavour without using any heavy creams, oils, or fats. This dish is also the ultimate solution for easy meal prep, as you can make a large batch on the weekend for a week of delicious and healthy bowls, salads, and tacos.
Your Guide: What is Salsa Verde Made Of?
For anyone wondering what is salsa verde made of, it’s a delicious and classic green salsa with a wonderfully bright and tangy flavor. Its primary ingredients are tomatillos, which look like small, husk-covered green tomatoes, along with other fresh ingredients like onions, cilantro, and jalapeños or other green chilies. It generally has a much zestier and less sweet flavor than a typical red, tomato-based salsa.
Why You’ll Love This Salsa Verde Chicken
You are going to love this recipe because it is unbelievably easy to make, requiring just three simple ingredients and about two minutes of active preparation time. You will also adore the zesty, tangy, and incredibly delicious flavor of the salsa verde chicken, which is a refreshing change from heavier dishes. Plus, it’s a super versatile and healthy protein that you can use for so many different types of meals throughout the week.
Nutritional Benefits
This beautiful and simple dish is a true powerhouse of clean nutrition. The lean chicken breast provides a huge source of high-quality protein, which is essential for keeping you full and supporting muscle health. The salsa verde is packed with beneficial vitamins and antioxidants from the tomatillos, cilantro, and chilies. It’s a naturally low-fat, low-calorie, and low-carb meal that will leave you feeling wonderfully energized and light.
Full Recipe
Are you ready to create the easiest and most flavour-packed healthy meal of your week? This comprehensive guide will walk you through the unbelievably simple “dump and go” process for this zesty and delicious chicken. Get ready to master a new meal prep staple that is as versatile as it is delicious.
An incredibly easy, 3-ingredient “dump and go” recipe for Crockpot Salsa Verde Chicken. Tender, juicy chicken breasts are slow-cooked in a tangy salsa verde, then shredded to create a flavour-packed, low-calorie, and versatile protein. This is the ultimate healthy chicken recipe for easy meal prep, perfect for making bowls, salads, and tacos.
Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 4-6 hours (on low) | Total Time: 4 hours 5 minutes | Yield: 6-8 servings | Category: Main Course, Meal Prep | Method: Slow Cooking | Cuisine: Mexican-inspired | Diet: Low-Calorie, Low-Carb, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free
Essential Ingredients for Salsa Verde Chicken
This incredibly easy “dump and go” recipe requires just three simple, flavour-packed ingredients.
- Chicken: 2 lbs (about 1 kg) of boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salsa Verde: 1 jar (16 oz / 450g) of your favorite salsa verde
- Seasoning: 1 packet (1 oz / 30g) of taco seasoning or 3 tbsp homemade
- For Serving: Cooked rice or quinoa, lettuce, avocado, and other bowl toppings
Ingredients Notes
A little more detail on our key ingredients will ensure your salsa verde chicken is a spectacular success.
- The Chicken: This recipe is designed for ultimate ease using raw, boneless, skinless chicken breasts. The chicken will become so incredibly tender as it cooks in the tangy salsa that it will shred with the gentle pressure of a fork at the end of the cooking time. You can also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs if you prefer.
- The Salsa Verde: The key to the bright and zesty flavour of this dish is a good quality salsa verde. You can use your favorite store-bought jar of green salsa as a convenient shortcut. Feel free to choose a mild, medium, or hot variety depending on how much of a spicy kick you want your chicken to have.
- The Taco Seasoning: A simple packet of taco seasoning is an easy way to add a deep, savory, and complex layer of flavor to the chicken with very little effort. The classic spices in the blend, like cumin and chili powder, pair beautifully with the tangy salsa verde.
How to Make Crockpot Salsa Verde Chicken
Let’s walk through the incredibly simple “dump and go” process for this perfect meal prep chicken.
- Step 1: Place Ingredients in the Slow Cooker. Place your raw chicken breasts in a single layer in the bottom of your slow cooker. Sprinkle the entire packet of taco seasoning evenly over the top of the chicken.
