The BEST Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken Recipe
With back-to-school season just around the corner, having an easy chicken dinner recipe in your back pocket that the whole family loves is such a relief! This slow cooker fiesta chicken is just that recipe. There’s tender shredded chicken mixed together with cream cheese, salsa, black beans, corn, green chiles, fiesta ranch seasoning mix, and an array of other spices. It’s got a great Mexican meets Tex-Mex vibe to it. The finished dish is great served as-is, over rice. Or, enjoy it as fiesta ranch chicken tacos. That’s how we love to enjoy this comfort food dinner the most! I mean tacos are always a good idea. To save on cleanup, this family-friendly slow cooker chicken meal is made in one pot which is actually a Crock-Pot in this case. As a bonus, there’s nothing to sear or start off first in a skillet. Everything for your slow cooker fiesta ranch chicken is made right in the slow cooker.
Ingredients Needed
There are lots of ingredients in slow cooker fiesta ranch chicken. However, all of them are easy to find and very common fridge and pantry staples including the following:
Ground cumin Smoked paprika – Smoked paprika gives such an awesome smoky flavor but regular paprika is fine Chili powder Onion powder – Try a bit of actual diced white onion rather than onion powder Garlic powder – Freshly minced garlic works instead of garlic powder Salt Olive oil Boneless skinless chicken breasts – Feel free to use boneless chicken thighs instead Reduced sodium chicken broth (or water) Cream cheese – Don’t use reduced-fat cream cheese or any type of “lite” cream cheese. It is made with more water, rather than fat, and your fiesta chicken mixture could be soupy if you use a lite cream cheese product rather than full-fat Dry fiesta ranch seasoning mix Salsa – I am partial to red salsa but a tried and true salsa verde is okay. If you want thicker and chunkier fiesta chicken, use a thicker and chunkier salsa – perhaps one with beans and corn in it, too Corn – Frozen or fresh corn are acceptable swaps for canned corn Canned black beans Canned diced green chiles Corn tortillas (or flour tortillas), if serving as tacos Queso fresco (or Mexican shredded cheese blend), optional for garnishing Mexican crema (or sour cream thinned with milk), optional for garnishing Cilantro, optional for garnishing Lime wedges, optional for garnishing
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Fiesta Chicken in a Slow Cooker
To make this crock pot fiesta chicken recipe, follow these basic, easy, straightforward steps:
More Mexican-Inspired Chicken Recipes:
Chicken Mole Enchiladas – Lightly fried corn tortillas are stuffed with chicken, rolled up, and smothered in rich mole sauce for the best chicken mole enchiladas! A classic, Mexican-inspired family favorite comfort food recipe made FAST and EASY! A shortcut mole recipe that doctors up store bought mole is provided if you don’t want to make homemade mole. Cilantro, limes, fresh pico de gallo, diced tomatoes, guacamole, or whatever you love to top your favorite Mexican recipes or tacos with is welcome of course, too! Freeze leftovers for up to 3 months, and thaw in the fridge overnight when you’re ready to eat. Reheat your fiesta chicken gently so as not to “break” the cream cheese, which can happen if you blast it on very high heat, breaking down the dairy proteins. For the best results, warm leftovers in a skillet over medium-low heat. Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Salsa Verde Chicken Enchiladas — EASY juicy enchiladas with so much flavor from the salsa verde and TONS of melted CHEESE!! Ready in 30 minutes, are made with just a handful of ingredients, and will be an instant family favorite!! Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Zucchini Boats — Skip enchilada wraps and use zucchini instead!! Easy, healthier and there’s so much FLAVOR between juicy chicken drenched in enchilada sauce, corn, peppers, and CHEESE!! Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos – All the flavor of the chicken taquitos in your favorite Mexican restaurant, but healthier because these are air fried! Crispy and crunchy on the outside with a perfectly spicy chicken, cheese, and cream cheese filling mixture that just melts in your mouth! EASY, ready in 20 minutes, and the whole family will want seconds! Oven baking instructions are also provided. Chicken Enchilada Bake — In this chicken enchilada bake, instead of rolling tortillas, you cut them up and layer them in a baking pan with chicken, tomatoes, cheese, and more! Creamy Chipotle Chicken — When you’re in the mood for rich layers of flavor from chipotle sauce and roasted garlic-infused olive oil, this EASY skillet chicken recipe is PERFECT! There’s lots of creamy chipotle sauce that’s just begging to be sopped up in this family favorite Mexican-inspired recipe!
