Crock Pot Salsa Chicken Recipe – Super Easy, Fast & Delicious!

If you plan on this three-ingredient Crock Pot Salsa Chicken for your meal, you will find a treat awaiting you at the end of the day.

Don’t have a crockpot, instant pot or slow cooker? No problem, you can cook this stove top in a pot.

When you have a busy, jam-packed schedule on a particular day, you might forget to eat well. But having a few simple, go-to ingredients on hand empowers you to eat well despite your crazy schedule.

This slow cooker tool comes in so handy on your most hectic days. Master a few basic recipes in it, and you’ll be on your way to serving up nutritious, hot meals.

Consider your crockpot or Instant pot as an essential kitchen tool.

Chicken again?

If you find yourself relying on chicken often, you’re not alone. It’s affordable, easy to cook, and almost every non-vegan enjoys it.

But let’s face it.

It’s can be a little mundane.

And if you don’t cook it just right, you end up with overcooked, dry meat. Or worse yet, undercooking it can make you sick.

This recipe takes the guess work out of making chicken.

Slow cooking means that you are cooking your food in a moist environment over low heat. This helps to lock in the moisture and flavor.

Plus, the long cooking time ensures that you cook the meat thoroughly to avoid food-borne illnesses.

You will go from thinking, “chicken again?”, to being excited to tell your family, “salsa chicken again!”

Safe preparation of poultry products

Working with poultry requires a little bit of special handling to ensure that you don’t spread bacteria that can cause illness.

If you are an experienced cook, let this be a gentle reminder.

But it you’re new to cooking, please read this section carefully.

We will share poultry safety hints, according to the United States Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS).

Safety tips for handling chicken

• Cook chicken to a minimum internal temperature of 165° to kill any bacteria. Kitchen thermometers are another essential kitchen tool.
• Prep poultry on a glass or plastic cutting mat. Avoid wood, as its porous nature can absorb bacteria.
  We like these color coded plastic cutting mats to keep the meat one only for meat.
• Wash your hands thoroughly with hot water and soap before handling meat. Also, scrub again after touching poultry–before you touch anything else!
• Cleanse your cutting tools (knife, cutting surfaces) with antibacterial dish liquid and hot water.
• Disinfect sink handles or anything else you might have touched during the prepping process.
• The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) advises you to keep cooked meats held warm at above 140° to avoid contamination. So serve it quickly and refrigerate leftovers promptly.
• Some people like to wash meats before they cook them. However, the USDHHS website states this practice increases the chances of spreading bacteria.

Six Benefits of Using a Crock Pot

Once you start using your crockpot regularly, you will find many different intriguing recipes. Besides challenging yourself to master this kitchen tool, here are other reasons to give it a try.

1 – You’ll Enjoy Healthier Meals

If you find yourself popping into a drive-thru lane in the afternoon to save time, this helps to eliminate this unhealthy habit. 

Knowing that you have a hot, nutritious main course ready and waiting empowers you to skip that temptation. 

2 – You Can Save Money

First of all, you will save a few dollars by avoiding the temptation to dine out or hit the drive-up burger spot. 

However, you’ll also save money by purchasing less expensive cuts of meat.

The crock pot makes it possible to spend your grocery budget on “tougher” cuts. The moist, slow cooking process will make even the least desirable meats enjoyable. 

3 – Enjoy Your Crock Pot Year Round

You will enjoy your crock pot all year long. You can cook an entire meal in one pot in the hot summer weather without heating your kitchen unnecessarily. 

And there is nothing better in the cold months of winter than walking in your door to the aroma of a hot meal of your favorite comfort food like this Crock Pot Salsa Chicken.

4 – Saves Energy

You can make “going green” in your household policy, not just a buzzword. 

Your crock pot pulls less electricity than a standard oven or range. So saving energy, also saves you money. So good for you and good for the planet!

5 – Enjoy Better Nutrition

With the help of your trusty slow cooker, you can serve nutritious all-in-one meals with less effort. 

Some comfort food favorite ideas that are all-in-one meals include these:

• Vegetable soups (make it vegan soup by using vegetable stocks)
• Stews
• Casseroles
• Pot roasts
• Tomato sauces

6 – Easy After Dinner Cleanup

Most of us enjoy cooking but hate the chore of cleaning up after we eat. 

Generally, crockpots are very easy to clean. Check your manual, but these basic tips apply to most units:

• Remove the inner liner, or “crock.” This can be metal on all-in-one pressure cooker units or ceramic on traditional crockpots.
• Use a nylon scraper to remove any dried-on food bits.
• Fill the inner line with hot water and soap. Use a nylon scrubber or the scrubbing side of a sponge to clean the liner. 
• Wipe down the actual crockpot unit, but don’t submerge it in water. Doing so can cause damage to the electrical workings or electric shock.
• Dry the liner and crockpot unit with a clean towel. Reinsert the liner.

Salsa Chicken Serving Ideas

You will find Crock Pot Salsa Chicken to be very versatile. 

This savory poultry is the main component of your meal. You can do a little bit of additional kitchen prep to serve it however you wish. 

Here are a few of our favorite ways to make crock pot salsa chicken into a scrumptious meal.

Ways to Enjoy Crock Pot Salsa Chicken

• 3 FAVORITES: Serve crock pot chicken salsa with corn, black beans, and cheese. Serve it over a bed of lettuce for a hearty taco salad. 
• RICE: Cook white rice or brown rice. Crockpot salsa chicken and rice makes a satisfying meal.
• NACHOS: Combine crock pot chicken salsa with salsa verde, cream cheese, and build a game day nacho platter. 
• TACOS: Make crock pot salsa chicken tacos.  Spoon crock pot chicken salsa, black beans, and shredded Monterey jack cheese into a taco shell. 
• SALADS: Toss a scoop over shredded lettuce and top with sliced avocado or guacamole to add a satisfyingly healthy fat to your diet.
• OMELETTES: Add a hefty spoonful to eggs for a zesty omelet to enjoy for brunch or dinner.

Instant Pot Salsa Chicken Variation

If you find yourself very pressed for time, you can also make the recipe below in an Instant Pot or other electric pressure cooker.

You must make one minor addition–a 14 ounce can of chicken stock, plus one can of water.

Your pressure cooker requires the liquid to create the steam needed to cook the meat.

After you add the broth and water, add the ingredients on the recipe card below. Pressure cook it for 30 minutes on the “chicken” or “poultry” setting (depending on your cooker brand).

Check the temperature of the poulty with a thermometer.

Your salsa will be thinner, not as rich and chunky.

But despite the textural difference, the taste will be incredible–and it’s a timesaver for your most hectic days.