Mar
20

Slow-cooked Mexican Chicken

By Heather · Print This Post Print This Post

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This is a standard dish in our house because it is so easy and yummy. My kids even like it! The chicken is cooked slowly in the Crock-Pot, so it falls apart easily with a fork. You can use chicken breasts if you prefer white meat. Or, if you’re interested in saving a little money, you can use chicken thighs. I use boneless chicken so I don’t have to remove the bones later. Use the cooked chicken for a variety of Mexican dishes: tacos, enchiladas, burritos, rice bowls, nachos, etc. We typically have tacos the first night, and then use the leftover chicken for rice bowls or enchiladas later in the week.

Slow-cooked Mexican Chicken

Ingredients:

1.5 – 2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or boneless chicken thighs)
1 (1.5 oz.) pkg taco seasoning mix (Make sure it’s gluten-free. We use McCormick brand – mild for my kids.)
1 Cup chicken broth or water (Make sure it’s gluten-free. We use Pacific brand.)
1 Cup salsa or picante sauce

Directions:

  1. Place chicken in a slow-cooker and sprinkle taco seasoning mix on top of chicken. Then, pour on chicken broth and picante sauce. No need to stir.
  2. Cover, and cook on low for 8 hours.
  3. After 8 hours, the chicken is so tender it usually falls apart with a fork. So, use forks to shred, or pull apart, the chicken. Stir it around and let it stay warm in the slow-cooker while you prepare the rest of dinner.

Additional notes:

  • In the picture above, we’ve made tacos with cooked corn tortillas, and filled it with the chicken, lettuce, shredded cheese, sliced black olives and diced avocado. Yum!
  • You can also use the meat for enchiladas, taquitos, salads, and more.

I’m linking this recipe to “What Can I Eat That’s Gluten-Free?” at The Gluten-Free Homemaker. There you will find even more gluten-free meal ideas.

27 Comments

1

Wow! This sounds great – I can’t wait to try it. I’ve never been to your site before. I found a comment you made on Cafe Mom with this address. You’ve got a lot of good information here. I can’t wait to check in again soon.

2

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you enjoy the chicken. I’ll be posting some yummy Easter-type recipes soon.

3

[...] – Mexican Chicken Salad Slow-Cooked Mexican Chicken on tossed salad with tortilla chips, lettuce, spinach, cilantro, tomatoes, shredded cheddar, and [...]

4

[...] -Chicken Taquitos I’ll be rolling up some slow-cooked Mexican chicken in corn tortillas to make taquitos. I’ll have my husband make his favorite magic cheese dip [...]

5

[...] olive oil 1  1/2 Cups corn oil 12, 6-inch corn tortillas 4 cups chicken, cooked and shredded (Try Slow-Cooked Mexican Chicken.) 12 oz. shredded cheese (about 3 Cups) Cheddar, Monterey Jack, or [...]

6

[...] chopped Avocado, chopped (1/2 avocado per person) Corn and Black Bean Salad (1/4 cup per person) Slow-Cooked Mexican Chicken, shredded (1/2 cup per person) Cheddar cheese, shredded (4 oz. per person) Black olives, sliced [...]

7

[...] nachos last week, I still have some leftover seasoned ground beef. I’ll be adding it to some slow-cooked Mexican chicken and cheese to make enchiladas. I hope I have time to try a new green [...]

8

[...] – Chicken Tacos Slow-cooked Mexican chicken, served with corn tortillas and taco shells, lettuce, shredded cheese, black olives, avocado, [...]

9

We’re trying this tonight! My husband keeps complaining that I’m starving him with the delicious smell coming from the crockpot all day. I didn’t have any taco seasoning on hand so I just made up some of my own. I’m so glad I found your site!

10

Hi there! Just wanted to let you know I referenced your post on my blog.

Thanks for all your great posts!

Emily

12

[...] – Slow-Cooked Mexican Chicken Tacos Using slow-cooked chicken with Mexican spices to put in corn tortillas or crunchy taco [...]

13

[...] gallo. Consider adding it to tacos, salads, or fajitas. Or, as I did here, on top of Cilantro Rice, slow-cooked Mexican Chicken, and shredded [...]

14

[...] – Chicken Tacos We’ll be having tacos with slow-cooked Mexican chicken. I think it’s time to use up some of the peppers I have, too. So, I’m going to add them [...]

15

[...] – Rice Bowls Using up leftover slow-cooked Mexican chicken to top cilantro rice. We’ll add black beans, green chiles, corn, shredded cheese, avocado [...]

16

This sounds delicious and easy. I’m definitely going to try it. My problem is that my crock pot runs too hot and meat dries out quickly. I’m going to have to get a new one soon. I’d love for you to add this to “What can I eat that’s gluten free?” one week.

17

Linda – I have a similar problem with my crock pot. You could probably cook yours in 4-6 hours. I have put the chicken in as late as lunchtime, and still had it ready in time for dinner. That’s also why I add the chicken broth. It keeps it nice and moist. After I’ve shredded the chicken, I always put it back into the crock pot and stir it around in the liquid. I’m surprised I haven’t linked it to “What Can I Eat That’s Gluten Free?” I guess I posted it before I found you. :)

18

[...] – Taquitos Mexican chicken rolled in corn tortillas. Serving with leftover Avocado Salsa and Cilantro [...]

19

I am so making this next week! I have been looking for easy things to make the week after Thanksgiving since I will be hosting it this year. This is perfect! Trying to decide if I will use it for tacos or chicken enchiladas….

20

This looks so yummy! This would be great to have as an alternative to ground beef for tacos and enchiladas. I think I’ll try making some and then freezing the extras for quick meals.

Tell me more about rice bowls. You have many yummy recipes here, I’m definitely bookmarking your site as a favorite!

21

Thanks for stopping by, Julie. Rice bowls are all your favorite taco ingredients, minus the taco shell, on top of rice. For great flavor, you can put the chicken on top of Cilantro Rice. Then, add beans, shredded cheese, avocado, black olives…whatever tastes good to you.

22

[...] – Slow cooker shredded chicken [...]

23

[...] – Rice Bowls I’ll be using slow-cooked Mexican chicken to top Cilantro Rice, black beans, and green chiles. I’ll garnish with shredded cheese and [...]

24

[...] – Shredded chicken tacos, beans and [...]

25

[...] – Chicken Enchiladas I still have some leftover Mexican chicken, so I’m making chicken enchiladas and serving with [...]

26

[...] – Chicken Enchilada Soup I use leftover Mexican chicken, added to a green chile and tomatillo sauce to make this soup. I’ll post the recipe for it [...]

27

[...] I like it as a soup? My husband liked it too. And now I have a new way to use up my leftover Mexican chicken. In the past I’ve used the chicken for rice bowls, salad, taquitos, quesadillas, and tacos. [...]

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