Crockpot Mexican Chicken is a healthy, dump-and-go meal consisting of chicken, black beans, corn, and tomatoes. Serve it in tacos, burritos, or rice bowls with all your favorite toppings!
Crockpot Mexican Chicken is my go-to recipe! I keep all the ingredients on hand in the freezer and pantry so that I can make it on a whim. If you’re looking for more easy recipes the family will love, try Ground Beef Tacos, Stovetop Mac and Cheese, and Skillet Lasagna.
Crockpot Mexican Chicken
Meal planning is great but sometimes things can get off or the planning just fails to happen. That’s when this recipe comes in handy! Always keep your freezer stocked with chicken and corn and your pantry stocked with cans of beans, tomatoes, and taco seasoning. All these ingredients are used in many recipes but is also all you need to this recipe.
Ingredients for Crockpot Mexican Chicken:
- Corn– Frozen or canned corn work well in this dish. For extra flavor, use fire roasted corn. Trader Joe’s frozen fire roasted corn is amazing!
- Chicken Breasts– Fresh or frozen chicken can be used in this recipe. Frozen chicken will add about 1-2 hours for cooking. Chicken tenders will cook faster since they are thinner.
- Taco Seasoning– This adds a lot of flavor to the dish. Use store bought or make Homemade Taco Seasoning. This recipe is salt-free so you’ll need to add about 1/2 teaspoon salt to the dish.
- Black Beans– Drain and rinse black beans before adding to the slow cooker.
- Cilantro– This fresh herb is commonly used in Mexican cooking. It has a fresh citrusy taste though can taste bitter and soapy to some.
- Lime– Mexican dishes are often served with lime because lime juice has a bright acidic flavor that helps bring out the other flavors in the dish.
How to make Crockpot Mexican Chicken:
Time needed: 4 hours and 5 minutes
- Prep
Grease the bottom of a slow cooker with cooking spray.
Spread corn into the bottom of the pot and lay chicken on top. Sprinkle chicken with taco seasoning. Layer on tomatoes and then black beans.
- Cook
Cook on low for 4 hours for fresh chicken breasts or frozen tenders. (Cook 5 hours for frozen chicken breasts.)
- Shred
Shred chicken with two forks. (To avoid scratching the bottom of the pot, shred on a cutting board.) Stir in cilantro and lime juice.
- Serve
Serve in tortillas, burritos, or rice bowls. Top with cheese, avocado, sour cream, and/or salsa.
FAQs
Chicken doesn’t need to cook for as long as beef and pork in the slow cooker because it is a lean meat. Once it it cooked to temperature (165F), cooking it hours longer only makes it drier. Cooking the chicken in the slow cooker does take longer than the oven but this slow low heat method results in juicy tender chicken that easily shreds.
Tomatoes with chilies- 14 ounce can of tomatoes + 4 ounce can green chilies
Black Beans- Pinto or great northern beans
Frozen Corn- Canned corn or fresh corn off the cobb
Top your Mexican dishes with cheese, sour cream, Homemade Salsa, avocado, Guacamole, Pico de Gallo, Quick Mexican Pickled Onions, and/or Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing.
TOOLS USED TO MAKE THIS MEXICAN CHICKEN:
- Slow Cooker– This is very similar to the one I use but it has the addition of a lockable lid which is awesome for when you are transporting food for a party or potluck, especially soup.
- Mesh Strainer– I love these mesh strainers and use it all the time. The middle size one is the perfect size for straining a can of beans and rinsing them off.
- Herb Scissors– These multi blade scissors make chopping herbs incredibly easy.
LOOKING FOR MORE SLOW COOKER CHICKEN RECIPES? CHECK OUT THESE:
- Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken
- Slow Cooker Shredded BBQ Chicken
- Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Chicken
- Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili
- Instant Pot or Slow Cooker Chicken Curry
Crockpot Mexican Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups frozen corn
- 1 pound chicken breasts, (or frozen chicken tenders)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 10 ounce can tomatoes with green chiles
- 15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
- Juice of 1 lime
Instructions
- Grease the bottom of a slow cooker with cooking spray.
