Skip to main content
CostcoRecipes
quick dinnerseasy

2-Ingredient Costco Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

Two Costco ingredients — a pack of chicken breasts and a jar of Kirkland salsa — go into the slow cooker in the morning and come out as tender, shreddable chicken ready for tacos, bowls, burritos, or nachos by dinner.

Prep Time
5 min
Cook Time
6 hr
Servings
6
Cost / Serving
$5.00

Quick Answer

Place Costco chicken breasts in the slow cooker, cover with a jar of Kirkland salsa, season lightly, and cook on low for 6 hours. Shred with two forks and use in tacos, bowls, burritos, or nachos. Two ingredients, six servings, almost no work.

Two-ingredient slow cooker salsa chicken is the kind of recipe that sounds too simple to be useful until you make it once and realize it solves dinner every week. Costco's large pack of chicken breasts and big jar of Kirkland salsa are all you need. Set it in the morning, shred it at dinner, and use it in tacos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, or nachos for the rest of the week.

Instructions

  1. 1

    Place chicken breasts in the slow cooker. Season with cumin, garlic powder, and salt.

  2. 2

    Pour salsa over the top, spreading to coat.

  3. 3

    Cook on LOW for 6–7 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours. Do not open the lid during cooking.

  4. 4

    When done, use two forks to shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker. Toss the shredded meat in the salsa juices.

  5. 5

    Serve in tacos, burrito bowls over rice, quesadillas, or over nachos. Top with shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado, and lime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use frozen chicken breasts straight from the freezer?+
Yes, for slow cooker salsa chicken you can add frozen chicken breasts directly — no thawing required. Add 1–2 hours to the cook time (8–9 hours on low). The USDA recommends against starting with frozen poultry in a slow cooker if your slow cooker doesn't heat quickly, so if you have any doubts, thaw first.
Why is slow cooker chicken so easy to shred?+
Collagen in chicken breasts breaks down over several hours of moist, low heat. The result is meat with almost no structural integrity — it falls apart at the touch of a fork. This is the same process that makes pulled pork work.
How long does salsa chicken keep?+
Up to 5 days in the fridge, or 3 months frozen. It reheats perfectly from frozen — thaw overnight and microwave with a splash of water. Making a double batch and freezing half is one of the best meal prep moves you can make.
What's the best Costco salsa for this recipe?+
Kirkland Signature salsa is the most consistent option and comes in a large jar that's perfect for this recipe. Chunky salsa gives more texture in the finished dish; smooth salsa blends into the sauce more completely. Both work — use whichever you prefer.
Can I make this in an Instant Pot instead?+
Yes. Add chicken and salsa to the Instant Pot. Cook on high pressure for 15 minutes, then natural release for 10 minutes. Shred and serve. The texture is slightly different (less fall-apart tender than 6 hours in a slow cooker) but it's excellent and takes about 35 minutes total.

You Might Also Like

rotisserie chickeneasy

Costco Rotisserie Chicken Enchiladas

Costco rotisserie chicken enchiladas are the weeknight dinner that feels like a treat but takes less than an hour. The chicken is already cooked and seasoned, so all you're doing is shredding, rolling, saucing, and baking. Use a good store-bought enchilada sauce and a generous handful of Costco shredded Mexican blend cheese, and dinner is done.

45 min·6 servings
$2.33/serving
rotisserie chickeneasy

Costco Rotisserie Chicken Noodle Soup

Homemade chicken noodle soup in under 40 minutes sounds too good to be true, but starting with a Costco rotisserie chicken makes it completely real. You skip the hours of simmering raw chicken by using already-cooked, already-seasoned meat and adding the carcass to the broth for extra depth. The result tastes like something that's been on the stove all day.

40 min·8 servings
$1.87/serving
rotisserie chickeneasy

Costco Rotisserie Chicken Street Tacos

Street tacos are the fastest, most satisfying thing you can make with a Costco rotisserie chicken. The chicken is already seasoned, the prep is minimal, and the whole meal comes together in 15 minutes. Use small corn tortillas, stack them two deep, and don't skip the lime — it makes everything brighter.

15 min·4 servings
$3.00/serving