WHEN IT’S HOT, HOT, HOT outside, the last thing I want is to be inside cooking dinner beside an even hotter stove. Enter the slow cooker. I used to hate this thing, mostly because I could never find a recipe that worked without a package of onion soup mix.
But this chicken recipe turned out to be a winner.
At least I thought so…
To be honest, our toddlers didn’t really dig it though that’s often the case on a hot summer night. There’s also the matter of lunch. Estelle’s preschool teacher here in Rome continues to explain every afternoon how our piccola principessa has eaten another double dose of the already elaborate 3-course meal they’re served at school. Oggi, due primi, due secondi e due contorni. Mama mia! This is particularly amusing because Estelle is so petite. I’m guessing that we’re in the midst of a growth spurt.
But I’ll try it again, and might even wrap the whole thing in a flour tortilla like a burrito. For now, here’s how I did this version which I thought was delicious.
PrintSlow Cooker Shredded Chicken Tex-Mex
I almost always shred onions so that the kids don’t pick them out but the dish still gets all the flavor.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds skinless boneless chicken (whole breasts or thighs)
- 1 medium onion, shredded
- 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 can or 1 1/2 cups buy valacyclovir diced tomatoes
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 can white beans
- 1 cup frozen corn or canned sweet corn
Instructions
- Into a slow cooker, add the shredded onion, garlic, tomatoes, cumin, salt and pepper. Stir gingerly (so you don’t bang up your slow cooker). Slide the mixture over and add the chicken; use a ladle or big spoon to completely cover the chicken breast with sauce. Cook on high for 4-6 hours.
- Turn slow cooker to warm. Remove chicken and let cool enough to work with. Shred the chicken and put back into the slow cooker. Add white beans and corn. Mix and serve with guacamole, sour cream, tortilla chips or simply plain.
The main reason why I love this recipe is because I has corn, it’s just a little twist but I love it! I do suggest to check https://homewarranty.firstam.com/blog/corn-husks-not-just-tamales as they have many more options for those who love these ideas.
Fill your child’s life with more good, fresh & healthy food:
Doug’s comments after eating: Is there more? When can we have it again? Next time, I’ll double it and freeze some!
Adorable!
Hi! Hopefully I can be entered in your contest by letting you know that I made your shredded chicken tex mex and the whole family loved it, nice n easy to prepare. I’ve also liked you on Facebook and enjoy getting the updates. Thank you!
Yes, Melody you were entered! Thanks for coming by!
Ok if I cook it on low what would the timeframe be? I want it to cook during my work day.
Hi Christy! I think it would be about 7 hours on low. Let us know if you try it–and how it turned out!
This dish is awesome! My kids love it! I mixed the leftovers into kraft deluxe shells a couple nights later and it was also a hit! Thanks for the recipe!
Patty, I’m so happy to hear that! And what a great idea to mix it in with pasta for a second meal. I LOVE mixing and matching leftovers to create something fresh, with half the work. I’ll try that myself!
I made this and added a little Frank’s buffalo sauce. We use that often and kids are used to it. My kids are 10 and 15 and they thought it was one of the best recipies ever!
Great idea to use the buffalo sauce! I call those kinds of things gateway flavors, little bridges that you can use to encourage kids to try something new, using already trusted flavors. And one of the best recipes ever? That’s the best thing I’ve heard all weekend. Thanks so much!
Sorry, probably a silly question, but when you return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker with the beans and sweet corn, how much longer do you cook it?
Cheers
Hi Anna! No silly questions around here. Once you throw the beans and corn in the whole thing is ready. The chicken will be so hot that the beans and corn should eat up easily and quickly. Though if you wanted to put it all together, the whole thing could hang out for quite a while. Just turn the slow cooker to warm–or off and keep the lid on. Let us know how it goes if you try it!
As the temp drops, this is perfect to pop in the crockpot in the morning and know that dinner is ready after school! I’ll be trying this tonight.
Good luck, Keri! Hope your family enjoys.
This looks great! Question – is it really 2 Tablespoons of Cumin? That’s more than I’ve used in the past in recipes so wanted to double check! Thanks!
