Salsa Chicken and Rice Recipe | Crock Pot Salsa Chicken

You simply can’t go wrong with chicken recipes for dinner. The most commonly used cut is boneless skinless chicken breasts because it’s easy to to season chicken, easy to get tender chicken, and crosses cultures and tastes like none other. One way to cook chicken tonight is with a salsa chicken and rice recipe.

Add some spice to dinner with your new favorite salsa chicken recipe; whether you want to use mild salsa or go a little bit crazy with the heat, it’s a complete meal.

Mexican food or cuisine has plenty of chicken recipes. We can enjoy tinga de Pollo, pollo asado, mole, chilaquiles, and of course, the usuals like chicken tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and ensaladas.

All of these recipes use simple ingredients that combine chicken broth, lime juice, bell peppers, chili powder, fresh cilantro, cheese, and sour cream, and none of them are very difficult.

The problem is that there are plenty of steps in these recipes. These are not complicated steps, but a longer cooking process usually means more time in the kitchen.

We all love grilling meat, adding taco seasoning, and calling it a day. But we can get even better flavor from another everyday Mexican recipe that is easy to make, has few steps, and utilizes a crockpot: arroz con Pollo!

A slow cooker allows us to cook food without having to be in the kitchen at all. We don’t have to heat a large skillet for most crockpot recipes, and this one is included.

We only need the crockpot, some chicken, our favorite jar of salsa, and about 20 minutes to make rice. Arroz con pollo is nothing more than chicken and rice, a dish we are all familiar with.

The difference is the salsa in this recipe, which gives it a Mexican kick. We can also make a different variation of this recipe by changing up the rice. Of course, the goal is to make an easy meal the whole family will enjoy on busy weeknights.

You will want to keep this one of those easy recipes in your back pocket. It isn’t a quick dinner, but you can start it in the morning and go to work. All you need to do when you get home is serve yourself.

Does it get quicker than that? You can even use this recipe as meal prep. It truly is a simple meal that goes a long way with so much flavor.

Salsa Chicken and Rice Recipe | Crock Pot Salsa Chicken

This recipe is not authentic arroz con pollo. An authentic recipe will require much more effort and a longer ingredient list. However, we want something easier to make, a delicious meal with an easy clean up.

That is when we turn to a salsa chicken recipe. Salsa chicken is nothing more than seasoned chicken and a jar of salsa. But the flavors are there. The salsa is going to be the biggest flavor producer in the dish.

It is important to make sure you pick a salsa you love. You can go with any salsa; medium salsa or hot salsa will work. But the rice is where we can make some real enhancements.

This recipe is meant to be easy, meaning the fluffy rice is simply white rice. But we can use Mexican rice instead. Mexican rice will take a little more to make, but the flavor enhancement is worth it.

We can also make the dish a little healthier by using cauliflower rice. One of the beautiful things about Mexican food is that it is so customizable. Want to make cheesy chicken? Add cheese.

Want more fiber in your diet? Add some black beans. Top everything off with green onions and avocado, and you have a fantastic meal.

​How to Make Salsa Chicken and Rice

The first thing you will need is the chicken. This recipe calls for 1.5-2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breast. You will be shredding this chicken a bit in the end, so it is important that there is no skin or bones.

Cilantro will help freshen things up, and salt and pepper to taste. Don’t forget to grab your favorite jar of salsa. That’s it, it is that simple. This recipe doesn’t even need side dishes; the rice takes care of that. However, you can top your chicken with anything you’d like.

You can even serve it up with some tortilla chips for crunch. This recipe will become one of your new favorite things to eat, especially on lazy days when you want a tasty meal but don’t want to work in the kitchen.

You get flavorful, lean protein, fluffy rice, and a sauce you literally want to dip some chips into; it really doesn’t get better.

Recipe Directions

Spray your 4 qt or larger crockpot to prevent the rice from sticking. 

Rinse and drain 3 cups of rice.

Add rinsed rice to crockpot.

Place boneless, skinless chicken breast on top of the rice. 

Add 3 cups of water or chicken broth.

Salt and Pepper to taste.

Cover & cook on high for 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours. The chicken temperature needs to be 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Check at 2 hours, if possible, to ensure the rice isn’t dry. You can always add more liquid. 

Once the chicken is cooked and the rice is light and fluffy, add salsa and cover for 5 or 10 minutes.

Plate and garnish with cilantro. 

Enjoy!

More Slow Cooker Recipes

Dairy Free Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup | Make an appetizer dish for your salsa chicken and stick with the Mexican theme.

Macaroni and Cheese Slow Cooker Recipe | Macaroni and cheese is a classic that the crockpot can help make better.

21 Crockpot Recipes for Kids | Crockpots are easy for kids to use. It is a great way to get them started with some home cooking lessons.

Dairy & Gluten Free Slow Cooker Hawaiian Chicken Recipe | Every bite will feel like a mini trip to Hawaii without leaving your kitchen.

Slow Cooker Ground Beef Keto Recipes | Ground beef is an easy and affordable meat to work with at home.