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    Crockpot Mexican Chicken Stew (+ Instant Pot)

    January 12, 2020 by Denise Bustard 42 Comments

    Home / Recipes / Slow Cooker Chicken / Crockpot Mexican Chicken Stew (+ Instant Pot)

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

    This healthy crockpot Mexican chicken stew is inspired by tortilla soup. Packed full of delicious Mexican flavors and super simple to prepare, you'll love how easy it is to make this stew recipe in your slow cooker or Instant Pot!

    overhead view of mexican chicken stew in blue bowl

    As soon as cold weather arrives, the stew cravings kick in. There is just nothing more comforting than curling up with a hot bowl of hearty goodness, like Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken Stew or Slow Cooker Spanish Chicken Stew, or this crockpot Mexican chicken stew on a chilly evening.

    Basically, anything worthy of bread dunking is considered satisfying comfort food in my book.

    This stew recipe is perfect as a weeknight dinner or meal prep this winter. Packed with fresh veggies and zesty spices, the rich broth of this stew easily comes together in the slow cooker or Instant Pot. Absolutely crave-worthy in every way!

    It's gluten-free, and is great for enjoying with tortilla chips - or cornbread! Whatever your preference, you'll love dunking in delicious chicken stew!

    Reasons you'll ♡ crockpot Mexican chicken stew

    • it's gluten-free and dairy-free
    • you can assemble ahead as a freezer-friendly meal
    • there is no sauteeing required: simply "dump and go" in the crockpot or Instant Pot

    Recipe Video

    Watch the video below for a great visual on how easy this recipe is to prepare! Find more of my videos on my YouTube channel.

    Don't forget to pin this post and save it for later!

    Ingredients for the stew chicken recipe

    Which ingredients do we need?

    • Chicken - I like using boneless skinless chicken thighs as they stay nice and juicy in the slow cooker; but you can also use boneless skinless chicken breast: reduce the cook time to 4-5 hours.
    • Fresh Veggies - carrots, onion and red bell pepper
    • Canned - corn, black beans and green chiles
    • Jarred Salsa - I recommend a chunky salsa
    • Stock- use store-bought chicken stock or make a batch of homemade bone broth
    • Spices - ground cumin, chili powder and salt
    • Toppings - lime, shredded cheddar cheese, avocado [See tips for properly cutting an avocado, and not your hand!], Greek yogurt or sour cream, and tortilla chips

    Meal prep tips

    This crockpot stew is perfect for your meal prep routine! You can meal prep it in two different ways:

    1. cook ahead and reheat- cook a big batch of this stew on the weekend and reheat for easy lunches or dinners.
      • store in the fridge for up to 4 days or the freezer for up to 3 months
      • I like storing the cooked stew in a 2 cup glass meal prep containers or a meal mug
    2. assemble ahead but don't cook- as a crockpot freezer meal (find 34 more crockpot freezer meals here!)
      • combine all ingredients in a large freezer bag, a large meal prep container or a reusable silicone bag
      • freeze for up to 3 months
      • when you are ready to cook, thaw completely and cook as directed

    Find my favorite meal prep containers & freezer equipment in my shop!

    crock pot stew recipe in slow cooker (after cooking)

    Can you make this vegan / vegetarian?

    Absolutely! This stew recipe is already dairy-free, and can easily be made vegan and vegetarian-friendly by omitting the chicken and doubling the amount of black beans used, and swapping chicken broth for vegetable broth.

    How can I make this recipe in an Instant Pot?

    This can easily become an Instant Pot recipe!  See the recipe card below for detailed instructions.

    Can I use chicken breasts instead of thighs?

    Definitely! I just recommend reducing the slow cooker cooking time to 3-4 hours on low.

    How long can I keep leftovers of this stew?

