Crockpot Chicken & Black Bean Taco Salad
Easy, flavourful, and hands-off! Tender chicken, black beans, and salsa simmered to perfection in the crockpot, served over crisp romaine with all your favourite taco toppings.
Prep time
10 min
Cook time
6–7 hrs (crockpot) or 12 min (Instant Pot)
Serves
Ingredients
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Crockpot Chicken
- 3skinless, boneless chicken breasts
- 1 tbsptaco seasoning (store-bought or homemade — see below)
- 1 tspcumin
- 1 can (15 oz)black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1½ cupssalsa
Optional Homemade Taco Seasoning
- 1 tspchili powder
- ½ tspsmoked paprika
- ½ tspgarlic powder
- ½ tsponion powder
- ¼ tspcayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
- ¼ tspsalt
- ¼ tspblack pepper
Taco Salad Assembly
- 4 cupsromaine lettuce, chopped
- 1avocado, sliced
- handfulfresh cilantro, chopped
- to servesour cream
- to servesriracha or hot sauce, drizzle
Ingredients
Crockpot Chicken
- 3skinless, boneless chicken breasts
- 1 tbsptaco seasoning (store-bought or homemade — see below)
- 1 tspcumin
- 1 can (15 oz)black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1½ cupssalsa
Optional Homemade Taco Seasoning
- 1 tspchili powder
- ½ tspsmoked paprika
- ½ tspgarlic powder
- ½ tsponion powder
- ¼ tspcayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
- ¼ tspsalt
- ¼ tspblack pepper
Taco Salad Assembly
- 4 cupsromaine lettuce, chopped
- 1avocado, sliced
- handfulfresh cilantro, chopped
- to servesour cream
- to servesriracha or hot sauce, drizzle
Instructions
Cook the Chicken
- 1
Place chicken breasts in the crockpot. Sprinkle taco seasoning (store-bought or homemade) and cumin over chicken. Add rinsed black beans and salsa. Stir gently to combine.
- 2
Crockpot: Cover and cook on low for 6–7 hours or high for 3–4 hours, until chicken is tender and easily shredded.
- 3
Instant Pot: Cook on high pressure for 12 minutes, then natural release for 5 minutes.
- 4
Remove chicken from the crockpot and shred with two forks. Return shredded chicken to the pot and stir to coat in the sauce.
Assemble the Salad
- 1
Place chopped romaine lettuce in bowls. Top with a portion of shredded chicken and black bean mixture.
- 2
Add sliced avocado, fresh cilantro, a dollop of sour cream, and a drizzle of sriracha or hot sauce.
- 3
Optional: add a squeeze of lime juice over the top before serving.
Melissa's Notes
You can add diced tomatoes, corn, or shredded cheese as optional toppings. This salad works well warm or slightly cooled, and the chicken keeps beautifully for meal prep throughout the week.
Nutrition Information
Per serving — based on 4 servings, without toppings
Nutrition information is an estimate and may vary depending on the ingredients and brands used.
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