Dump And Go Crockpot Nacho Cheese Chicken is creamy, zesty, and packed with bold Tex-Mex flavor.
It is perfect for easy weeknight dinners, game day spreads, or casual family meals with tacos, rice, or chips.
Dump-and-Go Crockpot Nacho Cheese Chicken
4 h 10 min
|
easy
|
high-protein,
low-FODMAP
Introduction
Ingredients (6 servings)
Adjust servings:
Ingredients
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How to Make Dump-and-Go Crockpot Nacho Cheese Chicken
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Add the ingredients
Place the chicken breasts in the slow cooker.
Pour in the nacho cheese soup, diced tomatoes, taco seasoning, and chicken broth.
Stir around the chicken so the seasoning spreads evenly.
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Slow-cook until tender
Cover and cook on high for 3 to 4 hours, or on low for 5 to 6 hours.
The chicken should reach 165°F and shred easily with two forks.
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Shred and finish the sauce
Remove the chicken and shred it into bite-size pieces.
Return it to the slow cooker and stir in the cubed cream cheese.
Cover and cook for 10 to 15 minutes more.
Stir until the sauce looks smooth and creamy.
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Serve the chicken
Spoon the cheesy chicken over tortilla chips, rice, baked potatoes, or warm flour tortillas.
Use a slotted spoon for thicker nachos, or extra sauce for bowls.
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Toppings for Crock Pot Chicken Nachos
Good toppings include shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sliced jalapenos, red onion, black olives, and chopped cilantro.
Add avocado, sour cream, pickled onions, or crushed tortilla chips for more texture.
Finish with lime wedges for brightness and extra shredded cheddar for a stronger cheese pull.
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Make-ahead
Combine the soup, tomatoes, broth, and taco seasoning up to one day ahead.
Refrigerate that mixture separately, then pour it over the chicken when cooking.
You can also cook the filling fully, cool it, and refrigerate it for three days.
Reheat it gently in the slow cooker or microwave, stirring often.
Substitutions
- Chicken breasts for boneless skinless chicken thighs
- Thighs stay juicier during long cooking and shred beautifully. The finished dish tastes a bit richer and more savory.
- Condensed spicy nacho cheese soup for condensed cheddar cheese soup plus chopped pickled jalapenos
- This keeps the same creamy orange base with a similar kick. The flavor is slightly sharper, and the heat is easier to control.
- Diced tomatoes with green chilies for fire-roasted salsa
- Salsa adds a looser sauce and a deeper roasted flavor. It also gives the chicken a fun taco-truck vibe.
Tips
- Season above and below the chicken
- Sprinkle half the taco seasoning under the chicken and half over it. That small step seasons the meat more evenly.
- Soften the cream cheese first
- Softer cubes melt faster and leave fewer lumps in the sauce. Cold cream cheese can take much longer to blend.
- Shred while the chicken is hot
- Warm chicken fibers separate faster and hold more sauce. If it cools first, shredding takes more effort.
- Thicken the sauce without extras
- Leave the lid off for 10 minutes after stirring. Extra steam escapes, and the sauce tightens without extra starch.
- Warm the chips before serving
- Bake tortilla chips for a few minutes before topping them. Warm chips stay crunchier under the saucy chicken.
Nutrition Facts *
| Energy | 255 | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 32 | g |
| Total Fat | 10 | g |
| Carbohydrates | 10 | g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1 | g |
* Approximate, per serving.
Data source: USDA FoodData Central.
FAQ
- Why is my sauce too thin?
- Chicken releases moisture as it cooks. Remove the lid, cook 10 to 15 minutes longer, or stir in more cream cheese.
- Can I use frozen chicken?
- For food safety, start with thawed chicken. Frozen chicken can stay too cold for too long in a slow cooker.
- How do I know the chicken is done?
- Use an instant-read thermometer in the thickest part. The chicken is done at 165°F and should shred easily.
- Can I make it less spicy?
- Use mild diced tomatoes with green chilies or plain diced tomatoes. A milder cheese soup also softens the heat.
- Can I freeze leftovers?
- Yes, but cream cheese sauces can separate slightly after thawing. Reheat slowly and stir well to bring the sauce back together.
Serving Suggestions
Side Pairings
These sides complement the meal beautifully.
Reviews
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Kellie, Los Angeles: This was very good! The sauce thickens up as it cools. I cut the recipe in half but made the full amount of chicken and there were enough nachos for us.
: Glad it worked well for your nachos, Kellie!
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