Chicken Archives - mom makes dinner

Honey Garlic Chicken with Broccoli

Kelley — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 20:40:03 +0000

Weeknight meals are hard! It’s hard to find time to cook and something that everyone will like. My easy honey garlic chicken with broccoli is one of our go-to meals. This quick dinner recipe solves both issues – fast prep and cook time and everyone in my house devours it! Let me show you how to make honey garlic chicken for dinner tonight!

We are getting into the fall months – the “ber months” if you will – and that means I’m always on the lookout for quick and easy dinner recipes. I bet that it would take about the same about of time to whip this up as it would to grab something similar in the drive thru. So skip the drive thru and make this honey garlic chicken with broccoli.

What is honey garlic chicken?

This dinner recipe starts with a chicken base and is enhanced with honey and garlic flavors. It is an Asian inspired dish made with chicken breast, spices and topped with sesame seeds. Roasted broccoli is added to the mix to make it an almost complete meal. A side of rice and dinner is ready!

Honey garlic chicken ingredients

Another thing that I personally love about this recipe is that you only need a handful of common ingredients – most you probably already have one hand! You will need:

chicken
oil
cornstarch
broccoli
honey
soy sauce
orange juice
garlic
ginger
ketchup
sesame seeds
salt/pepper

Chicken – You can use any boneless version of chicken here. I prefer chicken breasts, so that is what we use for our honey garlic chicken.

Oil – You will want a neutral oil here. I would recommend olive or avocado oil.

Cornstarch – Helps crisp up the chicken while cooking. You can find cornstarch in the baking aisle.

Broccoli – There are 2-3 cups of broccoli in this recipe. That would be one large head or two smaller crowns of broccoli.

Sauce ingredients – To get the almost authentic flavor, you will need honey, soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, orange juice, ginger, ketchup, salt and pepper and sesame seeds. You can find most of these in the main aisles of the grocery store but may have to travel down the Asian food aisle for the soy sauce and sesame oil.

How to make honey garlic chicken at home

Once you have gathered all your ingredients, you will also need to grab – measuring cups and spoons, steamer basket for the broccoli, mixing bowl and a large skillet.

Step 1: Prep the ingredients. Cut your chicken into 1 inch pieces. You can do this with a knife or kitchen scissors. You will also want to wash and cut the broccoli to prepare it for the steamer.

Step 2: Make the sauce. In your mixing bowl combine the sauce ingredients – honey, soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, orange juice, ketchup and salt and pepper. Stir until combined.

Step 3: Cook the broccoli and chicken. In your steamer basket, add some water and steam the broccoli. While the broccoli is steaming, coat your chicken in the cornstarch, salt and pepper. Add a bit of oil to the skillet and cook until golden brown.

Step 4: Add in the sauce. Pour half of the sauce over the cooked chicken and continue to cook for 6-7 minutes. You want the sauce to almost start to caramelize. Add the rest of the sauce and cook down for another 3-4 minutes.

Step 5: Add broccoli. Turn off the heat and stir in the broccoli. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and then add a squeeze of lemon juice over the top. This is optional but a great addition!

Side dish recommendations

One of the best things about this recipe is that you can easily whip up a whole meal in under 30 minutes. While the chicken is cooking, you can get the sides going and have everything ready around the same time. Some great side dishes would be:

How to make in the slow cooker

Want to make this recipe even easier? Check out my slow cooker honey garlic chicken recipe! It’s great for busy weeknights when you want to have dinner ready when you walk in the door.

Honey garlic chicken tips and FAQs

What type of chicken do you need? You can use any boneless, skinless chicken for this honey garlic chicken recipe. I like using chicken breasts but chicken thighs are a great option as well. You can also use leftover chicken, if you needed to.

Tip: Make sure to coat the chicken completely in the cornstarch. This helps to keep the chicken moist with a slightly crispy exterior.

What is the honey garlic sauce made of? The sauce used for this chicken recipe is made with honey, garlic, soy sauce, sesame sauce, orange juice, ginger and bit of ketchup! You are going to absolutely LOVE this sauce!

Tip: To save a little time, buy broccoli that is pre-cut from the produce section.

Other chicken recipes to try

Looking for other quick chicken recipes to try? I suggest:

How to store leftovers

Place any leftover chicken and broccoli in an airtight container and keep in the fridge. This recipe will stay fresh for 3-4 days in the fridge, if stored properly.

Can you freeze this honey garlic chicken? Yes, you can freeze the recipe. I would suggest allow it to cool completely and then place it in a Ziplock baggie. Lay flat in the freezer. Will stay fresh for up to 3 months in a regular freezer and 6 months in a deep freezer.

To re-heat, place on the counter or in the fridge to thaw. Warm up in a skillet will a little bit of oil. This is a great freezer meal to make and save for a later date!

Honey garlic chicken with broccoli

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

How to make a flavorful Asian inspired chicken.

Ingredients

For the chicken:
• 4 breasts or boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 2 tbsp sesame oil or vegetable oil
• 2tbsp cornstarch
• 2-3 cups broccoli florets
• Salt and black pepper (to taste)
• Green onion for serving
For the sauce:
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1/4 cup soy sauce (low sodium preferred)
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil or vegetable oil
• 2tbsp orange juice
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1tsp ginger grated
• 1tbsp ketchup
• 1tsp sesame seeds (black and white)
• Salt and pepper to taste
Other:
• A half lemon

Instructions

Prepare the ingredients:
Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
Rinse and drain the broccoli florets.
Make the sauce:
Add the sesame oil, garlic, honey, soy sauce,
orange juice, ketchup, sesame seeds, ginger, salt, and pepper to taste in a medium-sized bowl. Mix well until all ingredients are combined. Set aside.
Prepare the broccoli:
Use a steamer basket and steam the broccoli for 10-12 minutes.
Note: If you don't have a steamer basket, steam the broccoli in a pot of boiling water for 7-10 minutes or until tender.
Cook the chicken
Heat 2 tablespoons of sesame oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Season the chicken with salt, pepper, and cornstarch. Mix well.
Add the chicken to the skillet until golden brown and fully cooked (about 5-7 minutes).
Pour half of the sauce over the chicken and cook for 6-7 minutes. Then add the remaining sauce and cook for 3-4 minutes. Turn off the heat.
Add the broccoli to the chicken and stir gently.
Add salt and pepper if needed.
Add more sesame seeds if needed and squeeze a
lemon.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1/4 recipe
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 481Total Fat: 26gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 20gCholesterol: 137mgSodium: 1430mgCarbohydrates: 34gFiber: 9gSugar: 14gProtein: 35g

Did you make this recipe? I’d love for you to leave a review in the comments below. Want to make it later? Pin the image below to your favorite dinner recipe board!

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Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

Kelley — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 01:48:54 +0000

If you are looking for a quick and easy dinner with tons of flavor – you’ve found it! This slow cooker honey garlic chicken is bursting with flavor and is easy to make. Slow cook the chicken all day until it is pull apart tender and serve over rice for a weeknight dinner everyone will love!

My family loves slow cooker dinners. My kids know something good is for dinner when I start adding ingredients to the crock pot early in the morning. You could say that all my crock pot dinners are kid approved since there isn’t one they don’t like. This honey garlic chicken is no different – kid approved for sure! My whole family loves take-out so being able to make this take-out worthy meal on a busy weeknight is the best!

Honey garlic chicken

One of popular flavor combinations in Asian inspired food is honey and garlic. It is used in recipes like my sesame cauliflower and other dishes often. This chicken version combines the classic honey garlic flavor with the convenience of crock pot cooking. Your family will loves this meal because –

it is full of flavor
there is minimal prep required
healthier option than take-out
it can easily doubled and used for other meals

Crock Pot Honey Garlic Ingredients

One of the best parts of this honey garlic chicken recipe, is once you have the ingredients needed you can use them for other dishes. Most of the ingredients listed are common in Asian inspired cuisine.

chicken
soy sauce
honey
hoisin sauce
vinegar
sesame oil
garlic
scallions
sesame seeds
salt/pepper

Chicken – You can use any boneless, skinless chicken for this recipe. I prefer breasts, but thighs will work too.

