This five-ingredient salsa verde chicken is an easy weeknight slow cooker meal the whole family will love! It's made with jarred salsa verde, chicken, bell peppers, onions and rice. In this blog post, I'll show you how to set it and forget it until it's done!
Salsa Verde Chicken Recipe
When you need a quick weeknight meal, this salsa verde chicken comes to the rescue. All you have to do is dump the ingredients everything into the bottom of your slow cooker and dinner is ready without even tending to it.
It's taken me a while to get into slow cooker meals. Now that I have three kids, easy meals are essential for me to have in my back pocket for hectic weeknights or evenings when I just don't feel like cooking (which happens more than you'd think for a food blogger).
If you love slow cooker meals, you already know that they make dinner time so much more simple because you can just pour everything in and cook it the morning of.
Likewise, although nights are busy, I've found that it's even better for me to pour everything in the slow cooker the night before. Then, leave the slow cooker pan in the fridge and take it out the next morning and set it to cook all day.
Crockpot salsa verde chicken makes the most flavorful and tender chicken. You can eat this shredded chicken on flour or corn tortillas, over your favorite kind of rice, or even on corn chips with cheese as tasty chicken nachos.
Why You'll Love this Recipe
You are going to adore this Salsa Verde Chicken recipe!
- This easy salsa verde chicken recipe only has five ingredients. Nothing difficult and easy to throw into the crockpot in just minutes.
- Crock pot salsa verde chicken is a set-and-forget recipe. After adding the ingredients into the slow cooker, turn it on and leave it until it's done. You can run errands or go about your day as usual!
- This saucy chicken is great to make for meal prep. It's packed full of protein and can be used in a wide variety of different ways.
What is Salsa Verde?
Salsa verde is a Mexican green salsa, literally meaning "green sauce" usually made from tomatillos, jalapeños, onion, lime and cilantro. There are varying spice levels of salsa verde, just like red salsa.
Ingredients
Grab these five simple ingredients at the grocery store to make the easiest salsa verde chicken recipe ever:
- boneless skinless chicken breasts
- jar of salsa verde
- diced orange bell peppers
- diced green bell pepper
- diced onion
Substitutions and Variations
Mix things up with one of these variations:
Replace the chicken breasts with boneless skinless chicken thighs if you prefer dark meat.
You can use either a white onion or yellow onion to make salsa verde chicken. I do not recommend using a red onion since the flavor is really powerful.
A jar of store-bought salsa verde is all you need to make this recipe. I'm all for homemade sauces so feel free to make your own salsa verde if you have a recipe you love!
Use any combination of bell peppers that you want! With this in mind, red bell peppers and yellow bell peppers have a different flavor profile than orange and green. However, any of them would be super tasty with this dish.
Salsa verde adds plenty of flavor to the chicken on it's own, but feel free to add spices and seasonings. Salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and chili powder would all pair well with the flavors in this dish.
How to Make Salsa Verde Chicken
Here's how to make this Salsa Verde Chicken recipe:
- Clean chicken breasts and then place each one in the bottom of the slow cooker that is lined or sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
- Top with salsa verde, bell peppers and onions. Cook on low heat for 3 hours until the internal temperature of the chicken reads 165° Fahrenheit with your meat thermometer.
- Cook rice in an instant pot or according to instruction on the package to make a taco bowl, or prepare tortillas to make chicken tacos.
- Remove chicken from the crock pot and use two forks to shred it.
- Then serve the shredded chicken with desired toppings and enjoy!
- This recipe cooks chicken breasts covered in salsa verde, bell peppers and onions in a slow cooker for about 3 hours on high.
Toppings for Salsa Verde Chicken
Top your salsa verde chicken with extra salsa verde, sour cream, fresh cilantro, shredded cheese and so much more.
For a little kick, add some sliced jalapeños, hot sauce, or pico de gallo. Some canned green chilies would be tasty too!
Give a little cheesy touch to this dish by adding some shredded cheddar, Colby jack, or Monterrey jack cheese to the top of each serving.
Add more protein by serving this dish with a big scoop of black beans or pinto beans over the top. Or add a little zing with a squeeze of fresh lime juice over your salsa verde chicken.
What to Serve with Salsa Verde Chicken
This chicken is very versatile! You can eat it over rice, cauliflower rice, cilantro lime rice, in a lettuce wrap, over salad to make taco salad, or in tortillas for tacos.
Whichever way you choose to serve this salsa chicken, pair it with a side of traditional mexican rice. This slow cooker bacon jalapeño creamed corn would also be tasty.
In addition, you can also simply pair veggies like roasted broccoli and grilled squash with your chicken.
Round out your meal with a sweet treat of mixed berry cobbler or a lemon cupcake with lemon buttercream.
How to Store Leftover Salsa Verde Chicken
Place leftover chicken into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To reheat, place in the microwave or on the stove top until heated to a safe internal temperature. Additionally, you can add extra salsa verde to leftovers to keep them moist.
This tasty chicken dish also freezes well! Store airtight containers filled with salsa verde chicken in the freezer for 3-4 months.
Hot Tip: Store in separate single servings if you are using this recipe for meal prep and then you can thaw and reheat single servings one at a time.
Tips for Success
Here are some tips and tricks for making this recipe:
- You can easily shred cooked chicken by place in a stand mixer with a paddle attachment. Then cover the outside of the bowl with a splash guard or dish towels and then turn the mixer on low-medium speed to shred the chicken. After that, you can then return it to the crock pot and mix it with all the veggies and salsa.
- Make sure each of the chicken breasts you are using are an even thickness. You wouldn't want one chicken breast to be done and another to be undercooked!
- Place chicken breast in a single layer on the bottom of your crock pot liner. This will ensure they cook evenly.
FAQ
Absolutely. It's perfect for doubling for a potluck, bringing a meal to someone or making and freezing half for later! Meal prep is made easy with this simple meal.
There are a bunch of variations of salsa verde varieties, so you can choose one that fits your family's tolerance of spiciness. If you have kids, stick with a mild version - then the adults can add some green chiles on top to make your servings spicier! You could also add these in when cooking if you want to have a spicier salsa verde chicken.
More Mexican Weeknight Meals
- Easy Taco Soup
- Salsa Verde Pulled Pork Tacos
- Beef Tostadas
- Chicken Enchilada Sliders
- Chicken Enchilada Casserole
- Five Minute Blender Salsa
- Chicken Enchilada Bruschetta (Instant Pot)
If you make and love this recipe, please leave a ★★★★★ review below! It means so much to me when you try my recipes, and I'd love to know how it goes. Please leave a comment below if you have any questions.
Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken
This five ingredient Salsa Verde Chicken is an easy weeknight slow cooker meal the whole family will love! It's made with jarred salsa verde, chicken, bell peppers, onions and rice and it's ready in a matter without even thinking about it.
Ingredients
Salsa Verde Chicken (Slow Cooker)
- 1 lb chicken breasts
- 8 ounces salsa verde (~half a jar)
- ½ cup of diced orange bell pepper
- ½ cup of diced green bell pepper
- 1 onion, diced
To Serve
- 1 cup uncooked white, long-grain rice
- shredded Mexican cheese, optional
Instructions
- Place chicken breasts in slow cooker, lined with a cooking liner or sprayed with cooking spray.
- Top with salsa verde, bell peppers and onions.
- Cook on low for 3 hours.
- Cook until chicken has an internal temperature of at least 165°F (74°C).
- Cook rice according to package instructions.
- Serve shredded chicken over rice, using a ladle to pour extra sauce and vegetables over rice.
- Top with shredded cheese, if desired.
Notes
For more firm vegetables, reserve them and add to the pot in the last 30 minutes.
For a spicier dish, add in jalapeños or green chiles or use a hot version of salsa verde.
Serve over rice, chips or a big pile of sautéed veggies.
Nutrition information is for chicken only — does not include rice.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: ½ cupAmount Per Serving: Calories: 203Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 69mgSodium: 300mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 26g
Nutrition information is for chicken only — does not include rice.
Ella says
This Salsa Verde Chicken recipe saved me on busy nights. It's simple, delicious, and the family loves it with rice and cheese!
Sadie says
Anything in the slow cooker is a win to me! This salsa chicken is a weeknight saver though, so delicious and so few ingredients!
Nadia says
This salsa Verde chicken in slow cooker was delicious and super easy to make. My husband really enjoyed it too, I'll make it again.
