Spicy Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken Stew

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Slow-cooked Chipotle Chicken is a smoky and spicy chicken stew that will warm your soul.
a close up picture of chiptole chicken in a bowl

Slow-Cooker Chipotle Chicken is a smokey and spicy chicken stew that will warm your soul. It’s filled with tender chicken, vegetables, spices, and tomatoes. It’s a delicious dinner that the whole family will love.

Slow cooked chipotle chicken in a blue bowl

The smoky flavor from the chipotle chili powder is subtle, yet when it mixes with the heat of the jalapeno peppers and all of the other fresh ingredients, it makes an amazing flavor combination. The addition of potatoes thickens the sauce ingredients, making this a hearty and perfect main dish.

We use our slow cooker a lot; it’s perfect for weekends or busy nights. In addition to this recipe, slow cooker Mediterranean chicken is another favorite slow cooker recipe.

Why you will love Slow-Cooker Chipotle Chicken

  • It’s an easy recipe to make with minimal effort; perfect for busy days!
  • This slow-cooker spicy chicken stew recipe is a healthy and comforting meal made with fresh ingredients.
  • Flavor! This easy chicken stew recipe is filled with flavor.
overhead view of Slow-Cooker Chipotle Chicken ingredients on wooden cutting board including spices, garlic, chicken broth, potatoes, cilantro, onions, peppers, lime

What you will need

This is a brief summary of the ingredients needed to make Slow-Cooker Chipotle Chicken and a convenient shopping list from my Instacart affiliate link. For a printable recipe card with exact measurements and detailed instructions, scroll down to the recipe card section.

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Ingredients

🥄Equipment

  • Slow cooker

How to make slow cooker chipotle chicken stew

Prepare the ingredients: Slice the peppers into strips, chop the garlic and jalapeno peppers, cut the potatoes into chunks, and measure the spices.

STEP 1: Coat the slow cooker with olive oil or cooking spray. Place the bell peppers and onions into the bottom of the slow cooker.

STEP 2: Place the chicken breasts, garlic, and chopped jalapeno pepper on top and top with the spices.

STEP 3: Arrange the potatoes around the edges and add the chopped tomatoes on top. Cover and slow cook on low for 2 to 2 1/2 hours. At the end of the cooking time, remove the lid and stir in lime juice and chopped fresh cilantro and serve.

Note: cook time can vary depending on the model of your slow cooker and the thickness of the chicken breasts. The chicken will be fully cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees f.

Ingredient notes and substitutions

The complete list of ingredients to make this hearty chicken stew recipe is above. Below are notes about some of the ingredients, along with ideas for substitutes.

Boneless chicken breasts – I like to use boneless skinless chicken breasts because they are easy and lean. You can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs or a combination of both.

Onions – Various onions can be used to make this chipotle chicken recipe. I prefer sweet onions, but red or all-purpose onions will work, too.

Bell peppers – Any variety of bell pepper will work, I like to use a variety of green, red, and yellow because I like the color that they add.

Garlic -If you don’t have fresh garlic available, you can substitute with 1/4 teaspoon per clove of garlic powder or you can also use chopped garlic from a jar.

Jalapeno pepper – Depending on the pepper, one jalapeno pepper can make this stew pretty spicy. If you don’t like hot food, you may want to use just a half of the jalapeno pepper or try poblano peppers which are milder.

Fresh jalapeno peppers can be substituted with an equal amount of chipotle chili peppers in adobo sauce and leave the chipotle chili powder out.

Potatoes – Yukon gold or baby potatoes are the best choices in this recipe. If you use baby potatoes, you don’t need to cut them; just rinse them off and add them to the slow cooker.

Fresh chopped tomatoes – Fresh tomatoes add a touch of brightness to this recipe. You can use low-sodium diced tomatoes if you don’t have fresh tomatoes.

an overhead view of chicken stew ina bowl

Serving suggestions

This chipotle chicken recipe can be made and served as a one-dish meal topped with sour cream, chopped green onion, Greek yogurt or homemade guacamole. Don’t forget a side dish of steamed cauliflower rice, a salad like this arugula salad, Mexican chopped salad, and a piece of crusty bread or tortilla chips.