Soy sauce – Feel free to use your favorite soy sauce here. We use coconut aminos in all of our Asian inspired recipes at home, which is a soy free substitute.

Honey – Use locally sourced honey, if possible.

Hoisin sauce – This is a staple in Asian cuisine. You can find it in the Asian food aisle at the grocery store. Same goes for rice vinegar and sesame oil. These three are often used together.

Garlic – Fresh garlic is what you need for this honey garlic chicken. I use my garlic mincer to easily dice the garlic for meals.

Sesame seeds – These are great for topping your chicken. They are optional, but a great addition.

Scallions – This is the green part of green onions. You can find these in the produce section of the grocery store.

How to make slow cooker honey garlic chicken

Once you have gathered all your ingredients, you will also need to grab measuring cups and spoons and your slow cooker. This crock pot dinner is really a dump go meal so the dishes needed for prep is minimal.

Step 1: Add ingredients. Add the chicken. Grate your garlic and then it and the soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, hoisin sauce plus salt and pepper to the slow cooker. Stir to combine

Step 2: Cook. Cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours.

Step 3: Shred. Shred the chicken and serve over rice.

Side dish recommendations

This recipe makes a delicious chicken but you may be wondering what to serve with it. Here are some great side dishes that pair perfectly with this honey garlic chicken –

Recipe FAQ and Tips

While this is a simple crock pot dinner, there are a few tips that can make it even easier. Here are our honey garlic chicken tips and frequently asked questions.

Do I have to brown chicken before slow cooker? No, you do not need to brown the chicken before adding it to the slow cooker. You can brown it, if you’d like, but it’s not necessary. Browning locks in flavor and keeps the chicken moist.

What type of chicken do I need? Boneless, skinless chicken breasts work best for this recipe. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs will work here as well. I do not recommend bone-in chicken as it will not shred as easily and then you have to worry about bones in the meat.

How much garlic do you need? You will need 6-8 cloves of garlic for this chicken. That may seem like a lot of garlic, but it mellows out a bit in the slow cooker.

Pro tip – Use a handheld mixer to easily shred the chicken while it’s still in the slow cooker.

Instant Pot directions

Want to make this chicken even faster? Use your pressure cooker! Follow the directions below –

Add all of the ingredients to the Instant Pot.
Stir to combine.
Add 1 cup of water.
Pressure cook for 8 minutes on high pressure.
Let pressure release naturally.
Shred.
Serve and enjoy!

How to store leftovers

Place any leftover chicken in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge. It will stay fresh for 3 days in the fridge. Remove and microwave to re-heat. You can also reheat it in a skillet with some water.

Can I freeze honey garlic chicken?

Yes! You can freeze this honey garlic chicken. Allow the chicken to cool and place it in a Ziplock bag. Remove all the air and lay flat on a cookie sheet. Once frozen, remove from the cookie sheet and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. To re-heat – remove from the freezer and allow to thaw in the fridge. Microwave the chicken or use a skillet with some water to warm it up.

Other chicken recipes

Are you looking for other chicken dinners? Here are some of our other favorites that make dinner time easier!

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 3 hours

Total Time: 3 hours 5 minutes

Make a tender and flavorful chicken in your slow cooker!

Ingredients

2 lbs (4 pieces) of chicken breast
1 cup reduced sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos
½ cup honey
¼ cup hoisin sauce
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
6-8 cloves of garlic
2 scallions
1 tsp sesame seeds
¼ tsp salt, or to taste
¼ tsp black pepper, or to taste

Instructions

Grate your garlic.
In your slow cooker add the chicken, soy sauce, honey, hoisin sauce, garlic, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, and salt and pepper. Stir until well combined.
Cook in the slow cooker for 3-4 hours on high or 6-7 hours on low. Make sure to flip the chicken breast over when cooked halfway.
Once fully cooked, shred the chicken. I use a hand mixer for easy shredding.
Serve with rice and top with scallions and sesame seeds

Did you make this recipe? I’d love for you to leave a review in the comments below or the recipe card above. Want to try it later? Pin the image below to your favorite board! THANK YOU for the support!

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Easy Crock Pot Chicken Tacos

Kelley — Thu, 04 May 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Busy weeknight? These easy crock pot chicken tacos will become your new favorite dinner. Shredded Chicken Tacos combine juicy and flavorful shredded chicken with a mixture of canned beans and corn. The shredded chicken mixture is scooped into tortillas and can be topped with a choice of salsa, sour cream, or creamy guacamole!

I have four kids and I work from home. So, when Im not chasing them around or busy working, I somehow have to worry about dinner. I love to throw everything in a crock pot and go about my day. Plus, it is hot yall! Like I don’t want to turn my stove on hot. I try to find ways during the summer to not use either to save on the electric bill and save my sanity. [Momma doesn’t like to be hot.] My solution is to use my slow cooker more and these easy chicken tacos are my favorite.

Im all about quick and delicious meals, so these easy crockpot tacos are my go to meal. I call them my ‘set them and forget them‘ tacos because I toss all my ingredients in and let them simmer all day.

This recipe is from 2013 so some of the pictures are from my phone – my old Blackberry phone. Yea. The recipe is solid – some of the pictures are old. I hope you enjoy!

What Are Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos?

Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos consist of a shredded chicken mixture cooked in a Crock Pot with canned beans and corn until fork tender and juicy.

Once the cooked chicken breasts have cooked through, they are moved, shredded, and returned to the Crock Pot mixture to be scooped into tortillas to make assembled shredded chicken tacos.

Top these delicious shredded chicken tacos with a dollop of sour cream, guacamole, or salsa!

Shredded Chicken Tacos Ingredients

2 chicken breast
2 Cans of beans of choice
1 Can of corn
1 Taco Seasoning packet or homemade

Ingredient Notes

Chicken – I like to use boneless, skinless chicken breasts for my chicken tacos. Chicken thighs also work great. You can use bone-in chicken, you just need to remove the meat from the bone before adding them to your tortillas.

Beans – Feel free to use whatever beans you’d like for your tacos. We like black beans and navy or kidney beans. Any beans work for some added flavor and protein!

Taco seasoning – You can use a packet of pre-made spices, or whip up a batch of homemade taco seasoning to have on hand!

How to Make Chicken Tacos in the Slow Cooker

Step 1: Cook the Chicken

Add the chicken to the Crock Pot with the beans and corn and cook on high or low, stirring occasionally.

Step 2: Shred the Chicken

Remove the cooked chicken from the Crock Pot and shred it with two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the Crock Pot.

Step 3: Assemble the Chicken Tacos

Scoop the shredded chicken with the corn and bean mixture into tortillas and serve alongside your favorite Mexican side dishes!

How to make in the Instant Pot

While I love making these tacos in the slow cooker, sometimes I need them done a bit quicker. Enter my pressure cooker! Follow the directions below to make these chicken tacos in your Instant Pot:

Add the chicken to your inner pot.
Add the taco seasoning and corn with liquid.
Pressure cook on high for 7 minutes.
Allow pressure to release naturally.
Shred the chicken and add it along with the beans back to the pot.
Stir to warm up the beans.
Serve and enjoy.

Side Dish Recommendations

Recipe FAQs

What Cut of Chicken Works Best for This Recipe?

Chicken breast is the most popular cut of chicken when shredding for meals such as tacos, but you can use any cut of chicken. Skinless, boneless chicken thighs are a great alternative since they are lean, tender, and easy to shred.

