My slow cooker spicy chicken makes it easy to get a hearty dinner on the table with almost no effort. Tender, juicy chicken breasts, a spicy guacamole salsa infused with the flavor and heat of jalapenos and zesty spices, and perfectly cooked white rice come together in a simple crock pot dinner that will have everyone coming back for more and keep you OUT of the kitchen.
I love home-cooked meals. When I was a girl, my mother and grandmother almost always made dinner on the stovetop or in the oven. Casseroles were one of my favorites. They had so much flavor in every bite. They made my belly and my heart happy.
When I headed out into the wide open world on my own, I continued to make casseroles because they were so easy, and I could eat them for a few days. When I became a mom, I began making slow cooker casserole variations because they were even less work.
Even now that my kids are gone and have kids of their own, I still make slow cooker dishes all the time. This slow cooker spicy chicken is a favorite because it gives me and my guy all the flavor and texture of an oven-baked casserole, but it’s even easier!
Why You’ll Love This Spicy Slow Cooker Chicken
- Limited Ingredients: It only takes a handful of ingredients that you can find at any grocery store.
- Easy: The entire recipe is simply adding everything to your slow cooker and letting it go.
- Bold Flavor: The jalapeno, seasonings, and guacamole salsa give this recipe bold, Tex-Mex flavor.
- Versatile: Serve this as an easy family dinner or at your next potluck.
- Great for Meal Prep: It’s easy to freeze this recipe, so you can make extra for future meals.
Ingredients
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts: Chicken breasts are meaty but lean, and have a mild flavor perfect for pairing with the big flavors in this recipe.
- Yellow Onion: Yellow onion adds bit and a touch of sweetness to the dish.
- Jalapenos: Jalapenos add a spicy, vegetal flavor that’s the hallmark of any Tex-Mex dish.
- Seasonings: A blend of seasonings, including Slap Ya Mama, garlic salt, and red pepper flakes, kicks the flavor level way up.
- Guacamole Salsa: Guacamole salsa is smooth and creamy and add the best of both to the dish.
- White Rice: White rice is the classic starch for any Mexican or Tex-Mex recipe.
For a full list of ingredients and their exact measurements, see the recipe card at the end of the post.
Flavor Variations
- Proteins: This dish can be made with chicken thighs, pork, beef, or shellfish. Be sure to adjust your cooking times accordingly.
- Mild: For a mild version, leave out the jalapenos and the red pepper flakes.
- Extra Spicy: If you really love heat, leave the jalapeno seeds intact. They’re the hottest part.
- Noodles: Use noodles in place of rice if you prefer.
- Salsa: You can use regular salsa in place of guacamole salsa if you prefer.
How to Make Slow Cooker Spicy Chicken
1: Add the diced onions and jalapenos to a 6 or 8-quart slow cooker coated with nonstick cooking spray. Then, add the chicken breasts.
2: Add the spices and pour in the guacamole salsa.
3: Cook on low or high until the chicken is tender.
4: 30 minutes before the chicken is finished, add the white rice and cook until tender. Enjoy!
Hint
Check your rice for doneness after about 25 minutes. All slow cooker heats vary somewhat. It’s important to ensure you don’t overcook the rice into mush.
Storage
Refrigerate this crock pot spicy chicken for up to 3 days in an air-tight container. For longer storage, freeze it for up to 3 months in an air-tight, freezer-safe container. Defrost it overnight in the refrigerator before reheating it.
To reheat the chicken and rice, place it in a saucepan with a touch of water and cook it over medium-low heat until warmed through.
What to Serve with Spicy Chicken and Rice
Serve this spicy chicken and rice dinner with garlic knots, cheesy garlic bread, or vegetable patties for something a little different.
For a sweet finish to your dinner that keeps with the Tex-Mex theme, serve up my delicious cinnamon twists.
Tips
- Be sure to add the onions and jalapenos to the bottom of the crock pot. The direct heat will help get them soft, tender, and flavorful.
- Check your rice after about 25 minutes. Slow cooker temperatures vary, so you’ll want to be sure the rice isn’t overcooked or undercooked.
- To take the tears out of dicing your onion, chill it in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
It absolutely is. Slow cookers were designed to cook raw meats and vegetables slowly over low temperature. They were specifically made for raw meat.
The safest way to test for doneness is with a meat thermometer. When the internal temperature registers 165 degrees in the thickest part of the breast, the chicken is done.
The main thing to remember is that rice should be added at the end of the cooking process. All rice cooking times vary, but a good rule of thumb is to check your rice after about 25 minutes. If it’s tender, turn off the heat. If it’s still too firm, cook it a bit longer.
Guacamole salsa is available in almost any grocery store or online on sites like Amazon.
Try This Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice Today
With big, bold, Tex-Mex flavor in every bite, tender, juicy chicken, and perfectly cooked rice, this slow cooker spicy chicken and rice is a flavorful and easy way to get dinner on the table with almost no effort whatsoever. If you can plug in the slow cooker, you can make this! With so much flavor and so little work, I know this is going to become one of your go-tos for weeknight dinners or potlucks. Give it a try!
More Delicious Chicken Recipes You’ll Enjoy
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Slow Cooker Spicy Chicken and Rice
Ingredients
- 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 2 jalapenos, stem and seeds removed, diced
- 1 teaspoon Slap Ya Mama seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 15.7 ounce Herdez Guacamole Salsa
- ½ cup white rice
Instructions
- Spray a 6 or 8 quart crock pot with non-stick spray.
- Add diced onions and jalapenos first, followed by the chicken breasts.
- Sprinkle the seasonings over the chicken.
- Pour the guacamole salsa over the chicken.
- Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours or on low for 7-8 hours.
- Add the rice in the last half hour of cooking.
Notes
- Be sure to add the onions and jalapenos to the bottom of the crock pot. The direct heat will help get them soft, tender, and flavorful.
- Check your rice after about 25 minutes. Slow cooker temperatures vary, so you’ll want to be sure the rice isn’t overcooked or undercooked.
- To take the tears out of dicing your onion, chill it in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.
Nutrition
Is the rice cooked or uncooked when you put it in the slow cooker?
HI Cathy, it’s uncooked. I hope you enjoy this recipe. :)