Salsa Verde Chicken Tacos in the Crockpot
I know crockpot meals are supposed to be easy. They are supposed to be the workin’ girls way to an easy meal on the table. And when I worked outside of my house, they were…but these days they are quite a pain in the ass.
First, I have to get my life together before 9 am to get dinner into the crockpot. That doesn’t work for me. I am not a morning person…never have been, never will be. I like to sleep in and stay up late, which makes getting dinner cooking before 9am really hard. Sure I may be up before 9am…but that doesn’t mean I am being productive. Usually I am sipping something with caffeine, reading some of my favorite blogs and playing on pinterest until 10am. While most of you probably want to stab me or sabotage my diet with cookies right about now…I am up working till around 11pm, so it all evens out.
Second, staying home with that smell?! You know the smell I am talking about…that one that hits you as soon as you walk in the door. Well, guess what! That smell doesn’t just magically show up just in time for you to come home. No, that smell has been there all.freakin.day. Which means if I make a crockpot meal, I have to fight off that delicious smell the entire day. And do you know what that delicious smell leads to? Snacking. Grazing. Stuffing my face with chips. It’s not pretty people…not pretty at all.
So why do we have a crockpot recipe today? Because I have gotten a bunch of emails lately asking for crockpot recipes that don’t have tons of cream of crap in them. So to make you guys happy, I braved the dreaded magic crockpot’s cooking smells. I barely survived…and somehow an entire bag of Salt & Vinegar chips disappeared. It’s a total mystery where they went.
These Salsa Verde Chicken Tacos are awesome for many reasons. The biggest reason being they are delicious. The second biggest reason, they are easy. You can buy store bought salsa verde (or you can make your own if you have the time), leaving you with only about 5 minutes of work. You mix a few things together, toss in the chicken, turn on the crockpot and leave for 4 or 8 hours. Come home, shred the chicken, chop up some taco toppings…and eat. Ya, it’s really that easy.
Salsa Verde Chicken Tacos in the Crockpot
Recipe Note: The Salsa Verde is the most important part of this recipe. You want to get one that has a lot of flavor and a little heat too it. If I am buying it, I always look for one that still has seeds in it. But if you have time, make your own. I love the Salsa Verde from this recipe…it is so easy and flavorful!
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds chicken breasts
- 3 cups medium salsa verde, divided
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 8-10 flour (or corn for gluten free) tortillas
- 1 small red onion, sliced
- 1/2 cup crumbled cotija cheese
- lime, for squeezing on top
Directions:
Whisk together 1 cup salsa verde, chicken broth and garlic salt in crockpot. Add chicken breasts and cook for 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low.
Remove chicken from crockpot and discard remaining liquid. Shred chicken with two forks and place in a medium bowl. Add remaining 2 cups salsa verde and chopped cilantro to chicken. Mix to combine.
Fill tortillas with a scoop of chicken, a few slices of red onion, a healthy scoop of crumbled cotija cheese and a squeeze of lime! Serve with rice, black beans, and pan fried plantains.
TNCB
Thanks for pulling your crockpot out and making this – love how simple and beautiful these tacos are. As for Pinterest, it is so addicting that I need to start scheduling time slots so I get off my computer!
I want these immediately even tho I already ate a (crappy) dinner. Darn it.
Oh my God, I love crock pot meals and salsa verde SO MUCH. Salsa verde is kind of a food group for me. THANK. YOU.
Bring on the easy dinners. Love this, Jessica. I feel you on the crockpot thing! Great in theory but sometimes doesn’t play out all too well when Pinterest (obviously!) takes priority.
I am so much like you, in so many ways! I can totally relate to everything your saying in this post :). I haven’t touched my crock pot in years. I think I need to whip it out and make these tacos!
I work from home and that smell drives me nuts so it’s basically the reason I use my crock pot like 2x a year. This might be the only time I’ve wished I didn’t work from home!
PS- what IS that rack? Please don’t tell me they actually make a taco stand?!
It’s a taco rack/stand! I love to use it when we have tacos! 🙂
I have this one: http://amzn.to/wLzeCg
But I think I want this one too: http://amzn.to/zdQkd6
Salsa verde is my BFF. I made puff pastry with it last week, I make tofu with it, I need to try it in the crockpot. GREAT idea!