Can I Use Pork Instead?

Yes! In fact, shredded pork is a great substitute. It will give you a similar result to these Crock Pot Pork Carnitas.

How Long Do You Need To Cook Chicken In The Crock Pot for Tacos?

You have the choice of cooking the chicken on HIGH for 4-6 hours in the Crock Pot or on LOW for 8 hours.

Can I Add Frozen Chicken In The Crock Pot?

Yes. When adding frozen chicken to the crock pot, increase the cooking time to ensure the chicken is cooked through. I would suggest adding an additional 2 hours to your cooking time.

How Do I Prevent The Chicken From Drying Out?

To keep your chicken juicy, stop cooking the chicken once the internal temperature of the meat reaches 165F. The cook times in this recipe are a good guide for ensuring that you get succulent chicken that won’t overcook.

How Should I Store Leftovers?

Add leftover shredded chicken to an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. The leftover shredded meat can be reheated in the microwave, on the stovetop, or in the oven, with a splash of liquid (water or broth) to prevent the chicken from drying out.

Can I Freeze Leftover Shredded Chicken?

Absolutely! Once completely cool, store leftover shredded chicken in an airtight container or Ziploc bag in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Thaw in the fridge and reheat before assembling into fresh tacos or using in other Mexican-inspired recipes that call for shredded chicken.

Can I Make Gluten-Free Shredded Chicken Tacos?

Yes! When assembling these tacos, make sure that you use gluten-free tortillas instead of regular flour-based tortillas. Corn tortillas are another option when catering to gluten sensitivities.

Other Taco Recipes To Try

Love tacos? We do too! Here are some of our other taco favorites:

Easy CrockPot Chicken Tacos

Ingredients

2 Frozen chicken breast
2 Cans of beans of choice
1 Can of corn
1 Taco Seasoning packet or homemade

Instructions

Place the chicken breasts in the crock pot.

Sprinkle the taco seasoning over the chicken.

Pour in the beans and the corn.

Set on high for 4-6 hours or low for 8 hours.

Stir occasionally.

Remove the chicken and shred it with two forks. Return to crock pot.

Scoop into tortillas and enjoy!

Did you make this recipe? I’d love for your to leave a review in the recipe card above or the comments below. Want to make it later? Pin the image below to your favorite board. THANK YOU for the support!

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Crock Pot Chicken Fajitas

Kelley — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 17:19:58 +0000

Crock Pot Chicken Fajitas are an easy and delicious Tex-Mex meal for midweek family dinners or lazy weekend meals. Making your chicken fajitas in the Crock pot means that you can get on with the rest of your day, guaranteeing juicy and flavorful chicken by the end of the cooking time! Let me show you how to make chicken fajitas in your slow cooker!

In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a huge fan of Tex-Mex food! I love a good bowl of homemade guacamole, tacos, and enchiladas. Toss in an aqua fresca and I am one happy girl! Know what I love even more than Tex-Mex? Being able to make it all in my slow cooker for an easy meal and even easier clean up! Yes, please!

What Are Chicken Fajitas?

Chicken Fajitas are a popular Tex-Mex dish consisting of juicy and tender shredded or sliced chicken with bell peppers, onions, and classic Mexican spices.

The chicken mixture is loaded into soft flour tortillas and can be served as is or topped with sour cream, guacamole, salsa, and cheese.

While I’ve made chicken fajitas, you also do shrimp fajitas, beef fajitas, and other fajita recipes made with different types of meat.

Slow Cooker Chicken Fajita Ingredients

3 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
1 Yellow Onion
1 Red Bell Pepper
1 Yellow Bell Pepper
1 Orange Bell Pepper
1 Poblano Pepper
1 tsp Chili Powder
1 tsp Smoked Paprika
1 tsp Cumin
1 tsp Granulated Garlic
1 tsp Salt
2 tbsp Olive Oil (optional)
Flour Tortillas

Ingredient Notes

Chicken – Feel free to use whatever chicken you prefer here. We like breasts, but thighs work just as well. You can also use leftover chicken, too. (I would leave that out of the slow cooker until the last hour of cooking so it doesn’t get rubbery.)

Peppers – I love adding a poblano pepper to my fajitas. It adds so much flavor. Feel free to add one (they can be found next to the bell peppers) or omit it.

Spices – The spices used are a classic Tex-Mex blend. You can use the spices listed or taco seasoning or even fajitas seasoning packets.

Olive oil – This is optional, but helps coat the chicken and veggies with the spices.

Topping ideas – These fajitas are great with just the meat and veggies, but you can also add:

sour cream
guacamole
salsa
cilantro

How to Make Chicken Fajita in the Crock Pot

Step 1: Add Ingredients to the Crock Pot

Add the chicken, bell peppers, and onions to the Crock pot and cover with spices. Stir to combine.

Step 2: Cook

Cook the chicken fajita mixture on LOW for 4-6 hours.

Step 3: Slice/Shred the Chicken

Once cooked, remove the chicken from the Crock Pot and slice or shred it. Add it back to the Crock Pot.

Step 4: Assemble the Tortillas

Add the chicken fajita mixture to a tortilla and serve with your favorite side dishes.

How to make in the Instant Pot

Want to make these fajitas even faster? Use your pressure cooker!

Place the chicken and sliced vegetables in the inner pot.
Add the spices to top and stir to combine.
Add a cup of water or chicken broth to the pot.
Pressure cook on high for 12 minutes.
Naturally release the pressure.
Remove the chicken and shred.
Add the veggies and chicken to a bowl.
Serve into tortillas.

Side Dish Recommendations

Recipe FAQs

Can I Put Raw Chicken in the Crock Pot?

Absolutely! It’s completely safe to do so, even when adding other ingredients to the mixture. The Crock Pot will tenderize the meat and soften the vegetables in the natural juices of the chicken, mixed with the seasoning.

Should I Cut Chicken Fajita Before Cooking?

Cutting the chicken before cooking is recommended when using the stovetop or the oven to make chicken fajitas. You won’t need to cut the chicken when cooking this dish in the Crock Pot as the chicken is removed and sliced (or shredded) after cooking and then returned to the Crock Pot mixture for assembling the tortillas.

Do I Need to Brown the Chicken Before Adding It?

No, you don’t. Browning is a process used to lock in the chicken’s juices, which gives a dish added flavor.

While this additional step has not been taken in this recipe, if you have extra time to first sear the chicken breasts before continuing with the cooking, even better!

How Should I Store Crock Pot Chicken Fajitas?

Store any leftover chicken fajita mixture in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. I don’t recommend storing assembled tortillas in the fridge, as the chicken mixture will make the tortillas soggy.

Can I Freeze Crock Pot Chicken Fajitas?

Yes! This chicken fajita mixture will store well for 2 months in the freezer in an airtight container or Ziploc bag. Thaw in the fridge overnight and use in freshly assembled tortillas or in other chicken fajita-inspired recipes.

Crock Pot Chicken Fajitas

Yield: 4-6 tacos

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 6 hours

Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes

How to make tender chicken fajitas in your slow cooker.

Ingredients

3 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
1 Yellow Onion
1 Red Bell Pepper
1 Yellow Bell Pepper
1 Orange Bell Pepper
1 Poblano Pepper
1 tsp Chili Powder
1 tsp Smoked Paprika
1 tsp Cumin
1 tsp Granulated Garlic
1 tsp Salt
2 tbsp Olive Oil (optional)
Flour Tortillas

Instructions

Wash and cut the vegetables into strips. Place them in the bottom of the slow cooker.
Add the chicken on top of the vegetables.
Add olive oil and then the spices on top of the veggies and meat. Stir to combine.
Cook on low for 4-6 hours.
Remove the chicken and allow to rest for 10 minutes.
Slice, shred or cut the chicken into pieces.
Assemble the tacos with meat, veggies and toppings of your choice.
Enjoy!

Notes

Make in the Instant Pot -

Place the chicken and sliced vegetables in the inner pot.
Add the spices to top and stir to combine.
Add a cup of water or chicken broth to the pot.
Pressure cook on high for 12 minutes.
Naturally release the pressure.
Remove the chicken and shred.
Add the veggies and chicken to a bowl.
Serve into tortillas.

Other Chicken Recipes to Try

Did you make this recipe? I’d love for you to leave a review in the recipe card above or the comments below. Want to make it later? Pin the image below to your favorite board.

The post Crock Pot Chicken Fajitas appeared first on mom makes dinner.

French Onion Pasta

Kelley — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 12:00:00 +0000

If you are looking for the creamiest one pot pasta, then look no more! It’s here! French Onion Pasta takes the amazing flavors of a French dip and turns it into pasta form. It’s a pasta for onion lovers plus it’s super simple to make.

I have always loved onions but sautéed or caramelized onions are by far my favorite. There’s just something about the sweet flavor combined with the crunch from the onion that is next to none. So French onion dishes like this pasta are a constant rotation in our house. Don’t worry we switch them out for things like French onion pork chops or French onion chicken just for some variety.

What is French Onion Pasta?

French onion pasta combines caramelized onions with a decadent cream sauce to make one amazing pasta dish. While there’s no main protein besides bacon, this pasta does make a great main dish. You can always add chicken or shredded beef to round out this meal. The best part is that the whole thing is made in one skillet which means less dishes and more time to savor this pasta.

French Onion Pasta Ingredients

Another reason that I love this one dish pasta is because you only need a handful of ingredients and most of them are easy to find. I do use a fancier Fontina cheese but you can always substitute for Parmesan or mozzarella. To make this French onion pasta you will need:

Bacon
Onions
Mushrooms
Salt and pepper
Chicken broth
Pasta
Fontina cheese
Heavy cream
Parmesan
Fresh basil

Bacon – The bacon adds a nice flavor to this pasta. Plus that you use the bacon grease to fry up the onions which gives them a great dimension of flavor.

Onions – I love using sweet onions for this pasta, but feel free to use your favorite onion in this recipe.

Mushroom – Save some time and get some pre-sliced mushrooms from the produce section. I use small button mushrooms but any mushroom will work.

Pasta – Any shape of pasta will work in this recipe. I used a spiral pasta, but penne, rigatoni or even macaroni noodles will be fine.

Cheese – I used a block of fontina cheese that I shredded for my French onion dip pasta. You can use white cheddar or even mozzarella in place of the fontina. Gruyere would also be a great option.

How to make French Onion Pasta

Once you’ve gathered all your ingredients you also need a large skillet, measuring cups and spoon, a spatula and a cheese grater if you have a block of cheese.

Step one – Cook the bacon in the skillet and reserve the bacon grease. Cook your onions for about five minutes until they start to soften and become really fragrant. Then add in your mushrooms and cook until soffit as well.

Step two – Add in your chicken broth and bring it to a soft boil. Pour in the pasta and make sure it’s completely covered by the liquid. Cook for about 10 minutes until the pasta is al dente.

Step three – Add in your cheese and heavy cream once most of the liquid from the pasta has been absorbed. Allow it to cook for one to two minutes until creamy and smooth.

Step four – Add the Parmesan cheese and put in the oven to broil for 2 to 3 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. You can also place a lid on top of the skillet instead of placing it under the broiler to ensure the cheese melts. Top with your bacon crumbles and basil before serving.

How to make in the slow cooker

You can easily make this pasta in your slow cooker as well. Start by placing your bacon grease, onions and mushrooms in your slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours until the onions are brown and caramelized. Add in the cooked pasta, 1/2 cup of the chicken broth and the cheeses.

How to make in the Instant Pot

Want this French onion pasta even faster? Use your Instant Pot! Fry your bacon using the saute function and then add your onions and mushrooms. Cook until tender. Place the chicken broth and pasta in the Instant Pot and cook on manual high pressure for 6 minutes. Manually release the pressure and stir in the cheese, bacon and basil.

Side dish recommendations

This pasta makes a great main dish and is really filling. To round out this meal you can add the following side dishes:

How to store leftovers

Place leftover pasta in an airtight container and keep in the fridge. Reheat in the microwave as needed. This pasta will stay fresh for 2-3 days in the fridge.

Can I freeze it?

Yes, you can freeze this French onion pasta. Place it in a Ziplock bag once cooled and lay it flat in the freezer to harden. To re-heat, allow it to thaw in the fridge. Place it in the microwave with a few tablespoons of olive oil or water to heat.

Can I add chicken to this pasta?

Absolutely! Feel free to add chicken to this pasta to make it a full meal. It’s pretty hearty without the chicken, but the protein makes a great addition. Leftover chicken would make this a super easy dinner. You can also add shredded beef.

Do I have to use mushrooms?

I love mushrooms and onions together, but feel free to omit them if you are not a fan. The pasta is delicious with or without the mushrooms added.

French onion dip one pot pasta

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

How to make a super creamy french onion pasta with bacon, caramelized onions and mushrooms.

Ingredients

5-6 slices of bacon, cooked and greased reserved
2 large sweet onions, diced
8 oz button mushrooms, sliced
salt and pepper, to taste
3 1/2 cups chicken broth
16 oz pasta of choice
1/2 cup of shredded Fontina, or cheese of choice
1 1/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup of shredded Parmesan
parsley or basil for topping

Instructions

In the same pan you used to cooked the bacon, add the diced onions. Cook for 5 minutes or until they start to soften. Add the mushrooms and salt and pepper. Allow to cook for another 5-8 minutes, stirring every 30ish seconds.

Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a soft boil. Add in the pasta making sure it is completely covered by the broth. Reduce heat, cover and let cook for 10 minutes or until pasta is al dente. Be sure to stir every minute or so to ensure the pasta doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan.

Once most of the chicken broth has been absorbed stir in the Fontina cheese and heavy cream. Let it simmer for a minute or two and then remove from the stove top.

Top with the shredded Parmesan and put it in the oven on broil for 2-3 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Remove, add the bacon and basil (or parsley) and allow to cool.

Give one last stir and enjoy!

Notes

Slow cooker directions -

Start by placing your bacon grease, onions and mushrooms in your slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours until the onions are brown and caramelized. Add in the cooked pasta, 1/2 cup of the chicken broth and the cheeses. Note: you only need 1/2 cup of broth for the slow cooker version.

Instant Pot directions -

Fry your bacon using the saute function and then add your onions and mushrooms. Cook until tender. Place the chicken broth and pasta in the Instant Pot and cook on manual high pressure for 6 minutes. Manually release the pressure and stir in the cheese, bacon and basil.

Other French Onion dishes to try

I may have mentioned a time or two that I love onions. I’ve made quite a few other French onion inspired dishes that you might also enjoy if you love caramelized onions like me:

The post French Onion Pasta appeared first on mom makes dinner.

Baked chicken tacos

Kelley — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 13:00:00 +0000

These baked chicken tacos are perfect! They’re simple to make and everyone will love them. Plus, they’re a great way to use up leftovers.

One of our favorite family meals to eat together is tacos. My kids are big taco fans because you can customize them to your liking. We put out the tortillas, meat, and all the fixings and let me pick what they want on them. It’s a dinner win-win!

What are Baked Chicken Tacos?

Baked chicken tacos are a delicious and easy way to enjoy Mexican-inspired cuisine. The chicken is cooked in the oven until it is tender and juicy, and then it is shredded and mixed with a variety of flavorful toppings. They can be made with a variety of different toppings, including salsa, cheese, sour cream, and guacamole.

You can serve them on soft tortillas, but they can also be served on hard shells. Baked chicken tacos are a great option for a quick and easy weeknight meal, and they can be easily customized to suit your family’s taste preferences.

Chicken Taco Ingredients

For these delicious and healthy chicken tacos, you will need ingredients for the chicken as well as toppings for the taco. Here’s what you will need:

Chicken tenders– I use boneless skinless chicken tenders because they are already precut, but you could use chicken breasts and cut them into slices as well.
Seasonings– To season the chicken, you will need garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, salt, and pepper.
Spinach– I used spinach leaves, but you could use lettuce or any leafy green you choose.
Shredded cheese– You can’t have a taco without shredded cheese. I use a Mexican blend, but you can use whichever cheese you prefer.
Guacamole– Guacamole is totally optional, but super delicious as a topping.
Sour cream– I always use sour cream on my tacos, but if you don’t like it, you don’t have to use it.
Cilantro– A little bit will do. You don’t want to overpower the seasonings and spices of the chicken.
Tortillas– I used flour tortillas, but if you want a healthier option, you could use whole wheat or corn tortillas.

How to Make Chicken Tacos in the Oven

These chicken tacos are quick and easy to whip up. Follow the steps below!

Step 1: Preheat and Prep

First, preheat your oven to 350°F. Then, spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.

Step 2: Season the Chicken

Place the chicken on a cutting board, and sprinkle both sides with all of the seasonings.

Step 3: Bake the Chicken

Next, lay the chicken on the prepared baking sheet so it’s not touching. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the tops are browning and the chicken is fully cooked.

Step 4: Let the Chicken Cool

Remove the chicken and let it cool. Then, shred or dice it if you prefer

Step 5: Assemble the Taco

Add pieces of chicken to each taco, spinach, shredded cheese, and any toppings you prefer.

Enjoy!

How to Make in the Instant Pot

If you don’t want to heat up your kitchen by turning on the oven, and you have an Instant Pot, you can cook the chicken in the Instant Pot instead. Simply season the chicken with the spices, place 1 cup of water in the inner pot, add the chicken, and pressure cook for 12 minutes. Or, you can follow this Instant Pot Chicken Tacos Recipe.

How to make in the Slow Cooker

If you don’t have an Instant Pot, and don’t want to heat up the house, you can easily make the chicken in your slow cooker. Follow my Easy Crockpot Chicken Tacos Recipe, or simply make Crockpot Mexican Shredded Chicken and add all the toppings. Keep in mind that in the crockpot, you’ll cook the chicken on high for 4-6 hours or low for 8 hours.

Side Dish Recommendations

Can I Use A Taco Packet?

Sure! I like the seasonings above, but if you like the flavors of a taco packet, you can season the chicken with that instead. Just sprinkle the seasonings as you may not need to use the entire packet.

What Toppings Work Best for Baked Chicken Tacos?

Baked chicken tacos are a quick, easy, and tasty dish that can be served for a weeknight dinner or weekend get-together. The key to making them extra delicious is in the toppings. Some of our favorite toppings for baked chicken tacos include shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, sour cream, and chopped cilantro.

For a bit of spice, we also like to add a few slices of jalapeño pepper. You can also get creative with your toppings and include things like avocado, pineapple, or even crispy bacon bits. Whatever you choose, we guarantee that your baked chicken tacos will be a hit!

Other Mexican Inspired Recipes

Tips for making oven baked chicken tacos –

You can use any type of chicken that you prefer – I just find it easier with chicken tenders. Chicken thighs or breasts would also make a great baked chicken taco.

I used garlic powder, onion powder, cumin and salt and pepper on our chicken tacos. Feel free to add any spices you like! Don’t like cumin? It doesn’t have to go on your chicken. It’s your taco, boss. Season it up as you’d like.

I like to either spray down my cookie sheet or use a silicone baking liner before adding the chicken. There is nothing worse then trying to pull a piece of chicken off that is stuck to your cookie sheet.

Your cooking time may vary depending on the size of your chicken. Make sure that the center is no longer pink and that the internal temperature has reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit before eating.

Baked chicken tacos

Ingredients

For the chicken:
1 pound chicken tenders
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
1/2 tablespoon cumin
salt and pepper to taste
For the tacos:
1 cup spinach
1 cup shredded cheese
guacamole, for topping
sour cream, for topping
cilantro, for topping
6- 8 flour tortillas

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Lay the chicken on a cutting board and sprinkle spices over both sides.

Place on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray and bake for 15-20 minutes. Or until the tops are browning and they are no longer pink in the center.

Remove and let cool.

Assemble the tacos. Shred or dice the chicken if preferred.

Enjoy!

More recipes to try

Like this recipe? Be sure to check out:

Did you make this recipe? I’d love for you to leave a review in the recipe card above or the comments below. Want to make them later? Pin the image below to your favorite dinner board.

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King ranch chicken soup

Kelley — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 13:00:00 +0000

King ranch chicken is a classic South Texas casserole that is full of Tex-Mex inspired flavor. This easy King Ranch Chicken Chicken soup is a spin on the famous casserole that requires less work but is still packed with flavor! Let me show you how to make this easy dinner recipe in your Crock Pot or your Instant Pot!

Hey yall! It’s official – it’s fall around these parts! Fall means cooler temperatures, more time with family, sports and an all around busyness. I tend to use my Crock Pot more during the fall and winter months just to make sure we have dinner on the table after practices or games or concerts.

It just makes sense – busy weeknights equals more crock pot dinners. My friend Samantha from five heart home must have figured that out years ago though. She wrote a cookbook all about crock pot dinners for busy families. It’s called Real Food Slow Cooker Dinners. This King Ranch chicken soup is one of my absolute favorite meals from her cookbook.

What is King Ranch chicken soup?

To answer that, we need to dive into what is King Ranch chicken. The King Ranch is one of the largest (if not THE largest) privately owned ranch in the United States. It is a ranch of over 800,000 acres in South Texas. It is owned by a group on descendants of the King family from over the years. It is a popular tourist destination and an all around fun place to visit.

The King Ranch has a cowboy breakfast every year and invites people to take part in the old traditions of ranching. Although King Ranch Chicken is not served at the breakfast, it is a popular dish that was inspired by the ranches Tex-Mex roots. This recipe takes the classic recipe and turns into a delicious, easy to make soup.

King Ranch Chicken Soup Ingredients

The one thing that I LOVE about Samantha’s cookbook is that she uses real ingredients. No cans of cream soup here! To make this soup you will need:

butter
garlic
flour
chicken broth
chili powder
cumin – Gives this soup an authentic Tex-Mex flavor.
garlic powder
salt
pepper
chicken breasts – Boneless, skinless work best. You can also use thighs for this recipe.
diced tomatoes with green chiles
jalapeno
shredded cheese – I love using cheddar or sharp cheddar in this recipe.

How to make King Ranch Chicken Soup

Once you have gathered all your ingredients, you will also need to grab:

skillet
spatula
measuring cups and spoons
knife and cutting board
Crock Pot or Instant Pot

Step 1 Create a roux Before you start cooking your chicken in your crock pot, you will need to create a roux. This will give you a super creamy soup without using any cream of soups. Saute your garlic in the butter and then add your flour. Stir in the chicken broth and allow to thicken. Add in your spices and combine.

Step 2 Add to the Crock Pot Place your chicken in the bottom of your Crock Pot. Pour your canned of diced tomatoes over top along with your diced jalapeno. Next, add your sauce that you just made.

Step 3 Cook Cover the Crock Pot and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours. You can also cook on HIGH for 2-3 hours.

Step 4 Shred the chicken Once the chicken has cooked through with an internal temperature of 165 degrees, remove it from the Crock Pot. Use 2 forks or a knife to shred it before adding it back to the soup.

Step 5 Add cheese and serve Add in your cheese, cover and allow to melt. This will take about 15 minutes. Give it a final stir and then serve with your favorite toppings!

How to make King Ranch soup in the Instant Pot

I love this recipe because it can be easily made in your Crock Pot or your Instant Pot. You will need the same ingredients to make it in your pressure cooker. Follow these directions to have the soup ready quick –

Saute your garlic and butter in the inner pot.
Stir in your chicken broth and spices. Allow to thicken, slightly.
Scrap the bottom for any brown bits. (This will help NOT get the burn notice.)
Place your chicken in the Instant Pot and seal.
Cook for 10 minutes on manual high pressure.
Allow pressure to release naturally. Related – Natural release vs. manual release.
Shred your chicken and stir.
Add your check and place the lid back on to melt it.
Serve and enjoy!

What is King Ranch chicken?

King Ranch chicken got it’s name from the large ranch in South Texas. It is full of Tex-Mex flavors that are inspired by the South Texas landscape.

Do I have to make the roux?

Short answer – no. You don’t have to make the roux before adding it to the Crock Pot. I know that some people love dump and go meals when it comes to using their slow cooker. You can totally dump everything in the Crock Pot and let it cook. (Minus the flour.) If you do this, your soup will be a lot thinner and not as creamy. Even adding cornstarch at the end will not make it as creamy. The roux or the sauce that you make at the beginning is what makes this soup extra creamy and delicious.

Side dish recommendations

This soup can be a full meal, but sometimes you need a side to round it out. Some of my favorite side dishes for this King Ranch soup are:

How to store leftovers

Allow the soup to cool before placing any leftovers in a Tupperware with a secure lid. You can store the soup in the fridge for 3-4 days.

Can I freeze King Ranch Chicken soup?

Yes! You can! Allow the soup to cool before adding it to a large Ziplock bag. Place the bag flat in the fridge and allow it to freeze. You can then place the flat bag anywhere in your freezer. Allow to thaw in the fridge and re-heat in the microwave.

King ranch chicken soup

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 3 hours

Total Time: 3 hours 20 minutes

A super creamy soup that is easy to make and is full of Tex-Mex inspired flavors.

Ingredients

8 tablespoons butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup flour
4 cups chicken broth
4 teaspoons chili powder
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
pepper, to taste
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 (10oz) can diced tomatoes with green chiles
1 medium jalapeno, minced
2 cups shredded cheese
tortilla chips, for serving
fresh cilantro, for serving

Instructions

Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium low heat. Add the garlic and saute until it is fragrant and light golden brown, about 1 minute.

Stir in the flour and whisk continuously for one minute.

Slowly whisk in the chick broth. Increase the heat to a simmer and whisk continuously for several minutes, until the sauce is smooth and thickened.

Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the chili powder, cumin, garlic powder and salt. And black pepper to taste.

Place the chicken in your crock pot.

Top with the diced tomatoes and jalapeno.

Pour the sauce over top.

Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours, until the chicken is tender and cooked through. Can cook on high for 2-3 hours.

Transfer the chicken to a cutting board, stir in the cheese and cover.

Pull the chicken apart into large chunks using two forks and place back in the slow cooker.

Cover the crock pot for 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.

Stir well. Serve with crushed tortilla chips, extra cheese and cilantro.

Enjoy!

Other Crock Pot dinners to try

You know I love a good Crock Pot meal. Some others that I recommend trying are:

Did you try this recipe? I’d love for you leave a review in the post. Want to make it later? Pin the image below. THANK YOU for your support!

Another shout out to Samantha and amazing cookbook – Yall. Her cookbook is pure magic. She has a full page photo ON EVERY PAGE that makes you want to drool. And did you catch the title? REAL FOOD! Nothing processed. It’s good food for you and your family. YOU NEED THIS COOKBOOK delicious.

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Crock pot Mexican shredded chicken

Kelley — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 15:00:00 +0000

Crock pot dinners are one of the ultimate comfort foods. There is nothing better than getting dinner prepped in the morning and walking into the most heavenly smell of dinner ready to go in the evening. This crock pot Mexican shredded chicken takes less than 10 minutes to prep and is great as the base for tons of chicken recipes.

Y’all. I love me some crock pot dinners. Like, I get super giddy the night before because I KNOW that dinner is going to be super easy and my whole house will smell delicious. It seems like no matter what you toss in the crock pot, it will smell delicious by dinner time.

This crock pot Mexican shredded chicken is one of the most heavenly smells. When I walked into the house I just basked in the aroma. Oh, and it tastes pretty good too.

What is Mexican shredded chicken?

Here is the best part – this recipe is basically a set it and forget it type dinner. It’s crock pot shredded chicken with a few extra spices that make it full of Mexican inspired flavor. This quick and easy dinner recipe is a great base for chicken tacos, chicken enchiladas, chicken tostadas and tons of other recipes. You can also eat is over rice with a side of beans and call is delicious.

The base chicken recipe is gluten free, Paleo, Whole30 AND Keto friendly. Just be mindful of sides and other extras if you have any of those dietary restrictions.

How do you make moist shredded chicken in a crock pot?

Another perk for this crock pot Mexican chicken is that it comes out super moist. The secret is to no over cook the chicken in the crock pot. You also need to have a little liquid in the crock pot to help reduce the chance of the chicken drying out. I like to use the tomato juice from the canned tomatoes, but you can use chicken broth or even water to help keep the crock pot chicken moist.

Mexican shredded chicken ingredients

Are you ready for yet another plus of this easy dinner recipe? You don’t need very many ingredients! AND the ones you do need are easy to find at even the smallest grocery store.

You will need:

chicken
spices
onion
diced tomatoes

Chicken – You can use any type of chicken in this recipe. I prefer boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs but even bone in chicken will work here. Just be sure to remove them while shredding the chicken. It’s best to use thawed chicken but you can also toss it in frozen. The cook time will change by a few hours if frozen.

Spices – The Mexican inspired flavors in this dish come from the spices that you choose. You can use a classic taco seasoning here or a combo of spices like cumin, chili powder, red pepper flakes and more. Play with the spices to give it the right amount of heat that you like.

Onion – You will need one large diced onion here. Any variety works. Also, grab some cilantro for topping while you are in the produce aisle.

Tomatoes – I used two cans (14 ounces each) of diced tomatoes in my Mexican shredded chicken. One of the cans was fire roasted with extra spices and the other was plain diced tomatoes. Use whatever type of diced tomatoes you prefer, saving the juice for the crock pot!

How do you make Mexican pulled chicken in a crock pot?

Once you have all your ingredients, you just place them in the crock pot and let it do it’s magic. Start by placing your chicken on the bottom of the slow cooker. Add your spices, the onion, and both cans of diced tomatoes with the juice as well.

Once it’s done cooking, you can use two forks to shred it. You can also toss it in your KitchenAid with the paddle attachment or use a hand held mixer to shred.

How long does shredded chicken take in crock pot?

If you are using thawed chicken – cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4. If you are using frozen chicken – cook on high for the first 4 hours and then you can switch to low or leave on high. Cook on high for 4-6 hours and then you can switch to low for 2-3 hours after that. Use two forks to make sure it shreds easily before turning off your crock pot.

How to make in the Instant Pot

This Mexican shredded chicken is just as easy to make in your Instant Pot! Use all the same ingredients and follow the instructions below.

Place your chicken, spices, onion and tomatoes in your inner pot of the Instant Pot.
There should be enough liquid from the tomatoes, but if you’d like to add more, add a bit of chicken broth to the pot.
Seal the lid and pressure cook on high pressure for 12 minutes.
Allow the chicken to come to natural pressure – which means leave it alone until the pin drops.
Remove the chicken and shred it with forks.
Place it back in the pot and stir it back in with the juices.
Use as a base for your favorite Mexican inspired dishes!

This recipe is very similar to my Instant Pot shredded BBQ chicken recipe, so feel free to check that one out for more details.

Shredded Mexican chicken entrees

Now you have your crock pot Mexican shredded chicken, what do you use it in? Here are some great entree ideas to put that tasty chicken to good use:

You can also include these easy side dishes to make it a quick and easy dinner recipe:

Crock pot Mexican shredded chicken

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 6 hours

Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes

You are going to love this Mexican shredded chicken! It's perfect for tacos, enchiladas, tostadas and so much more!

Ingredients

1-2 pounds chicken, breasts or thighs
1 tablespoon taco seasoning
2 cans diced tomatoes, 14 ounces each, with the juice
1 large onion, diced
cilantro, optional

Instructions

Place the chicken on the bottom of the slow cooker.
Cover with spices.
Add your tomatoes and diced onion.
Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours.
Use forks to shred and add chopped cilantro.

Notes

If you are using FROZEN chicken - cook on high for the first 4 hours and then you can switch to low or leave on high. Cook on high for 4-6 hours and then you can switch to low for 2-3 hours after that.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 268Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 117mgSodium: 276mgCarbohydrates: 11gFiber: 1gSugar: 8gProtein: 40g

You may want to check out these other easy chicken crock pot dinners:

Did you make this recipe? I’d love for you to leave a review in the recipe card above or the comment section. Want to make it later? Pin the image below. I appreciate your support!

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Crock Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

Kelley — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 13:00:00 +0000

Warm up on a chilly fall night with this easy chicken tortilla soup. Just toss the ingredients in a Crock Pot and dinner is ready when you are. You will love how easy this hearty soup recipe is to make!

Who else loves soup season? Seriously, the cooler fall weather makes dinner so easy. Just pop a bunch of ingredients in your Crock Pot, let it cook all day and you have a quick and easy soup dinner. Plan soup for at least one dinner each week like broccoli potato cheese soup or spinach and mushroom tortellini soup . Make extra to freeze or have for lunch the next day.

Your family will love this chicken tortilla soup. It’s like chicken tacos in a bowl! Plus you probably have most of the ingredients on hand most of the time so it’s a great dinner idea for when you’re stuck on what to make.

What’s in Crock Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

Not only is this crock pot recipe super easy to make but you also don’t need a lot of fancy ingredients. In fact, the ingredient list is full of common every day staples. When combined though, they make one great soup!

To make this recipe you will need:

chicken
taco seasoning
onion
bell pepper
corn
diced tomatoes
chicken broth
cheese, cilantro, sour cream and tortillas for topping

Chicken – We love to use chicken thighs for this crock pot soup, but chicken breasts work just as well. You only need a pound of chicken. I have used frozen and thawed chicken. The only thing that changes is the cook time.

Taco seasoning – For the taco seasoning, you can use the packet or make your own homemade taco seasoning. It’s a pretty simple spice recipe and great to have on hand. Plus, it’s cheaper than the store version!

Onion – When it comes to the veggies – use whatever kind of onion you have or prefer. I love sweet onion only because it doesn’t make my eyes water when I cut it. HA!

Corn and tomatoes – Frozen, fresh or canned corn all work great for this recipe. Whichever you prefer or have on hand.

Chicken broth – You can use chicken broth, bone broth or even vegetable broth in this crock pot dinner.

How to make chicken tortilla soup

Place chicken in the bottom of a 6 quart Crock Pot. Don’t worry if you forget to thaw the chicken. You can use frozen or thawed chicken. Both boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs will work, but thighs cook best in the slow cooker as they don’t dry out quite as much.

Liberally sprinkle taco seasoning over the chicken. You can use store bought taco seasoning or make your own seasoning using this Homemade Taco Seasoning recipe. Make a batch of the seasoning and keep it in your spice pantry for quick and easy use whenever you need it.

Next, cover the chicken with the onion, bell pepper, tomatoes and corn. Again, you can use fresh, frozen or canned. Whatever you have on hand will work.

Finally, pour in the chicken broth. Just like the taco seasoning, you can use store bought or homemade chicken broth. Put the cover on the Crock Pot and cook. If you are using frozen chicken, cook on high for 6-8 hours. If your are using thawed chicken, cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4-6 hours.

When the cooking time is done, shred the chicken with two forks and allow to cool slightly. At this point, you can also turn the Crock Pot on warm and let the soup sit until you’re ready to serve.

How to make chicken taco soup in the Instant Pot

Want to make this recipe even faster? Use your Instant Pot! To make this chicken taco soup in your Instant Pot –

Place your chicken in the bottom of your inner pot.
Add your seasonings on top of the chicken.
Place the onion, corn and tomatoes over that.
Pour in the chicken broth.
Seal your Instant Pot and cook on high for 10 minutes.
Allow your Instant Pot to naturally release pressure.
Shred the chicken and add it back to the pot.
Serve with your favorite toppings.

When you’re ready to eat, spoon into bowls and top with cheese, cilantro and sour cream. Serve with tortilla chips on the side for a little extra crunch.

Chicken tortilla soup is a great recipe to use for a party or pot luck. It’d also be an easy dinner to make on Halloween to eat before, during or after trick or treating. Just leave in the Crock Pot on warm for your family and friends to eat as they get hungry.

How to store leftovers

Place any leftover soup in an airtight container, preferable a tupperware with a lid, in the fridge. This soup will keep for 3-4 days, if sealed properly. Reheat in the microwave.

Can I freeze this soup?

Yup! You absolutely can! Allow the soup to cool completely. Then place the cooled soup in a large Ziplock bag. Place the bag on a cookie sheet and flash freeze until solid. Remove the cookie sheet and place the bag back in the freezer. This soup will keep in the freezer for 3 months.

Allow to thaw in the fridge and reheat in the microwave.

Crock Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

You are going to love this comforting crock pot chicken tortilla soup!

Ingredients

1 pound chicken, breasts or thighs
1 tablespoon taco seasoning
1 onion, diced
1 bell pepper, diced
1 14 ounce can of diced tomatoes, with juice
14 ounces of corn, frozen or canned
32 ounces chicken broth
1 cup of cheese of choice
cilantro, sour cream and tortilla chips for topping

Instructions

Place the chicken in the bottom of the crock pot. Add the taco seasoning and then the onion, bell pepper, tomatoes and corn. Cover with the chicken broth.

If using frozen chicken - cook on high for 6-8 hours. If using thawed chicken - cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4-6 hours.

Shred the chicken with two forks and allow to cool slightly. Spoon into bowls and top with cheese, cilantro and sour cream. Enjoy!

Notes

Nutritional information does not include tortilla chips. It also assumes 1/4 cup of cheese and 1 tablespoon sour cream.

Nutrition Information:

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 231Cholesterol: 68mgSodium: 749mgCarbohydrates: 14.8gFiber: 1.6gSugar: 11.7gProtein: 22.9g

Be sure to check out these other quick and easy dinner ideas –

Meatloaf recipe with ketchup

Sheet pan chicken fajitas

Chicken enchilada skillet

Did you make this recipe? I’d love for you to leave a review in the recipe card above or the comments below. Want to make it later? Pin the image below to save it!

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Oven Baked Chicken Parmesan

Kelley — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 23:59:12 +0000

No need to run to your favorite Italian restaurant for chicken Parmesan – you can make it at home in under 40 minutes! This quick and easy oven baked chicken Parmesan is perfect for busy families and makes great leftovers. Let me show you how to make homemade chicken Parmesan with panko today!

