Crockpot Salsa Chicken

My name is Sierra Vredeveld, and I have been married for two years. My husband and I are both college students, and it definitely makes money tight. We have found lots of ways to eat cheap and healthy at the same time. This recipe is one that my mother used to make because it was easy and quick to cook.
The chicken salsa tastes so good! It is so quick and easy to make. The prep time is seriously less than 5 minutes in the morning. It is easy and fairly inexpensive so it is perfect for college students! The best part is you can put it in a container in the fridge and heat it up a couple days later.

Recipe:
Place two chicken breasts in crock pot. (frozen or not)
Pour salsa over chicken, to cover it.
Cook on low 6-8 hours
Shred chicken with two forks occasionally. When fully cooked, spoon into warm tortillas. Add cheese, sour cream, etc to your liking.

This meal can be as healthy or unhealthy as you make it. I prefer a white tortilla, but you can use wheat as a healthier alternative.  I use shredded cheese and a fat-free sour cream. The chicken is healthy because I use a lean chicken breast and it provides protein. The salsa has a lot of sodium, but it's a way to get vegetables incorporated into the meal. You can also add to the mixture if you prefer to get more vegetables. The low-fat cheese and sour cream incorporates dairy. The wheat tortilla is a healthier alternative to a white tortilla while still incorporating the grains into the meal. The one thing that is missing from this meal is fruit, and I still haven't thought of a fruit to pair with this meal just quite yet. So I usually just eat fruit as a snack at some point during the day. I usually will make some Mexican rice to couple with the burritos, there is not much nutritional value to that.

Vredeveld, S.

Crockpot Cilantro Lime Chicken

Crock pot Cilantro Lime Chicken by Allen Houston

I love this recipe because it is seriously easy to throw into the crock pot and finish up later. I made enough that I could use it all week, and could make different things with it so that I wouldn't get bored of my choice. It is a low maintenance recipe to begin with, and can be made for soups, salads, sandwiches, tacos, or on top of rice.  

Taste: I love food in general, but especially food that is flavorful and not hard to eat. This chicken does a fantastic job with that. The cilantro gives it a homey taste for me, and it doesn't clash with many flavors. I especially love it in tortillas with fresh salsa and avocado on top. 

Ease of preparation: The crock pot makes this meal so easy to do, that it couldn't get much easier. If you make it early enough before you need it, you can cook it on low, or you can turn it up to high and have it done sooner. The chicken doesn't need to be babysat until just before it is done, so you can enjoy other things while your dinner basically cooks itself. 

Prep time: 15 minutes 

Cook time: 3-6 hours, depending

Serving size: 6-8 servings

Recipe:

Crock pot Cilantro Lime Chicken

4-6 Boneless Skinless Chicken breasts (or a whole chicken or thighs)

5 limes

Fresh Cilantro

Onion-cubed

Chicken broth

Salt and Pepper

Garlic powder

Preparation: 

Purchase your groceries, including your choice of cut of chicken breasts. Chicken breasts will cook faster than thighs or a whole chicken. You will also need a medium to large sized crock pot with a lid. Cut your chicken in quarters to make the cooking time faster. Lay your chicken in the bottom of the crock pot. Squeeze several limes over chicken, and cover with chicken broth. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Cube an onion over chicken, and lay several stalk of cilantro on top. Cook on low for 3-5 hours, or until chicken is completely cooked through. Remove chicken and toss the wilted cilantro stalks and onion. Pour the liquid into a bowl for later. Shred the chicken with 2 forks. Mix in some fresh cilantro leaves. Put the shredded chicken back into the crock pot and slowly add back in the broth-lime liquid. This will help the chicken stay juicy and moist. Continue adding the broth-lime liquid until it is perfectly juicy for you. Store remainder of the broth-lime liquid for a few days, to ensure the chicken remains moist. 

*If you use a whole chicken, your cook time will increase. 

The Nutritional information is dependent on just chicken alone, not what you pair it with. 

