If you are looking for easy healthy chicken recipes for the slow cooker you've come to the right place. This Slow Cooker Cheesy Southwestern Chicken—made with just six ingredients—is an easy and healthy dinner your whole family will love.
This dump and go slow cooker recipe is a complete one-dish meal with just 370 calories that's perfect for busy days.
This Cheesy Southwestern Chicken couldn't be easier to make with just six simple ingredients. All you need to make it is:
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts (or thighs)
- Canned black beans
- Canned corn (or frozen if you prefer)
- Your favorite thick and chunky salsa
- Reduced fat shredded Mexican cheese blend
- Southwest seasoning blend (affiliate link) (or taco seasoning)
The recipe is slightly adapted from Fix-It and Forget-It Lightly Revised and Updated: 600 Healthy, Low-Fat Recipes for Your Slow Cooker (affiliate link). I changed the recipe ever so slightly, adding some Southwest seasoning blend (affiliate link) to the chicken before adding it to the pot.
I think it's really important to season your meat or chicken - even if it's just with a little salt and pepper - before cooking it - especially in the slow cooker.
This recipe falls into what the internet refers to as "dump & go" crockpot recipes or "dump dinners." You simply toss all of your ingredients into the slow cooker, and let the appliance do the work.
No dicing, chopping, browning, or prepping required. These fuss-free dinners are perfect for hectic weeknights where the last thing you want to do is spend an hour cooking.
Substitutions & Variations
- Creamier: Add in some reduced fat cream cheese before serving. When I make it this way, I like to drain off some of the liquid first so that the cream cheese doesn't get too diluted.
- Dairy-free: Skip the cheese altogether and top with fresh cilantro, chopped jalapenos and/or avocado.
- Fresher: Turn this into a burrito bowl. Top with fresh lettuce, tomatoes, cilantro, and avocado.
- Spicier: Add some diced chipotle peppers in adobo, chili powder, hot sauce, fresh jalapenos, or canned diced green chiles.
What to Serve with Slow Cooker Chicken?
- Cauliflower rice: Since this recipe already has beans and corn, to keep the carbs in check, I like to pair it with a non-starchy vegetable like cauliflower rice. It's nice and light and you won't even miss the regular rice.
- Green salad: A nice green salad is another great light option.
- Lettuce wraps: Another light option is to make lettuce wraps. I like to chop some fresh tomatoes, cilantro, and green onion for these.
- Tortillas or wraps: Make tacos or burritos by pairing it with regular or low carb tortillas.
How Many Calories and WW Points in this Southwestern Cheesy Chicken?
According to my calculations, each serving has about 370 calories and:
9 *SmartPoints (Green plan)
2 *SmartPoints (Blue plan)
2 *SmartPoints (Purple plan)
9 *PointsPlus (Old plan)
To see your WW PersonalPoints for this recipe and track it in the WW app or site, Click here!
Ways to Use Leftovers
This recipe makes six generous servings. You could always portion out and freeze the leftovers for future quick and easy meals. Here are a few more ideas:
- Soup: Add chicken or vegetable broth (affiliate link) to turn your leftovers into a Southwestern chicken soup.
- Zucchini boats: If you have leftovers, think about making some zucchini boats. Just half zucchini lengthwise, scoop out the seeds, fill with the chicken, corn and bean mixture, top with cheese and bake until tender and bubbly.
If you like this 6-Ingredient Southwestern Slow Cooker Chicken, be sure to check out some of my other easy, healthy Weight Watchers friendly slow cooker recipes including 4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Goddess Chicken, 3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Creamy Italian Chicken, 4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Porcupine Meatballs, 2-Ingredient Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken and Easy Slow Cooker Creole White Beans & Chicken
Are You Ready To Slow Cook Yourself Slim?
If you've made this Skinny Southwestern Chicken, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.
Skinny Southwestern Slow Cooker Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cans (about 15.5 ounces each) corn, drained
- 1 can (about 15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 jar (about 16 ounces) chunky salsa, divided
- 6 boneless, skinless, chicken breast halves (about 4 to 5 ounces each)
- Southwest seasoning blend (affiliate link) (optional)
- 1 cup low-fat shredded Mexican cheese blend
Instructions
- Ideal slow cooker size: 5- to 6-Quart.
- Combine the corn, black beans and ½ cup salsa in the slow cooker.
