Slow Cooker Chicken Chile Verde

This easy, flavor-packed dinner can be assembled in the morning in your slow cooker so you have dinner waiting for you when you get home. The tomatillos cook down into a tangy stew that gets a kick of heat from jalapeño and canned green chilies, while the boneless skinless chicken thighs become tender and practically fall apart when you shred them. Serve the chili verde over a bed of steamed rice with your favorite toppings, or with warm tortillas for dipping. We like to top it with a dollop of Greek yogurt for added creaminess.

This is a recipe you can mold to your nutritional needs. You can alter the nutrition by intentionally choosing toppings — add avocados and Greek yogurt if you want to bump up the calories, or radishes if you want extra flavor and crunch without adding many calories. You can also add a can of white beans for extra protein and fiber (1).
Active time: 25 minutes | Total time: 4–6 hours, 25 minutes
Slow Cooker Chicken Chile Verde
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 1/2 lb (680g) tomatillos, husks removed and halved or quartered, if large
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
- 5 garlic cloves, smashed
- 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
- 1/4 cup cilantro leaves, finely chopped
- 1 4-oz. can chopped green chiles
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 1/2 lb (680g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 2 tbsp fresh lime juice, plus more as needed
Directions
In the insert of a 5–7-quart slow cooker, heat the oil on the sauté setting until shimmering. If your slow cooker does not have a sauté setting, heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over moderately high heat, then transfer the contents to the slow cooker before proceeding.
Add the tomatillos and cook, stirring occasionally, for 8–10 minutes, until they begin to brown and soften. Add the onion, garlic, jalapeño, cilantro, green chiles, cumin seeds, and ½ cup water and stir to combine.
Season the chicken thighs all over with salt and pepper and nestle them into the tomatillo mixture. Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours or on low for 4-6 hours, until the chicken is very tender and pulls apart easily.
Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes. Using two forks, shred the meat into bite-size pieces.
Meanwhile, use the back of a large spoon or an immersion blender to mash or partially blend the tomatillos to your desired consistency. Stir the shredded chicken back into the sauce along with the lime juice and season with additional salt, pepper, and lime juice as needed.
Serve with your desired toppings and sides.
Serves: 6 | Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 234; Total Fat: 11g; Saturated Fat: 2g; Monounsaturated Fat: 5g; Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g; Cholesterol: 107mg; Sodium: 379mg; Carbohydrate: 11g; Dietary Fiber: 3g; Sugar: 6g; Protein: 24g
Nutrition Bonus: Calcium: 3%; Iron: 11%; Potassium: 690mg; Vitamin A: 5%; Vitamin C: 33%
Originally published: February 5, 2021; Updated May 2026
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