Jeneil says
Made this salsa verde chicken recently for dinner, and it was a total hit. It was so delicious and easy to make. My mom was already asking for the recipe!
Margaret says
We made a whole bunch of salsa verde with goodies grown in our garden this summer. I came across this recipe and love it! The chicken really soaks up the salsa flavor.
Hayley Navey says
This Salsa Verde Chicken recipe is so simple and flavorful--the perfect quick and easy family dinner recipe! I found this recipe ages ago and have since used it countless times. It's so simple to change up, too, based on what you have in your pantry! We love it in tortillas with a little sour cream!
foody schmoody says
This looks wonderful. I'm an East Coast girl and still feel like I haven't had any good authentic Mexican food. We just don't get it right over here 🙂 Looks like you've got things right! We are featuring this today on The Wednesday Roundup! http://foodyschmoodyblog.com/chicken-tomatoes-artichokes-capers-plus-link-party/
Megan Walker says
Oh Madison, Mexican food (both Tex Mex and the real deal) is one of the things I miss the MOST about Texas. I almost cried the other day when Jared and I found an authentic Mexican food restaurant in-town! This sounds like a great meal to add to my repetoire, especially since salsa verde is one of my favorite things!
Madison says
I know that feeling! I've just learned not to compare the two types of Mexican (real and NOT real haha) and just accept them individually! You'd love this meal I think!
Beckey says
So simple! And I looooove salsa verde! :0) I also always have a bunch of chicken breasts in the freezer.
Beckey
http://www.etsy.com/shop/queenbsbusywork
Jess Elyse says
Oh, this sounds so good. Definitely keeping this one around. I literally think I could eat Mexican food every day. I NEVER tire of tacos! And I once picked up a friend at the airport with tacos in hand. It was a great surprise for her. 🙂
Madison says
Thanks Jess! I hope you'll try it sometime. I like anyone who likes tacos so we can definitely be friends 🙂
Anne says
I've done a crock pot chicken dish in which you just throw in a whole chicken plus a jar of salsa, but this sounds like a great twist on it. Will have to try - I always forget about the crock pot in the summer because most of the recipes I do in it are more savory/hearty type things for winter, but obviously it's a great tool to have on hot summer days in the kitchen!
Madison says
I have always wanted to cook an entire chicken in the crock pot but I don't think it would fit in ours! Do you have an extra large crock pot? Haha
Anne says
No, actually I have a smaller than normal one! Sometimes I really have to cram the thing in, but mostly I just try to buy the smallest sized whole chicken I can find (which works fine anyway because there's only 2 of us to eat it!).
Jana Tolman says
YUM! Oh goodness gracious, I'm seriously in need of a green chile fix now. I think this is going to be my solution. 🙂
Madison says
This'll do the trick! Your whole house will smell like green chile!
Jana Tolman says
That's a happy bonus! 🙂
Jenna Griffin says
I'm drooling! This looks so incredible. Pinning and saving for later this week!
Madison says
You'd love it!! Almost as good as the enchiladas I was going to make you!
Jenna Griffin says
mmmm, enchiladas!!
Madaline says
That looks amazing! And easy. Andddd I have all that in my parents fridge!
Madison says
That's awesome! I'm sure they don't have a lot of salsa verde in Rome, so it's good you're back in the States so you can enjoy this meal! 🙂
Kelly says
This looks and sounds delicious, yum!
xx Kelly
Sparkles and Shoes
Madison says
Thanks Kelly! I hope you'll try it 🙂
jbuggica says
Oh yes, I'm right with you on the cuisines I can make all the time. Mexican and Italian are my favorites! This dish looks great too!
Jennifer @ The Foodie Patootie says
Oh yes, I'm right with you on the cuisines I can make all the time. Mexican and Italian are my favorites! This dish looks great too!
Madison says
It's really tasty! 🙂
Gina Alyse says
Yum!! I'm not a big spicy eater, but I love anything with salsa and has the mexican flavor 🙂 Thanks for sharing this! xo, gina
Madison says
I bet you could dilute the sauce somehow or get less spicy salsa verde 🙂
Becca Davis says
I love slow cooker meals in the summer! Thanks for sharing!
Madison says
They're the best! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
FabEllis says
Looks yummy and best of all, EASY!
