Effortless Allergy-Friendly Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken Tacos: Your Go-To Weeknight Meal (Top 8 Free!)
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CampbellSavings #CollectiveBias
Imagine a dinner that not only tantalizes your taste buds with rich, savory flavors but also gracefully caters to a multitude of dietary needs. This recipe for Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken Tacos delivers exactly that. Featuring succulent chicken, slow-cooked to perfection in vibrant Pace Salsa, and topped with a colorful medley of freshly sautéed bell peppers, onions, and creamy guacamole, this meal is a dream come true for busy families. It’s naturally free from gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, peanuts, and tree nuts, making it a fantastic Top 8 Free option that comes together effortlessly on hectic school nights.
First, a huge congratulations to Rachel Todd, the winner of our recent giveaway! HOORAY! Jodi from Talk For Me Tees will be reaching out to you shortly. For everyone else, while you might not have won the prize, this incredible recipe promises to fill that hole – or at least a very hungry tummy!
Embracing the Back-to-School Rush with Delicious Ease
Oh, the bittersweet end of summer! I’m genuinely struggling with the reality that summer is practically over. This marks my second year navigating the back-to-school routine with a child, and each year, the fleeting nature of those warm, carefree months becomes more apparent. The moment your kids enter school age, summer transforms into a precious, short-lived gift.
Truthfully, I’m just not ready to set alarms before 8 AM again, or to commit to a more rigid schedule. And believe it or not, I’m only dealing with preschool schedules! I know, I might sound a bit like a wimp, but heaven help me when my oldest is attending school full-time! Every fiber of my being wants to cling to summer with white-knuckled desperation, but I also understand the importance of preparing for the inevitable whirlwind of busy afternoons and evenings. One of my most effective strategies for this transition is dusting off my favorite slow cooker recipes and focusing on quick, kid-friendly dinners that satisfy everyone.
This Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken Tacos recipe is a prime example of an absolute lifesaver. It’s been a beloved staple in our household for years, primarily because Pace Salsa is incredibly allergy-friendly. In the morning rush, when time is a luxury, the idea of chopping a dozen fresh vegetables can be daunting. While I truly appreciate the therapeutic benefits of fresh prep, some days simply don’t allow for it. That’s precisely why I turn to Pace Salsa. It effortlessly delivers a burst of garden-fresh flavor with the simple twist of a cap, making meal prep a breeze.
The Ultimate “Set It and Forget It” Dinner Solution
This truly is one of the easiest recipes you’ll ever encounter. My morning routine involves placing two frozen chicken breasts at the bottom of my slow cooker or Crock-Pot. Then, I pour a generous cup and a half of Pace Salsa directly over the chicken. With that done, I’m free to furiously complete the rest of my morning tasks, knowing that dinner is already well underway. The beauty of the slow cooker means I can simply forget about it, allowing the vibrant flavors of the salsa to slowly infuse the chicken, rendering it incredibly tender and juicy throughout the day.
By the time our crazy day winds down, the main component of our meal is ready. All that’s left is a quick preparation of fresh toppings. I simply julienne some colorful bell peppers and onions, then sauté them for a few minutes in a skillet with a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt until they’re perfectly tender-crisp. This minimal effort at the end of the day is a small price to pay for the incredible convenience and flavor this meal provides.
Customizable Taco Fun for Everyone
Once the chicken is shredded directly in the slow cooker and the veggies are ready, it’s all about assembly – and this is where the fun begins! Taco night is inherently customizable, making it a fantastic meal for families with varied preferences. You can choose between crunchy hard corn tortillas or soft shells, whatever suits your fancy, or perhaps, whatever best holds your delicious chicken! I love to generously stuff the tortillas with that soft, juicy salsa chicken, then pile on the freshly sautéed bell peppers and onions. For us, no taco is truly complete without a dollop of creamy guacamole. Since we’ve embarked on a dairy-free journey for my son’s milk allergy, guacamole has become an even more cherished topping. It provides that essential cohesive feeling and a delightful creaminess that one might typically get from cheese. Of course, if dairy is an option for you, feel free to add a sprinkle of your favorite cheese on top! And, a smidgen more Pace Salsa never hurts to amplify that authentic flavor.
