Slow Cooker Hatch Chili Salsa Chicken
I love how easy and flavorful this slow cooker Hatch Chili Salsa Chicken is! The chicken cooks low and slow with onions, garlic, and Hatch chile salsa until it’s tender enough to shred right into the sauce. It’s smoky, a little spicy, and perfect for tacos, rice bowls, burritos, or an easy dinner straight from the slow cooker.
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 181kcal
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds chicken breasts or thighs skinless, boneless
- 12 ounce Hatch chile salsa jar
- 2 cups onion sliced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper ground
- 1 teaspoon cumin ground
- ¼ teaspoon smoked hot paprika or chipotle powder
Instructions
- Spread the sliced onions, garlic, and Hatch chile salsa in the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Season the chicken with salt, black pepper, cumin, and smoked paprika or chipotle powder.
- Place the seasoned chicken on top of the onion and salsa mixture.
- Cover and cook on high for 3 to 4 hours until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
- Shred the chicken with two forks directly in the slow cooker and stir it into the sauce before serving.
Video
Notes
Chef Jenn’s Recipe Notes
- I’ve tested this with both chicken breast and chicken thighs. I love the chicken breasts because they’re shreddable, but there’s more flavor in the thighs. So it’s up to what you prefer.
- If your salsa is on the thinner side, the sauce can get loose, so I either use a thicker brand or let it cook uncovered for the last 20 to 30 minutes.
- Don’t rush the shredding step. If the chicken doesn’t fall apart easily, it needs more time.
- Sliced onions are key here. Diced onions disappear too much and you lose that soft, slightly sweet texture in the finished dish.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cup chicken & sauce | Calories: 181kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 931mg | Potassium: 628mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 419IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg