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A new go-to weeknight dinner – Crockpot White Chicken Chili Burrito Bowls. Seasoned chicken slow cooked with onions, poblano peppers, and spicy salsa verde. Served up bowl style, just as you desire, with cilantro-lime rice, lettuce, lots of cheese, avocado, sour cream, and plenty of salty tortilla chips, plus extra salsa. These colorful chicken bowls are the simplest dinner to make and full of wonderful Mexican flavors. A fun any-night-of-the-week dinner that everyone will enjoy.
When I set out to make new recipes to share with you all, I have a few things in mind that I want to get out of the recipe. It varies from recipe, to recipe, but one constant is to create simple, delicious, and colorful weeknight meals. We’re all busy, so my main goal is for everyone to enjoy a homemade dinner, even on the busiest nights of the year.
Sometimes I nail it and a new recipe is super simple, super colorful, and totally delicious. Other times the recipe may check off 1 or 2 of those boxes. When a recipe does check off all the boxes I have floating around in my head, I know it’s a keeper.
I just finished writing the recipe for these burrito bowls. And while it didn’t check off all of my boxes, it sure checks off the simple and easy box.
Without a doubt, this is my simplest recipe of the week. It’s one of those amazing crockpot dinners that you just dump everything in, turn the crockpot on, walk away, and then come home to dinner.
You’ll have to make a side of rice and gather all your toppings, so I guess there are those “extras”. But that’s only minutes of prep and the outcome is so worth it.
These colorful Mexican-inspired bowls are so delicious, yet so simple. I know you’re going to love them.
Here are the details
Before I dive in, you can make these bowls with the crockpot, instant pot, or simply on the stove. However, I do love the crockpot for this recipe.
The ingredients are as follows: chicken, onion, poblano peppers, a mix of seasonings, and then jarred salsa verde. Dump this all into your crockpot and cook, nothing fancy. No searing, broiling, or anything.
Next, shred the chicken, which by this time should easily fall apart. Mix in white beans or pinto beans, cheddar cheese, and cilantro. That’s all.
The most time-consuming element of these bowls is gathering up all of the toppings. Which I will admit can take a few minutes, since we all love a bounty of burrito bowl toppings.
But that’s the beauty of a bowl-style recipe, you can build your own!
I serve the chicken over bowls of buttered cilantro rice, which I share the recipe for in the notes. Then plenty of toppings.
I like to arrange the burritos like this. First the rice, then spoon over the chicken, peppers, beans, and sauce from the crockpot. From here, I top with cheese so that the hot chicken will melt the cheese (YUM). Next add lettuce, lightly mashed avocado, cilantro, green onions, jalapeños, and a dollop of plain Greek yogurt.
Add salsa over top along with chips on the side…all the delicious important things!
The final verdict from the family, specifically Creighton, is that these bowls need to be on repeat. He especially loved the saucy salsa verde chicken, which really is the heart of the recipe.
I love a little extra salsa verde sauce!
And guys, that’s pretty much it for this one. Simple as can be, but so delish. Think a little spicy, a touch creamy, filled with chicken, peppers, cheese, and all those yummy toppings. I love a simple January dinner when the days are busy and the nights are long and cold!
Looking for other fall dinners with a little kick? Here are a few ideas:
Healthy Slow Cooker Turkey and White Bean Chili
Healthy Slow Cooker Chipotle Bean Chili
One Skillet Saucy Chicken Tortilla Enchilada Rice Bake
Healthy Chipotle Chicken Sweet Potato Skins
Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken Tortilla Soup with Salty Lime Chips
Lastly, if you make these Crockpot White Chicken Chili Burrito Bowls be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite
Crockpot White Chicken Chili Burrito Bowls
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 470 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 2 poblano peppers, seeded and chopped
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 2 cups salsa verde
- 1 can white beans, drained
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1-2 jalapeños or serrano peppers, sliced
- 4 cups cooked rice
- shredded lettuce, avocado, green onion, and yogurt/sour cream, for serving
- 1-2 cups favorite salsa
- lime zest and juice
- tortilla chips, for serving
Instructions
- 1. In the bowl of your crockpot, combine the chicken, onion, peppers, cumin, chili powder and paprika. Season well with salt and pepper. Pour over the salsa verde. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.2. Lightly shred the chicken. Stir in the beans, cheddar cheese, and cilantro. Cook until the cheese melts, 5 minutes. 3. Serve the chicken and sauce over bowls of rice. Top, as desired, with lettuce, yogurt/sour cream, cheese, avocado, cilantro, jalapeños, and green onions. Drizzle over the salsa. Zest lime over each bowl. Eat and enjoy with plenty of chips on the side.
