You don't need much with this easy slow cooker dinner! We like it made into a delicious burrito bowl with all the fixin's.
If you love coming home to a comforting meal try this crock pot creamy ranch chicken or my recipe for chicken spaghetti next.
This creamy crockpot fiesta chicken recipe is a family favorite.Jump to:
❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
Fiesta chicken is budget friendly, creamy comfort food - and there's almost no prep time. Since it's made in a crockpot it's the perfect soccer night dinner - even your picky eaters will love it.
Just dump the ingredients in the slow cooker and forget about it!
You might also want to take a look at this brothy, crockpot posole - the Mexican version of chicken soup!
🧾 Ingredients
You probably already have most of these pantry staples!
- You can use chicken breast or chicken thighs in this fiesta chicken recipe.
- Leave the chiles out if you like.
- Use plain diced tomatoes if you don't like a little spice.
- You can substitute a 16 oz jar of your favorite salsa for the Ro*Tel tomatoes. It gives it even more Mexican flavor.
- Frozen onion & bell pepper mix was not shown in the image.
🔪 Instructions
Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the green recipe card below.
- Add the chicken, drained and rinsed beans, corn, chiles, and tomatoes to the slow cooker.
- Pour in the peppers and onions mix.
- Top with the soup and cilantro. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.
- 30 minutes before serving add room temperature cream cheese cut in chunks and shred the chicken with 2 forks. Put the cover back on and let it continue to cook.
- Serve fiesta chicken with your favorite toppings.
Instant pot instructions
- Dump all of the ingredients except the cream cheese in your instant pot.
- Press the poultry button.
- Cook for a total of 25 minutes.
- Let the pressure release naturally.
- Cut the cream cheese into chunks and soften it in a bowl in the microwave.
- Add the softened cream cheese to the instant pot and put the lid back on.
- Let sit for about 5 minutes.
- Stir to blend in the cream cheese and serve.
🎥 Full video
Just click on the image below if you'd like to see the full length video on YouTube. It opens in a new tab so you won't lose your place here.
🥫 Storage
Store any leftover fiesta chicken in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Freeze for longer storage.
I like to freeze this creamy chicken dinner in freezer bags. Lay them flat on a baking sheet and freeze overnight. Once they are frozen solid you can stack them easily or store them vertically to take up the least amount of space.
🥄 Cook along!
💭 Tips
Expert Tip: Never put frozen chicken in a slow cooker. ALWAYS thaw it first (overnight in the refrigerator). Slow cookers don't bring frozen chicken up to safe temperatures quickly enough and harmful bacteria can grow.
- If you don't want to use the frozen pepper mix use ½ cup onions and ½ cup diced bell peppers.
- Pinto or kidney beans can be substituted for the black beans.
- Leave out the soup and cream cheese and add an extra can of tomatoes for a dairy free version.
- This is delicious spooned over baked potatoes.
- Add about a cup of milk if you'd like to serve this as fiesta chicken soup.
🍽️ Serve with...
I serve this easy chicken dinner over rice most of the time but you could serve it over tortilla chips for amazing nachos. It's even good over noodles!
Other side dishes are optional but a good, crunchy salad adds texture and color to the table.
Want to end the meal on a sweet note? My microwave Mexican Chocolate Cobbler is a quick, 10 minute dessert that would be a delicious finish to this meal!
Love the recipes? Get the book!
Enjoy 30 quick weeknight dinner recipes!
I don't know about y'all but honestly, sometimes I would give up just about anything to not have to cook dinner.
Days that I've worked all day and I'm tired - and by the way... why is it that I am the only one that can create a meal?
If you have those days, too I am here to tell you that this crockpot recipe is a lifesaver! Keep it handy - you're going to need it!
Be sure to check out my other slow cooker meals!
Now, go grab that book you've been dying to read and put your feet up. You deserve it.
Related recipes
Crock Pot Fiesta Chicken
Print Pin Recipe SaveEquipment Needed
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken, breast or thighs
- 15 ounces black beans, or whatever kind you have. Drained & rinsed.
- 14 ounces diced tomatoes & green chilies, or plain diced tomatoes. Don't drain.
- 2 cups corn, drain if canned.
- 4 ounces diced chiles, drained
- 1 cup onion and bell pepper mix, in the freezer section
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon ground smoked paprika
- 10.5 ounces cream of chicken soup, don't dilute
- ¼ cup cilantro, chopped
- 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature and cut in chunks
I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.
Instructions
- Spray the inside of the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. This makes clean up SO much easier.
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper and add to the slow cooker.
- Add the remaining ingredients except for cream cheese.
- Cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4.
- 30 minutes before it's time to eat shred the chicken with 2 forks and add the cream cheese.
- Continue to cook for 30 more minutes.
- Stir until cream cheese is all mixed in.
- Serve over rice, baked potatoes, tortilla chips, or whatever
Instant Pot Instructions
- Dump all of the ingredients except the cream cheese in your instant pot.
- Press the poultry button.
- Cook for a total of 25 minutes.
- Let the pressure release naturally.
- Cut the cream cheese into chunks and soften it in a bowl in the microwave.
- Add the softened cream cheese to the instant pot and put the lid back on.
- Let sit for about 5 minutes.
- Stir to blend in the cream cheese and serve.
Notes
- If you don't want to use the frozen pepper mix use ½ cup onions and ½ cup diced bell peppers.
- Pinto or kidney beans can be substituted for the black beans.
- Leave out the soup and cream cheese and add an extra can of tomatoes for a dairy free version.
- This is delicious spooned over baked potatoes.
- Add about a cup of milk if you'd like to serve this as fiesta chicken soup.
Nutrition Facts
Sign up for the emails and never miss another recipe!!
We'll never share your email or send you spam. Pinkie swear.First published September 28, 2020. Last updated January 25, 2021 to include more tips and serving suggestions.
J B
Can you freeze this after made?
Marye
Yes. You can freeze it for up to 3 months.
Judy P
Oh this sounds so good, I simply love Mexican food and plan on making this soon. I like to do a lot of prep work when I buy my groceries. I'll get 3 or4 bunches of green onions, clean them and chop up fairly small slices and freeze them in a ziplock bag. Same with regular onions, peppers, and herbs like cilantro. I'm elderly so I like to make things as easy for me as I can. A whole chicken is too much for just me, so I buy canned chicken breast. Small cans for chicken salad for sandwiches or to put into my fiesta style scrambled eggs, and large ones for casseroles to take somewhere or for yummy stuff like this. It's much cheaper for me. Love your recipes!!!
Marye
thank you!
Kirsten
I accidentally added the cream cheese with everything! Hoping it will be okay!
Marye
It may separate a bit but should be fine.
shannon terp
You don't mention how much of each ingredient like how many chicken breasts or how much cream cheese.
Marye
If you'll scroll down to the recipe in the green recipe card you'll find all of the measurements and instructions.
Marilyn Adams
What is considered a serving portion?
Marye
1/6 of the recipe but I've never measured it out.