- Step 2: Add the Salsa and Cook. Pour the entire jar of salsa verde over the seasoned chicken.
- Step 3: Let the Slow Cooker Work Its Magic. Place the lid securely on the slow cooker. Cook on the LOW setting for 4-6 hours, or on the HIGH setting for 3-4 hours. The chicken is done when it is cooked all the way through and is very tender.
- Step 4: Shred the Chicken. Use two forks to easily shred the cooked chicken directly in the slow cooker, right in all of the delicious sauce. The chicken should be so tender that it falls apart with very little effort.
- Step 5: Combine and Serve. Stir the shredded chicken with all of the flavourful salsa verde sauce in the bottom of the pot until it is well combined. Your delicious and versatile salsa verde chicken is now ready to be served.
Storage Options
This zesty shredded chicken is a fantastic recipe for healthy meal prep. Once the chicken has cooled completely, you can store it, along with its delicious sauce, in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It makes for a perfect, flavour-packed base for quick lunches and dinners throughout the week.
This recipe also freezes beautifully. Let the shredded chicken and sauce cool completely, 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 incredibly simple recipe is a wonderful and versatile template that you can easily adapt. To make the dish even heartier, you can stir in a can of rinsed and drained black beans or corn during the last 30 minutes of the cooking time. For a creamy version, you can stir in about 4 ounces of softened cream cheese at the end until it has melted into a luscious sauce. You can also easily substitute the chicken breasts with a boneless pork loin roast for a delicious carnitas-style filling.
Practical & Valuable Tips
For the most tender and juicy result, it is always best to cook your chicken on the LOW setting, as the “low and slow” method is more gentle and forgiving for lean chicken breast. If you find your finished chicken has a lot of excess liquid, you can simply use a slotted spoon to serve it, leaving the extra liquid behind. Finally, for the fastest shredding possible, you can remove the cooked chicken breasts to a bowl and use an electric hand mixer on low speed for about 15 seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I use a red, tomato-based salsa instead of salsa verde? Yes, absolutely! Using a classic red salsa will also be delicious. The final flavour will be less tangy and zesty, and more of a classic, smoky taco-style chicken.
- Is this recipe very spicy? The spice level of this dish depends entirely on the heat level of the salsa verde you choose. If you use a “mild” salsa, the dish will be very family-friendly and not spicy at all. If you enjoy heat, using a “hot” salsa will give you a wonderful spicy kick.
- Can I cook this recipe with frozen chicken breasts? Yes, you can cook the chicken from frozen for this recipe. You will just need to increase the cooking time on the LOW setting to about 5-6 hours. Always make sure the chicken is fully cooked to a safe internal temperature of 74°C (165°F) before shredding and serving.
- How do I know for sure when the chicken is cooked through? The chicken is done when it is opaque with no pink remaining and it shreds very easily with a fork. However, the only 100% reliable way to know your chicken is safely cooked is to use an instant-read meat thermometer. It should register an internal temperature of at least 74°C (165°F).
- What are the best ways to serve this Salsa Verde Chicken? This versatile shredded chicken is fantastic served in a variety of ways! It is perfect for making delicious bowls with rice or quinoa, fresh salads, or classic tacos. It is also wonderful as a filling for burritos, quesadillas, or as a topping for nachos.
Conclusion
This Crockpot Salsa Verde Chicken is the ultimate “dump and go” recipe for a healthy, fresh, and incredibly flavourful meal. It’s a dish that proves that your slow cooker isn’t just for heavy winter stews; it can also create light and zesty meals that are perfect for any time of year. It’s a simple, versatile, and delicious recipe that will become a new staple in your meal prep routine. This is a Low Calorie Crockpot Recipe you will make on repeat. If you love this easy and healthy meal, don’t forget to share it and save it to your favorite crockpot recipes board on Pinterest!
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