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Slow Cooker Street Corn Chicken Recipe

Slow Cooker Street Corn Chicken Recipe
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★★★★★

4.9 from 21 reviews

Slow Cooker Street Corn Chicken is a flavorful, creamy, and hearty dish that combines tender shredded chicken with the beloved street corn flavors of cotija cheese, lime juice, chili powder, and garlic. This easy, hands-off recipe uses simple ingredients and the slow cooker for melt-in-your-mouth juiciness, perfect for tacos, salads, bowls, or nachos.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Main Ingredients

  • 2–3 boneless chicken breasts (or thighs for richer flavor)
  • 2 cups corn (frozen, canned, or fresh grilled)
  • 4 oz cream cheese, cubed (vegan alternatives like Tofutti or Kite Hill can be used)
  • 1/3 cup cotija cheese, crumbled (or feta as a substitute)

Seasonings and Flavorings

  • Juice of 1 lime, freshly squeezed
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 tsp chili powder (or chipotle powder for smokiness, cayenne or hot sauce for heat)
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika (optional)
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder (optional)
  • Fresh cilantro (optional, for garnish and stirring in at the end)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Slow Cooker: Place the chicken breasts or thighs at the bottom of the crockpot, establishing a cozy bed for the flavors to infuse.
  2. Add Remaining Ingredients: Layer the corn, cubed cream cheese, crumbled cotija, freshly squeezed lime juice, minced garlic, chili powder, and optional smoked paprika and onion powder over the chicken without stirring. The cream cheese will melt and create a creamy sauce during cooking.
  3. Cook Low and Slow: Cover with the lid and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours. The chicken is ready when it shreds easily with two forks. If it’s not tender enough, cook for an additional 30 minutes if needed.
  4. Shred the Chicken: Use two forks to shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker. Stir everything together allowing the sauce and corn to fully coat the shredded chicken.
  5. Adjust Consistency: If you prefer a saucier dish, add a splash of chicken broth or a drizzle of milk and stir well to thin out the sauce.
  6. Serve: Enjoy immediately or customize with toppings and serving styles like tacos, rice bowls, salads, nachos, or extra street corn style garnishes.

Notes

  • Chicken thighs can be used instead of breasts for a juicier, richer flavor.
  • Frozen corn is easiest, but fresh grilled corn adds authentic charred street corn flavor.
  • Fresh lime juice is recommended for the best citrus brightness; avoid bottled lime juice for flavor authenticity.
  • Optional spices like smoked paprika and onion powder deepen flavor complexity.
  • This dish is versatile and can be adapted to vegan by using vegan cream cheese and skipping the chicken for a plant-based protein alternative.
  • Serving suggestions include tacos with pickled onions and avocado, cilantro-lime rice bowls, fresh salads, or layered nachos.
  • Customize with toppings such as fresh cilantro, lime wedges, chili flakes, green onions, diced jalapeños, sour cream, and guacamole.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker chicken, street corn chicken, crockpot chicken, creamy chicken recipe, Mexican chicken, cotija cheese chicken, easy slow cooker meals

Find it online: https://mixitwitjoe.com/slow-cooker-street-corn-chicken-recipe/