Do you like to try new dishes when you go to your favorite restaurant? Or do you order the same thing all the time? I am in the order the same thing all the time. Or at least 95% of the time.

For example, when I go to my favorite little Italian place I always (or almost always) order the chicken Parm. Although it’s easy to make at home, it’s a treat when going out. Probably because I don’t have to do the dishes after!

What is oven baked chicken Parmesan?

Chicken Parmesan, or chicken parmigiana, is an Italian inspired dish that consists of chicken, sauce and mozzarella cheese. It is normally served over spaghetti noodles. The chicken is breaded and either fried or baked. My oven baked chicken Parmesan is done in the oven and ready in about 40 minutes.

Baked chicken Parmesan ingredients

The ingredients are fairly simple for this recipe. To make it you will need:

3 c. tomato sauce, divided
4. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Sea salt and black pepper
1 c. all-purpose flour
3 large eggs
1/3 c. water
1½ c. panko breadcrumbs
1 T. Italian seasoning
1¼ c. Parmesan cheese, fresh grated, divided
2 T. extra virgin olive oil, divided
6 oz. fresh Mozzarella, sliced
1 16-oz. box spaghetti

Chicken – This dish is traditionally made with chicken breasts. You want to get boneless, skinless breasts. You can also sub chicken tenders or thighs here, if needed.

Panko – Panko is Japanese style breadcrumbs that can be found in the baking aisle of most grocery stores. I love the Kikkoman panko breadcrumbs and always have a box on hand.

Italian seasoning – This is another one that I always have on hand as well. You can try homemade Italian seasoning or grab a jar of store-bought.

Parmesan – Grab a block of Parmesan and grate it at home. This gives the best flavor and is easy to do! Pre-shredded works as well and saves some time.

Mozzarella – You want to get fresh mozzarella for this recipe. Trust me – it’s worth it! You can normally find fresh mozzarella in the deli section of the grocery store. Get the one that looks like a ball or log.

Spaghetti – Chicken Parmesan is typically served with spaghetti but any pasta will work.

How to make oven baked chicken Parmesan

Once you have all your ingredients gathered you will also want to grab

a 9×13 baking dish
meat mallet or rolling pin
plastic wrap
3 shallow bowls
measuring cups and spoons
skillet
large pasta pot

Step 1 Preheat the oven

Place the top oven rack in the center position and pre-heat oven to 425ºF. Pour one cup of the tomato sauce into a 9”x13” baking dish and spread into an even layer across the bottom. Set aside.

Step 2 Pound the chicken breasts thin

Place chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound with a meat mallet or rolling pin until approximately ½” thick. Remove and discard top sheet of plastic wrap. Season with salt and black pepper, as desired, and set aside.

Step 3 Prepare the breading ingredients

Pour the flour onto a shallow, rimmed plate and whisk the eggs and water together in a large, wide bowl.

Add the breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, and one-quarter cup Parmesan cheese to another shallow, rimmed plate. Season with salt and black pepper, as desired, and gently stir to combine.

Step 4 Bread the chicken

Bread each chicken breast by first lightly dredging in the flour and then coating in the egg wash.

Press each breast into the bread crumb mixture until thoroughly coated on both sides.

Step 5 Brown the breaded chicken

Heat one tablespoon olive oil or butter in a large, high-sided skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add half the chicken breasts to the skillet and cook until lightly browned on each side, approximately 4-5 minutes per side. Once browned, transfer the breasts to the baking dish and arrange in a single layer.

Step 6 Add the cheese

Top the browned chicken breasts with the sliced Mozzarella and spread the remaining tomato sauce across the top in an even layer.

Sprinkle the remaining grated Parmesan cheese on top and place the baking dish into the pre-heated oven. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.

Chicken needs to reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 7 Cook the pasta

While the chicken is baking, cook the pasta. Drain, allow to cool and save for serving with the oven baked chicken Parmesan.

Step 8 Assemble and serve

After the chicken is done cooking, remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly. Place spaghetti and the plate and top with a chicken breast. Garnish with fresh basil and additional fresh grated Parmesan cheese.

Instant Pot chicken Parmesan

Want to use your Instant Pot to make this quick and easy dinner? Try this easy Instant Pot chicken Parmesan! The chicken isn’t breaded in this recipe but it is delicious and ready in under 20 minutes!

Crock Pot chicken Parmesan

You can even make this recipe in your Crock Pot! This Crock Pot chicken Parmesan is perfect for busy nights when you want comfort food but don’t have all the time.

Side dish ideas

This dish can be served alone or you can add a simple side dish to round it out. Some side dishes I suggest are:

How to store leftovers

If you have any leftover baked chicken Parmesan you are going to want to store it in an air tight container. I suggest storing the chicken in one tupperware and the pasta in another. The chicken will stay fresh in the fridge for 3-4 days.

Can I freeze it?

You can easily freeze this chicken Parmesan for another day. You are going to want to bread and brown the chicken per the instructions but bake it without the sauce and cheese. Allow to cool completely and store the breaded and baked chicken in airtight container in the freezer. To re-heat – allow the chicken to thaw and then heat in a hot skillet with a tablespoon of olive oil. This will give you the crispy texture of the original recipe.

Oven baked chicken Parmesan

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

How to make crispy oven baked chicken Parmesan!

Ingredients

3 c. tomato sauce, divided
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Sea salt and black pepper
1 c. all-purpose flour
3 large eggs
1/3 c. water
1½ c. panko breadcrumbs
1 T. Italian seasoning
1¼ c. Parmesan cheese, fresh grated, divided
2 T. extra virgin olive oil, divided
6 oz. fresh Mozzarella, sliced
1 16-oz. box spaghetti

Instructions

1. Place the top oven rack in the center position and pre-heat oven to 425ºF. Pour one cup of the tomato sauce into a 9”x13” baking dish and spread into an even layer across the bottom. Set aside.

2. Place chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound with a meat mallet or rolling pin until approximately ½” thick. Remove and discard top sheet of plastic wrap. Season with salt and black pepper, as desired, and set aside.

3. Pour the flour onto a shallow, rimmed plate and whisk the eggs and water together in a large, wide bowl. Set aside.

4. Add the breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, and one-quarter cup Parmesan cheese to another shallow, rimmed plate. Season with salt and black pepper, as desired, and gently stir to combine. Set aside.

5. Bread each chicken breast by first lightly dredging in the flour and then coating in the egg wash. Gently shake off any excess flour or egg mixture before moving to the next step.

6. Press each breast into the bread crumb mixture until thoroughly coated on both sides. Once coated, place each breast onto a large plate and set aside. Repeat until all breasts are breaded.

7. Heat one tablespoon olive oil in a large, high-sided skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add half the chicken breasts to the skillet and cook until lightly browned on each side, approximately 4-5 minutes per side. Once browned, transfer the breasts to the baking dish and arrange in a single layer. Repeat this process with remaining olive oil and chicken.

8. Top the browned chicken breasts with the sliced Mozzarella and spread the remaining tomato sauce across the top in an even layer.

9. Sprinkle the remaining grated Parmesan cheese on top and place the baking dish into the pre-heated oven. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.

10. While the chicken is baking, prepare the spaghetti according to package directions. Drain, rinse, and set aside until ready to serve.

11. Remove baking dish from oven and cool for several minutes. Divide the spaghetti among individual serving plates and top each serving with a cheesy chicken breast and some sauce. To serve, sprinkle some fresh basil and/or Parmesan cheese on top, if desired. Enjoy!

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1025Total Fat: 34gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 293mgSodium: 2115mgCarbohydrates: 103gFiber: 7gSugar: 11gProtein: 75g

For informational purposes only. Macros will vary based on ingredients.

You may want to try one of these other quick and easy chicken recipes –

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