I feel the same about crockpots/slow cookers. The idea of preparing all my ingredients before work is just not appealing (not to mention my irrational fear that it might explode while I’m out. But then again these look so good that I’m torn. See what you’ve done to me!
I am a huge crockpot fan and although I am a morning person, I definitely have my moments where getting the food ready early enough in the day can be semi-disasterous.
I’ve done something similar to this and it’s so good and easy! Your tacos are so darned pretty though – mine were nowhere close!!
As a gal who was home with crockpot chili all day yesterday I must say my sniffer must be off. I get used to the smell and the Mr walks in and says “it smells heavenly in here!” and I said “it does!?” But yeah, these? These I might dive into the pot for before he even walked through the door!
You need to have your nose checked girlfriend! LOL
Haha – I totally hear ya!! I usually only get out my crockpot when I’m going to be gone all day and don’t have time to worry about dinner. These sound so perfect for one of those days!!
I’m totally in love with your taco holder.
I got so excited that I didn’t even read the recipe, I just like the pictures.
Now, I guess I should read the post, huh?
I love to use it when we have tacos! 🙂
I have this one: http://amzn.to/wLzeCg
But I think I want this one too: http://amzn.to/zdQkd6
These look delicious! I’m on a huge cilantro kick lately.
These sound seriously perfect. I hate being tortured with crock meal smells BUT I love using it because I can’t be bothered to stand at the stove for a solid 30+ min dealing with whatever while kids are running amock lol. Someday though things will change. Love your stand btw.
Oh my god, I know exactly what smell you’re talking about. Pulled pork is thee worst. But the best at the same time. 🙂
i hate getting up early, and can’t handle touching raw meat before i’ve had my breakfast (gag), so i usually get my slowcooker fired up before i go to bed so it can cook overnight while i sleep. i’m sure my neighbours wonder why i’m searing pork at midnight, but there you have it!
see I rarely use the crockpot because i love the actual act of cooking. Plus crockpot food can be so photogenic. I mean, these are gorgeous. But you know what I mean.
i always get my crockpot meals ready the night before then just throw it in the fridge and pop it on the slow cooker in the morning, because like you I’m NOT a morning person!
btw what are you using to hold the tacos?? your pictures are always so damn pretty!
I used to do that too! Until I did that and my crockpot cracked from going from cold to hot 🙁
It’s a taco rack/stand! I love to use it when we have tacos! 🙂
I have this one: http://amzn.to/wLzeCg
But I think I want this one too: http://amzn.to/zdQkd6
Absolutely love these, so easy! Thanks for the inspiration (as always). – Joanne
I am in love with crock pot meals! They are totally underrated.
Love this! I’m putting them on my list to try! Miss you terribly!
These just made my heart stop. I’m freaking out.
Tacos are totally my weakness and these look to die for!
I need a crock-pot for this very reason … YUM!!
I miss “seeing” you around on What’s Cooking! You need to come around again, it’s boring without you 🙂
Haha yes! The smell is difficult when you’re home and just want to eat the delicious food cooking in there! I feel you on that one. I made beer and bbq chicken on a Sunday and almost died waiting for it to finish.
I made this yesterday, and you’re right, the smell was totally bringing me back into the kitchen over and over and over again. My husband went nuts over these last night and wanted more, so I’m making them for lunch today. I love your blog and will continue to check back for more.
The smell is killer!! haha!
I am so glad you and your husband loved them enough to make them twice! 😀
You can also do something similar with a small pork roast as well! It makes delightfully amazing shredded pork for tacos, sandwiches, etc. A pork roast will still be a very good, flavorful, lean meat, and you can make a lot for cheap, which is great if you’re feeding a crowd!
I made these last night and they were fabulous! I couldn’t find cotija cheese, but I put avocado and cilantro on the tacos with a little sour cream and it was amazing. This recipe will definitely go in my rotation, especially since it’s so easy!
So glad you liked them!! 🙂
Which brand of Salsa Verde do you recommend?
Any kind! I like to buy one that has “medium” heat! 🙂
Putting these on the menu this week!