I am such a Mexican food fan at this time of year, well to be honest I am at any time of year. There is something about the cuisine that suits the warmer months just as well as the cooler months. While chilli is great in the winter, this particular recipe feels light enough for the summer, although to be fair it’s a great comfort food for the British summer, which is currently bucketing it down outside my window as I type!
Alongside being a fan of Mexican food I’m obviously a fan of healthy food that tastes delicious and is also incredibly easy to make. This recipe is so utterly simple, just dump a few ingredients into a slow cooker, add a couple more things at the end of cooking and then serve! No endless pots and pans to wash, just a bit of organisation needed in the morning to ensure you have a delicious meal ready for you at the end of the day.
Due to the mix of protein-packed chicken, cannellini beans and quinoa, this recipe is also very filling. It’s the perfect weight loss meal!
The chilli is completed with some avocado, a squeeze of lime juice and some fresh coriander and while it’s perfectly delicious without these things I urge you to include them as the lime juice especially enhances the taste.
- 2 chicken breasts
- 1 carton of chopped tomatoes
- 1 jar of salsa (mild or hot depending on your preference)
- 1/2 packet of pre-cooked quinoa (I use Merchant Gourmet brand)
- OR 1/2 cup of dry quinoa + 1 cup of veg or chicken stock)
- 1 tin of cannellini beans, drained
- Avocado
- Fresh coriander
- Limes
- 1. Place the chicken breasts, chopped tomatoes and salsa into a slow cooker (I use a medium size one) - if using dry quinoa, rinse well under running water in a sieve and then add to the slow cooker along with the stock.
- 2. Set to cook for 6-8 hours on low or 4-6 hours on high.
- 3. 30 minutes before serving, remove the chicken breasts and shred with forks then add back to the mix. Also add the pre-cooked quinoa if using and the drained beans.
- 4. Serve with salad or steamed veggies along with a squeeze of fresh lime juice, fresh chopped coriander and avocado.
Will definitely cook this. Favourite slow cooker recipe is Pulled Pork. Add a can of cider and a stock cube to a joint of pork, topping up with water and cook on high for around 6 hours. Shred it and pop in the oven for 20 mins with a little barbecue sauce mix in, then serve with more sauce, coleslaw and either rice or in wraps. Great to come home to after a day on the beach!
That sounds delicious! I must try that, I love simple recipes like that :-)
Sooo simple I love it! And I always love my slow cooker meals. So easy and simple.
Thanks Anna, they are the best invention aren’t they!
I seriously need to get a slow cooker, especially for Autumn/Winter this year! It just seems so ideal to chuck a load of ingredients in first thing and then come home from work to find a gorgeous, tasty meal waiting for you. I’m a huge fan of Mexican-esque food too (my brother’s BF is from Mexico and is always telling me that most people’s perception of Mexican food is quite different from actual Mexican food…..). This sounds so delicious though and I can imagine you could switch things up with pork or beef if you fancied too.
She’s So Lucy
Oh honestly Lucy they are the best things ever! I can totally imagine that actually Mexican food is a million times better and quite different than the way we make it, either way as long as it tastes good!
Can I do this recipe on the hob? I don’t have a slow cooker.
Yes you definitely can, just use a big pot and simmer the chicken for about an hour x