Easy Crock Pot Salsa Chicken Thighs – This is the EASIEST slow cooker recipe EVER! Just TWO ingredients: salsa and chicken, plus some spices makes a delicious juicy chicken that can be used in tacos, over rice, over salad and more!
Crock Pot Salsa Chicken Thighs
Crock Pot Salsa Chicken ThighsAfter coming back from a long weekend away in Park City, Utah and no real plans for dinner, I was desperate for something quick and easy. Scouring my fridge and pantry I had some boneless skinless chicken thighs and some chunky salsa, so I threw them in my crock pot along with some spices and crossed my fingers.
What emerged was a delicious, juicy chicken which shredded wonderfully after a few hours of slow simmering – and bonus my husband and daughter enjoyed it!
Last night we had them as tacos with all the fixins, and for my youngest, I served hers over rice. Today I was in the mood for a salad bowl like I often get at Chipotle. I simply added some tomatoes, corn, shredded cheese and avocado and it was wonderful. This filling can be used so many ways, and it’s too easy not to try. If you make it with chicken breast, you can reduce the cook time to about 2 to 3 hours on low. Use it however you like, tacos, salad, enchilada filling, anything I haven’t thought of please share!
And since so many are asking, I have the 6 Quart Hamilton Beach Set ‘n Forget Programmable Slow Cooker. I love it because you can adjust the cooking time, and it automatically turns to warm when it’s done. It also has a probe for meat that automatically shuts off when done. I hated my old crock pot, it burnt everything and my food had a weird taste. This crock pot is so great, I actually own two!
Embarrassingly Easy Crock Pot Salsa Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 lbs lean skinless chicken thigh filets, Perdue Fit and Easy
- 1 cup chunks salsa
- adobo seasoning, or salt to taste
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 3/4 tsp ground cumin
- salt, to taste
Instructions
- Season the chicken with adobo (or salt), then place in the crock pot and top with salsa, garlic powder and 1/2 tsp cumin.
- Cover and cook LOW for 4 hours. When cooked, remove the chicken and set on a large plate; shred with two forks. Pour the liquid into a bowl and reserve, then place the shredded chicken back into the crock pot, adjust salt to taste and add remaining 1/4 tsp cumin.
- Pour 3/4 cup of the reserved liquid back into the crock pot and cover until ready to serve.
- Makes about 2 3/4 cups chicken.
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.Nutrition
Categories:
Easy! And a great basis for tacos, quesadillas, tostadas. And so low cal. A real keeper. I used Trader Joe’s smoky peach salsa and even my grandchild liked it.
This is one of our go to recipes. So easy to make. Great for taco night!
I love the name of this recipe and it certainly does live up to its name! Plus it’s delicious. We’ve had it with rice, and I tried it as a salad – over lettuce – with some cheese. There’s a little left over and it’s going to get put in a wrap as its finale! This is one I’ll make once a month.
I saw you make these in an Instagram story with red cabbage topping. I’d love to know what you mix with the cabbage to put on top. Thank you.
https://www.skinnytaste.com/quick-cabbage-slaw/ made with red cabbage. Hope you enjoy it!
I just made this and it is delicious but plese check the cooking time. I have never seen a recipe that says 4 hours on low will cook chicken, it is usually 4 hours on HIGH and 6-8 hours on low. I tried the chicken at 4 hours and you couldn’t shred it, so I think the time could be incorrect.
Wouldn’t want anyone eating raw chicken.
I made this recipe tonight and I used it to stuff avocados. Worked great and my loved it! Just need drain some of the liquid and add more chicken, chopped onions and avocado. I also put a can in.
Recipe was fantastic! Any thoughts on using the extra broth to make a soup or something else fun???
Made this in the Instant Pot the other night with 2 chicken breasts, a container of Jack’s Special Mild Salsa & the seasonings from the recipe. Cooked on high pressure for 15 minutes & quick release. It shredded perfectly & made a great addition to our burrito bowls. Still enjoying leftovers for lunch!
I am just getting ready to put mine in the instapot too! I am so excited to just throw it all together and have it all ready in less than a half hour!!! I was coming here to the comments to see just this, to see if anyone else used the insta!!!
I was rushing out the door and realized I didn’t have anything planned for dinner but remembered the basic of this recipe and decided to throw it all together before I left. Just threw in the thighs and 2 cups of salsa.,,.didn’t even have time to do any of the seasoning. Was expecting it to be good enough to eat but I didn’t expect it to be so delicious that I was eating it straight out of the crock pot. So tender and juicy. Whole family gobbled it up! This will be made regularly from now on. Maybe next time I will get the spices in!
I love this recipe! I try to always have portions in my freezer because it is so versatile. It’s a great taco filling, good on nachos, delicious over Spanish rice or a salad. It’s also very forgiving. If I forget to hold back 1/4 t of cumin until the end, it still tastes good. One cup of salsa often is a little more or a little less when I make this. I usually use chipotle flavored salsa and through in a can of well rinsed black beans during the last hour for extra fiber. This recipe is a staple of my diet. Thanks, Gina!
What would be the instructions for cooking in an instant pot?
I did it in the instantpot for 20 min. It was great.
Will points or cooking time change if you use bone in chicken thighs? Thanks for additional info!
I’m going to start the Whole30 the first of the year. I want to make this and put it on a salad. What dressing would you suggest that I can have on this specific diet?
For me it didn’t need any dressing, I just added a little green salsa and it was perfect!
Do you think if I double this recipe it would easily feed 12 people? How long should I cook it for and at what temp (high or low)?
This is my go-to recipe for years so I know it will please my guests.
Thx!
If you double it should be the same time and temp.
I have made this a number of times using chicken breasts because I don’t like thighs. Today , I added a can of rinsed drained black beans, and 1 qt of low sodium chicken broth after cooking for 2 hrs. It makes a fantastic soup and very low points. DELICIOUS!!!
Where can I find the meal prep dishes you’re using?
I get them on Amazon.
Could you make this in an instant pot?
Someone did just that above!! I am getting ready too also!!! 15/20 mina and done!!
Are these boneless or bone in thighs? What is the difference in cooking time?
This recipe is ridiculously easy, versatile, and absolutely delicious! I’ve made it many times and used it in countless ways – on nachos, tacos, baked potatoes, salads, and over rice. My husband loves spooning some of the chicken on naan bread, sprinkling cheese on top, and baking it in the oven. I made this again a few days ago and thought I would have tons of leftovers, but my family had already eaten it all by the second day! I’ve used both thighs and breasts, and both are delicious. The thighs are more flavorful and shred a bit easier, but you can’t beat the 0 point value of breasts if you do WW, and they’re still very good! Be sure to pour all of the liquid left in the pot over the chicken when storing, especially if you’re using breasts!
Another question. I just looked at the package, and I’ve got 4 pounds of bone in chicken thighs. I’ve got a Crockpot Express, which has a slow-cooker function like an Instant Pot, so the capacity would be OK. But how long would I need to slow-cook 4 ponds of bone-in chicken thighs.
I bought whole chicken thighs (with bone and skin) instead of boneless, skinless thighs. They were on sale. How longer should I slow cook them. Should I rip the skin off first?
yes remove the skin and add 1 hour
How would you cook this in a InstantPot? Thank you, can’t wait to make this.
How long would it be in the instant pot?
Also, I’ve made this in the crockpot before and it was very good.
Can u instant pot this?