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Home » Recipes » Cinco de Mayo Recipes

Slow Cooker Santa Fe Chicken

Published: Sep 9, 2019 · Modified: Sep 10, 2023 by Debra Clark · 25 Comments

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Tender chicken packed with southwestern flavors made in the crock pot! Slow Cooker Santa Fe Chicken is an easy-to-make meal great for a salad or chicken burrito bowl this perfect for busy weeknights when you don't want to spend all day in the kitchen!

If you enjoy this recipe, be sure and try this next! One of my favorite crockpot chicken recipes!

Slow Cooker Santa Fe Chicken in bowl packed with vegetables topped with salsa.
Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowl

Slow Cooker Santa Fe Chicken

Busy week ahead? Then you're going to love this meal! It's perfect for meal planning - sandwiches, wraps, salad, bowls - you name it! Double it up and freeze half and you'll be ready when you don't want to cook!

Not only is this a meal in a bowl - you're going to be even more excited about it because it starts in the slow cooker! Yep, it's a set it and forget it kinda meal. Love that!

I did not take a ton of pictures of the slow cooker process. Well... mostly because you don't need one! Boneless skinless chicken breasts, an onion, a can of enchilada sauce, taco seasoning and salt.

One Chicken Burrito Bowl filled with tomatoes, beans and vegetables.
Easy Slow Cooker Santa Fe Chicken - great for meal planning!

Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowl Recipe

Ingredients for Slow Cooker Santa Fe Chicken

  • boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • yellow onion
  • red enchilada sauce - homemade or store-bought your choice!
  • taco seasoning
  • salt

That's the basics - if you want to make this a bowl or a wrap, here are more ingredients for this meal.

  • rice
  • spinach
  • cilantro
  • hominy or black beans
  • avocado
  • cherry tomatoes 
  • red onions
  • black olives
  • yellow bell pepper 
  • cotija cheese
  • flour toritillas
  • lemons or limes
  • salsa
  • sour cream

Of course I made mine into a bowl! That's no surprise, right?!!

Confession time, I love Chipotle's Burrito Bowls, so I started the bowls with tasty Tex Mex Rice!

Want to pump up the flavor of ordinary boiled rice? Ditch the water and substitute your favorite stock - chicken/beef or vegetable stock and add a pinch of salt.

When it's done mix in lime zest and a squeeze of juice and you'll have a delicious and easy Tex Mex Rice! 

Deb Clark

Next top off with some greens - a good handful of baby spinach and a few leaves of cilantro. Hominy or black beans and shredded chicken

The protein is takes a back seat to all of these crunchy grains and the beautiful fresh vegetables!

Top it off with crumbled cotija cheese - pronounced [Ko-tee-hah]. Cotija is a Mexican cow's milk cheese. It's quite pungent and salty and ridiculously yummy!

Are burrito bowls served hot or cold?

Certainly it's your own personal preference, but I prefer the chicken, rice and beans served warm.

Are burrito bowls good for you?

It depends on what and how much you pile on your bowl. All things in moderation, right? 😋

Rather than serve this with salad dressing top it with a heaping spoonful of your favorite salsa and just dollop of sour cream finishes it off. 

Serve lemon or lime wedges alongside. That fresh burst of citrus finishes it off perfectly. Save the heavy salad dressing for another meal!

How long does a burrito bowl last in the fridge?

Leftover should last 3-4 days in the fridge! This recipe makes four generous bowls and on day two it was just as delicious!

You'll have two leftover chicken breasts and I used those for nachos on day three or grab a tortilla and make a wrap. Cook once and have three meals? LOVE that!!

Two bowls filled with Santa Fe Chicken Salad
What's your favorite topping for these bowls? A spoonful of salsa and a dollop of sour cream is just about perfect!

Crockpot Chicken Burrito Bowl

Steps to make Sant Fe Chicken

  1. Spray the crockpot with non-stick spray.
  2. Add the chicken breasts.
  3. Top with onions.
  4. Sprinkle with taco seasoning and salt.
  5. Pour over the enchilada sauce.
  6. Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours.
  7. Shred the meat for serving!

Simple and delicious, crockpot chicken burrito bowl is an easy meal!

Related recipes

Here are some yummy recipes to try!

  • Tex Mex Rotel Chicken Casserole - easy to make and filled with flavor. This family friendly meal is a great weeknight dinner.
  • Crockpot Chicken and Gravy is one of the most popular on the blog! Serve it over rice, noodles or a baked potato - yum!!
  • Tex Mex Chicken and Zucchini Casserole - super simple cheesy and delicious!
  • Dutch Oven Pulled Chicken - this easy stovetop recipe will have dinner on the table in a snap!

What to serve with Slow Cooker Santa Fe Chicken!

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Crunchy Mexican Coleslaw Recipe piled high on a plate.
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This days salad takes minutes tot make! It's full of crunch and flavor.
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Rich and flavorful this soup is slow cooked until the hominy is soft and the pork is fall apart tender.
Check out this recipe
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Barbacoa Beef Tacos can't get any easier or more delicious with this slow roasted meat.
Check out this recipe
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If you're looking to make it a party, click here for all of the BEST Mexican Food Recipes!

Slow Cooker Santa Fe Chicken

One Chicken Burrito Bowl filled with tomatoes, beans and vegetables.
5 from 2 votes

Slow Cooker Santa Fe Chicken Bowl

Slow Cooker Santa Fe Chicken is an easy meal SO DELISH great for mealplanning and easy make-ahead meals!
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Prep Time20 minutes mins
Cook Time8 hours hrs
Total Time8 hours hrs 20 minutes mins
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 501kcal
Author: Deb Clark
Cost: $12

Ingredients

  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 yellow onion peeled and sliced into wedges
  • 1 15 oz can Red Enchilada Sauce
  • 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • The morning of your meal lightly spray your slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Lay the onions on the bottom, top with the chicken breasts, sprinkle with taco seasoning & salt, pour the enchilada sauce over the top.
  • Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low for 8-10 hours.
  • Remove two of the chicken breasts from the slow cooker. Dice into bite sized pieces.

Notes

*Cooking your rice in your favorite stock, chicken, beef or vegetable will make it that much more flavorful! Finish with a pinch of salt, lime zest and juice.
Toppings for wraps or bowls
rice, spinach, cilantro, hominy or black beans, avocado, cherry tomatoes, red onions, black olives, yellow bell pepper, cotija cheese, flour tortillas, lemons or limes, salsa, sour cream

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    Nutrition

    Calories: 501kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 89mg | Sodium: 1278mg | Potassium: 1179mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 3375IU | Vitamin C: 88.4mg | Calcium: 178mg | Iron: 3.1mg

    First published Jan 20, 2017 - Last Updated September 29, 2021

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    About Debra Clark

    Hey I'm Deb Clark, and I'm the owner of Bowl Me Over! We live in the sleepy little town of Scappoose, Oregon. And I admit it... I love food! Join me in this foodie journey (even if you've never cooked before!) I will help you learn to be confident in the kitchen! Want to learn more? Let's stay connected, you can email me at debra@bowl-me-over.com and find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

    Comments

      5 from 2 votes

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says

      January 30, 2017 at 2:49 pm

      That does it. I'm getting some black rice this week!

      Reply
      • Bowl Me Over says

        January 31, 2017 at 6:37 am

        Off to the store you go Dorothy! 😀

        Reply
    2. Ilka says

      January 30, 2017 at 3:27 am

      Such a beautiful salad with so many great colors! You packed in so much nutrition and the black rice is a great idea!

      Reply
      • Bowl Me Over says

        January 31, 2017 at 6:40 am

        Thanks Ilka - I love all that yummy crunch, I hope you do too!

        Reply
    3. Kavey at Kavey Eats says

      January 30, 2017 at 2:07 am

      I really love slow cookers - not only for the ease of cooking, but because slow-cooked food tastes so good. Your sante fe chicken bowl looks so colourful!

      Reply
      • Bowl Me Over says

        January 31, 2017 at 6:41 am

        Thanks Kavey, love a yummy meal in a bowl!!

        Reply
    4. debi at Life Currents says

      January 27, 2017 at 5:57 am

      This bowl looks amazing! Healthy and colorful! I love that you used black rice too. I love the flavor, nutty, like you said. It makes it fun and special!

      Reply
      • Bowl Me Over says

        January 27, 2017 at 9:31 am

        Thanks Debi! I think the black rice a little different texture too which is super yummy! Hope you give it a try!

        Reply
    5. Helen @ Fuss Free Flavours says

      January 27, 2017 at 2:18 am

      5 stars
      What a fabulous looking plate of food, with loads of goodness. The forbidden rice sounds like a great choice, I do like a rice with more flavour.

      Reply
      • Bowl Me Over says

        January 27, 2017 at 9:32 am

        Thank you so much Helen - I appreciate you stopping by!

        Reply
    6. Dannii says

      January 27, 2017 at 2:05 am

      That is one beautiful looking bowl. I just love all the colours and I am glad that avocado is on there.

      Reply
      • Bowl Me Over says

        January 27, 2017 at 9:32 am

        With all the great crunch the avocado takes it back to the creamy/luscious side - I'm big fan of avocado too Dannii!

        Reply
    7. Julia @ HappyFoods Tube says

      January 27, 2017 at 12:35 am

      The colors are amazing! Must try find the black rice in our supermarket so I can try this!

      Reply
      • Bowl Me Over says

        January 27, 2017 at 9:34 am

        Awesome, let me know what you think Julia! Here's a link if you can't find it locally - http://amzn.to/2jmQC7j

        Reply
    8. Brian Jones says

      January 26, 2017 at 11:11 pm

      Lovely collection of ingredients, I have been hunting down black rice for a while but no joy apart from horrendously expensive on line outlets 🙁

      Reply
      • Bowl Me Over says

        January 27, 2017 at 9:36 am

        Thanks Brian! Do you have any asian markets you can check at? Though I've purchased it online http://amzn.to/2jmQC7j the most affordable option was at the market, in fact it wasn't much expensive than brown rice! I hope you can find one nearby.

        Reply
    9. Julie says

      January 26, 2017 at 9:56 pm

      The photos are fantastic! The recipe looks really good and a must for football parties.

      Reply
      • Bowl Me Over says

        January 27, 2017 at 9:36 am

        It would be perfect for a party - anything handheld always worked for me, thanks Julie!!

        Reply
    10. Michelle says

      January 22, 2017 at 2:29 pm

      Looks delish and so easy. I forgot about Forbidden Rice. Need to hunt some down. Thanks for the reminder and the great looking (healthy too) recipe.

      Reply
      • Bowl Me Over says

        January 25, 2017 at 8:27 am

        Thanks Michelle - gotta love that slow cooker short-cut! My kinda meal!

        Reply
    11. Petro @ Creative Homemaking says

      January 22, 2017 at 12:52 am

      I love the bright colors in this bowl, I'm always attracted to a colorful dish! And the healthy factor plays a big role too. Some of my favorite ingredients in just one bowl, perfect meal!

      Reply
      • Bowl Me Over says

        January 25, 2017 at 8:28 am

        Thanks Petro, yum yum yum!! Thanks for stopping by!

        Reply
    12. Healing Tomato says

      January 21, 2017 at 9:54 am

      5 stars
      Thank you for using cherry tomatoes in this recipe! They make this meal look so appetizing! I love the different ingredients you put into this chicken bowl. It looks so appealing!

      Reply
      • Bowl Me Over says

        January 21, 2017 at 11:10 am

        Oh yes, love all the bright crunchy veggies. Cherry tomatoes are one of my fav tomatoes for salads. So sweet and delicious! Thank you Healing Tomato for stopping by!!

        Reply
    Blogger Deb Clark smiling at camera holding a plate filled with a casserole.
    Welcome to Bowl Me Over!

    Hey I'm Deb Clark! I'm the owner of Bowl Me Over. We live in a sleepy little town just north of Portland in the beautiful Pacific Northwest... (read more)

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