Flavourful Slow Cooker Salsa Fresca Chicken

The first time I made slow cooker salsa fresca chicken, I fell in love with the recipe! This easy keto chicken recipe with chicken breasts is a slow cooker dinner recipe you’ll love. Crock pot chicken is a great dish for busy weeknights when you don’t want to get home and have to start cooking. You will love how easy slow cooker salsa fresca chicken is to make.

This post may contain affiliate links, please see the privacy policy for details.

What Ingredients Do You Need for Crock Pot Chicken?

As well as chicken (use tenderloins or chop up chicken breasts) you need south of the border ingredients. Cilantro, tomatoes, garlic, jalapeno, and Chihuahua cheese go into this dish. I also add cumin, lime and chilli powder to boost the flavour.

The cumin, chilli powder, and some salt and pepper are used to season the chicken. You can use black or white pepper here, as you prefer. You could also use chicken thighs if you prefer those, but ensure they’re boneless and skinless.

How to Make Mexican Keto Chicken

Add the prepared chicken to your crockpot and then make the salsa. The other ingredients go into a food processor to make it.

Keep it as rustic (roughly chopped) or as fine (pulse for 15 or more seconds) to get your preferred texture. Since everything will melt and soften in the crockpot anyway, it doesn’t make a great deal of difference.

How Long Does the Slow Cooker Salsa Fresca Chicken Take?

The next step in this easy keto chicken dish is to pour the pureed salsa on top of the chicken and then cook for 3 hours or until the chicken is cooked through.

I cooked mine on high for 3 hours and the chicken was perfectly cooked. You can also cook them for 6 hours on low (maybe handier if you’re going out for the day).

Cut a piece of chicken in half to check the center is fully cooked and no longer pink. Then you can carry on with the recipe.

Add the cheese and cook for another half an hour or until it’s melty and gooey. Cilantro and limes are the perfect garnish for this crock pot chicken meal.

What is Chihuahua Cheese?

First of all, this has nothing to do with Chihuahua dogs. I promise no dogs are involved in the making of this cheese! I’m a dog mom myself (to the very handsome Beau) but Chihuahua cheese is something else entirely!

Chihuahua cheese is white and soft. In Mexico you can get it in balls, braids or rounds. It comes from (as you might guess) the Mexican state of Chihuahua. It’s not called that there though – it’s known locally as queso menonita – after Mennonite communities who first made it.

This type of cheese melts beautifully, which is why it’s so good in a slow cooker dinner recipe calling for cheese. And especially this slow cooker salsa fresca chicken!

What Can I Sub for Chihuahua Cheese?

Can’t find this cheese where you live? No problem. Instead you can try cheddar instead. Mild cheddar melts better than sharp cheddar, so choose that kind.

Another good option for this recipe with chicken breasts and salsa would be muenster. Alternatively a combination of mild cheddar and muenster would be very good.

What to Serve with Slow Cooker Salsa Fresca Chicken

If you’re looking for an easy keto chicken recipe this one is idea. You can add some sliced avocado drizzled with olive oil on the side to finish off the plate or even a spoonful of homemade salsa. If you’re making this as non-keto crock pot chicken, consider rice or rice and beans.

Tortillas would also be good (especially for scooping up all the juices and cheese). If you prefer something different, consider homemade potato salad or a baked potato instead, perhaps filled with sour cream and snipped chives.

This slow cooker dinner recipe is a great recipe with chicken breasts and Mexican flair. I love how the neutral taste of the chicken is elevated by the Mexican seasonings and spices. Also I love how the ‘salsa fresca’ (literally ‘fresh salsa’) makes this taste so fresh and delicious.

It’s perfect for the spring or summer and doesn’t heat up the kitchen like a hot oven would.

You Can Adjust the Spiciness

In every bite you will taste the freshness of the tomatoes and sweet onion, along with the bite of red chilli and jalapeno.

By the way, feel free to adjust the spice level if you want. You don’t have to use a red chilli as well as jalapeno. You can stick with one of the other or increase or reduce the amounts to make this palate-perfect for you!

So if you want to make an easy keto chicken dinner, this crock pot chicken is always great. I love this slow cooker salsa fresca chicken with Mexican rice. You can pretty much put it in the crockpot and forget about it then just add the cheese half an hour before serving.

If you are a fan of this recipe with this crock pot chicken, you might also like Slow Cooker Greek Shredded Chicken Gyros, Flavourful Red Curry Thai Coconut Chicken Soup or Slow Cooker Dairy Free Butter Chicken.

Slow Cooker Salsa Fresca Chicken Recipe

You might even like to prepare a pineapple mojito or passionfruit margarita recipe to complement the slow cooker salsa chicken fresca flavours! Viva Mexico!

If you are looking for other slow cooker dinner recipes, you might also like Fall off the Bone Slow Cooker Hawaiian Ribs.