Fiesta Chicken (Slow Cooker)
This foolproof Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken is an easy and delicious crockpot meal packed with protein and flavor. It’s a simple and satisfying Mexican-inspired meal that you can set and forget, and enjoy any day of the week. Plus the leftovers are extremely delicious too!
I love when the aroma of what you’re cooking fills your home. And that’s exactly what happens with this Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken. It’s full of spices and seasonings, and once you add everything to the crock pot (it only takes 15 minutes!), your work is done – sit back, relax, and enjoy as your dinner is coked for you. It’s beyond easy to make, perfect for meal prep, dinner on a busy weeknight, or Taco Tuesday.
Protein-rich chicken is spiced with bold fiesta-style seasoning, then mixed with pantry staples like fire roasted tomatoes and hearty black beans for an easy and satisfying meal that’ll fill you up. This Fiesta Chicken is naturally gluten-free and great for clean eating too, so you can feel good about a second helping. Our family’s favorite part? It’s super versatile, so you can serve it so many different ways. As a taco, in a burrito bowl, or as a salad topping – the whole family loves this meal.
If you like this healthy and delicious recipe, try some of our other favorite dishes starring chicken. We love these flavor-packed Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs and these easy Crockpot Chicken Drumsticks.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple Dump-and-Go Recipe: It really doesn’t get easier than this, simply add all ingredients to your slow cooker, set it, forget it, then serve later.
- Healthy & Filling: This recipe is packed with protein and hearty ingredients so it’s sure to fill you up without weighing you down.
- Great For Meal Prep: This recipe is so easy to prep in advance and have for dinner whenever you’re ready. It’s also great for leftovers the next day.
- Versatile: So flavorful and delicious, use this as a taco filling, a build-your-own bowl dinner, top a salad with it, or make it a wrap. The possibilities and options are endless.
Ingredients
- Chicken: We like boneless, skinless here. Rotisserie chickens are a great store-bought shortcut, too.
- Fire-Roasted Diced Tomatoes: A great pantry staple, with a little extra kick.
- Chili Powder: For a subtle smokiness and warmth.
- Garlic Powder: Adds flavor and depth.
- Salt & Pepper: Season generously, and adjust as needed.
- Chipotle Peppers in Adobo: These are optional, if you like heat. A little goes a long way! Tip: Finely chop one pepper for mild spice, two for more of a kick, and three for extra spice.
How To Make Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken
1. Lightly grease a 6-quart crockpot with cooking spray.
2. Season both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper. Then add chicken to the slow cooker.
3. Top with beans, corn, salsa, and tomatoes.
4. Sprinkle in the chili powder, garlic powder, and onion powder.
5. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 1-2.5 hours, until the chicken is tender.
6. Shred chicken and stir everything together.
7. Serve with preferred sides and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Avoid Overcooking The Chicken: Check the texture and taste as you go. No one likes overly cooked, dried out chicken! And be sure there’s enough liquid in your slow cooker – this will come from the canned tomatoes and the chicken will release juices naturally as it cooks. This will keep it moist and tender. If needed, add a splash of water or broth.
- Shred the Chicken in Slow Cooker: Shed it with two forks directly in the base of your crockpot for easy cleanup.
- Go Low-Sodium: Use the low-sodium canned beans and salsa to control how salty this dish is. You can always add in more on your own.
- Add a Squeeze of Lime: At the end, right before serving, for brightness.
- Adjust Spice Level: If you like it spicy, use hot salsa. Or add a mild variety for less heat. Experiment with your favorite types.
- Freezer-Friendly Meal Prep Recipe: This is a great freezer-friendly recipe to help with meal prep. Cook, then cool, and portion into freezer safe zip top bags or airtight containers for an easy meal whenever you need it. Simply grab what you need, thaw in the fridge, and you’ve got lunch or dinner at the ready.
Substitutions and Variations
- Use Chicken Thighs: Breasts are great, but try chicken thighs for extra juiciness. You could even use a combination of both.
- Add Veggies: Add in diced bell peppers or onions for even more flavor and color.
- Make It Spicy: Add jalapeños or a chopped chipotle chili for some heat.
