Description
Crockpot Fiesta Chicken and Rice is a flavorful and easy Tex-Mex slow cooker meal. Chicken, rice, beans, corn, and salsa simmer together in the crockpot for a hearty, cheesy, and satisfying dish that’s perfect for feeding a crowd or meal prepping.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup long-grain white rice (uncooked)
- 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup frozen corn kernels
- 1 cup salsa (mild, medium, or hot to taste)
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chilies (e.g., Rotel)
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese (optional)
- Chopped cilantro, sour cream, or avocado for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Layer Ingredients: In the crockpot, place the chicken breasts at the bottom. Add black beans, corn, salsa, diced tomatoes, rice, and seasonings. Pour chicken broth over everything and stir gently to combine without disturbing the chicken too much.
- Cook: Cover and cook on high for 3–4 hours or on low for 6–7 hours. Do not open the lid during cooking, as the rice needs steam to cook properly.
- Shred Chicken: Once cooked, remove the chicken breasts and shred them with two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the crockpot and mix it into the rice mixture.
- Add Cheese: Sprinkle cheese over the top and let it melt in the residual heat for 5–10 minutes.
- Serve: Spoon into bowls and top with cilantro, avocado, or sour cream as desired. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- For extra creaminess, stir in 4 oz of softened cream cheese at the end.
- You can substitute brown rice, but increase the broth to 1 1/2 cups and cook time slightly.
- Leftovers store well in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- This dish is naturally gluten-free (check labels on broth and salsa).
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4–7 hours
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex, American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 410 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg