Spicy Tex-Mex Chicken Medley
This Spicy Tex-Mex Chicken Medley is a versatile and flavorful dish that scales beautifully to serve a crowd or provide easy leftovers for multiple meals. Featuring tender, shredded chicken cooked in a zesty blend of diced tomatoes, salsa verde, and lively spices, this filling can be transformed into mouth-watering tacos, cheesy quesadillas, or hearty burritos. It’s not only a delicious weeknight dinner option but also makes for perfect meal prep—just freeze individual portions for a quick, satisfying meal anytime.
N/A
Servings
343
Calories
12
Ingredients
Ingredients
Diced tomatoes with jalapenos
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can (drained and diced)
Salsa verde
1 1/4 cups (divided)
Ground cumin
1 tablespoon
Minced garlic cloves
3
Salt
1/2 teaspoon
Black pepper
1/2 teaspoon
Boneless skinless chicken thighs
3 lbs (cut into pieces if desired)
Red pepper
1 large (seeded and sliced)
Yellow pepper
1 large (seeded and sliced)
Onion
1 medium (sliced)
Black beans
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can (drained, rinsed, and coarsely mashed)
Corn
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can (drained)
Instructions
1
In a 5 to 5.5-quart slow cooker, combine the diced tomatoes with jalapenos, 3/4 cup of salsa verde, ground cumin, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to combine ingredients.
2
Place the boneless, skinless chicken thighs into the slow cooker, ensuring they are coated with the tomato and spice mixture.
3
Add the sliced red and yellow peppers and the sliced onion to the cooker. Gently stir to incorporate the veggies with the chicken.
4
Cover the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 3.5 hours or LOW for 4.5 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
5
Once cooked, carefully transfer the chicken to a cutting board and allow it to cool slightly before shredding it with two forks.
6
While the chicken is cooling, strain the cooking liquid over a large bowl or measuring cup, setting the liquid aside. Return the drained vegetables to the slow cooker.
7
Stir in the coarsely mashed black beans and drained corn into the vegetable mixture.
8
Cover the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for an additional 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
9
Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker, adding the remaining salsa verde and 1 cup of the reserved cooking liquid (adjust more liquid to your liking). Stir until well combined.
10
This flavorful mixture is now ready to be used for tacos, quesadillas, or burritos, or you can portion it out and freeze for future meals.
Nutrition Information
13g
Fat
34g
Carbs
30g
Protein
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Spicy Tex-Mex Chicken Medley?
It is a versatile dish featuring shredded chicken cooked in a zesty blend of diced tomatoes, salsa verde, and spices, suitable for tacos, quesadillas, or burritos.
What type of chicken is recommended for this recipe?
The recipe calls for 3 lbs of boneless skinless chicken thighs.
What size slow cooker is needed?
A 5 to 5.5-quart slow cooker is recommended for this recipe.
How long does the chicken cook on the HIGH setting?
On the HIGH setting, the chicken should cook for 3.5 hours.
How long does the chicken cook on the LOW setting?
On the LOW setting, the chicken should cook for 4.5 hours.
Is this recipe good for meal prep?
Yes, it is perfect for meal prep as you can freeze individual portions for quick future meals.
What vegetables are included in the medley?
The medley includes red pepper, yellow pepper, onion, and corn.
What kind of tomatoes should I use?
Use one 14.5-ounce can of diced tomatoes with jalapenos, drained.
How is the chicken prepared after cooking?
Once cooked and slightly cooled, the chicken should be shredded with two forks.
What should I do with the cooking liquid?
Strain the liquid into a bowl, set it aside, and eventually add 1 cup (or more to your liking) back into the final mixture.
How are the black beans prepared?
The black beans should be drained, rinsed, and coarsely mashed before being added to the mixture.
What spices are used to season the chicken?
The chicken is seasoned with ground cumin, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper.
How much salsa verde is required?
A total of 1 1/4 cups of salsa verde is used, divided during the cooking process.
What are the nutritional facts for one serving?
One serving contains approximately 343 calories, 13g of fat, 34g of carbohydrates, and 30g of protein.
Can I use this filling for quesadillas?
Yes, this flavorful mixture is specifically designed to be used in quesadillas, tacos, or burritos.
Do I need to seed the peppers?
Yes, the red and yellow peppers should be seeded and sliced.
How many garlic cloves are used?
The recipe calls for 3 minced garlic cloves.
When is the corn added to the slow cooker?
The drained corn is added after the chicken has been removed for shredding and the vegetables have been drained.
How long is the final simmer after adding beans and corn?
The mixture is cooked on HIGH for an additional 10 minutes once the beans and corn are added.
Is this dish considered spicy?
Yes, it is described as spicy due to the inclusion of diced tomatoes with jalapenos and salsa verde.
What size onion is needed?
One medium onion, sliced, is required for this medley.
Can I adjust the consistency of the final dish?
Yes, you can adjust the amount of reserved cooking liquid you add back to the chicken to reach your preferred consistency.
How much cumin is in the recipe?
The recipe uses 1 tablespoon of ground cumin.
Do I need to cut the chicken before putting it in the slow cooker?
You can cut the chicken thighs into pieces if desired, or cook them whole and shred them later.
What tags are associated with this recipe?
Tags include tex-mex, chicken, meal prep, tacos, quesadillas, burritos, slow cooker, spicy, and easy dinner.
How many ingredients are in this recipe?
There are 12 total ingredients in the recipe.
Is the chicken cooked with the vegetables?
Yes, the chicken, peppers, and onions are cooked together in the slow cooker.
What is the first step of the instructions?
The first step is to combine tomatoes, salsa verde, cumin, garlic, salt, and pepper in the slow cooker.
What should I use to shred the chicken?
The recipe recommends using two forks to shred the chicken on a cutting board.
Can this recipe be scaled?
Yes, it is noted that this dish scales beautifully to serve a crowd.