Slow Cooker Homemade Salsa Chicken

By Sarah Olson

4 Comments

Jan 06, 2017Updated May 15, 2025

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This Slow Cooker Homemade Salsa Chicken is tender and flavorful. This recipe makes plenty of extra salsa to add to tacos or burritos!

shredded salsa chicken in a slow cooker.

Have you ever made salsa chicken in the slow cooker? It is usually my go-to pantry slow cooker meal. The standard recipe is chicken breasts, a jar of salsa, and a half packet of taco seasoning, but it can be blah, especially with chicken breasts.

My best friend was telling me about a salsa recipe her brother had made for her, I had to try it! Then I got to thinking how good this salsa would be cooked with boneless, skinless chicken thighs. This recipe also makes enough extra salsa to have for topping the tacos or burritos, or for dipping chips in.

How to Make Homemade Salsa Chicken

Here is how to make my chicken with homemade salsa. Find the full recipe in the recipe card below the images.

big bowl of homemade salsa.

This recipe uses fresh, vibrant ingredients to make a flavorful homemade salsa that doubles as a cooking sauce. It combines cherry and vine tomatoes, red onion, green onion, jalapeño, garlic, cilantro, and lime for a bold, zesty base. The chicken thighs are simply seasoned with salt, pepper, chili powder, and onion powder, then slow-cooked in the fresh salsa for a dish that’s full of natural flavor and perfect for tacos, burritos, or bowls.

homemade salsa over chicken thighs in a slow cooker.

Best Serving Ideas

Here is how we serve this chicken recipe:

Serve the shredded salsa chicken in warm tortillas for easy, flavorful tacos.

Wrap it up with rice, beans, and cheese to make hearty burritos.

Spoon it over rice or quinoa and add your favorite toppings for a simple burrito bowl.

Try it in lettuce wraps for a lighter, low-carb option.

Layer it into a taco salad with crunchy chips, avocado, and sour cream.

chicken thighs in a slow cooker cooked with homemade salsa.

This meal is worth trying if you love homemade salsa and a good taco! Have a great weekend. I will be back early next week with a new recipe.

tacos filled with shredded chicken with cheese on top.
homemade salsa chicken in slow cooker with limes

Homemade Salsa Chicken Recipe

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 5 hours
Total Time: 5 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 6
By: Sarah Olson
Crockpot Homemade Salsa Chicken is a fresh, zesty dish made with juicy chicken thighs and vibrant homemade salsa—perfect for tacos, bowls, or wraps.
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Equipment

Ingredients 
 

For the salsa:

  • 29 oz. tomato sauce , (I used Hunts)
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes, quartered
  • 2 cups vine tomatoes, diced
  • 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
  • 1/2 cup red onion, diced
  • 1 tsp. garlic, crushed
  • 1 jalapeño, minced
  • 1 cup green onion, sliced
  • 1/2 Tbsp lime, good squeeze from half a lime
  • 1/8 salt to taste, to taste

For the chicken

  • 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs, (1½-2 lbs.),fat trimmed
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. pepper
  • 1/2 tsp. onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp. chili powder
  • 2 cups salsa from above recipe

Instructions 

  • Make the salsa by combining the salsa ingredients in a large bowl, taste the salsa. (see notes)
  • Add the chicken to the slow cooker.
  • Sprinkle over the salt, pepper, onion powder, and chili powder.
  • Pour 2 cups of the salsa over the chicken; saving the rest of the salsa for serving.
  • Be careful to separate the salsa for serving in a clean area of the kitchen where you won't contaminate the extra salsa with chicken germs.
  • Cover and cook the chicken on LOW for 5-6 hour or HIGH for 4.
  • Once done, shred the chicken.
  • Serve in tacos or burritos with remaining salsa.
  • Enjoy!

Sarah’s Notes

Tasting the salsa is important, you may want to add more of one ingredient, making it to your taste.

Nutrition

Calories: 244kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 144mg | Sodium: 1061mg | Potassium: 1115mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1572IU | Vitamin C: 35mg | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.

Made this recipe? Leave a comment below!

Try another chicken recipe:

Slow Cooker Crack Chicken and Crockpot Salsa Chicken are both easy, flavorful meals—one rich and creamy, the other zesty with just a few simple ingredients.

Root Beer Chicken and Honey Mustard Chicken each offer a sweet and tangy twist, making them fun, family-friendly dinner options.

Mississippi Chicken and 40 Garlic Clove Chicken deliver bold, savory flavor with minimal effort—both slow-cooked until tender and full of richness.

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4 Comments

  1. haley says:

    This sounds great! I make something similar that uses rotel but I’d much prefer the homemade salsa!! Btw An easy way to shred chicken in the crock pot is to use your hand mixer on low… Takes seconds to have perfectly shredded chicken!

    Reply
  2. Paula Rock says:

    I make homemade salsa from our garden every year, so how many jars should I use? Is a pint enough?

    Reply
    1. Sarah Olson says:

      Hi Paula, a pint is 2 cups I believe. Yes I think that would be plenty if you use chicken thighs. I would use a touch more if you use breasts, they tend to dry out.

      Reply
  3. Mick says:

    This sounds very good. I think I will try it with bone in thighs and drumsticks and serve them over rice.
    Kind of like a Mexican Chicken Cacciatore.
    Thanks for all the great recipes.

    Reply