Description
Slow cooker fiesta chicken brings zesty Mexican-inspired flavors to dinner tables with minimal effort. Tender chicken infused with spicy seasonings and colorful vegetables promises a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 8 ounces (226 grams) block of plain cream cheese
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 1 10 ounces (283 grams) can Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies (do not drain)
- 1 15 ounces (425 grams) can whole kernel corn (drained)
- 1 15 ounces (425 grams) can black beans (drained and rinsed)
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 dry ranch dressing packet
Liquids and Citrus:
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 2 fresh squeezed limes
Instructions
- Layer chicken breasts at the bottom of the slow cooker, creating an even base for the remaining ingredients.
- Sprinkle black beans, corn, and Rotel tomatoes evenly over the chicken, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
- Generously dust the mixture with onion powder, ranch seasoning, and black pepper to infuse robust flavor profiles.
- Drizzle fresh lime juice across the entire surface, adding a bright, citrusy undertone to the dish.
- Carefully pour chicken broth around the ingredients, maintaining the structural integrity of the layered components.
- Gently place the cream cheese block atop the mixture, allowing it to slowly melt and integrate during cooking.
- Secure the slow cooker lid and set to high temperature for approximately 3-4 hours, or low temperature for 5-6 hours.
- Verify chicken’s doneness by confirming internal temperature reaches 165 degrees using a meat thermometer.
- Extract chicken pieces and use two forks to meticulously shred the meat into tender, bite-sized fragments.
- Return shredded chicken to the slow cooker and thoroughly blend with accumulated liquids and cream cheese.
- Stir continuously until cream cheese completely coats and binds all ingredients into a harmonious, creamy mixture.
- Serve immediately while the dish remains hot, presenting a vibrant and comforting meal.
Notes
- Effortless one-pot meal that transforms simple ingredients into a zesty, creamy chicken fiesta with minimal preparation.
- Versatile dish perfect for busy weeknights, meal prep, or feeding a hungry crowd with minimal kitchen time.
- Cream cheese creates a luxurious, rich sauce that instantly elevates the standard slow cooker chicken recipe.
- Protein-packed and loaded with Southwest-inspired flavors from ranch seasoning, Rotel tomatoes, and fresh lime juice.
- Cooking on LOW ensures tender, juicy chicken that easily shreds and absorbs all the delicious surrounding ingredients.
- Easily customizable by adding extra toppings like fresh cilantro, shredded cheese, or serving over rice or tortillas.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 332
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 860 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 79 mg