When life is busy I rely on my slow cooker to put a hot meal on the table with as little fuss as possible. The slow cooker is one of my favorite kitchen appliances. This recipe has been floating around the Internet for a couple of years. Don’t ask me why it took so long to show up on my menu, just be happy it did so it could be shared with you. I took about 40 photos – brown and tan foods do not photograph well at all.
Its similar to a family favorite Mexican Shredded Chicken but with a twist. More accurately a few twists.
Chicken breasts, salsa, black beans and corn all simmer together in the slow cooker. As if that isn’t already a fabulous recipe, it gets even better. Prior to serving, some light cream cheese is stirred into the mix. Yum right? It gets all melty and creates a wonderful rich and creamy sauce. All of the recipes I looked at used whole chicken breasts that once cooked had to be removed and shredded. I thought that sounded like a messy job since they are cooked with corn and black beans so to avoid that I cut the chicken breasts into bite size pieces prior to putting them in the slow cooker. I added a packet of Taco Seasoning mix to the chicken for additional flavor.
This dish has so much flavor and texture that it needs very little garnish. We enjoyed it served over hot brown rice, garnished with fresh cilantro, a squeeze of lime juice and a little additional salsa. You could also use some sliced green onions – (I intended to do this but forgot until after we started eating), chopped tomatoes, jalapenos or hot sauce if desired. No cheese or sour cream required it already has plenty of cheesy flavor from the cream cheese. We didn’t have any tortilla chips in the pantry but with some Mission Extra Thin Corn Tortillas in the refrigerator, home made baked tortilla chips were quickly made. It was nice to have a little crunch with this dish. We all loved this recipe. With tons of fiber from corn and black beans this was super filling. The Santa Fe Chicken could be used for tacos, burritos, taco salad, nachos, quesadillas, stuffed into a baked potato or half of a cooked zucchini.
This is my new favorite salsa! It’s made by well known chef Rick Bayless and was purchased on a whim at Target.
Its also sold at grocery stores and Whole Foods. There are different flavors available and I plan on trying all of them.
Santa Fe Chicken - Slow Cooker
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2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast cut into 1 1/2 inch chunks
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1 packet taco seasoning mix or a homemade taco mix
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1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
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2 cans corn, drained (15.2 ounce cans)
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1 cup salsa – mild, medium or hot
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1 – 8 ounce package 1/3 less fat cream cheese, cut into cubes
Optional Garnishes
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fresh limes
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fresh cilantro, chopped
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tomatoes, chopped
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jalapenos
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green onions, sliced
In a slow cooker mix together cubed chicken with taco seasoning mix, add beans, corn and salsa, stir gently to comine. Cover and cook on high for 3 hours. Don’t over cook or chicken will be dry and tough. Add cubed cream cheese, stir and put lid back on, cook until cream cheese has melted. Gently stir to mix in the cream cheese and serve.
Yield: 8 cups
Serving Size: 16 - 1/2 cup servings or 8 - 1 cup servings
Nutritional Information
Per 1/2 cup; 143 Calories, 3.9g Fat, 37.5mg Chol, 561.2mg Sodium, 11.7g Carbs, 3.5g Fiber, 3.9g Sugar, 15.2g Protein WWPP 3
Per 1 cup; 287 Calories, 7.9g Fat, 75mg Chol ,1122.5mg Sodium, 23.3g Carbs, 7g Fiber, 7.8g Sugar, 30.4g Protein WWPP 7
When the nutritional were run it did score high for sodium! You can cut back on the sodium by using a low sodium homemade taco seasoning, rinse and drain the canned beans and use low sodium canned corn, rinsed and drained or sub frozen corn instead.
Recipe adapted from on line recipes from several sources like Cooking Light Message board and AllRecipes.
Nutmeg Notes
TGIF! It seems like this has been a long week and Friday is finally here. Rain is on its way so I want to head out and get some errands done this morning, hoping I don’t get drenched. I also have a hair cut this afternoon and am looking forward to that. Come to think of it last month when I got my hair cut it was also raining. A few years back it rained every time I had a hair cut for about 8 months in a row! I hope that trend isn’t repeated.
Have a relaxing weekend.
Tami
Leave a comment if you wish.
I’d like to put some books on my iPad to read while I recuperate after my foot surgery. Do you have any suggestions?
Anyone traveling for Thanksgiving?
23 comments
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Tish says:
November 16, 2012 at 10:53 am (UTC -7)
Love the recipe today. It’s going to show up on our table soon. As for books (you may remember I’m a librarian and I LOVE to recommend books!). My two hands down favorites are both available for Kindle
Here Be Dragons, by Sharon Kay Penman. A super historical fiction (the title is the phrase ancient mapmakers wrote at the edge of the known world, where they no longer had information). This is the story of Joanna, the illigetimate daughter of King John. He tried to neutralize his enemy Llewylen of Wales, by marrying Joanna off to him when she was 13. Poor King John never considered that Joanna would fall madly in love with her husband. A wonderful, true story. Read it!
Outlander. by Diana Gabaldon. An English couple, married right before WWII, reunite for a post war holiday in Scotland after being apart during the war. She is out exploring one day and passes between two old standing stones and is transported back 200 years into the midst of the Scottish uprising against their English oppressers. She is suspected of being an English spy. A wonderful read. A great romance–did I mention that she is forced to marry one of the Scots? It will make you forget all about your foot.
Tami says:
November 17, 2012 at 11:16 am (UTC -7)
Tish I do remember that you are a librarian! Thanks for the book reviews. I have the Kindle app for my iPad so I can easliy get those books. They sound like something I would enjoy reading. It will help to pass the time.
Leslie says:
November 16, 2012 at 12:06 pm (UTC -7)
I think I’m doing this tomorrow. Sounds easy and good! Thanks for another winner, Tami.
Tami says:
November 17, 2012 at 11:17 am (UTC -7)
It is easy Leslie and these days I seem to really like easy! Hope you are having a wonderful weekend.
Renee@Mykitchenadventures says:
November 16, 2012 at 12:19 pm (UTC -7)
I think most crockpot food is challenging to photograph. I don’t usually like using chicken breasts because they can dry out too much or get mushy in the crockpot, but I bet it would be great with thighs. The flavors in this dish sound wonderful. I’ll have to give that salsa a try. I love Mrs. Renfro’s tequilla salsa right now. It’s delicious, and the ingredients nice and natural too!
Might as well hop on the bandwagon and read all three books to the 50 shades trilogy. lol I am guessing I don’t have to explain what they are about to you…lol
Tami says:
November 17, 2012 at 11:21 am (UTC -7)
Yep, Renee – food out of the slow cooker isn’t always easy to capture in a snap shot. I think the trick with the chicken breasts in the slow cooker is to either start with frozen ones – I know many people don’t think you should do that but I have done it for years with much success. Or just to use a shorter cooking time keeps the breasts from being dry. I’m not a fan of cutting all the fat off the thighs but they do turn out more moist and juicy. I remember seeing Mrs. Renfro’s salsa at Target – will have to try those too.
I haven’t read the 50 shades books – some people love em and they sure have gotten a lot of press.
Jody - Fit at 54 says:
November 16, 2012 at 12:20 pm (UTC -7)
Captcha now???!!! At least it is not as hard to read as mine!
Great recipe!
Rain coming here too – I hear you on getting the hair done when it rains – for my crazy hair, I hate that!
NO plans to travel on turkey day!!! NOPE!
Tami says:
November 17, 2012 at 11:24 am (UTC -7)
I did have a captcha that was just gone one day and then the spam bots found me and were killing me with hundreds of daily spam comments! My son David finally had time to take a look at it and install another captcha – hope it isn’t too difficult to use as I don’t want people to get frustrated and end up not leaving comments.
Oh the rains does a number on my hair too Jody. If I have it fixed straight and it rains then it gets all wavy. If I have it curled and it gets rained on then it just turns to waves but not in a good way.