- Make It Low-Carb: Serve this over cauliflower rice for a filling and delicious low-carb meal.
What To Serve with Fiesta Chicken
I like to set up a taco bar or burrito bowl bar for my family when we have this chicken recipe. That way everyone can make their own meal to their liking and everyone’s plate is clean by the end of dinner!
- Rice or Cilantro Lime Rice
- Tortillas or Taco Shells
- Salad Greens: As the base for a taco bowl, or to top with.
- Toppings: Avocado, Greek yogurt, or Sour cream
- Tortilla chips: For scooping.
Storage
This is a great meal for leftovers. They can be repurposed into a completely different dish the next day! Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days, then reheat over medium heat on the stove or in the microwave until warm. Add a splash of water or broth to refresh, if needed.
You can freeze leftovers in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months, or you can even prep this whole recipe in advance and store in the freezer as a make-ahead meal. When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw in the fridge overnight, then reheat on the stove over medium heat, covered, with a splash of broth if needed.
Perfect Presentation Platters
Crockpot: I used my favorite 8-quart crockpot from Walmart, which is at a great price!
Chopping Boards: I use boards all the time, both for prep and serving. I especially love a marble and wood combo, like this option from World Market. Some of my other favorites are this white striped wooden board from Kirklands, this mango wood board from Target, and this marble and wood rectangular tray from JC Penney. I also used my go-to MacKenzie Childs checkered chopping board!
Serving Bowls: I used these MacKenzie-Childs serving bowls for this recipe. There is something for everyone, no matter your personal style! I love this black-and-white coordinating set or this colorful terracotta Spanish style. Walmart has these dreamy gray stoneware bowls with silver rims for a great price, or Target has these fun red-and-white striped bowls.
FAQs
Yes! It’s full of lean protein from the chicken, healthy ingredients like tomatoes and hearty beans, and can be served as a topping for salads, over rice or brown rice, or in fresh tortillas as tacos. It’s a filling and nutritious meal for anyone.
You can, but for food safety reasons, we recommend fully thawing the chicken the night before in the fridge, then adding to the slow cooker.
If you’d like it to be! You can control the type of salsa, ingredients, and spices used. If you use a spicy salsa, this dish will have more heat than if you use a mild salsa. If you add jalapeños or chipotles in adobo, you’ll definitely have a kicked up recipe. And if you add cayenne or extra chili powder, you’ll have an extra spiced fiesta chicken. It’s a personal preference.
Absolutely. This is the perfect meal prep recipe. Make it ahead of time, cool, then store in the fridge or freezer (depending on when you’re ready to eat it) in an airtight container until it’s time to serve. It’s a huge time saver!
More Easy Slow Cooker Recipes
- Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
- Slow Cooker Cheeseburger Soup
- Crockpot Italian Sausage and Peppers
- Slow Cooker Garlic Creamy Chicken Pasta
Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless/skinless chicken breasts
- 1 can 14 ounces fire-roasted diced tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1.5 teaspoon salt divided
- Optional for extra spice: 2-3 Chipotle Peppers in Adobe from one can. Finely chop one pepper for very mild spice, two peppers for more of a kick, and three peppers for extra spice.)
Instructions
- Lightly grease a 6-quart crockpot with cooking spray.
- Season both sides of the chicken with 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper.
- Heat olive oil in large skillet and add chicken. Cook each side 2-3 minutes or until lightly browned (they do not need to be cooked all the way through.) Transfer to crockpot.
- Sprinkle the chicken with the chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
- Pour in the can of fire roasted diced tomatoes (including the juices.) If using the chipotle peppers, place them on top.
- Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 1-2.5 hours (or until the chicken is cooked all the way through and no longer pink on the inside.)
- Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let it rest for 5 minutes. Shred and return to the crockpot, stirring in the juices so the flavors fully absorb. Cook for an additional 15 minutes.
- Serve with preferred sides and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Tortillas or taco shells
- 1 can beans (such as black beans or refried beans)
- Mexican rice or brown rice
- Canned Mexican corn
- Tortilla chips
- Avocado
- Salsa, guacamole, or sour cream
- Mexican cheese
- Cilantro