Nutritional Analysis: 

Chicken is an excellent source of protein, and it is easy for students to afford. Protein is necessary for your body to function, because it keeps our muscles, bones, and blood working as they are supposed to. 

Nutritional Value: 

6-8 servings 

Serving size: 1 cup of chicken

Per serving: 

Calories: 172

Total Fat: 2g

Carbohydrates: 4.75g

Protein: 32.3g

This recipe is only based on protein, so it leaves out other food groups that are essential to daily life, but because this is a simple recipe, you can get most of those others by mixing the chicken up with other options as mentioned above.

Houston, A.

Crockpot 7up Chicken

7up Crockpot Chicken by Beth Madden
I love this recipe because it is probably the easiest throw in the crockpot recipe that I've ever made. It is a spin off of two recipes that I love: chicken stir fry and 7up grilled chicken. It can be tossed into the crockpot and the cooking does itself.
Taste: I love foods full of flavor and Soy Sauce is sure to do that job! It gives the meal the salty but intense flavor that anything made with rice needs. The vegetables add the earthy flavor that helps cut through all the salt.
Ease of preparation: I don't think this could get any easier to throw together and make. A low prep time and even though the cook time is lengthy, it requires no stirring or checking on. Set your timer and enjoy your day.

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 3-6 hours depending on cut of chicken
Serving size: 4-6 servings

Recipe:

Crockpot 7up Chicken
2 cups 7up soda pop
3/4 cup Soy Sauce
1 tsp minced garlic (substitute 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder)
1/2 cup Water
4-6 Raw Boneless Chicken Breasts cleaned
2 cups Carrots*
2 cups Celery*

Optional: half an onion*
*Please use FRESH produce

Rice
2 cup white minute rice (I use this because it's quickest)
2 cup water

Optional: more rice for more people

Preparation: 3 hour cook time
You will need a medium to large sized crockpot with a lid. Whisk together 7up, Soy Sauce, garlic, and water in the crockpot. Slice raw chicken to tender sized pieces, about a half inch thick and a couple inches long*. Cut carrots and celery to one inch sized pieces. Put everything in the crockpot at the same time on LOW and cook for 3 hours.
When done cooking, bring 2 cups water to a boil. Add rice, cover, and remove from heat. Rice will be done in 5 minutes.*

*If you use WHOLE chicken breasts, your cook time will be 5-6 hours. If you have a meat thermometer, it should be approximately 165 degrees Fahrenheit internal temperature. It is always safe to check internal temp so as not to over or under cook the protein. May use brown rice for a healthier option, cook time will change and will be listed on the box of rice you purchase.

Nutritional Analysis
Protein: Chicken is a really good and healthy source of protein, even better when it's not fried. (I always try to avoid frying any protein for better nutritional value.) Protein plays a vital role in the building of tissue and organs, as well as regulatory processes.
Vitamins and minerals: plenty of vitamins and minerals from FRESH carrots, celery, onion, and garlic. Vitamins and minerals are crucial for bone production and health, as well as maintaining other normal limits of function within the body.
Carbohydrates: Rice is loaded with carbs, and if you opt to use brown rice, it is really loaded with carbs. These are utilized for energy and are a healthier source of energy and carbohydrates. Our primary source of energy.
Lipids: Very low amount of fat in this meal. Even better to love! Fats work in production of hormones as well as building cell membranes.
One big negative aspect of this meal is the amount of sodium it contains. The soy sauce is overloaded with sodium by itself which is over a thousand milligrams per teaspoon. High sodium causes abnormalities such as high blood pressure that could lead to stroke or heart attack, as well as water retention that causes swelling as well as the kidneys' ability to perform regulatory functions. The meal could use more nutrient dense food. This dish contains little to no dairy. It is possible to get calcium from other nondairy foods such as leafy greens and soy products. Add to your taste for calcium content.

Nutritional Value
4-6 Servings
Per serving:
Calories: 491
Total Fat: 14 g
Carbohydrate: 61 g
Sugar: 13 g
Sodium: 1338 mg
Protein: 31.1 g