Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken
76 Comments Aug 27, 2020
Updated Feb 18, 2025
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This Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken recipe is sure to be a new family favorite, it features chicken, beans, corn, Rotel, and spicy ranch mix. Its dump-and-go prep and quick cooking time make it ideal for busy weeknights and weekends.
If you love a creamy chicken meal like this one, try my Slow Cooker Artichoke Mushroom Chicken, Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Spaghetti, Slow Cooker Jalapeno Popper Chicken, or Queso Chicken recipes.
Table of Contents
Why You Should Try This Fiesta Chicken Recipe
First of all, you will love this meal! We have had this once a week since I first tried it, and I have to share the recipe with you. Forget making slow cooker salsa chicken, and try this amped-up recipe!
If you have tried “crack chicken,” then this is a meal you will love. It’s like a Mexican version of crack chicken. It’s packed with Tex-Mex flavors thanks to the diced tomatoes and green chilies, black beans, onion, and the flavors from the ranch seasoning packet. Trust me when I say you’ll want to make fiesta chicken a regular weekly meal too!
Recipe Ingredients
- Chicken – Boneless skinless chicken breasts, these shred up the best.
- Hidden Valley Ranch Seasoning Mix – Spicy or Fiesta ranch mix.
- Rotel – Canned Rotel tomatoes & green chiles are similar to salsa but are in the canned section of the store and very convenient to have on hand.
- Black Beans – One can of drained black beans. Surprisingly, these do not overcook in the slow cooker, for they aren’t very tender straight out of the can.
- Corn – One can of whole kernel corn, you can use fire-roasted if desired.
- Cream Cheese – This makes the dish creamy, add this at the beginning of the cooking time so it has time to melt.
- Onion – One white onion will flavor the dish nicely.
- {The full recipe is in the recipe card below the images}
Variations
Chicken thighs or cooked ground chicken or turkey can be used. You can even use leftover rotisserie chicken (cook for less time).
Other beans that work well in this recipe are canned pinto beans or red beans.
If you can’t find spicy (it can be hard to find!), a regular ranch packet will work.
Step-by-Step Directions
- Add the chicken breasts to the slow cooker.
- Sprinkle over the ranch seasoning mix.
- Pour over the drained corn and beans. Add the diced white onion and cream cheese. Cook on HIGH for 4 hours or on LOW for 6-8.
- Shred the cooked chicken with two forks right in the slow cooker. Stir the cream cheese into the chicken and other ingredients. Serve this tasty dish with the suggestions below, and enjoy!
How to Serve
- Serve the shredded chicken on tortillas (these tortilla land tortillas are our favorite) with white rice. Top with cheese
- Serve as a burrito bowl by adding the creamy mixture on top of rice. Add cheese, shredded lettuce, and onions. Serve tortilla chips on the side.
- It can also be served in warmed crunchy taco shells topped with cheese.
- In addition to the toppings mentioned above, you can also add refried beans (try my slow cooker refried beans), slices of avocado, a dollop of sour cream, taco sauce, spicy salsa, or any of your other favorite toppings.
Recipe FAQs
Leave out the cream cheese. Serve with fat-free or low-fat sour cream (add at the end). Or, serve with low-fat tortillas or on a salad.
Rotel tomatoes tend to be spicy. Use a mild kind if you can find it. Use a 16 oz. jar of mild salsa instead of Rotel. Or, use a can of diced tomatoes. You can also use a regular ranch mix instead of spicy or fiesta. Taco seasoning works well too.
This delicious recipe can be stored in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
More Mexican style slow cooker recipes:
Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 oz. packet spicy or fiesta Hidden Valley Ranch Mix, (can be labeled dressing or dip)
- 15 oz. can black beans, drained
- 15.25 oz. can whole kernel corn, drained
- 10 oz. can Rotel® tomatoes, (DO NOT DRAIN)
- 8 oz. cream cheese
- 1 small sweet yellow onion, diced
Instructions
- Add the chicken breasts to the slow cooker.
- Sprinkle over the ranch packet.
- Add the drained corn, drained beans, Rotel tomatoes, onion, and place the cream cheese block on top.
- Place the lid onto the slow cooker. Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours.
- Shred the chicken with two forks right in the slow cooker.
- Stir the cream cheese into the chicken and other ingredients.
- Serve and enjoy!
How to Video
Sarah’s Notes
- Rotel tomatoes tend to be spicy. Use mild Rotel if you can find it.
- Use a 16 oz. jar of mild salsa instead of Roel
- Or use a can of diced tomatoes
- Use a regular ranch mix instead of spicy or fiesta
- Leave out the cream cheese.
- Serve with fat-free or low-fat sour cream.
- Serve with low-fat tortillas or on a salad.
- On tortillas
- Make a burrito bowl by serving over white rice and top with cheese
- In warmed crunchy taco shells
- Chicken thighs or cooked ground chicken or turkey can be used. You can even use leftover rotisserie chicken (cook for less time).
- Other beans that work well in this recipe are canned pinto beans or red beans.
- If you can’t find spicy (it can be hard to find!), a regular ranch packet will work.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
How could you make this lower in carbs, for a keto dish?
Amazing recipe! My entire family loves it, including my picky 10 year old son. You definitely want to try this!
I wonder if I could replace the chick w shrimp?
shrimp doesn’t take near as long, you would want to add it near the end of the cooking time.
This used to be a slow cooker salsa chicken recipe that I loved and had bookmarked and now I can’t find it anywhere… do you still have that recipe?
It had salsa, taco seasoning, sour cream and black beans.
Here it is: https://www.themagicalslowcooker.com/wprm_print/17928
Can I use frozen chicken?
My daughter’s favorite chicken dish. We eat it in low carb tortillas or over some white rice. Great meal!
This was so good! But made way more than I was expecting for our family. We have had it for dinner twice. Can I freeze it?
Yes, it freezes well.
I love this because it does have leftovers! We have 5 in our family so leftovers is a plus for us!
I do not have black beans, would pinto beans, chili beans, or kidney beans work?
I would do pinto beans or chili beans.
can I make this in a instant pot or pressure cooker?
I have not tested, but I don’t see why not.
Yes, but add the cream cheese after cooking
I also add a packet of “chicken” taco seasoning!