Hi KC! I like a lot of flavor, so I added 2 tablespoons but if you guys aren’t into as much smokey flavor you could certainly cut back. Hope that helps!
Just made and ate this for dinner with the family! My 22 month old didn’t care for it too much (except the corn chips we had with it! Ha ha, always the way!) I looked up a quick basic quacamole recipe and popped that and some sour cream on top like you suggested with some corn chips, and it was a delicious combo! Thanks 🙂 Will definitely make this again, and hopefully my daughter will try some next time!
Kate, I’m so glad you guys enjoyed this one! It’s on the menu at our house this week too. One thing that intrigues our kids to try something new is serving it in a special little dish. Even egg cups work perfectly, egg cups as fancy dishes for kids to try something new, because they’re small (which is key when you want kids to just try a bite or two) and “fancy”. Thanks so much for your note!
This has been in constant rotation in our house. Mom and Dad still love, and now the two-year old just eats it–voraciously–with a spoon. Just made it for my parents and now they’re fans, too.
Is everyone using the entire 2 Tablespoons of cumin in this recipe? The last time I used that much cumin in something it ruined the entire meal (Iincluding the grass fed steak $$$). I used 1 teaspoon and it smells potent even then! I also used some chili powder as that is part of my mix for taco seasoning. I think we’ll do corn chips, cheese and sour cream with his for dinner. Thanks!!!
Shredding onions – Genius!! Why didn’t I think of that, lol!! I made this and I also shredded green peppers!
Took leftovers and wrapped them in a wonton wrapper. Put a dash of green pepper sauce across the top of the chicken for a kick before wrapping it up. Was absolutely yummy!
Sounds awesome, Leah! Thanks for the idea.
Easy to make and already had everything on hand. It was such a nice yummy change up from taco soup or taco salad, or even burritos, which we have regularly. We had ours with avocado and tortilla chips, but rice on leftover night and both were delicious. The hubby said he gives it a thumbs up only with the texture of the chips added (otherwise texture was off for him). 18 mon – thumbs down, 3 years, thumbs up, 4 years in the middle, 7 years in the middle.
Pretty split family, huh? I think I’ll keep trying them over again. They’re still getting used to rating the food, and it’s funny how indecisive they can be. That being said, just rating the food has made them more willing to try it – so thanks for the inspiration!!
I hear you! Sometimes the larger the group, the harder it is to please everyone (though sometimes it’s just as easy to not please a small group. Ha!) Let us know how it goes in the future if you try it again. Like I originally posted, I kind of love this one as a summer dish because the slow cooker does all the work without heating up the kitchen, and the flavors are great on anything from rice to filling a tortilla.
This was AWESOME! Everyone had seconds claiming they loved the corn, or the chicken. I loved that it was ready when we got home from swim lessons! I doubled everything but the chicken, then added some chicken broth at the end, and topped with fresh avocado… And we have just a bit of leftovers! Delicious!!
Excellent! So glad you guys loved it. Good idea with the broth to add moisture with all the extra ingredients. I’ll make a note about that in the post so other people can try too. Thanks!
Thumbs up from the toddler, mommy and daddy. The picky eater preschooler didn’t like the texture and mix of everything together…(like always with crockpot recipes). It was yummy in tortillas!!
Yes! This one practically begs to be put in tortillas. I wonder if your preschooler would prefer one of the crispy shells with this filling? They’re not as nutritious but in an effort to branch out, might be worth a try. Mine LOVE them. That’s how I got them to start eating tacos in the first place. Now they eat the regular whole-wheat tortillas too. Bridge foods! 🙂
I have 3 young boys (5, 7 & 9), and they love this. Have made it several times now – I double the recipe so I can freeze the leftovers for an easy meal, and also add frozen peas in addition to the frozen corn. We have eaten it on its own, and also served it on corn chips in place of nacho mince, but their all time favourite is when it is served inside a soft tortilla wrap.
Mmm. Those boys have good taste. I love this in a soft tortilla too. Thanks for your note!
Can I use frozen chicken breasts?
Yes that should work. I would cook them in low and aim for about 8 hours.