Instant Pot
- 1. In the bowl of your instant pot, combine the chicken, peppers, cumin, chili powder and paprika. Season well with salt and pepper. Pour over the salsa verde. Seal the lid and cook on high pressure for 8-12 minutes. 2. Finish as directed above.
Stove
- 1. In large pot, combine the chicken, peppers, cumin, chili powder and paprika. Season well with salt and pepper. Pour over the salsa verde. Set over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, stir, adding olive oil if needed. Reduce the heat to low. Simmer 20 minutes, until the chicken shreds. 2. Finish as directed above.
Notes
Cilantro Rice: Combine 1 (14 ounce) can coconut milk and 1/2 cup water in a medium pot. Bring to a low boil. Add 1 cup white rice and a pinch of salt. Stir to combine, cover, then turn the heat down to the lowest setting possible. Allow the rice to cook 10 minutes on low, then turn the heat off completely and let the rice sit, covered for another 15-20 minutes (don’t take any peeks inside!). Remove the lid and add a pat of butter and 1/3 cup chopped cilantro. Fluff the rice with a fork.
Family favourite. Thanks for the recipe! Every time I try it in the instant pot it burns. Any tips on how to correct that?
Hi Karley,
Happy Holidays!🎄🎁☃️ Thanks a lot for making this recipe, I’m so glad to hear it turned out well! I would try adding a little chicken broth in the bottom of your pot. XxT
Hey! With your crockpot recipes can you prep before and freeze ?
Hey there,
Totally, that will work nicely for you! Please let me know if I can help in any other way! xT
I mistakenly added the white beans at the beginning! Will it still turn out okay?
Hi Kelley,
No worries, it will be just fine:) Thanks for giving this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xx
I want to cook it overnight. Can I do that on low?
Hi Shayla,
Anything longer than 8 hours might be a bit long. I hope you love this recipe! xx
Great, a favorite. I used chicken breasts a bit over a pound and half, and it was done in 3.5 hours on high. I did saute (in just half teaspoon oil), poblano and onion and added all the spices including dried cilantro as didn’t have fresh, before adding to the chicken in the slow cooker. Flavor was great. Didn’t add cheese –added to individual portions if wanted. used some toasted thin corn tortillas with this–and husband had rice. Want to try your coconut rice sometime too. Thanks for that idea also.
Hi Frances,
Yay!! Love to hear this recipe turned out well for you and was enjoyed! Thank you so much for making it and sharing your feedback! Happy Friday! XxT
Could I use frozen chicken? I planned to make this today and the chicken didn’t thaw in time. I put it in and am wondering if it’ll be okay, and how much time I would need to add? I’ve never used frozen before!
Hi Molly,
So sorry, I would recommend thawing the chicken first:) Please let me know if I can help in any other way! xT
Just made this! It’s amazing, used 1.5lbs chicken breasts and it seasoned well. I added some beer for extra flavor instead of water.
Hi Carolyn,
Happy Sunday! I appreciate you making this recipe and your feedback, so glad to hear it turned out nicely for you! xx
Mine doesn’t look like the picture. It still tasted good. Not sure where the red coloring is coming from. I used black beans instead. I cooked it in the instapot. I wasn’t sure if I should put the cup of required liquid in as well as the salsa. I put both. I think it was too much liquid, in the end.
Hi Kerri,
Thanks so much for trying this recipe and sharing your feedback! Sorry to hear it didn’t look like the pictures, I think the crockpot allows it to cook longer and develop a richer coloring. xx
Another winner! My family scarfed this down, and my 17 year-old son’s eyes lit up when he said. “This is SO GOOD.” Definitely a keeper (my son and the recipe 😉).
Thanks so much, Stacie! Love to hear that this dish turned out well for you! Thanks for making it:) xT
Yum! This was our Cinco De Mayo meal. So easy! Thank you!!
Thanks so much, Cindy:) I’m so glad to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and appreciate you giving it a try! xT
I make this often – easy to put together in the morning in the crock pot. The rice with coconut milk is delicilus with it! Highly recommend – especially for a gluten free meal!
Hey Mary Ann,
Happy Sunday! I’m so glad to hear that this recipe is always a winner, thanks for making it so often! xT
Hi! I thought I had defrosted chicken breasts but it turned out to be center cut pork chops!🙄 Would these work in this recipe? Thanks, love your recipes~ Gail
Hi Gail,
So sorry! I’m not sure pork chops would be the best to use for this recipe! Let me know if I can help in any other way! xx
Delicious and easy to make
Hi Irina,
Happy Monday! Thanks a lot for giving this recipe a go and your comment! Love to hear that it turned out well:)