Description
This Slow Cooker Street Corn Chicken recipe combines tender, juicy chicken breasts or thighs with a creamy, flavorful street corn mixture. Featuring classic Mexican-inspired ingredients like cotija cheese, lime, chili powder, and cilantro, this dish is perfect for an easy, hands-off meal with vibrant flavors that bring the essence of street corn to your dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken
- 2–3 pieces boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs (choose thighs for extra flavor and moisture)
For the Corn Mixture
- 2 cups corn (frozen, canned, or fresh grilled corn)
- 4 oz cream cheese (Neufchâtel for a lighter option; Greek yogurt can be substituted)
- ⅓ cup cotija cheese (feta cheese as an alternative)
For the Flavor
- Juice of 1 lime (preferably fresh)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (fresh garlic recommended)
- ½ tsp chili powder (adjust based on heat preference)
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp onion powder (can be replaced with fresh onions if desired)
For the Garnish
- Fresh cilantro, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the Slow Cooker: Lightly grease the inside of your slow cooker to prevent sticking and set it to low heat.
- Add the Chicken: Place the 2-3 pieces of boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs into the slow cooker, spreading them evenly across the bottom.
- Make the Corn Mixture: In a separate bowl, combine 2 cups of corn, 4 oz of cream cheese, ⅓ cup cotija cheese, juice of 1 lime, 2 cloves minced garlic, ½ tsp chili powder, ½ tsp smoked paprika, and ½ tsp onion powder. Mix thoroughly until the cream cheese is well incorporated and the mixture is creamy.
- Combine and Cook: Spoon the corn mixture evenly over the chicken in the slow cooker. Cover with the lid and cook on low for 4-6 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
- Finishing Touches: Once cooked, gently stir the corn mixture into the chicken to combine thoroughly. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
- Serve and Garnish: Serve the street corn chicken hot, garnished with freshly chopped cilantro for a burst of freshness and color.
Notes
- Thighs are recommended for more flavorful and moist results, but chicken breasts work well too.
- You can use fresh, frozen, or canned corn depending on what you have available; grilling the corn first enhances flavor.
- Neufchâtel cheese or Greek yogurt can be used as lighter cream cheese substitutes.
- Adjust chili powder to taste if you prefer less or more spiciness.
- For a sharper onion flavor, substitute onion powder with finely chopped fresh onions.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and freeze beautifully for up to 2 months.
Keywords: slow cooker chicken, street corn chicken, Mexican chicken recipe, easy slow cooker dinner, creamy corn chicken