Crockpot Sour Cream and Salsa Chicken - 30 Days 30 Recipes - Day 7

One week down!

Ok, so I make a recipe very similar to this.  With that in my mind, I accidentally shredded the chicken when I think I ought to have left it whole.  Having said that, I think I would add more salsa if I were going to shred the chicken again because there wasn't as much liquid as I was expecting.  It did work just fine for pulled chicken sandwiches, which is what we did, but I'm not sure that's what the recipe intended.  The flavor was good, as expected, and the small amount of sour cream added more flavor than I thought it would have.  I do recommend this recipe, but I would use less chicken (I may have used closer to a pound vs. the 12 ounces the recipe calls for.) or double the sauce.  But if you want to use it for pulled chicken you can leave it as is.


Find the original recipe on page 9: 100 Favorite Weight Watchers Recipes.


Taste Score: 8
Ease of Preparation Score: 10


Crockpot Sour Cream and Salsa Chicken

Ingredients:

4 3-ounce chicken breasts
1 cup salsa
1 packet taco seasoning (I used 1 tablespoon homemade taco seasoning*)
2 tablespoons corn starch
1/4 cup light sour cream

Place chicken in crockpot.  Sprinkle taco seasoning over chicken. Cook on low 6-8 hours.  When ready to serve, remove chicken.  Add cornstarch to a small amount of water and mix.  Add cornstarch mix to crockpot and stir. Mix in sour cream.

That's where the original recipe ends.  And that's why I shredded the chicken.  I didn't see any further instructions.  I'm guessing the person who made this recipe wanted to use the salsa as a sauce to pour over the chicken, but I'm not entirely sure.  You can do either and know it will taste good either way!

*Homemade taco seasoning really makes a difference.  Some of the store-bought varieties just aren't good.  And this one is so easy and inexpensive you should really give it a try!

Nutrition Information
Serves 4
1 serving =
145 calories
5 grams fat
5 grams carb
1 gram fiber
20 grams protein

Weight Watchers POINTS - 3
Weight Watchers Points Plus - 4
Weight Watchers Smart Points - 3

With week one done, let me know in the comments below if you like this recipe or if you've been enjoying this series!


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30 Days 30 Recipes
Slow Cooker Chicken Chili
Homemade Taco Seasoning

Slow Cooker Recipe Roundup

Start the new year with some easy slow cooker recipes!

Easy Slow Cooker Chicken and Broth
This one is simple, quick and healthy.  What else do you need to begin the new year right?  Ok, well, maybe more than a chicken and a crock pot, but this is a good start!

Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Chili
This is another great healthy recipe that whips up quick.  My family likes it and it's easy to adjust to your family's taste preferences.

Easy Pulled Chicken
This recipe hardly gets easier.

Sweet and Sour Kielbasa
This one is a much-requested appetizer favorite.  I've even used it as a meal over rice.  It's name says it all.

Lazy Applesauce
While making applesauce is typically associated with fall, it can be made year-round.

The list here is relatively short and one of my goals this year is to use the slow-cooker more often.  I also plan on purchasing a second one and maybe even a third!  I want one that is larger so I can more easily cook chickens and bigger recipes.  I also would like to get a smaller one that would be good for hot appetizers such as dips.  I'll be watching sales and thrift stores for some great deals!


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9 Practical Uses for Vinegar

Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Chili

This recipe can be found in many forms floating around the Internet.  It's a popular recipe among Weight Watchers.  Here's my version.

Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Chili

Ingredients:

1-2 chicken breasts
1 can bean of choice, drained - pinto is my favorite
1 package frozen corn
1 jar salsa
1-2 tablespoons homemade taco seasoning or packaged taco seasoning

Place all ingredients except taco seasoning in slow cooker.  Cook on low 5-6 hours.  Remove chicken and cut into pieces or shred.  Return to pot and add taco seasoning to taste.  Serve plain or over rice.  Good with homemade bread!

UPDATE!!
I made this without chicken and subbed in two crumbled veggie burgers and an extra can of beans.  My family still liked it and I may have liked it better!  My husband thought it was chicken.  For a vegetarian or vegan meal this is a great option!



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Lazy Applesauce

Sweet and Sour Kielbasa

Recipe - Easy Slow Cooker Chicken and Chicken Broth

Are you looking for an easy way to serve up a healthy dinner on a busy day. This chicken could be your answer.  A friend once mentioned to me she made chicken like this and I've made it often since.  It's simple and delicious.

3-4 pound chicken with giblets and neck removed.  Seasoned with adobo and parsley.

Easy Slow Cooker Chicken

Ingredients:

1 whole chicken
seasoning of choice such as 

• adobo - a personal favorite, Goya brand specifically (no msg)
• homemade seasoned salt
• salt, onion powder, garlic powder, poultry seasoning
• A-1 dry rub
• salt and pepper
• parsley flakes
  
  

Put chicken in slow cooker and season to taste.  Turn slow cooker to low for 5-6 hours, depending on size of chicken.

I usually buy a smaller chicken as I have a slow cooker on the small side.  My chickens are usually around 3-4 pounds and take around 5 hours to cook.  If you want the meat to fall off the bone, leave it in longer.

Once your chicken is completely cooked, you will see several cups of drippings remaining in your slow cooker.  Don't dump!  Look below for a recipe to turn these drippings into a delicious broth.

This chicken serves up nicely with rice and steamed vegetables. 

My bird fit snugly in the pot.  If you wish to do a larger chicken, you will need to use a larger slow cooker.

This is what it looks like after 7 hours on low.  I put it in at 11am and we ate around  6pm.  My chicken was partly frozen when I put it in.  If you want the meat to fall off the bone, cook it longer.  My family prefers it like this.

I didn't make it this time, but when you remove the chicken you will notice a good amount of liquid remaining.  It's not all fat, don't worry!  It's the juice from the meat.  If you want to make a broth from this liquid and leftover chicken, it's very easy.  Here's the recipe!

Easy Slow Cooker Broth

Ingredients:

remaining liquid from slow-cooked chicken
bones and any meat stuck to bones from chicken
1 onion, quartered
celery, chopped
carrots, chopped

Put leftover chicken bones and pieces into slow cooker.  Add chopped onion, celery and carrots.  Fill remaining space with water.  Turn slow cooker to low and leave on until you wake up in the morning.  In morning, turn off slow cooker and let stand for a short time until you can easily handle the bones.  Strain broth into containers, cool and freeze.

There you have it, a simple and easy way to make your own healthy chicken broth with none of the fuss.  Plus, it will be rich in calcium after you've left those bones in it all night!

If you want to make it even easier you can skip adding the veggies, but they add so much flavor it's hardly worth skipping.  You decide!

Enjoy!

Update:  I just made this broth the other day and made sure to add an onion and a some carrots (we were out of celery) and it gave the broth such a full flavor.  If you have them on hand, it really is worth adding the veggies.