Crockpot Green Chili Chicken

Crockpot green chile with chicken thighs or breasts recipe with smoked chiles is killer! Tender shredded meat for tacos or served over rice cooks all day with little to no prep in the morning. Make as spicy as you’d like or mild for your family.

Green Chili Chicken with Enchilada Sauce

When it is summertime, I am all about chiles!! Roasted fresh and diced up are amazing but if you are short on time you can use canned instead. From hot to medium or mild the spice level can be up to you made homemade from scratch this way.

Can you make green chili chicken with frozen chicken?

You can make this with Crockpot Frozen Chicken too!! The timing doesn’t even really change much which is crazy but true. Just make sure your chicken thighs or boneless skinless breasts are broken apart so they cook evenly so they are easy to shred when done and you’re set friends!

This is just one of our many easy cheap Crockpot recipes especially if I happen upon a great sale on poultry at the grocery store. I will buy in bulk knowing this one is family friendly dinner recipe and there will likely be no leftovers.

Ingredients

• Boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs can be used but I do spend a bit more to not have bones so it shreds easily
• Onion sliced is optional but a great add in
• Garlic minced is a must for almost all recipes we make in our house
• Cumin gives the sauce a pop of bold flavors
• Chili powder can be added a little or more if you want this to be spicy
• Oregano dried or fresh is best if you can find it
• Green enchilada sauce right out of the can, mild or spicy works
• Cilantro fresh, diced is a must for this dish
• Hatch Green chiles diced from fresh or canned is easier
• Limes juiced are optional, sour cream can be folded in to make creamy

How long do boneless skinless chicken breasts take to cook in slow cooker?

“Regular” medium sizes will take about 6 hours on low. I do not recommend high as they will become more moist and tender cooked low and slow over time. You will know they are done when you can use forks to pull them apart easily. If you have to force it, they need more time. Give it another hour and check again.

How to Make Slow Cooker Green Chili Chicken

• Place the sliced onion into the slow cooker.
• Put the breasts over the onions.
• Season with the cumin, chili powder, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Dot the chicken with garlic.
• Pour the green enchilada sauce and green chilies over the chicken in the slow cooker, ensuring the meat is well coated.
• Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
• Once cooked, shred the chicken using two forks directly in the slow cooker. Serve shredded with cooked rice or tortillas. Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro and lime slices if desired

How to Shred Chicken Breasts with Forks

1. Cook poultry a bit longer than normal in juices until it reaches 180F, it will shred easily then.
2. Use Two Forks and place them in the center of a chicken breast.
3. Pull Apart by holding one fork steady with one hand and use the other fork to pull the chicken apart. Continue this motion, working your way around each piece until it’s completely shredded.
4. Repeat the process for the remaining thighs or breasts.

Are chicken thighs or chicken breasts better in a slow cooker?

That all depends on what you are cooking. I will use either one depending on what mood I am in or what I have on hand. Certain dishes like our Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Chicken tastes better with boneless thighs we think but both are great. Use what you prefer, all being similar medium sizes for best results.

What to make with shredded chicken

The most popular way to serve this up is wrapped up inside Taco Shells in Air Fryer made fresh. Of course you can buy those at the store too or go with the flat version for tostadas.

Want something to serve with this? Try our Creamy Green Chile Rice Recipe!! It can be a side dish or throw some into that burrito with cheese, tomatoes and guacamole for a killer dinner you can pick up and enjoy together.

How do you freeze leftover shredded chicken?

Always make sure it cools to room temperature first. You will want to keep as much of the sauce as you can to keep the meat moist, and that is where the real flavor is too. Transfer into a container with a lid and keep in your fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a pan until warm or in the microwave, stirring consistently.