A Simple, Delicious Crockpot Meal Using Pantry Staples
When you’re looking for an easy, satisfying meal with minimal effort, there’s no better option than a slow-cooked recipe using ingredients you likely already have in your pantry. This recipe, which combines Valley Fresh Chicken Breast in Water, Canned Corn, Bush’s Best Beans, and other staple ingredients, is perfect for busy weeknights or any time you’re craving a comforting meal with a bit of spice.
The Key Ingredients for a Flavorful Crockpot Meal
Valley Fresh Chicken Breast in Water (30 oz)
The Valley Fresh Chicken Breast in Water is an excellent choice for this crockpot recipe, providing tender, juicy chicken with minimal preparation required. It’s pre-cooked and packed in water, making it a convenient option for anyone who wants to skip the effort of cooking raw chicken. Simply open the cans and add them directly into the slow cooker.
For this recipe, we recommend using three 10 oz cans of chicken breast. This ensures there’s an ample amount of chicken, which is important for creating a hearty and filling dish. The chicken adds a rich protein source that balances the flavors of the beans, corn, and seasonings, giving the dish a satisfying texture.
Canned Corn (15¼ oz)
Adding canned corn is a simple way to introduce a natural sweetness and a bit of crunch to your slow-cooked meal. The corn complements the savory flavors of the chicken and beans, and it absorbs the rich broth as it cooks, adding to the overall flavor profile.
For this recipe, we use one 15¼ oz can of corn, but feel free to add an extra can if you’d like to enhance the dish’s sweetness and texture even more. Corn is an affordable pantry staple, and it perfectly blends with the other ingredients to create a colorful and balanced meal.
Bush’s Best Beans, Great Northern (15¾ oz)
The Bush’s Best Beans, specifically the Great Northern Beans, are a great addition to this recipe due to their creamy texture and mild flavor. These beans hold up well during slow cooking, absorbing the seasonings and flavors from the broth and chicken. The beans are an excellent source of fiber and protein, making the dish even more filling and nutritious.
The combination of Great Northern Beans and Black Beans creates a hearty base for the dish, providing a variety of textures and flavors. These beans not only contribute to the overall satisfaction of the dish but also enhance its nutritional profile.
Great Value Black Beans (15 oz)
Adding Great Value Black Beans to the recipe provides a deep, earthy flavor that pairs well with the other ingredients. Black beans are a rich source of protein, fiber, and antioxidants, making them an excellent addition to any meal.
These beans absorb the flavors of the seasoning mix and broth while adding a dark color to the dish, which creates a beautiful contrast against the yellow corn and light chicken. Together with the Great Northern Beans, they provide a solid base for the crockpot meal.
Hunt’s Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes with Garlic (14½ oz)
Hunt’s Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes with Garlic bring a smoky, rich flavor to the dish. Roasting the tomatoes enhances their natural sweetness and adds depth to the overall flavor profile. The garlic in the diced tomatoes infuses the dish with savory undertones, complementing the other ingredients like the chicken, beans, and corn.
This ingredient is crucial for balancing out the sweetness of the corn and the mild flavor of the beans. The fire-roasted tomatoes add both a tangy and smoky flavor that enhances the entire meal.
Taco Bell Grocery Mild Taco Seasoning Mix (1 oz)
The Taco Bell Grocery Mild Taco Seasoning Mix adds a bold, zesty kick to the dish. This seasoning mix is packed with flavors like cumin, chili powder, and paprika, creating a flavorful base for the chicken and beans. The mild heat makes it accessible to all taste preferences, ensuring the dish isn’t overwhelmingly spicy while still delivering that classic taco seasoning taste.
This seasoning is a great shortcut to achieving a perfect blend of spices without needing to mix individual herbs and spices. It gives the meal an authentic taco-inspired flavor that everyone will love.
Hidden Valley The Original Ranch Buttermilk Recipe Dressing & Seasoning Mix (½ oz)
The Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing & Seasoning Mix introduces a creamy, tangy element that complements the other savory and sweet ingredients. The ranch seasoning mix infuses the broth with a rich, buttermilk flavor, adding an extra layer of depth to the dish. The ranch flavor is subtle but adds a signature richness that perfectly balances the other spices.
This ingredient gives the meal a unique twist, making it stand out from traditional taco-inspired crockpot dishes. It’s a secret ingredient that elevates the entire meal.
Swanson Broth, Chicken (32 oz)
Swanson Chicken Broth is the essential liquid component that helps bring the dish together. The chicken broth infuses the ingredients with a savory, rich flavor that perfectly complements the beans, corn, chicken, and tomatoes. It ensures that the meal remains moist while also providing the necessary base for the seasoning to meld together.
Using 32 oz of chicken broth is ideal for creating a perfectly hydrated dish that has a soupy consistency without being too runny. The broth enhances the overall taste of the meal while allowing the ingredients to cook slowly and thoroughly.
How to Make This Crockpot Meal
Step 1: Combine the Ingredients
Start by opening all the cans of chicken, corn, beans, and diced tomatoes. Pour them into your crockpot, making sure everything is evenly distributed. You can drain the cans of beans and corn to reduce the liquid, or you can keep the liquid for added flavor.
Next, add the seasoning mixes. Sprinkle the Taco Bell Grocery Mild Taco Seasoning Mix and the Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing & Seasoning Mix into the crockpot. Stir everything together to ensure the seasoning is well distributed across all the ingredients.
Step 2: Add the Broth
Pour the Swanson Chicken Broth over the mixture. This will help create the base of the dish, allowing all the flavors to meld together as it slow cooks. Stir the ingredients again to make sure everything is coated in the broth.
Step 3: Slow Cook the Meal
Set your crockpot to low heat and cook the meal for about 4 hours. The slow cooking process will allow all the flavors to meld together, creating a rich, savory dish. You’ll notice the chicken becomes incredibly tender, and the beans and corn absorb the seasoning and broth, making for a perfectly balanced meal.
Step 4: Serve and Enjoy
After the meal has finished cooking, stir everything one last time before serving. The dish should have a rich, hearty consistency that is perfect for serving over rice, with tortilla chips, or on its own. The flavors are robust, and the texture is comforting, making it a crowd-pleaser for any occasion.
Conclusion
This crockpot recipe is an excellent way to combine pantry staples into a flavorful, hearty meal with minimal effort. The ingredients work together perfectly to create a dish that is savory, slightly tangy, and full of rich flavors. With the combination of chicken, beans, corn, and seasoning, this meal will satisfy even the pickiest eaters in your household.