- Season the chicken with Southwest seasoning blend (affiliate link) (if using) or salt and pepper to taste.
- Add chicken to the slow cooker.
- Top with the remaining salsa.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 6 hours, or until chicken is tender.
- Sprinkle with cheese. Cover and cook 5 minutes more or until cheese melts.
Equipment
Recipe Notes
Source: Fix-It and Forget-It Lightly Revised and Updated: 600 Healthy, Low-Fat Recipes for Your Slow Cooker (affiliate link) by Phyllis Good
*Points® calculated by WW. *PointsPlus® and SmartPoints® calculated by Simple Nourished Living; Not endorsed by Weight Watchers International, Inc. All recipe ingredients except optional items included in determining nutritional estimates. SmartPoints® values calculated WITHOUT each plan's ZeroPoint Foods (Green plan, Blue plan, Purple plan) using the WW Recipe Builder.
Here's another way to make easy, healthy slow cooker southwest chicken:
Search for More WW Freestyle Slow Cooker Recipes
Martha is the founder and main content writer for Simple-Nourished-Living.
A longtime lifetime WW at goal, she is committed to balancing her love of food and desire to stay slim while savoring life and helping others do the same.
She is the author of the Smart Start 28-Day Weight Loss Challenge.
A huge fan of the slow cooker and confessed cookbook addict, when she's not experimenting in the kitchen, you're likely to find Martha on her yoga mat.
This post contains affiliate links to products I like. When you buy something through one of my Amazon links or other (affiliate links), I receive a small commission that helps support this site. Thank you for your purchase!
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Jennifer
How many cups of the corn and bean mixture make a serving?
Thanks!
Martha McKinnon
Hi Jennifer, I'm guesstimating about 3/4 to 1 cup. If you want to be more accurate than that, just measure out the entire amount and divide that amount by 6 to get the amount of one serving. Hope this helps. -Martha
Peggy
New to WW. It looks like all of the ingredients are zero points so why is a serving 9 points? Thank you
Martha McKinnon
Hi Peggy,
This recipe had 9 SmartPoints on the old beyond the scale program. It now has 1 Freestyle SP. I've updated the information to make it clearer. All the best. -Martha
Jen
Have you ever added onions? Or more beans?
Martha McKinnon
Hi Jen, No, but both onions and more beans should work fine.
Shelby
Hi, this sounds yummy. Do you put the chicken breast in the crockpot thawed or frozen?
Martha McKinnon
I usually begin with thawed chicken.
Marianne
I don't see a measurement for the seasoning. Do you have a recommendation?
Thanks
Steve
Outstanding!!!!
Kim
Awesome recipe!!!!! Made it tonight, family loved it!!
Aly
Good, but SO MUCH WATER. drained it like three times and there was still so much liquid. Made it bland
Martha McKinnon
Hi Aly, Some chicken is definitely releases more liquid during cooking than others. I try to avoid anything chicken that says liquid has been added. Hope this helps.
Mary George
Omg this recipe is definitely a keeper! Very easy to make and very filling as well as being delicious. I couldn't find southwest seasoning but I found a recipe to make it. Thanks again for sharing such yummy recipes!!!
carmel
This is a southwestern keeper. Thanks for this super easy, slow cooker dinner.
I love the idea of 1 pot with so many flavors.
Marilyn
Has anyone tried to do this in the instant pot? Times?
Cathleen
Yes! I make this all the time in an instant pot. 10 minutes on high pressure, with natural release for at least 10 minutes. Works great!
Karen Carlson
The whole family liked it - even my 8-year old grandson. He said it was kinda like Chipotle and he'd been hungry for Chipotle. So - winner!! Will be making this again. I did use about 1/2 C more Salsa - otherwise followed the recipe.
Joyce
Another big hit at our house!!!! I only used one can of corn and actually omitted the cheese. It was GREAT!!! Loved the leftovers too!!!! Very very tasty!!!!
Sally
Neither my husband or I like overly spicy dinners.
Jocelyn
Then I would suggest you make it without adding spices and using a mild salsa.
Jocelyn
Sounds wonderful! Will be making this soon! Thanks!
Ken Athey
Tasty and easy to make, my favorite,especially when I’m busy working.
Ken
Tasty and easy to make, my favorite,especially when I’m busy working.
Annette Abbott
I cannot wait to try this!! It sounds amazing and so versatile! I love that you give so many options with your meals. Thank you!!!