How to Make Crockpot Fiesta Chicken

Contributor

By Kimberley Jace
eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating: (5 Ratings)

Crock pot Fiesta Chicken is a quick and healthy meal you can set up before you leave the house in the morning; when you get home, the wonderful aroma will greet you at the door. The dish gets its Mexican-style taste from salsa and cumin. Although the cooking is done in a crock pot, Fiesta Chicken reheats easily in the microwave and also freezes well.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

4 whole boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or 8 breast halves)
1 green or red bell pepper
1 large (16-oz.) jar salsa, mild
2 cups instant white rice
1/4 tsp. cumin
Salt and pepper to taste

How to Make Crockpot Fiesta Chicken

Step 1

Rinse chicken breasts in cold water; pat dry with paper towels. Place in a single layer at the bottom of the crock pot.
Step 2

Wash, seed and finely chop pepper; sprinkle across chicken breasts. Add entire jar of salsa and cumin to crock pot. Set crock pot to low heat.
Step 3

After 6 to 8 hours, use tongs to remove chicken to platter. Cover with foil to keep warm.
Step 4

Add instant rice to liquid in crock pot, and turn to high setting. Cover and let cook another 30-35 minutes, until liquid is absorbed into rice.
Step 5

Cut chicken into strips if desired, and serve on top of cooked rice. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, if desired.

Tips & Warnings

For a spicier dish, choose medium or hot salsa.
Fiesta Chicken can also be served over pasta; boil noodles on stove top in a pot of lightly salted water during last few minutes of the chicken's cooking time, just until tender; drain well.
For variety, this recipe also works well with firm fish fillets such as tillapia.
Always season carefully; slow cooking enhances the flavor of herbs and spices.
Don't add salt and freshly ground pepper until you are ready to serve.
If you use chicken tenders or split breasts, reduce cooking time by 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Never lift the lid to check on crock pot meals until the end of the recommended cooking time; the crock pot will lose heat, which increases total cooking time.