Slow Cooker Southwest Chicken Casserole is the ultimate one-pot wonder. It brings all the flavors of a Southwestern fiesta straight to your table. Tender, juicy chicken, healthy beans, sweet corn, and chewy rice make this simple dish a must-try!
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📝Shopping list
To make this southwest crock pot chicken dish you will need:
- chicken breasts boneless, skinless
- chicken broth
- salsa jarred or fresh
- corn drained
- black beans
- onion
- garlic
- chili powder
- cumin
- paprika
- microwaveable rice I like cilantro lime rice for this recipe
- colby Jack cheese shredded
- fresh cilantro optional garnish
💜Why You Will Love This Recipe
This dish couldn't be easier to make. There is no need to babysit it while it cooks. Your slow cooker does all the heavy lifting.
Just before you are ready to eat, a few simple additional steps turn this dish into a full meal - all in the same pot.
🔪Instructions
This great recipe involves just a few simple steps:
Preparing Your Slow Cooker
Prepare your slow cooker by coating it with a non-stick agent. Any nonstick cooking spray or oil will work. Olive oil and avocado oil are my go-to coatings.
NOTE: some slow cooker inserts come with a nonstick surface. Use of a non-stick agent is still suggested. However, oil is sometimes recommended rather than spray to protect the longevity of the non-stick surface. Check your slow cooker's manual if you have any concerns.
Alternatively, you can choose to use a slow cooker liner.
Cooking
- 🫘 Place boneless, skinless chicken breasts into greased slow cooker
- 🫘 Add in all remaining ingredients, other than rice and cheese, and stir to combine
- 🫘 After cooking time, remove chicken pieces from slow cooker
- 🫘 Use two forks to shred chicken
- 🫘 Stir shredded chicken and rice into contents in slow cooker
- 🫘 Cover and cook an additional 15 minutes or so until rice is soft and warm
- 🫘 Top with cheese. Cover and cook again until all cheese is melted and enjoy!!
🍽Serving suggestions
- This southwest chicken casserole is great just as it is. We love to serve it alongside some delicious cornbread casserole.
- Another great way to enjoy the southwest flavor of this slow cooker recipe is scooped up with tortilla chips.
- To vary it up, try serving in soft or hard-sided taco shells.
- Make slow cooker southwest chicken bowls. Combine this recipe in a bowl with avocado slices, red pepper slices, lime wedges, and a dollop of sour cream.
- Top with chopped green onion and sliced black olives for a different flavor profile.
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🔁Substitutions
- Any cooked rice can be used in place of microwaveable rice. This is also a great way to use leftover take-out rice!
- I generally use white rice for this dish, but brown rice is delicious as well.
- Use pinto beans or kidney beans in place of black beans.
- For a more intense flavor, add in a can of chopped green chiles and red pepper flakes.
- Use spicy salsa for an extra kick.
If you love this recipe...
Please let me know in the comment section below!
Storing
Store leftover of this crock pot southwest chicken in an airtight container or zip-top bag. It will last for 3 days in the refrigerator or up to 3 months in the freezer.
Allow frozen chicken to defrost overnight in the refrigerator prior to gently reheating.
Top Tip
Store in meal sized portions for future grab-and-go easy meals
😉Hints & hacks
- I cook tons of rice and freeze it in recipe-sized portions. This way I always have some on hand.
- Chicken is considered safe to eat once it reaches an internal temperature of 165℉
- Slow cooker liners are an optional but helpful hack whenever using a crockpot. They allow you to cook with little to no cleanup. I like to buy mine in bulk for a better per-piece price.
- Southwest chicken casserole is a delicious meal for meal prepping in advance. Just add together all ingredients, other than cheese and rice. Store in a zip-top bag overnight. When you are ready, toss it into your crockpot and go.
- In the market for a new slow cooker? I love mine!
- Always double-check that your slow cooker is on and plugged in!!! Coming home to a cold slow cooker is the worst! 😕
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📖 Recipe
Slow Cooker Southwest Chicken Casserole
(Click on the stars to leave a rating)
Print Pin Rate SaveAll nutrition information shown here is automatically generated and should be considered an estimate. If you follow a specific diet, please calculate your own values to ensure accuracy.
Equipment
- Knife and cutting board
Ingredients
- 1½ lbs chicken breasts boneless, skinless (2 large or 3 small breasts)
- 1½ cups chicken broth
- 16 oz jar salsa
- 15 oz can corn drained
- 15 oz can black beans rinsed and drained
- 1 small onion diced
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 2 packages microwaveable rice I like cilantro lime flavor for this recipe, but any will do
- 1½ cups+ shredded colby Jack or Mexican blend cheese for topping
- fresh cilantro optional garnish
Instructions
- To a greased slow cooker add 1½ lbs chicken breasts, 1½ cups chicken broth, 16 oz jar salsa, 15 oz can corn, 15 oz can black beans, 1 small onion, 1 tablespoon garlic, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 tablespoon cumin, and 1 teaspoon paprika
- Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours
- Once cooked through, remove chicken and set aside
- Stir in 2 packages microwaveable rice and allow to cook for an additional 15 minutes or so until rice is soft
- While rice is cooking, shred chicken
- Stir chicken back into slow cooker and top with 1½ cups+ shredded colby Jack or Mexican blend cheese
- Garnish with fresh cilantro (optional) and enjoy!
Final Step
If you love this recipe, please let everyone know by giving it a star rating and leaving a comment. This will help my business to grow and allow me to keep on testing and sharing free recipes with you.😊
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Notes
Nutrition
All nutrition information shown here is automatically generated and should be considered an estimate. If you follow a specific diet, please calculate your own values to ensure accuracy.
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Debra Kawecki says
I absolutely love this. Really easy. I will definitely make again.
Debra Kawecki says
Absolutely loved this recipe. Easy. I used medium salsa and was perfect. Will make often.
The Lazy Slow Cooker says
I am so happy to hear that you loved this as much as we do!! Thank you for taking the time to share.💙💜
~Susan