Michele R says:
November 16, 2012 at 12:49 pm (UTC -7)
This recipe just has to go on the menu soon!!! It sounds delicious!!! On book recommendations — I love to read! I also HIGHLY recommend the Outlander Diana Gabaldon. Another all-time favorite is The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein.
I love mysteries and a couple of series that I recommend is Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch series (he also wrote the Lincoln Lawyer which the movie was based on) and Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series.
*** Also, many libraries now have eboks available for check-out on-line.
Tami says:
November 17, 2012 at 11:26 am (UTC -7)
Hi Michele. Thanks for the book suggestions they all sound fantastic. I had no idea that libraries have ebooks to check out on line. That is amazing and I will be checking into that. Hope you are having a fabulous weekend.
Michele R says:
November 21, 2012 at 12:44 pm (UTC -7)
Tami –
I made the Santa Fe Chicken recipe this week! Absolutely delicious!!!!! We LOVED it, and my husband has already requested it again! I think this is the 5th recipe of your that I have made in the last month — all have been delicious! Thanks for all you do!
Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Tami says:
November 21, 2012 at 4:21 pm (UTC -7)
Michele I’m so happy that you and your hubby liked the Santa Fe Chicken! The bonus is that it’s such an easy recipe to make. Thank you for sharing your recipe success with me, I’m grinning ear to ear!
Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving.
Tami
Cammy@TippyToeDiet says:
November 16, 2012 at 2:04 pm (UTC -7)
I don’t think I’ve had salsa with orange juice before–a great reason to drop into Target tomorrow!
I’m making my version of Mexican chicken tomorrow, which I love, and I also love chicken with orange, so I’m thinking this will work nicely!
Tami says:
November 17, 2012 at 11:28 am (UTC -7)
Cammy I think this is the first salsa I have seen with orange juice in it. Maybe that is what made it taste so good! I love Target and now that they are selling more groceries I shop there more often. Have fun shopping and cooking!
Dr. J says:
November 17, 2012 at 5:39 am (UTC -7)
I thought it never rained in California??
I really enjoyed visiting Santa Fe, until the twenty-inch snowstorm hit!!
Tami says:
November 17, 2012 at 11:33 am (UTC -7)
Oh, Dr J our winter here in Northern CA is rain, rain and more rain! Today is a soaker – it’s a gentle rain but it’s been going on all day and its all dark and dreary. A good day to curl up on the sofa with the fireplace going.
What year did that 21 inch snowstorm hit in Santa Fe?
Meagan says:
November 17, 2012 at 8:16 am (UTC -7)
His tomatillo green salsa is THE BOMB! Try that one next
Tami says:
November 17, 2012 at 11:34 am (UTC -7)
Meagan I was in Target yesterday and bought the tomatillo green salsa! Can’t wait to give it a try. Thanks!
Laura says:
November 17, 2012 at 8:19 am (UTC -7)
This recipe looks really good! I was imagining it as a burrito, but I think serving it over brown rice, like you did, would be a better option because brown rice is a better-quality food than a white flour tortilla is. I’m trying to make better food choices!
I think the photos you took look great! Your choice of colorful plate, along with the cilantro & lime makes it look appetizing.
Tami says:
November 17, 2012 at 11:38 am (UTC -7)
Hi Laura! We thought it was really good over rice but hubby likes burritos and I do think it would be nice nestled in a whole wheat tortilla. I prefer corn tortillas myself – funny how we all have different preferences.
Glad you liked the photos – I really had to work at this one to finally get some shots that were good. I have a great appreciation for food stylists!
Miz says:
November 19, 2012 at 2:45 am (UTC -7)
I bought one this weekend for my MOOOOVE to northern CA!
Tami says:
November 19, 2012 at 5:21 pm (UTC -7)
You will love it and Northern CA is an awesome place to live!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says:
November 20, 2012 at 5:27 pm (UTC -7)
I totally agree with you about photographing brown food! At least we know it tastes the best.