This dinner isn’t just easy and delicious; it’s a remarkably wholesome meal. Packed with lean protein from the chicken and a bounty of nutrients from the fresh veggies, it’s also naturally gluten-free when served with corn tortillas. It truly is a win-win situation – satisfying, filling, and incredibly flavorful, making it a perfect choice for anyone seeking nutritious yet convenient dinner solutions.
Easing into Routine with Taco Tuesday (Any Day of the Week!)
I genuinely hope this recipe becomes a helpful tool for you as you navigate the adjustments of getting back into the school routine. Remember, we’re all in this together, and embracing this transition can be made simpler with smart meal planning! And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying #TacoTuesday multiple times a week as we all settle back into the groove. A helpful tip: if stored separately, the slow-cooked chicken and sautéed vegetables make absolutely fabulous leftovers for lunch or another dinner. And don’t hesitate to double the recipe to ensure you have plenty for those busy days!
If you’re looking to switch things up a bit and transform this into a taco salad, you can find a fantastic recipe by Keto Blogger Wholesome Yum that pairs perfectly with this salsa chicken.
Recharge Your Day with V8 + Energy
And if you’re anything like me, crazy nights inevitably lead to crazy mornings (often because I’m burning the midnight oil!). So, it’s incredibly refreshing to have a little pick-me-up the next day. I recently discovered a new, tasty beverage that has become my morning go-to: V8 + Energy. These convenient single-serve drinks offer a delicious blend of fruit and vegetable juice with natural energy from green tea, providing a gentle lift without the jitters. They’re a great way to boost your daily fruit and vegetable intake while getting that much-needed energy kick to tackle your demanding schedule.
Smart Shopping Tips & Exclusive Savings
Here’s a helpful tip for your next grocery run: I found both Pace Salsa and V8 + Energy easily at Walmart during my weekly shopping trip. Pace Salsa is always a breeze to locate, typically right in the middle of the Hispanic foods section, where I’ve purchased it countless times before. However, a small note regarding the V8 + Energy: it wasn’t placed with the regular V8 juices at my local store. I initially expected to find it by the large plastic 46 oz bottles, but it was actually at the end of the juice aisle, nestled among the other single-serve drink options. To save you time, you can also easily order it online, or refer to the image below to help you spot it in the store.
Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken Tacos (Gluten, Dairy, Egg, Soy, Peanut & Tree nut Free; Top 8 Free)
8 tacos
15 minutes
6 minutes
9 hours 54 minutes
10 hours 15 minutes
Tender chicken that’s loaded with flavor from slow cooking in Pace Salsa all day. Topped with freshly sautéed bell peppers, onions and guacamole this is a naturally gluten, dairy, egg, soy, peanut and tree nut free dinner that comes together in a snap for busy school nights!
Ingredients
- 2 frozen chicken breasts
- 1 and 1/2 cups Pace Salsa (heat preference to your liking, we use Mild)
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 yellow bell pepper
- 1 orange bell pepper
- 1/2 yellow onion
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Corn tortillas
- FOR GARNISH:
- Guacamole
- Chopped cilantro
Instructions
Turn your slow cooker/crock pot to low and place the frozen chicken breasts in the bottom. Pour the salsa on top of the chicken breasts and replace lid. Cook on low for 6 hours.
When ready to eat, heat a skillet with the olive oil over medium-high heat. Wash and julienne the bell peppers and onion and add them to the skillet. Cook until they’re tender and add just a pinch of salt and pepper.
Shred the chicken in the slow cooker.
Assemble your tacos by placing the chicken in the bottom of the taco (soft or hard shell is fine) and then adding the sautéed veggies on top and finishing it with guacamole, cilantro and any other toppings you enjoy.
Leftovers store well for 1-2 days. Be sure to store the items separately.
To make enjoying these easy and delicious tacos even more appealing, be sure to take advantage of this fantastic coupon that offers $1 off two bottles of Pace Salsa. It’s the perfect way to stock up and keep those weeknight dinners simple and flavorful!
