Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken

By Sarah DiGregorio

Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken
Andrew Purcell for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne.
Total Time
5 to 6 hours
Rating
4(7,334)
Comments
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This spicy, saucy chicken takes almost no time to prep in the morning and only 5 minutes to finish before eating. At its simplest, the recipe is a meal-in-a-bowl stew, and the toppings are key to making it feel special. You could serve the chicken over rice or a whole grain, or use it as a taco or enchilada filling (use a slotted spoon to serve the chicken, if it is very saucy). You can also add 1 cup of frozen or fresh corn, or a drained 15-ounce can of black beans or pinto beans; just add them at the end along with the fresh cilantro and scallions. The level of heat in jarred salsas can vary, so taste yours first to ensure it is to your liking. If you want more spice, leave some of the jalapeño seeds in, or use hot canned green chiles instead of mild ones.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings
  • 1½pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 1½cups jarred salsa verde
  • 1(4-ounce) can chopped mild green chiles
  • 8garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1jalapeño, stemmed, seeded and diced
  • 1teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1teaspoon onion powder
  • 1teaspoon ground cumin
  • 3scallions (green and white parts), thinly sliced
  • 1small bunch cilantro, leaves and tender stems finely chopped (about 1 heaping cup)
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • Fresh lime juice, to taste
  • Any combination of rice, tortillas, pepitas, queso fresco, diced avocado and crushed tortilla chips, for serving
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

268 calories; 8 grams fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 3 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 12 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams dietary fiber; 4 grams sugars; 36 grams protein; 822 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Combine the chicken thighs, salsa verde, green chiles, chopped garlic, jalapeño, garlic powder, onion powder and cumin in a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker. Stir to evenly combine. (Don’t add salt now; jarred salsas are often high in sodium.) Cook on low until the chicken is tender and the flavors are blended, 5 to 6 hours. (If you will be away for 8 hours or more, set the cook time for 4 hours on low and set the slow cooker auto-switch to warm for the remaining time.)

  2. Step 2

    Use two forks to coarsely shred the chicken. With the heat on low, add the scallions and cilantro, and stir to combine. Season to taste with salt and lime juice. Serve with rice or in tortillas, if desired, with accompaniments.

Ratings

4 out of 5
7,334 user ratings
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Comments

John

World's easiest and most delicious salsa verde that will change your game: Roast in a sheet pan quartered onion, jalapeno, lb or so of tomatillos, a few garlic cloves, all tossed in olive oil, until soft and just beginning to brown. Dump into a blender with an entire bunch of cilantro, stems and all. Pulse it. Season. Done. Great for chile verde, chilaquiles, and this recipe.

Nancy A

I may be the only person who can’t tolerate chicken thighs so would breast meat dry out too much? Adjust the time?

Ez

I just want to thank NYT Chefs for not giving upon the slow cooker. I’m an essential worker in the time of COVID and nothing helps more than a slow cooker recipe that takes an honest 15 min in the morning and at night and is healthy (relatively ) and delicious. Please keep them coming for those of us who can’t spare 45 minutes to 1 hour in the evening for dinner start (fridge) to table!

kristi

This dish was very tasty. I was going to make my own salsa verde as some readers suggested but I bought 2 different jars of salsa verde and one made by Late July was excellent so I used it instead of making my own. I only used 1/2 jalapeño since the salsa verde seemed spicy enough. I added a full bag of corn at the end since my family loves corn and cooked it on low for 15 minutes. I thought it was a bit runny so I took out some of the liquid and stirred in 1 tablespoon corn starch and mixed it until it was smooth and then put it back in the mixture and stirred it until it thickened. I served it with sour cream and tortillas. Yum!

Anna

Don’t love the recipe as is, but i think the simplicity and ability to be modified is great. 8 garlic cloves to 4, 3 jalapeños, 1 jar salsa, 0.5 jar mole sauce (Dona Maria is what I used), skipped garlic and onion powder. cilantro crema for the side, put half in (cilantro, cotija cheese, hot sauce of your choice, lime, yogurt, olive oil). Combined all on the stove over low heat. Additionally I think you could use canned chipotle peppers (my fave condiment rn) or enchilada sauce. Was delish!

macforest

Tried the roasted tomatillo salsa concept from John (five years ago) with 16 oz frozen tomatillos from garden last year. Really tasty but not much structure. Lesson: good for a stewy treatment like here with the chicken - not so great stand alone. Will do later in this year's garden season with fresh tomatillo. Thanks for the tip.

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