Description
A quick and flavorful Mexican chicken dish made in the crock pot. With a sweet and spicy sauce, it’s perfect for tacos, burritos, or even salads.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup mild salsa (medium if you like spicy)
- 3–4 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 (4 oz) can mild diced green chilies
- 1 (14.5 oz) can fire roasted diced tomatoes, drained (or regular)
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 tsp each ground cumin, garlic powder, onion powder
- 1/2 tsp each smoked paprika, dried oregano, pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground chipotle chili pepper (optional for more heat)
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
- Hot sauce to taste
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken breasts for 2–3 minutes on each side, until lightly browned (optional for extra flavor).
- Place the chicken breasts in the crock pot.
- In a separate bowl, combine salsa, brown sugar, green chilies, fire roasted tomatoes, chili powder, salt, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, oregano, pepper, and chipotle chili pepper (if using).
- Stir in liquid smoke and hot sauce to taste.
- Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken in the crock pot, ensuring the chicken is fully coated.
- Cook on low for 6–7 hours or on high for 3–4 hours until the chicken is tender and shreds easily.
- Shred the chicken with two forks, stirring it into the sauce.
- Serve with your favorite tortillas, rice, or as a topping for salads or tacos. Enjoy!
Notes
- This dish can be made spicier by adding more chipotle chili pepper or hot sauce.
- Serve with a side of Mexican rice or beans for a complete meal.
- Great for meal prep, as it can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- If you prefer to avoid the extra step of searing the chicken, you can skip it and simply add the chicken directly to the crock pot.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 70mg