Slow Cooker Tomatillo Chicken (Shredded)

If there’s one recipe I come back to again and again, it’s this slow cooker tomatillo chicken. It’s scrumptious on its own, incredibly versatile for so many meals throughout the week, and it produces the most delicious tomatillo infused broth that I refuse to ever throw away. That broth is honestly half the reason I make this recipe as often as I do.

The idea is simple: boneless skinless chicken breasts, a handful of spices, Herdez tomatillo salsa verde, and good quality chicken bone broth all go into the slow cooker and do their thing for several hours. What comes out is tender, shreddable chicken that soaks up every bit of that tomatillo flavor. I use it in tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, tostadas, flautas, salads, and of course my Gluten Free Chicken Tortilla Soup. It’s the kind of base recipe that quietly runs your whole week.

A note about the Herdez Tomatillo Salsa Verde

The Herdez brand, and all the varieties offered, was actually recommended to me by a Latin American friend of mine when we lived in the No California area over three decades ago. Her family hailed from Mexico and she assured me that using a canned/jarred salsa variety like Herdez was about as close to homemade Mexican sauce as you could find. I’ve since always grabbed it for a simple and easy way to make “nearly” authentic Mexican food a little easier. I of course know how to make my own salsa verde, but in a pinch, Herdez is kept in my pantry as a staple and since Elana told me she loved it, I do as well.

Why This Slow Cooker Tomatillo Chicken Works So Well

The tomatillo salsa verde does the heavy lifting here. It’s bright and tangy with a gentle heat that works its way into every fiber of the chicken as it slow cooks. Combined with cumin (one of my most favorite spices), Mexican oregano, garlic, and onion powder, the flavor is layered and genuinely delicious without any complicated steps. Set it in the morning, come back to perfectly cooked chicken in the afternoon. That’s the dream, right? Plus the smell that infuses your home while it cooks all day long is not lost on your taste buds and how happy they will be when it’s done!

The other thing I love about this slow cooker tomatillo chicken is the yield. Depending on breast size you’ll end up with 5 to 6 cups of shredded chicken, which means you’re set for multiple meals. Freeze what you don’t use in flat layers (trust me on the flat layer step!) in freezer bags and you’ve got a serious weeknight shortcut ready to go whenever you need it.

Do NOT Throw Away That Broth

I will say this every single time: the leftover broth from this chicken is liquid gold. Once the chicken is done, strain the remaining liquid through a fine mesh sieve into a large heatproof bowl, let the sediment settle, and skim the clearer broth from the top. You’ll have 4 to 5 cups of the most deeply flavored tomatillo broth that becomes the entire base of my Chicken Tortilla Soup. Freeze it in 1 to 2 cup portions if you’re not using it right away. You’ll thank yourself later.

Tips for the Best Results

Submerge the chicken as much as possible. The more the chicken is covered by liquid the more evenly it cooks and the more flavor it absorbs. Nestle the breasts down into the broth and sauce before securing the lid.

If starting from frozen, no need to thaw first. Just know the breasts may shift as they thaw during cooking, so check partway through and adjust so they stay submerged.

Finish with lime, salt, and cilantro. Once the chicken is shredded, a quick toss with a little extra salt, fresh lime juice, and roughly chopped cilantro elevates it from great to scrumptious. This optional finish step is one I will never skip, because lime juice and salt just play together so well and the flavors are a great finish to the shredded chicken.

Ways to Use Tomatillo Shredded Chicken

This chicken is the kind of recipe that gives you multiple meals with barely any extra effort. Here are some of my favorite ways to use it:

• Gluten Free Chicken Tortilla Soup – the ultimate use for both the chicken and the broth
• Green Chili Enchiladas – swap in the tomatillo chicken for a flavor upgrade
• Tacos, tostadas, and quesadillas all week long
• Meal prep protein to top salads or grain bowls

Slow Cooker Tomatillo Chicken (Shredded)

Recipe by MichelleCourse: DinnerCuisine: MexicanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

10

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

5

hours 

tomatillo infused shredded chicken

Ingredients

• chicken

• 4-6 whole Chicken Breasts, Boneless Skinless

• 1 Tbsp Ground Cumin

• 1 tsp Dried Mexican Oregano

• 1 tsp Real Salt (Redmond)

• 1 tsp Onion Powder

• 1 tsp Garlic Powder

• 16 oz Herdez Tomatillo Salsa Verde

• 4 cups Chicken Bone Broth

• optional finish

• 1-2 tsp sea salt

• Juice of 1-2 Limes

• 1-2 Tbsp Cilantro, roughly chopped

Directions

• Place chicken in the base of your slow cooker. Sprinkle on the cumin, oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt.
• Pour the Herdez tomatillo salsa verde over the top of the chicken and spices, then add the chicken bone broth. Give everything a slight stir.
• Adjust chicken so it is as submerged as possible in the liquid. Secure the lid and cook on high for 5-7 hours.
• Once cooked, remove chicken to a cutting board to cool slightly, then shred with your fingers or two forks. It should shred very easily. Optionally sprinkle with a bit of salt, lime juice, and cilantro and toss slightly.
• You should have about 5-6 cups of chicken depending on breast size. Use within 4-5 days refrigerated, or freeze in flat layers in freezer bags.

Notes

• SAVE THE BROTH: Strain remaining broth through a fine mesh sieve into a large heatproof glass bowl. Allow sediment to settle, then remove the clearer broth from the top. You should have 4-5 cups of delicious broth – use as the base for my Chicken Tortilla Soup!
• If starting with frozen chicken breasts, they may need to be adjusted as they thaw during cooking. The leftover broth is liquid gold – do not discard it! Freeze broth in 1-2 cup portions for easy use later. This chicken works beautifully in so many recipes throughout the week.

If you make this slow cooker tomatillo chicken I’d love to hear how you used it! Drop a comment below or tag me on Instagram. And whatever you do, save that broth. 🌿