Crockpot Southwest Chicken Recipe

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Slow Cooker Southwest Chicken is a spicy and comforting combination of flavors! It's pure, healthy comfort food.
Partial bowl chili chicken overhead

This crockpot southwest chicken recipe is packed with tasty ingredients like juicy tomatoes, black beans, sweet corn, and spicy jalapeno peppers. It’s one of those easy meals that is hearty and flavorful with the perfect balance of savory and spicy notes.

a picture of southwest chicken on a white plate with a fork and wedge of lime

This quick and easy to make meal is bursting with flavor and best of all it’s a slow cooker recipe which means you can set it and forget it until the chicken and vegetables are cooked to perfection.

🤍Why you will love this recipe

  • It’s an easy slow cooker recipe that requires a just few minutes of prep time.
  • Flavor! This delicious chicken recipe is packed with southwest flavors.
A picture of the ingredients for southwest chicken

Here is what you will need

This is an overview of the ingredients and steps to make this recipe; scroll down for a printable recipe card with exact measurements and detailed instructions.

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🛒Ingredients

  • boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • onion
  • garlic
  • red or green bell pepper
  • jalapeno pepper
  • diced tomatoes
  • chili powder
  • ground cumin
  • black beans
  • corn

🥄Equipment

How to make Crock Pot Southwest Chicken

This is the easiest slow cooker recipe ever!  Follow these simple steps for this easy dump recipe.

Prepare the ingredients: chop the garlic, onion, pepper and tomatoes. Rinse and drain the beans if you are using canned beans.

Step 1 3 chicken breasts covered with blackened spice

STEP 1: Pat the chicken breasts dry with a paper towel and cover the chicken breasts with the chili powder, and 1 teaspoon of ground cumin.

STEP 2: Place the chicken breasts into the slow cooker and top the chicken breasts with the bell pepper, black beans, corn, chopped onion, garlic and jalapeno pepper.

a picture of all of the ingredients in a slow cooker
All of the ingredients in a slow cooker after being cooked

STEP 3: Cover the crock pot and cook on low heat for 3 to 4 hours or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees f.

If you prefer a plain version of southwest chicken, try my slow cooker chicken tacos recipe!

Ingredient notes and substitutions

Chicken – Boneless skinless chicken breasts are my go-to choice for this recipe. However, you can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs or chicken tenders.

Corn – Fresh or frozen corn will work in this recipe. This is a great way to use up leftover fresh corn when it’s in season.

Tomatoes – When they are season, I prefer to use fresh for their vibrant flavor. When they are not available, low sodium canned diced tomatoes are a great alternative.

Black beans – If you don’t have f black beans on hand, pinto beans or kidney beans can easily be substituted in this recipe.

If you are not a fan of any beans, they can be left out without compromising the flavor of this dish.

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Close up of slow cooker southwest chicken

How to make this southwest chicken crockpot recipe ahead of time

This is a great recipe for preparing ahead of time. A few days in advance, chop the vegetables and store them separately in the refrigerator until you’re ready to cook. Then, follow the instructions in the recipe and assemble the dish.

Serving suggestions

Serve your Southwest Chicken shredded or whole in a bowl with rice or cauliflower rice and your favorite toppings such as chopped cilantro, slices of avocado, tortilla chips or homemade guacamole and a splash of lime juice and a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt.

Crock pot southwest chicken also tastes great stuffed in tortillas, taco shells or spread on chips with melted cheddar cheese for a tasty twist on nachos.

Add a salad like this zesty arugula salad with pistachios for a complete balanced dinner.

How to store leftovers

Store leftovers from this delicious southwest crock pot chicken recipe in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Freeze leftovers once they are at room temperature in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. When you are ready to savor the flavors again, simply defrost the chicken in the refrigerator overnight for an effortless meal.

Reheat the leftovers by placing them on top of the stove over low heat which allow the chicken to warm up gradually while preserving its tender texture and flavor.

A picture of a southwest chicken on  a plate with a fork.

If you are in a hurry, you can pop the leftovers in the microwave and reheat them for a few minutes.

Are you too tired to cook dinner?

If you’re feeling uninspired when it’s time to cook dinner, this free guide will help you make a quick and healthy dinner with ingredients you have in your kitchen.

Southwest Chicken Variations

  • Low-Carb Version – leave out the beans and use a half cup of corn
  • Vegetarianleave out the chicken, add ½ to 1 cup more beans and another bell pepper.
  • Add more vegetables – make this chicken recipe veggie heavy and add any variety of chopped vegetables such as summer squash or winter squash.
  • Change up the meat – replace the chicken with boneless pork chops, turkey breasts.

💡Tips

  • Make an extra batch and re-purpose it during the week.  Serve Southwest chicken rolled up inside a tortilla or on a salad.
  • Before serving, taste the chicken and adjust the seasoning if needed.
  • Just before serving, add a sprinkle of chopped fresh cilantro and a splash of lemon juice.
Can you make slow cooker southwest chicken in the oven?

Yes, you can easily make this recipe in the oven. Place all of the ingredients into an ovenproof casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees f.

To shred or not to shred chicken?

You can serve southwest slow cooker chicken in large pieces with tomato, corn and beans on top, or you can shred the chicken with two forks and mix all of the ingredients together.

You Might Also Like These Southwestern Recipes

Do you like this recipe?
Please comment and give it a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below!

Partial bowl chili chicken overhead

Slow Cooker Southwest Chicken with Corn and Black Beans

Slow Cooker Southwest Chicken is a spicy and comforting combination of flavors! It's pure, healthy comfort food.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes

Click on serving size to scale this recipe

Course: Dinner Recipes
Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Keyword: crockpot southwest chicken recipe
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 406kcal
Author: Anne
Scale this Recipe 4 people

Ingredients

  • 1 pound boneless chicken breasts
  • 1 onion medium
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 cup chopped red or green bell pepper
  • 1 jalapeno pepper chopped
  • 2 1/2 cups diced tomatoes fresh or [canned]
  • 1 tablespoon [chili powder]
  • 1 teaspoon [ground cumin]
  • 2 cups [black beans]
  • 1 cup corn frozen or fresh

Garnishes:

  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • avocado slices

Instructions

  • Chop the onion and peppers, crush the garlic
  • Rinse and drain the beans
  • Add all ingredients to a slow cooker and cook on low for 3 to 4 hours until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees f.
  • Add garnishes of choice and serve.

Notes

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Reheat on top of the stove or in the microwave.
Serve with your favorite side dishes.
See the article above for tips, substitutions, variations and more.

Nutrition

Serving: 4ounces chicken | Calories: 406kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 126mg | Potassium: 1130mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 2215IU | Vitamin C: 74mg | Calcium: 111mg | Iron: 5mg

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

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5 Comments

  1. This was so easy to make and the flavors were divine together! I use my slow cooker all the time, so I’m saving this recipe. Making it again!