Madison says
You could skip the peppers and onions and it would be even easier! 🙂
Madison says
Well, I knew I liked you too! 😉 Food soul mates! Cheese dip is the best!! Now I'm wanting Mexican for lunch 🙂
Delia says
SO SIMPLE. I love it. Now I'm wishing I had thrown this in the crock pot before heading to work this morning. Sigh. Pinning it for later 🙂
Madison says
DANG that totally reminds me I did not plan anything for dinner. Womp, womp. You'll have to make this sometime real soon though cause it's so good!
Amy Hodgdon says
This looks SO delicious! I am with you Madison...that I could eat Mexican food like everyday and not grow tired of it....I just LOVE it!
Thanks for sharing a simple recipe that sounds more complicated than it is!
🙂
Amy Hodgdon says
This looks SO delicious! I am with you Madison...that I could eat Mexican food like everyday and not grow tired of it....I just LOVE it!
Thanks for sharing a simple recipe that sounds more complicated than it is!
🙂
Madison says
Don't you love those recipes? Doesn't have to be fancy to be delicious! Let me know if you try this! 🙂
Teresa says
I could eat Italian and Mexican food for the rest of my life and be completely satisfied! haha This looks amazing. I love simple crockpot meals and this one looks right up my ally. Pinning it and putting it on the meal plan for the next week!
Madison says
This is why we are friends 😉 Whenever we do get together, we'll definitely be getting Mexican or Italian for lunch 😉
Teresa says
Definitely! 🙂
Kaitlin Rose says
This looks wonderful! I love Mexican food so much. Husband...not a big fan...but if it comes with white rice he will devour it! And I love that this is a slow cooker recipe! I've been trying to actually use the Crockpot I was so thrilled to get for our wedding and still haven't touched!
Madison says
My husband loves rice, too!! We didn't get a Crockpot for our wedding, but after about a month, I bought one cause I knew we needed it! When you do start using it, get the crock pot bags, they're lifesavers!!
Kelli B says
Sounds delicious! I've made something similar. We're big green chili people! 🙂
Madison says
I swear this salsa verde sauce had green chile in it, because when we walked in after it had been cooking for a while, the whole house smelled like green chile! One of my other favorite parts of using a crock pot 🙂
Logan Cantrell says
Yum!!! Definitely pinning this! It looks delicious!
Madison says
Thanks Logan! It's one of my favorite meals now!
Ursula says
These are great pictures! makes it look tasty
Madison says
Thanks Ursula! It sure was delicious 🙂
Megan Pace says
This looks delicious! I love salsa verde, and the slow cooker is pretty much my best friend! It makes it so easy to get dinner on the table without tons of time or a huge mess.
Madison says
So so true! I'm notoriously bad at using a lot of dishes, so I think my husband enjoys his cleanup duty a lot more when I use the crock pot 😉
Megan Pace says
I pinned this forever ago and finally tried it last night. It was sooo easy and delicious! I made extra to take to a couple of friends who just had babies, and it was a great recipe for packing up and taking to others too!
Alli Smith says
I, too, could eat Italian and Mexican food forever! Pinning!
Madison says
Thanks for pinning Alli! I love this dish so much 🙂
Rachel Walker says
I knew I liked you--italian and Mexican are my favorites, too. Especially Mexican. Cheese dip, salsa, beans...yum. This seems as easy as can be and yet SO delish! I can't wait to make it. Thanks for sharing, sweet friend!
Madison says
Well, I knew I liked you too! 😉 Food soul mates! Cheese dip is the best!! Now I'm wanting Mexican for lunch 🙂
Rachel Cox says
I LOVE mexican, it is my go to for a quick dinner and here is another recipe I can add to my list! So good, salsa verde is a favorite in our house also!
Madison says
It's so so good and I love that it's so easy!
Robyn Black says
oh yum! we are going to make this at the retreat, right?! 😉
Madison says
Haha, it would actually probably be perfect for that! :))
Kaitlin Rose says
I am in full agreement. This has to happen at the retreat!
Hayley says
This looks sooo good! I cook WAY too much "mexican" around these parts, but it's always so easy and tastes SO good!
Madison says
It is so easy! I could live on tortillas I'm pretty sure. I had this meal like four times in a row and it was amazing each time!