When I was inquiring about what foods to have on hand after my surgery, a friend recommended throwing together this Crock Pot Santa Fe Chicken to have a bunch of leftovers on hand. I didn’t have time or energy to get things together that quickly, but decided that it still looked easy enough to put together after surgery. {Well, as long as I had everything in reach and had Rob pull out the crock pot!}

The recipe reminded me of this Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken that I’ve made in the past. However, I think the only real difference is that the Santa Fe Chicken recipe requires more ingredients than the Salsa Chicken recipe does.

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken Ingredients:

• 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup salsa, homemade or purchased
• 1 cup petite diced canned tomatoes ( low-sodium)
• 2 tablespoons Taco Seasoning
• 1 cup onions, diced fine
• 1/2 cup celery diced fine
• 1/2 cup carrots, shredded
• 3 tablespoons sour cream, reduced fat

*This recipe is easy because these are ingredients that I have on hand most of the time. And when making leftovers, I can add anything else I’d like, including black beans, corn and any toppings such as cheese, sour cream or guacamole. Every time I eat it, it can be different.

Slow Cooker Santa Fe Chicken Ingredients:

• 1.5 lbs chicken breast
• 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes with mild green chilies
• 15 oz can black beans
• 8 oz frozen corn
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 14.5 oz can fat free chicken broth
• 3 scallions, chopped
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper (to taste)
• salt to taste

*This recipe has more substance. The additional ingredients are easy enough that you can just empty everything into the slow cooker, turn it on and in 6 to 10 hours, dinner is served.

In my Santa Fe Chicken, I  used these cans to change things up a bit and add extra flavor:

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Here is a what my Santa Fe Chicken looked like after it was cooked and shredded:

I think it could have used a little more flavor and more tomatoes! {But you know how I love tomatoes.} Truth be told, these two recipes are pretty interchangeable. You can add more or less of one element to your liking. It’s just the amount of seasoning that you’ll have to decide for yourself.

Basically, you are making your own 

Chipotle Burrito Bowl or Taco Bell Cantina Bowl!

Either of these dishes can be served alone, over rice, in a tortilla, atop a salad or with tortilla chips. I didn’t think he would, but Rob said he’d even eat it if I made it with shredded pork instead of chicken.

And with that, here is my Monday Food Journal. Warning: I felt binge-y all day.

Breakfast

Snacks

This is where the binge-y feelings began…

Weight Watchers Coffee Cake (individual sized)

South Beach Whipped Chocolate Almond Snack Bar – For the record, these aren’t that great. I got them because I had a coupon and thought they’d be a nice snack to tide me over. They taste a little bit like a Three Muskateers candy bar. However, this 100-calorie bar didn’t satisfy me like a piece of Dove Dark Chocolate would.

2/3 cup Neapolitan ice cream

Lunch

Just like Sunday, I enjoyed grape tomatoes atop cottage cheeze with a drizzle of Italian extra virgin olive oil, reduced balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. However, my tomatoes were getting a little too ripe and I needed to finish them up. Therefore, my Monday portion size was about twice the size you see here.

Snack

It must be that I’m not at work. I felt a little binge-y in the afternoon, too. Sure, I didn’t have a big lunch, but I had already eaten a bunch of morning snacks! For the afternoon…

First I had an apple along with this fruit dip:

Another handful of grapes

2 Dove Dark Chocolates (almond variety)

Another South Beach Whipped Choc Almond Snack Bar

Dinner

Just as Biz would do, I put my Santa Fe Chicken atop a bed of spinach:

There is some brown rice under the mixture, too. Then I added some extra toppings: salsa, a little cheese, half of a Wholly Guacamole 100-calorie pack and a dollop of Greek Yogurt (added at the last second and not pictured):

Snack

1/2 cup Neapolitan Ice Cream

Well, then I finished off the carton of Neapolitan Ice Cream. Okay, so there’s a reason I can’t keep ice cream in the house. I think this post of Katie’s came just in time! 😉

I also found another reason why I shouldn’t be eating ice cream everyday. I woke up craving (and have been craving) sweets. And it’s obvious that my sweet snacks aren’t satisfying that. Good news, I woke up this morning, ate a clementine and put that craving to bed!

What is your favorite Slow Cooker Recipe?

Cheers~
Carrie