How to store leftovers

As with most hearty stews, this one tastes better the next day, so leftover stew is a good thing! Store leftover chipotle chicken stew in a sealed container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. Re-heat leftovers on top of the stove, in the oven, or in the microwave.

Leftover ideas – Turn the chicken breasts into shredded chicken and serve in a salad, or use corn tortillas or flour tortillas to make a wrap, tacos, nachos, or quesadilla.

A close up of chicken, potatoes and vegetables in a bowl

Recipe variations

Spicy chipotle chicken soup – Use up to 3 cups more chicken broth for a spicy soup filled with savory flavors rather than a stew.

Add beans – Add a can of black beans, use half the potatoes, or leave them out.

Spicy chipotle chicken tacos – Leave the potatoes out, and shred cooked chicken. Serve in a warmed tortilla with onions and peppers.

Tips

  • Meal Prep Tip! Cut the onions, garlic, peppers, tomatoes, and potatoes ahead of time to be ready to dump and go.
  • Wear rubber gloves when cutting jalapeno peppers to avoid burning hands.
  • If you prefer a thicker sauce, gradually add cornstarch or flour slurry using equal parts of cornstarch or flour to water.

Should chicken be covered with liquid in a slow cooker?

You do not need to cover the chicken completely when slowly cooking the chicken. You need enough to cover the bottom of the slow cooker as the chicken and vegetables will release liquid as well.

Can slow cooker chicken chipotle stew be cooked on the high setting?

Yes, you can set your slow cooker to high and reduce the cooking time to 1 to 1 1/2 hours or when the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees f.

Can I make this recipe in a Dutch Oven instead of a slow cooker?

You can easily make this recipe in a Dutch oven. Simply place all of the ingredients into a dutch oven. Cover and simmer over medium or medium-low heat for 2 hours or until the chicken is cooked through to at least 165 degrees f.

Can I make spicy chicken stew with bone-in chicken breasts instead?

Yes, you can make this recipe with bone-in chicken breasts. Try to remove the skin from the chicken breast before cooking, and increase the cooking time by at least an hour or until the chicken is cooked through to 165 degrees f.

Can you freeze leftover chipotle chicken stew?

It is not recommended to freeze the vegetables in the stew as their texture changes and they become soggy when thawed out. On the other hand, chicken can be shredded and frozen for use in tacos, sandwiches, and salads.

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a close up picture of chiptole chicken in a bowl

Slow Cooked Chipotle Chicken Stew

Slow-cooked Chipotle Chicken is a smoky and spicy chicken stew that will warm your soul.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 50 minutes

Click on serving size to scale this recipe

Course: Dinner Recipes
Cuisine: American/Mexican
Keyword: slow cooker chipotle chicken
Servings: 4 People
Calories: 364kcal
Scale this Recipe 4 People

Ingredients

  • 1 pound chicken breasts boneless and skinless
  • 1 green bell pepper cut into strips
  • 1 red bell pepper cut into strips
  • 1 medium onion sliced thin
  • 3 cloves chopped garlic
  • 1 jalapeno pepper
  • 6 to 8 baby potatoes or 3 yukon gold potatoes
  • 1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes about 1 large or 2 small
  • 1/2 tablespoon chipotle chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • a handful of fresh cilantro for garnish

Instructions

  • place the sliced bell peppers, garlic, onions , jalapeno pepper into the bottom of a slow cooker
    1 green bell pepper, 1 red bell pepper, 1 medium onion sliced thin, 3 cloves chopped garlic
  • place 1 pound chicken breasts, 1/2 tablespoon chipotle chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon oregano, on top of the peppers and onions
  • arrange 6 to 8 baby potatoes or 3 yukon gold potatoes around the edges and add 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes and 1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth
    6 to 8 baby potatoes or 3 yukon gold potatoes, 1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth, 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
  • cover and cook on low heat for 2 to 2 1/2 hours
  • add 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice and a a handful of fresh cilantro for garnish
    1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, a handful of fresh cilantro for garnish

Notes

Store leftover chicken in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days in an airtight container. Reheat it in the microwave or on top of the stove. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 364kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 345mg | Potassium: 1730mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 577IU | Vitamin C: 91mg | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and can vary based on cooking methods and ingredients used

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