Loaded with fresh avocado, salsa and cilantro, this easy and healthy slow cooker chicken verde can be ready when you walk in the door from work!
Right around early spring, my affinity for big, heaping pots of things dissipates in favor of delicious grilled dinners and scrumptious stovetop meals. Everything gets squeezed with lemon, marinated in hot sauce and charred on those fiery hot grates. We mix our meats with piles of fresh vegetables, nudge a soft dinner roll alongside, and clink “cheers” with a frosty brew. But sometimes, that’s just too much dang work.
So then, I remember my workhorse of a CrockPot and fall in love all over again with how EASY it makes everything. And summer’s all about ease, am I right?
This spicy, simple and delicious salsa verde chicken has become one of our new favorite weeknight meals! Just toss it all in your slow cooker, set it and forget it. The onions and garlic make it incredibly fragrant, the jalapeno and salsa verde add a spicy kick, and a splash of lime juice keeps the flavors fresh and vibrant.
Use whatever salsa verde you can find, but if you have access to an H-E-B grocery store, grab a jar of their Hatch chile salsa verde! It’s been one of my favorites since I moved to Austin – spicy, salty and perfect for chip dippin’ – but it’s only available for a short time since Hatch chiles go in and out of season quicker than winter in Texas! And if ya don’t already know, that’s quick.
Just in time, I was sent a box of spicy goodies as a member of H-E-B’s Primo Picks program – perfect for this Hatch-hungry girl! Included was a jar of their incredible salsa verde. Not only is it great in this chili, but you can also top grilled meats with it or add it to burritos, enchiladas or quesdillas!
Mix up this mouthwatering, super easy slow cooker meal some weekday, set off for work, and walk in the door to delicious goodness in one pot! The best parts? Impossibly easy clean-up, lots of ways to dish it up, and plenty of toppings to serve it to your taste!
We like to top cooked brown rice with scoopfuls of this salsa verde chicken, wrap it in a multigrain tortilla, or just eat a big bowlful as is for a low-carb, high-protein meal. I love mine with sliced avocado, chopped tomatoes and a sprinkle of fresh cilantro. Cheese and sour cream make it even better, but any way you serve this scrumptious meal, you’re gonna love it!
![Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken](https://www.thecomfortofcooking.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/SlowCookerSalsaVerdeChicken-1_thumb.jpg)
Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, thawed
- 2 15 oz. cans black beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 large bell pepper, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1/2 yellow onion, diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 jalapeno, minced
- 1 16 oz. jar salsa verde
- 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- Juice of 1 lime
For serving (optional):
- Cooked brown or white rice
- Warm tortillas
For topping (optional):
- Chopped tomatoes
- Sliced avocado
- Chopped scallions
- Chopped cilantro
- Shredded Mexican cheese
- Light sour cream or plain yogurt
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients (besides serving and topping ingredients) in a slow cooker. Stir to combine. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 hours.
- Once chicken is fully cooked, remove from slow cooker and shred with two forks. Place shredded chicken back into the slow cooker with sauce, stir and cook on low for 15 more minutes.
- Serve heaping spoonfuls over cooked rice or warm tortillas.
- Top with desired toppings (see ideas above).
- Enjoy!
Yes please, your chicken looks mouth-watering and I love all those textured and tasty toppings!
I love those no-fuss meals. And I’m always looking for new chicken recipes. This sound perfect and delicious Georgia! Have a great week! :)
I haven’t used my crockpot in so long but you’ve just reminded me to dust it off and make this stat!
scrumptious slow cooker salsa verde looks so beautifully presented in that green bowl
love the avocado slices on top :-)
This looks amazing, Georgia! I love the HEB Hatch salsa! Going to make this ASAP :)
We just started sports again so I’ve been needing slow cooker recipes! This one looks awesome, must add it into our regular rotation. :)
Fabulous easy peasy slow cooker recipe for summer, Georgia! Thanks for sharing!
This is so delicious looking! I love the way your brain thinks and in my house you can never go wrong with a good chicken recipe and rice! Making this for sure!
Love such no-fuss meals…also they are ideal for summer. Your presentation is beautiful and the dish looks amazing.
Georgia, this looks like a perfect supper to me. I love all of the flavors that it has going on in it. I think the sweet, salty, and creamy should satisfy nearly every taste bud.
I’m absolutely in love with this dish. Gotta love the crockpot.
Oh how I love to let the slow cooker do the cooking for me! This recipe is a must-make on my slow cooker list!
This looks so amazing, looks like I will be making this on the weekend!
I’m all about these kinds of meals in the summer (and fall, and winter, and spring… ;)). So yummy!
This is made in slow cooker? wow…I need to take out my slow cooker!
I love using my crockpot, and the school and soccer practice grind is just about here! This recipe came just in time, Georgia. I am definitely making this — it looks just delicious!
Such a beautiful photo of a yummy dish. This has my mouth watering as we love Mexican food!
Yes, yes, yes. This is pretty much my perfect food right here!
Oh wow – something I would actually eat from a slow cooker! Usually my mum makes overly hearty stews in them which I am not a fan of, but this sounds light and delicious!
Could I grab a bowl Please?? Such a delicious look healthy combination here and absolutely fuss free.
Oh wow, that really does look so vibrant and amazing. I just need you to ship some to me!
Gorgeous! Love all the Mexican flavors. Great for getting back to school and busy schedules!
Another amazing slow cooker recipe from Georgia that I just gotta try! I am in love with this salsa verde dish!
I need to get the crockpot out right now and make this happen!! Gorgeous photos too!!
I loveee this, Georgia!! I love making Mexican dishes in the slow cooker!!
I think I just found my new favorite slow cooker meal!
I really need to just suck it up already and buy a crock pot/slow cooker. Seriously.
Can you send me a big bowl for dinner, please? :)
lovely photos! this sounds so good.
Time to break out my slow cooker – this looks fantastic! Lovely photos!
I have only used my slow cooker once this summer and that needs to change. I love the sound of this, Georgia!
I’ve never try chicken this way, and my family just love chicken, I have to make this soon!
This looks amazing. Any tricks on how to keep the chicken breasts moist? I find when I do chicken breasts in the slow cooker they tend to dry out. Thanks!
Thanks, Alexe! I never have a problem with dry chicken breasts, since I always find that shredding and adding them back to the slow cooker with a sauce (like in this recipe) keeps them moist.
I love my slow cooker lately! Sometimes I forget about it, but it makes dinners so easy and the meat always comes out so tender.
This is right up my alley. I love all of these flavors, what a great combo, and the fact that this is made in the slow cooker is a super plus :-)
Making me hungry, Georgia! This looks absolutely delicious! Great flavors and awesome photos!
This sounds so beautiful and simple! I love that it can be made in the slow cooker :)
This looks fabulous – I love my slow cooker, especially in the summer!
I love slow cooker recipes and this one looks delicious!!
Whoa, this is on top of rice? I love it! I enjoy slow cooked meals (without slow cooker, that’s the problem) and this sounds delicious!
I love slow cooker meals… I would definitely enjoy this over a big bowl of brown rice. YUM!