Name: Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 6 h
Total time: 6 h 10 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast or tenderloins; 2 cups of your favorite jar salsa or homemade salsa

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This simple slow cooker salsa chicken is the perfect weeknight ‘dump’ meal. You only need two ingredients to make this excellent crockpot salsa chicken. It’s one of the easiest slow cooker recipes for chicken out there!

Salsa chicken is such a great weeknight meal. The Crockpot will do all the hard work and the flavor is great. You can use any level of spiciness you like so you can also customize the recipe to include a little extra heat if you like that!

Additionally, you can serve this over salads, rice, with noodles, on buns for sandwiches or with frozen or fresh veggies for a quick and easy meal.

slow cooker salsa chicken pin showing the finished chicken ready to eat.

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What is a dump meal?

I consider dump meals anything that I can literally dump into my Crockpot or Instant Pot and walk away from. Then when I come back, it’s ready to eat. Recipes like this Crockpot salsa chicken and my favorite easy chicken bbq are examples!

I think “dump” meals became a thing around the same time that people started making “dump” cakes which are a similar situation…no mixing, just pouring and popping it into the oven! If you need a dessert option that’s equally easy try out this chocolate peanut butter dump cake!

a look at the finished salsa chicken ready to eat.

What do I need to make this 2 ingredient chicken recipe?

The two ingredients you will need are salsa and chicken. I know, shocking. You can use breasts or tenderloins, you could even use boneless skinless thighs if you wanted. I like to use boneless skinless breasts or tenderloins for this one.

top down look at the finished crockpot salsa chicken served over rice.

Along with your choice of chicken you’ll need some salsa. You can use any kind of salsa you like. If you make homemade salsa, if you prefer organic or sweet or even really spicy salsa you can use that. Use whatever kind of salsa you like!

The fresh salsa in the refrigerated section at the grocery store is really tasty in this recipe. I like it because it’s a little more firm and it holds up better to the cooking times for the chicken.

finished slow cooker salsa chicken in a bowl with rice.

What to serve with Crockpot salsa chicken:

You’ll see we served this up with some rice. You can do the same or you can serve this slow cooker salsa chicken over noodles, on salads, in wraps, or on sandwiches.

If you have picky eaters who don’t like things to touch you can always serve this up as a main protein and just pair it with some veggies on the side with some crackers, etc.

close up of the finished salsa chicken ready to eat.

I love to pair this one with rice and steamed veggies because they’re easy to make (hello frozen veggies, you are my best friend) and you can make the rice ahead of time and just reheat it!

Another awesome idea is to shred this chicken when you are doing cooking it and use it to fill burritos or enchiladas. It comes out so moist, tender, and flavorful you’ll want to eat it in a million different recipes. Whenever we have leftover chicken, my kids will use it for tacos and quesadillas at lunchtime.

While the chicken is cooking, you have time to make a delicious side like Roasted Chili Corn Salsa (Chipotle).

A look at the finished slow cooker chicken.

How to make slow cooker salsa chicken:

This simple salsa chicken is limited ingredients and also super easy to make. I think if you have a super complicated slow cooker recipe you are kind of defeating the purpose, right? So here we go!

ingredients needed to make slow cooker salsa chicken.

First you will need to spoon 3 tablespoons of salsa in the bottom of the slow cooker.

step one salsa in the bottom of the crockpot.

Next up we will place the chicken on top of salsa, easy enough.

Now, cover the chicken with remaining salsa and replace the lid on the slow cooker.

salsa covering the chicken in step three.

Turn on the Crockpot and cook on low for 5-6 hours, make sure the chicken reaches 165F internal before serving.

Shred chicken or leave in pieces depending on how you want to serve it.

another look at the finished slow cooker salsa chicken.

Looking for more delicious recipes to try?

There’s never a shortage of busy days in our home. I’m always looking for the best ways to cut down my time spent in the kitchen. These easy recipes will have you smiling and spending more time doing things you love. Check out these other simple, delicious, wholesome meals that the whole family will love.

pin showing the finished crockpot salsa chicken ready to eat.

Printable Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken Recipe:

Yield: 4 Servings

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

This simple slow cooker salsa chicken is the perfect weeknight 'dump' meal. You only need two ingredients!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 6 hours

Total Time 6 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients

2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast or tenderloins
2 cups of your favorite jar salsa or homemade salsa

Instructions

Spoon 3 tablespoons of salsa in the bottom of the slow cooker.
Place the chicken on top of salsa.
Cover chicken with remaining salsa.
Cook on low for 5-6 hours.
Shred chicken or leave in pieces.
Serve over rice, in burritos or enchiladas, on nachos, etc.

Notes

You can use frozen chicken breasts or tenderloins for this recipe. Just be sure to check the internal temperature of the chicken at the 6-hour mark. It should be 165 degrees.