How do you make chicken not chewy in a crock pot?

2) Use the right Crockpot size Aside from accidentally overcooking the meals, the most common reason we see for tough, rubbery, or overdone chicken is customers using a Crockpot that is far too big. Each of our meals comes with a recommended slow cooker size.

Can I put frozen chicken in the crockpot?

Information. It is best to thaw meat or poultry before putting it into a slow cooker . Frozen pieces will take longer to reach a safe internal temperature and could possibly result in foodborne illness. Frozen or partially frozen foods can also cool everything else in the slow cooker.

Does chicken get more tender the longer you slow cook it?

That is why tough meats become “fork tender” in the slow cooker . Chicken breasts have very little connective tissue; that means they can be cooked quickly because the long cooking time needed to soften connective tissue isn't necessary. They also have little fat, which means they can become dry if cooked too long.

How long does it take for chicken breast to get tender in crockpot?

Cover your crock pot and cook chicken breasts on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours . Chicken is done when the internal temp reaches 165 degrees F. Use chicken in your favorite recipes. Perfect for shredding!

Why do they call it crack chicken?

Lansing, Michigan is home for the Crack Chicken. A great seasoning for all your favorite foods. Started in 2003, customers tried our famous chicken and came back for more. Their addiction to this delicious taste made them call it Crack Chicken, and that's how the name started, and cracked the food industry world.

When should you not use frozen chicken?

Once stored, how long does chicken last in the freezer? Individual pieces of raw chicken stay good in the freezer for 9 months , and whole chickens are good for up to a year when frozen. Your browser does not support the video element. If you're freezing cooked chicken, you can expect that to last for 2–6 months.

How much longer does frozen chicken take in the crockpot?

In general, cooking frozen chicken in a crockpot takes about 6 to 8 hours on low or 3 to 4 hours on high temperature .

Why does my meat go chewy in slow cooker?

Meat that is over-cooked, even if it's submerged in liquid, will eventually dry-out, and get tough, and different cuts of meat cook differently. There are a few reasons for that. Not having enough liquid in the pot can do it . A poor cut of meat can result in toughness as well.

Why is meat chewy in slow cooker?

It's chewy as most of its juices have drained and the collagen has started to shrink . But, the slow-and-low method is what helps to get the meat over this stage and to the perfect texture. So, the best stage of the process occurs at 160°F. That's the point where the collagen starts to melt and turns into gelatin.

How do I make sure my chicken doesn't get rubbery?

Remove the chicken from the heat at 150 to 155 F ; it will maintain its temperature long enough to kill any harmful bacteria but will also ensure you don't have rubbery chicken breasts.

Crock Pot Salsa Chicken (2 Ingredients)

Published: Sep 3, 2023 by Jenna · This post may contain affiliate links · 14 Comments

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

This Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken is made with only 2 ingredients. So versatile you can use this chicken to create so many flavorful meals! An easy zero point meal for WW.

Crock Pot Salsa Chicken (2 Ingredients) - Recipe Diaries (1)

I'm quite embarrassed with my old blogger self back in the days. I took crappy photos and wrote about dumb things that didn't even relate to the blog post topic. You live and you learn from your past mistakes, I guess! This post has been recently updated with new pictures and content.

For more easy slow cooker recipes be sure to check out Slow Cooker Homemade Applesauce (No Sugar), Slow Cooker Hawaiian Pulled Pork, and Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup!

Jump to:

Why You Will Like This Recipe
Ingredients Needed
How to make Crock Pot Salsa Chicken
What can I make with this Salsa Chicken?
What Slow Cookers or Crockpots are the Best?
Recipe FAQS
Crock Pot Salsa Chicken

Why You Will Like This Recipe

Crock Pot Salsa Chicken is pretty simple. Take some chicken breasts and place them in your crockpot and add your favorite jarred salsa on top of the chicken.

Some people add in a packet of Taco Seasoning to the mix but it is good without the taco seasoning. Salsa is already so flavorful already.

Cook the chicken for 5 to 6 hours on low. Then shred the chicken. The chicken is so tender and juicy that it is so easy to shred.

Ingredients Needed

Crock Pot Salsa Chicken (2 Ingredients) - Recipe Diaries (2)

Fat free salsa - Store bought salsa is convenient to have at home. My favorite salsa to get is the Simply Nature kind from Aldi or the The Mango and Peach salsa from Market Pantry.
Frozen chicken breasts - They’re lean and quick-cooking and always come out juicy and tender. Use an instant-read thermometer to make sure that the chicken is not overcooked. When reading labels for chicken breasts try to find ones that say Organic or Free Range.
Taco Seasoning - The salsa does a pretty good job at flavoring the chicken but you can always add a packet of taco seasoning to it if you like.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

How to make Crock Pot Salsa Chicken

Step 1: Place all 3 ingredients in a slower cooker on low for 5 to 6 hours. My slow cooker, cooks pretty fast on low. For high setting do 4 hours.

Crock Pot Salsa Chicken (2 Ingredients) - Recipe Diaries (3)

When the chicken is done cooking shred it with a fork.

Instant Pot Instructions: Place all 3 ingredients into the bottom of your Instant Pot. Close the Lid and set the valve to sealing mode. Set the timer for 12 minutes using the pressure setting. When the cooking is done do a quick release. Shred the chicken with two forks.

What can I make with this Salsa Chicken?

You're probably wondering what you can do with the salsa chicken once it is finished and there are many things to serve this with. I like to make nachos with mine or a taco salad. This is very WW point friendly since salsa is zero points and so is chicken. Make a burrito bowl, nachos, a salad, or I've even seen people mix some plain Greek yogurt into the chicken and top it off with some corn and black beans. ALL of that is ZERO!

Tacos

Chicken Burrito Bowls

Chicken Taco Salads

What Slow Cookers or Crockpots are the Best?

When choosing a slow cooker think of the size of your family first. Do you have a large family of 6 or more? You probably want a larger crockpot that is 7 qt or more. For smaller families that are 4 or less choose a 4 qt slow cooker and just adjust the recipe ingredients in half. No need to change the cooking times.

Elite Gourmet - Electric oval slow cooker has adjustable temps and can make anything from entrees, sauces, stews & dips. Plus it’s dishwasher safe. This one also comes in a 4 quart size!

Crock-Pot 7-Quart Oval - Manual Slow Cooker | Stainless Steel (SCV700-S-BR) Spatious 7 quart manual slow cooker that servers up to 9 people. Fits a 7 pound roast. Keeps food at an ideal serving temperature for as long as you need to so you can make dishes ahead of time!

Crock Pot Salsa Chicken (2 Ingredients) - Recipe Diaries (4)

Recipe FAQS

Can you freeze Salsa Chicken?

This recipe makes a lot of chicken and you might not be able to finish it all in one meal. Let the chicken completely cool before storing in freezer containers or freezer storage bags. If you live alone, you can store them in sandwich bags for single-serving portions and just take the chicken out whenever you need it for something.

How do I store leftovers?

Always store leftovers in clean, food-grade containers. The type of container doesn’t really matter. Use zip lock, glass, plastic, whatever! Make sure to store any leftovers in an airtight container.

If you tried this Crock Pot Salsa Chicken any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you! Follow along on Tiktok @jennarecipediaries