    Sealed in an airtight container, leftovers will store well in the fridge for up to four days and in the freezer for up to three months. Allow the stew to completely defrost before reheating to enjoy.

    chicken stew crock pot on spoon

    More slow cooker chicken recipes

    • Crockpot Whole Chicken and Veggies
    • Thai Slow Cooker Chicken & Wild Rice Soup
    • Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup
    • 7 No Sautee Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes
    • Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken Thighs
    • 7 Slow Cooker Chicken Breast Recipes!

    Check my shop for my favorite slow cooker, meal prep containers, and freezer equipment!

    Note: This recipe was originally posted in 2014. It has been republished with fresh photos, tips and a new video in 2020.

    Crockpot Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken Stew
    Print Recipe
    4.88 from 8 votes

    Crockpot Mexican Chicken Stew (+ Instant Pot)

    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Calories: 382kcal
    Author: Denise Bustard
    Servings: 8
    This healthy crockpot Mexican chicken stew is inspired by tortilla soup. Packed full of delicious Mexican flavors and super simple to prepare, you'll love how easy it is to make this stew recipe in your slow cooker or Instant Pot!
    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time8 hrs
    Total Time8 hrs 15 mins

    Ingredients

    stew

    • 2 lbs chicken thighs (boneless & skinless; roughly 8 small thighs)
    • 2 carrots (peeled and sliced)
    • 1 medium onion (diced)
    • 1 bell pepper (diced)
    • 11.5 oz can of corn (341 mL; drained; roughly 1 cup)
    • 15 oz can black beans (or 540mL; drained & rinsed)
    • 4.3 oz can of green chiles (127 mL)
    • ¾ cup salsa (chunky recommended)
    • 1 ½ cups chicken stock
    • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
    • 1 teaspoon chili powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt

    just before serving:

    • ½ lime (juiced)

    toppings

    • shredded cheddar cheese
    • avocado
    • Greek yogurt or sour cream
    • tortilla chips
    • lime wedges

    Instructions

    Slow Cooker

    • Combine all stew ingredients in slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
    • Transfer chicken thighs to a bowl and shred with two forks or using an electric hand mixer.
    • Stir in the lime juice and salt. Serve with cheese, avocado, Greek yogurt and tortilla chips.

    Instant Pot

    • Cook the carrots, bell pepper and onion for 5 minutes in 1 tablespoon of olive oil using the sautee function on your Instant Pot. Add the chicken thighs and nestle to the bottom of the pot. Cook for 5 more minutes or until lightly browned. 
    • Turn off the sautee function. Add all ingredients except for the lime juice and salt, and stir to combine.
    • Cook on manual high pressure for 6 minutes, then do a natural pressure release: turn off the Instant Pot and let it sit for 10 minutes before releasing remaining pressure.
    • Stir in the lime juice and salt. Shred chicken if desired. Serve with cheese, avocado, Greek yogurt and tortilla chips. Enjoy!

    Storage

    • After cooking, store in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days, or the freezer for up to 3 months.
    • You may also assemble this recipe as a 'freezer crockpot meal' by combining all ingredients in a bag or meal prep container and freezing. To cook, thaw completely and cook as directed above.

    Notes

    nutritional info excludes toppings

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1/8 of batch | Calories: 382kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 112mg | Sodium: 750mg | Potassium: 729mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 3419IU | Vitamin C: 31mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @SweetPeaSaffron or tag #sweetpeasandsaffron

    About Denise Bustard

    Denise Bustard is the creator of Sweet Peas and Saffron, a meal prep-focussed food blog. With a PhD in biochemistry, Denise takes a scientific approach to perfecting her recipes. You can find Denise's work featured on Huffington Post, MSN, Self and more. read more

    Previous Post: « Creamy Roasted Cauliflower Soup
    Next Post: Chili Lime Sweet Potato and Chicken Skillet »

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    Hi, I'm Denise

    Meal prep took me from feeling constantly stressed out about meals to cool, collected and in control. I want to share this amazing and transformational habit with you, so you can feel in control, too!

    Read more about it here!

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