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Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken Tacos is an easy crockpot chicken tacos recipe that will keep the heat out of your kitchen during the hot summer days! Chicken breasts slow cook in salsa verde, green peppers and diced chilies, creating a tender, flavorful taco filling. Salsa Verde Chicken also works great in quesadillas, over nachos or as an enchilada filling.
I hear a lot of people say that they don’t use their slow cooker in the summer and don’t get why you would. I think a lot of people associate a slow cooker with fall and winter and comfort food like cozy soups and stews. I was right there with those people until last summer. I am convinced that summer and a slow cooker can be friends too.
For example, my Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken Tacos recipe. Light, simple to make, versatile, and makes enough to freeze some for later. As a Mom of two boys under the age of 3, life was crazy last summer. Between finding the energy to keep up with my kids and spending our days outside {Midwesterners understand the desire to be outside all of the time in the summer} I needed quick and easy dinner ideas during the week. Slow cooker to the rescue. Yes, that little magical thing that does the work for you while you enjoy the pool, or lake, or a cold beverage in your backyard. If you like crockpot chicken recipes try this Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken or this Slow Cooker Chicken Curry.
Recipe Ingredients
This recipe uses simple ingredients. For exact ingredient amounts and instructions, see the full recipe card below.
- Chicken: this recipe uses boneless, skinless chicken breasts. You also could swap and use chicken tenderloins or chicken thighs.
- Salsa: salsa verde adds so much flavor to this shredded chicken. You can also use other sauce options like homemade salsa verde or this Avocado Tomatillo Salsa. You could go for a red sauce and use pico de gallo or a restaurant style salsa.
- Vegetables: the vegetables in this recipe are green pepper, diced green chiles and jalapeños. You also could add sweet onion or red onion and diced tomatoes.
How to Make these Crockpot Salsa Verde Chicken Recipe
Step 1: Add Ingredients to Crockpot: Pour half of the jar of salsa on the bottom of the slow cooker {approximately 1 cup} and spread evenly. Place the chicken breasts on top of the salsa. Cover the chicken with the remaining ingredients, spreading the salsa, green peppers, jalapeños and green chilies over the chicken breasts to make sure they are covered.
Step 2: Slow Cook: Cook on low for 5-6 hours or high for 3-4 hours. With 30 minutes left remove the chicken breasts from the slow cooker and shred with two forks. Return the chicken to the slow cooker and stir to make sure the chicken gets covered with the juices again. Finish cooking.
Step 3: Assemble Tacos: Serve on tacos with fresh cilantro, extra salsa, cheese and tomatoes. You can also use this chicken for salads, sandwiches, burrito bowls, quesadillas and more.
Ways to Use this Shredded Chicken
- Add this chicken to these Easy Chicken Enchiladas, Chicken Enchilada Sliders or in this One Pot Chicken Enchilada Pasta.
- Rice bowls are a great way to use up this shredded chicken. Pair with these lime wedges andPickled Red Onions.
- Salads are another great way to use shredded salsa verde chicken. Try adding it to this Kale Salad, a taco salad or this Lemon Arugula Salad.
- Serve over lettuce or in lettuce wraps with this Cowboy Caviar, cilantro lime rice and sour cream.
- Serve with chips or over nachos.
Storage Tips
- Store leftovers in an air tight container for up to 4 days. To reheat you can heat in a skillet on the stove or microwave it.
- You can also store this leftover chicken in the freezer for up to 3 months in an airtight container.
More Chicken Recipes
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Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken Tacos
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breasts, boneless, skinless
- 1 – 16 ounces jar of salsa verde {about 2 cups}
- 1 green pepper, chopped
- 1 – 4 ounces can of diced chilies
- 1 jalapeño, seeds removed, chopped {optional for spice}
- Tortillas or hard shell tacos for the tacos
- Garnish ideas: fresh cilantro, cheese, tomatoes, extra salsa
Instructions
- Pour half of the jar of salsa on the bottom of the slow cooker {approximately 1 cup} and spread evenly. Place the chicken breasts on top of the salsa. Cover the chicken with the remaining ingredients, spreading the salsa, green peppers, jalapeños and green chilies over the chicken breasts to make sure they are covered.
- Cook on low for 5-6 hours or high for 3-4 hours. With 30 minutes left remove the chicken breasts from the slow cooker and shred with two forks. Return the chicken to the slow cooker and stir to make sure the chicken gets covered with the juices again. Finish cooking.
- Serve on tacos with fresh cilantro, extra salsa, cheese and tomatoes. You can also use this chicken for salads, sandwiches, burrito bowls, quesadillas and more.
Notes
- I like my chicken to have those extra juices to use as a salsa to top my tacos but if you prefer it to be a bit drier I suggest adding 3/4 of the jar of salsa instead of the whole jar.
- When I make this I freeze half in a ziplock bag laying flat. You can then use it later by defrosting it in the refrigerator overnight and then heating it up when ready to eat it.
- You can use this chicken mixture in quesadillas, nachos, burrito bowls, as an enchilada filling, salads, sandwiches.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Oh my! This slow cooker salsa verde looks delicious!! I love creating Mexican food with my slow cooker, so this is right up my alley. And I’m with you on the excitement about farmers markets and fresh summer produce! Those strawberries look perfect <3
I am the same way. We LOVE Mexican food in our house so any time I can come up with a healthy, easy meal that has those Mexican flavors I am all about it.
I love using my slow cooker in the summer! These tacos are just the kind of weeknight meal that we love!
I do too Jessica. Thanks!
Sounds like an awesome trip! I love my slow cooker in the summer with busy nights. This looks like a fantastic way to put it to use!
It really is a great way in the summer to put it to good use! And thanks, the trip was so much fun!
This summer has been crazy busy for me – and this would be perfect for a quickie dinner!
It is a good summer dinner–hope you try it out!
I am right there with Will … a homemade strawberry rhubarb popsicle is my dream too!
And so are your tacos! I love anything with salsa verde so these will be going on my “to make” list ASAP!
I was inspired by that popsicle combo –it was so delicious. I might have to try and recreate it at home. And yes, salsa verde really is such a versatile salsa and pairs great with chicken!
This looks amazing! We are big fans of salsa verde! Taco Tuesday here we come!
We are too–so much flavor!
I’ve never had salsa verde chicken! I think I was worried its spicy, is it?! But I do love my magical crock pot 🙂
Actually some salsa verdes aren’t spicy at all. It depends how much jalapeño is added in. I have found some at the store with little spice and actually feed it to my toddlers! If you make your own you can definitely control the spice too which is nice.
This is my kind of recipe! I love salsa verde and I wish the local farms would bring tomatillos to the farmers market more often. I pretty much have to ask. I guess they don’t sell that well at our market. 🙁 I love them. I do buy a jar occasionally but I prefer to make mine if I can. Anyway, this looks like a delicious dinner and I know everyone would love it here!
I love tomatillos and making my own salsa! I don’t see them at my farmers market either. 🙁 My farmers market that I went to this past Saturday had a vendor selling their homemade Salsa Verde and of course I bought a container. I am addicted.
I need to make a batch of this…it’s hot here in Florida and this looks delicious! On a side note, I lived in Richmond for a few years and never knew Sabra was there!
Sabra has a huge factory there which is where they make their whole line of hummus. It is amazing! I was so impressed with how clean, efficient and huge it was. And yes–make a batch of this and then you won’t be heating up your already hot house! 🙂
Love a taco tuesday recipe–especially when it is made in a slow cooker! Can’t wait to try!
Thanks Holly! Yes-Taco Tuesday is the best and when it involves something easy like a slow cooker it is even better!