- Spread corn into the bottom of the pot and lay chicken on top. Sprinkle chicken with taco seasoning. Layer on tomatoes and then black beans.
- Cook on low for 4 hours for fresh chicken breasts or frozen tenders. (Cook 5 hours for frozen chicken breasts.)
- Shred chicken with two forks. (To avoid scratching the bottom of the pot, shred on a cutting board.) Stir in cilantro and lime juice.
- Serve in tortillas, burritos, or rice bowls. Top with cheese, avocado, sour cream, and/or salsa.
I’ve been enjoying this recipe for years! Sometimes with rice, usually in a tortilla, extra yum toasted inside a quesadilla and, just for me, with just a few chips on top. I’m counting calories these days though, and I noticed this nutrition information does not indicate what size a serving is. Do you have that info?
My crockpot is 4 qts would I need to half this recipe ?
Can this be frozen and reheated?
I think that would work just fine. If you’re reheating a lot I recommend placing it in a baking dish, covering it with foil, and heating it in the oven.
Too easy! I followed directions, and served with diced avocado and Mexican cheese. Do yourself a favor and double the recipe. You’ll want the leftovers.
I’m so happy you liked it Katelyn! 🙂
All I can say is YUMMMY!!!!!
I am so glad I stumbled upon this recipe! It is easy to double for a crowd and it always receives rave reviews! This is every mom’s dream…an easy meal that is quick, healthy, and delicious!!!! Thank you!
I’m so happy to hear you love it Sharon! Thanks for leaving a review! 🙂
Is it okay if the chicken breasts are refrigerated instead of frozen?
Yes! Since a chicken breast is a lot thicker than tenders it will take about 4 hours still and even that can vary depending on how your slow cooker heats.
Love this recepie! A house full of men it doesn’t last! Thanks for sharing!
I’m so happy to hear it’s a hit at your house! Thanks for the review Trisha! 🙂
So this is cooked on low the whole time? I kept thinking it said high, then double checking myself! Going on today, looking forward to it! Thanks in advance
Yes! Low the whole time.
I made this yesterday and it turned out wonderful! Thanks for the great recipe.
Directions state mix cilantro and lime juice and do you mix it with the cooked chicken or allow the person to use as much as he or she wants with his kr her dish?
I just mix it in but if you know there are some who don’t like those then you can just have it on the side for people to add.
Super yummy!
Super easy and super delicious.
Glad you liked it Liz! 🙂
I just finished A double batch of this recipe and it’s in the crockpot in it’s first hour ! I’ll let you know how it turns out! I drained the corn and the black beans, but not the chili and tomato cans because it didn’t say to in the recipe. I hope it’s not soupy like Aimee said. Thanks for an easy recipe that sounds delicious. Cooking is not my forte so I appreciate recipes I can handle!
My mouth is watering. I want to eat that!
Really good! I used 3 chicken breasts and frozen corn (personal preference) AND I did use entire pkg of Taco seasoning. Served over cilantro rice and on Cinco de Maya, serving on Mission Street Tacos for a work “pot luck” lunch.
Yummy!
If you don’t drain the cans it makes a delicious soup 🙂
Good idea Aimee! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
This is a family favorite now! We just ate it again this last week! Oh sooo good!
Definitely a family friendly meal! Glad it’s made it to the top of your list! 🙂 Thanks Meri!
My girls just did the same thing last Saturday. They had received a Shutterfly coupon in the mail with an American Girl order. A free “American Girl” photo book. They were scrambling to gather photos of their dolls and to get their book together before the coupon expired. I must say I went to bed! But they got it done! Glad you managed to finish yours too!
Chicken hasn’t been something I can stomach this pregnancy very well but I am sure it will pass. I love corn and black beans and then add cilantro you just can’t beat those flavors!
That’s so fun! I loved American Girl dolls.
Your pregnancy isn’t sounding so fun. I hope your aversion passes!
This looks super yummy! Thanks for the shout out! I think this will have to become a regular weeknight meal for us!