Crock Pot Salsa Hen is juicy, tender, and simple too — all you want is hen, salsa, and taco seasoning. Use the shredded hen in tacos, nachos, salads and extra!

They are saying everyone ought to have a subject they may give a 5 minute presentation on with zero preparation. Properly I’ve two:

1. Why the 2019 model of the film Little Girls is vastly inferior to the 1994 model. (It is a hill I’m prepared to die on.)
2. Find out how to correctly prepare dinner hen breasts within the crock pot so they arrive out juicy and tender, versus powerful, dry and chalky.

Really, I solely want a number of seconds to inform you the finest method to gradual prepare dinner hen breasts is with seasonings, a bit liquid, and 4 hours on LOW warmth.

Enter Crock Pot Salsa Hen, ie probably the most tender, succulent, and simple crock pot hen recipe that’s so flavorful and versatile you’ll come again to it again and again!

Watch Find out how to Make It

Wholesome + Straightforward Crock Pot Hen Recipe

Crock Pot Salsa Hen is a wholesome and easy dish that requires lower than 5 minutes of prep time, and can be utilized in infinite methods. Gluten free, dairy free, low carb, and low fats too, it’s shockingly tasty. That is a type of recipes the place you take a look at the substances and assume, “yeah, I’m certain that’ll style advantageous“, then it seems so a lot better than you imagined.

Behold, the magic of gradual cooker salsa hen!

I additionally love that it is a recipe the place you add every part into the crock pot then press “on”. No further cooking steps wanted. On the finish of the gradual cooking course of, the hen breasts virtually soften into shreds with the assistance of two forks. SO GOOD!

Components Wanted

All you want are three major substances to get this simple crock pot recipe on the desk:

1. Hen breasts. Boneless skinless hen breasts are the secret. You should utilize boneless, skinless hen thighs as nicely — or a combination of the 2. The USDA doesn’t advocate gradual cooking frozen hen breasts — they should be thawed first.
2. Salsa. I’d usually advocate my recent, do-it-yourself Restaurant-Model Salsa but it surely’s completely advantageous to make use of your favourite jarred salsa for a protracted and slow-cooked dish like this. I like Clint’s Salsa.
3. Taco seasoning. Spice cabinet staples together with chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, pepper, and a pinch of dried oregano taste the hen. Be happy to make use of a packet of store-bought taco seasoning, or a pair scoops of my Massive Batch Taco Home made Seasoning as an alternative.

You’ll additionally want a crock pot, in fact! I really like my 6-quart Crock Pot for the job.

Find out how to Use Shredded Salsa Hen

The magic query — “How can I take advantage of the shredded salsa hen?” That is an especially versatile recipe and there are infinite methods to make use of it. Listed here are some concepts:

• Nachos: dollop tortilla chips with shredded hen and cheese then soften within the oven and cargo together with your favourite toppings.
• Tacos: fill crunchy taco shells with shredded hen, cheese, and toppings.
• Enchiladas: use the flavorful salsa hen because the filling in Hen Enchiladas.
• Burritos: roll salsa hen with cooked rice, beans, salsa, and cheese in your favourite giant tortilla.
• Tostadas: toast corn tortillas then unfold with Creamy Pinto Beans, the shredded salsa hen, and shredded cheese. Soften then dollop with guacamole and drizzle with lime juice.
• Soups: add the tex-mex hen to Restaurant-Model Hen Tortilla Soup to save lots of your self a step.
• Salads: chill the shredded hen then add to lettuce with shredded cheese, black beans, tomatoes, inexperienced onions, and tortilla strips to make Southwest Salads. Serve with a combination of equal elements salsa and ranch dressing.
• Burrito Bowls: pair the shredded hen with cilantro lime rice, black beans, and recent fixins to create your individual customized burrito bowl.
• Quesadillas: pair with shredded cheese and tortillas then crisp to a golden crunch. Dip in a combination of equal elements salsa and guacamole.

#1 Secret for Excellent Gradual Cooker Hen

I didn’t need to bury the lead so I allow you to in on my secret for cooking good hen breasts within the crock pot above — but it surely’s price repeating:

Boneless hen breasts ONLY NEED TO COOK FOR 4 HOURS ON LOW within the crock pot. If you happen to’re utilizing monster hen breasts which can be over 1/2lb every, merely lower them in half, however nonetheless — once more — they solely have to be cooked for 4 hours on low.

If you happen to’ve ever cooked hen within the crock pot they usually shredded into tiny, powerful little items that resembled noticed mud, that’s as a result of the hen was overcooked. Utilizing my methodology of seasonings, a bit liquid, and 4 hours on low, the hen will turn into stunning, lengthy, and luscious shreds.

I can’t wait so that you can do that recipe!

Add Salsa Hen to Cheese Enchiladas!

Find out how to Make Crock Pot Salsa Hen

Step 1: Add the substances to the crock pot.

To a 6-quart Crock Pot, add the hen breasts, a jar of salsa, and taco seasoning mix. 

Step 2: Stir to mix then gradual prepare dinner.

Stir the substances to mix then cowl and prepare dinner on LOW for 4 hours. Alternatively, you possibly can gradual prepare dinner the hen on HIGH for two hours should you’re in a rush, although 4 hours on low is my go-to (in case that wasn’t abundantly clear by now, LOL!)

On the finish of the cooking course of the gradual cooker will appear to be it has a ton of liquid inside. Shred the hen breasts with two forks, and the hen will take up almost the entire cooking liquid.

Step 3: Use the shredded hen.

Whether or not your trying to make shredded hen nachos, or meal prep the salsa hen to make burrito bowls or salads for lunches all week — the hen is prepared for use as quickly as its cooked!

Find out how to Retailer and Freeze

Thrilled to inform you that crockpot salsa hen freezes fantastically AND makes superb freezer meal kits which can be nice for households with new infants, sicknesses, and many others. Listed here are the small print:

• To retailer: cool the shredded hen then scoop into an hermetic container with a lid and refrigerate for 3-4 days.
• To freeze: cool the shredded hen then scoop right into a gallon-size freezer bag, take away the air, seal, and freeze flat for as much as 6 months. Thaw within the fridge.
• To make freezer meal packs: add the raw substances right into a gallon-size freezer bag then take away the air, seal, and freeze flat for as much as 6 months. Thaw utterly within the fridge earlier than following recipe instructions.

Irrespective of the way you eat this luscious salsa hen recipe, I hope you’re keen on every chunk — get pleasure from!

Extra Easy + Tasty Hen Recipes

Description

Crock Pot Salsa Hen is juicy, tender, and simple too — all you want is hen, salsa, and taco seasoning! Use the shredded hen in tacos, nachos, salads and extra!

Components

• 2lbs hen breasts
• 16oz jar salsa
• For the Home made Taco Seasoning:
  • 1 Tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

Instructions

1. Place hen breasts into the underside of a 6-quart crock pot then sprinkle on Home made Taco Seasoning substances and pour in salsa. Stir to mix then cowl and prepare dinner on LOW for 4 hours or HIGH for two hours, or till the hen shreds simply with two forks. The shredded hen will absorb the cooking liquid because it sits.
2. Use as desired.

Notes

• I like Clint’s Delicate Salsa, which is gluten free.
• It’s possible you’ll use 2 Tablespoons of my Massive Batch Home made Taco Seasoning Combine rather than the mix listed above.
• Be happy to make use of boneless, skinless hen thighs — or a combination of those and hen breasts — to equal 2lbs.
• To retailer: cool the shredded hen then scoop right into a storage container with an hermetic lid and refrigerate for 3-4 days.
• To freeze: cool the shredded hen then scoop right into a gallon-size freezer bag, take away the air, seal, and freeze flat for as much as 6 months. Thaw within the fridge.
• To make freezer meal packs: add the raw substances right into a gallon-size freezer bag then take away the air, seal, and freeze flat for as much as 6 months. Thaw utterly within the fridge earlier than following recipe instructions.

Find out how to use the shredded salsa hen:

• Nachos: dollop tortilla chips with shredded hen and cheese then soften within the oven and cargo up together with your favourite toppings.
• Tacos: fill crunchy taco shells with shredded hen then add your toppings.
• Enchiladas: use the flavorful salsa hen because the filling in Hen Enchiladas.
• Burritos: roll salsa hen with cooked rice, beans, salsa, and cheese in your favourite giant tortilla.
• Tostadas: toast corn tortillas then unfold with Creamy Pinto Beans, the shredded salsa hen, and shredded cheese. Soften then dollop with guacamole.
• Soups: add the tex-mex hen to Restaurant-Model Hen Tortilla Soup to save lots of your self a step.
• Salads: chill the shredded hen then add to lettuce with shredded cheese, black beans, tomatoes, inexperienced onions, and tortilla strips. Serve with a combination of equal elements salsa and ranch dressing.
• Burrito Bowls: pair the shredded hen with cilantro lime rice, black beans, and all of the recent fixins.
• Quesadillas: pair with shredded cheese and tortillas then crisp to a golden crunch. Dip in a combination of equal elements salsa and guacamole.

This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Woman Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.

Photographs by Ashley McLaughlin