Description
This Crockpot Enchilada Chicken is a slow-cooked, set-it-and-forget-it dinner that’s big on flavor and minimal on effort. Tender shredded chicken simmers all day in a zesty blend of enchilada sauce, salsa, beans, and corn, then gets finished with a melty blanket of cheese. Tuck it into warm tortillas and garnish with fresh cilantro for a cozy, crowd-pleasing meal any night of the week.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) corn, drained
- 1 can (10 oz) red enchilada sauce
- 1 cup salsa (mild, medium, or hot to taste)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or Mexican blend)
- Fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish
- Warm tortillas (flour or corn), for serving
Instructions
- Place the chicken breasts in a single layer at the bottom of the crockpot.
- In a medium bowl, combine the black beans, corn, enchilada sauce, salsa, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Stir until everything is evenly mixed.
- Pour the bean and corn mixture over the chicken in the crockpot, making sure the chicken is fully covered with sauce.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6–8 hours or on HIGH for 3–4 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and very tender.
- Using two forks, shred the chicken directly in the crockpot or transfer it to a plate to shred, then return it to the sauce. Stir to combine well.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over the top. Cover and let sit on LOW or “warm” for 10–15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and gooey.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper, if needed.
- Serve the enchilada chicken spooned into warm tortillas and garnish with fresh cilantro. Add any favorite toppings, if desired.
Notes
- Use your preferred heat level of salsa and enchilada sauce to customize the spice.
- For a creamier texture, stir in a few tablespoons of cream cheese or sour cream after shredding the chicken.
- If the mixture seems too saucy, remove the lid for the last 20–30 minutes on HIGH to thicken slightly.
- Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and freeze nicely for quick future meals.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6–8 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Mexican-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g (approx.)
- Sodium: 780 mg (approx., varies by brand)
- Fat: 10 g (approx.)
- Saturated Fat: 4 g (approx.)
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g (approx.)
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g (approx.)
- Fiber: 7 g (approx.)
- Protein: 30 g (approx.)
- Cholesterol: 90 mg (approx.)
Keywords: crockpot enchilada chicken, slow cooker enchilada chicken, shredded enchilada chicken, crockpot chicken tacos, easy weeknight dinner