Shredded Mexican Chicken in Slow Cooker

This versatile shredded chicken has a lot of great Mexican flavor and works in a variety of dishes. It makes an easy dinner when just spooned over white rice and topped with chopped scallions. Other variations include:

Chicken Nachos: drain the chicken of excess liquid, and then spread over nacho chips on a baking sheet, adding your favorite shredded cheese and nacho toppings, and bake at 350 degrees until the cheese melts. Remove from oven and top with sour cream, sliced jalapeños, green onion, shredded lettuce, guacamole or whatever other toppings you desire.

Chicken Enchiladas: wrap the drained chicken inside 6-inch tortillas, and top with enchilada sauce and shredded cheese, then bake 350 degrees, covered in foil for 15 minutes, then uncovered for 15 minutes. Serve topped with sour cream, shredded lettuce, cilantro and guacamole.

Chicken Burritos: Use large 10 – 12 inch burritos, and place 1/2 C shredded chicken with black beans, white rice and shredded cheese in the middle, then roll it up burrito style. Place seam side down on baking sheet lined with foil or parchment paper. Brush lightly with vegetable oil and bake at 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes until golden. Broil briefly to brown the top until crispy. Top with sour cream, guacamole, packaged burrito sauce, or my “Green Chili Sour Cream Sauce” (see recipe).

TIPS: You can find jarred or canned chipotle chilis in adobe sauce in the Mexican section of your grocery store usually. If you cannot find, you can substitute 1/2 tsp chipotle chili pepper powder, although it is not quite as good that way.

Shredded Mexican Chicken in Slow Cooker

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Servings 4 servings

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lbs raw boneless chicken breasts or a mix of breast and thighs
  • 1/2 C mild salsa
  • 4 oz can mild diced green chilies
  • 14.5 oz can fire roasted diced tomatoes drained
  • 1 Tbsp chili powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp each cumin, garlic powder, onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp each smoked paprika, dry oregano, pepper
  • 1 Tbsp canned or jarred chipotle chilis in adobe
  • 2-4 dashes hot sauce such as Tabasco or Franks Red Hot
  • 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Spray the slow cooked with cooking spray. Lay the chicken pieces in a single layer in bottom of slow cooker.
  • In a medium bowl stir together the rest of the ingredients, except for the black beans, and pour over the chicken in slow cooker. Cook on low for about 3 hours until the chicken registers 175-180 degrees and shreds easily with a fork.
  • Remove chicken and shred with two forks. Place shredded chicken back in slow cooker along with black beans, and warm for an additional 20-30 minutes.
  • Depending on how you are using the chicken, you can serve as is, OR you can drain the excess liquid for the chicken by placing a mesh colander over a large bowl and empty the slow cooker contents into it and gently pressing down to remove excess liquid. (Save the excess liquid to use instead of water or broth to make a great Mexican rice as a side dish).
  • Serve as-is over white rice, OR drain and use the chicken inside enchiladas, burritos, or spread on top of nacho chips on a sheet tray and bake for chicken nachos.
  • Enjoy!