Description
This easy Salsa Verde Chicken recipe is a flavorful, hands-off meal perfect for busy weeknights. Tender boneless chicken thighs and breasts are slow-cooked or pressure-cooked in tangy salsa verde, fire-roasted green chiles, and aromatic spices, resulting in a juicy, well-seasoned dish that’s perfect for tacos, bowls, or meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs and/or breast (we like to use 1 pound of each)
Salsa Verde Sauce
- 1 (12-ounce) jar Salsa Verde (such as Trader Joe’s)
- 1 (4-ounce) can fire-roasted green chiles
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- Fine salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Pat the chicken thighs and/or breasts dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture for better cooking results.
- Add Ingredients: Place the chicken into the crockpot or Instant Pot. Pour the salsa verde and fire-roasted green chiles over the chicken. Sprinkle the cumin, dried oregano, salt, and pepper evenly over the top.
- Crockpot Cooking: If using a slow cooker, cover and cook on low for 4 hours or until the chicken is tender and fully cooked (internal temperature of 165°F).
- Instant Pot Cooking: If using an Instant Pot, seal the lid and cook on high pressure for 15 minutes, then allow natural pressure release for 10 minutes before quick releasing any remaining pressure.
- Shred the Chicken: Remove the chicken from the cooker and shred it with two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the sauce and stir to combine well.
- Serve: Serve the salsa verde chicken warm in tacos, burrito bowls, or over rice for a delicious and easy meal.
Notes
- Prep time is around 5 minutes, making this recipe a perfect quick assembly for slow cooking or Instant Pot pressure cooking.
- If you don’t have fire-roasted green chiles, you can substitute with regular green chiles or jalapeños for a spicier kick.
- Leftovers store well and can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- Use chicken thighs for more tender, juicy results, or breasts if you prefer leaner meat.
- This recipe is versatile and works great for meal prep or feeding a crowd.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 oz. chicken without toppings
- Calories: 195
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 495mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
