Hi.
I’m so filled with excitement and anticipation right now, guys! I hardly believe my book is coming out next Tuesday (!!) and, on top of that, we are working around the clock to finish up the ELR redesign! So much good stuff happening around here. I can hardly stand it. Thank you so much for your continued support through all these changes! It means a lot to me.
If you haven’t noticed, I’ve been using my crock pot a lot lately. I think I’ve definitely gotten my $24 of use out of it! {In case you’re wondering, here’s the model that I have, although I purchased mine from Target last year!} I just love it, especially the ease of only having to spend about ten minutes active time preparing a yummy meal to eat later. This time, I wanted to develop a chicken variation of my beef carnitas tacos.
This chicken variation is a bit lighter and healthier than the beef tacos {but still delicious!}. And to lighten things up even more, the spicy chicken mixture is all wrapped up nice and neat in a big ol’ lettuce leaf.
For these, I used boneless skinless chicken breasts. You don’t have to worry about them drying out in the slow cooker, though, because you’re going to cover them with onion, jalapeno and a jar of your favorite salsa! All those juices release during a nice slow cook, giving you perfectly juicy and spicy chopped chicken by the end.
Yum.
You can use the taco seasoning of your choice here! I am very partial to this easy, homemade one by Rachel, though! I made a huge batch of it last week and have been sprinkling it on just about everything since. I bet you have everything you need in your pantry right now to make it….go check!
If not, any ol’ taco seasoning will do just fine.
We loved these spicy lettuce wraps as a light(er) dinner last week. Adam also threw some leftover tex-mex chicken into scrambled eggs for breakfast! The amount of spice in the chicken really depends on the heat in the salsa you choose. If you’re not sure about spice, just omit the jalapeno and use mild salsa.
Then….all that’s left to do is……
wrap it up! wrap wrap wrap it up!
and enjoy.
Crock Pot Tex-Mex Chicken Lettuce Wraps
 serves 4-6
Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 1/2 tbsp taco seasoning
1 jalapeno, seeded and sliced
1 16 oz jar of salsa
1 yellow onion, diced
salt, as needed (I used 1 tsp)
iceberg lettuce leaves for wrapping
Directions:
Sprinkle seasoning all over chicken breasts, then place breasts at the bottom of the slow cooker.
Scatter onion and jalapeno over chicken breasts. Pour salsa over top. Place lid on slow cooker and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours.
After 4-5 hours, remove chicken breasts from slow cooker and chop up. Place chopped chicken back in slow cooker and stir to combine. Season with salt to taste.
To serve lettuce wraps, spread one lettuce leaf out and scoop about 1/4th cup chicken mixture on top. Roll up lettuce leaf and enjoy!
Time:
active time—10 minutes
total time—4 hours
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{ 94 comments… read them below or add one }
Yay, how exciting about your book!!! I can’t wait to hear more about it! Congratulations to you, Jenna!
Hi Jenna,
I read your book in one sitting yesterday! I pre-ordered it on Amazon. It was great- I want my 14 year old to read it. I think you have a great work ethic and you have an independence that I wish more young girls had these days! I’m positive your parents are very proud!
I am excited about your book, too! I just placed my order on Amazon. Good luck with the new web redesign and book launch!
I’m sooooooo excited to receive your book, I pre-ordered it but it’s taking it’s sweet as time to get to Australia. I can’t wait to dive into my copy.
I am very excited for your book! I also want to make these lettuce wraps. I love the twist on the normally Asian dish.
Anything crockpot and Mexican is already fabulous in my book. I will definitely be making this now that I’m back to work full time. And I love the lettuce wrap idea to lighten it up a bit.
Why haven’t I ordered your book yet? It’s on the to do list!
Can’t wait to read your book!
Ooh I love Adam’s idea of throwing chicken into the eggs for breakfast -that sounds amazing (as does this dish in general!) I’m a sucker for anything Tex-Mex, especially when it comes slathered in salsa!
Looks delicious! I love that it’s for the crock pot.
I preordered it on Amazon too and have 2 chapters left. I could have finished it last night, but wanted to save some for today. I love your writing and you’ve definitely inspired me to follow my passion of cooking. Not sure where it will take me yet, but it’s gotten me so excited! Great work.
Thank you so much, Amy!
I got your book this weekend and it is great! I haven’t finished it yet, but am enjoying a chapter in between tedious school readings. Your passion for what you do is such an encouragement to someone in the position of trying to figure it all out right now!
Jenna these are gorgeous! The colors are so vibrant and love the pretty avocado slices. Mmmm, love a great lettuce wrap!
I just got your book in the mail yesterday!!!! I can’t wait to dive in!
I received my copy of the book yesterday! I was sooo excited to get it!
AWWWW friend <3
YAY I looove Crockpot Chicken and wrapped in lettuce – brilliant! Gorgeous pics, doll! SO Excited for your book! I'm taking it out on the boat this weekend!
Cuuuuuuuuddle.
well…..Amazon sent my copy a few days early! I guess pre-order does work out well sometimes! I am loving it and flying right through which is normally tough for me with books. I teared up reading about your revelation that you might not be a runner but you are always on the run! Loving it!!!
Oh no! I’m trying to wean myself of buying anymore kitchen appliances (except a stand mixer, which I totally still need and want)–but $20 dollars is such a small investment in order to be able to eat all these delicious things. So tempting!
This recipe looks incredible! Adding it to my list of things to make when my kitchen is up and running again post remodel.
I also received your book early (which I was SO excited about) and am absolutely LOVING it!
I feel you on being kitchen-less! Our kitchen will be ready in a few weeks and I can’t wait to get back into cooking, prepping, baking – oh, my!
I am actually so excited that I just might sit down this weekend to map out where I am going to put everything! It will at lease make me feel like I am doing something in the kitchen, haha.
Hope your kitchen turns out wonderfully!
let’s be honest here: you had me at slow cooker. i can’t get enough of mine right now and i LOVE the tex-mex twist!
I got your book yesterday too and am so excited to start it! I was thinking about holding off and suggesting it for book club next year, but I don’t think I can leave it on the bookshelf that long.
These lettuce wraps look great! Love that they look so simple to make too!
DEFINITELY making these soon. Love easy crockpot recipes!
Hi Jenna,
This is irrelevant to the recipe, but I thought you may want to share this deal with your readers interested in coming to your book tour stop in Atlanta. Currently Travel Zoo is offering a discount on Saturday’s Taste of Atlanta tickets – $7 off general admission and $15 off VIP. http://www.travelzoo.com/local-deals/Atlanta/Entertainment/23779?utm_source=network_us&utm_medium=network
Really good to know!! thanks!
Congratulations on the book coming out! I also am excited to release my book in the near future. You should definitely be excited! Good Luck!
The meal looks fantastic. I am going to try this one when my grandkids come over!
I actually just made your barbecue pulled chicken last night in my crock pot. It turned out great and everyone loved it. This sounds like something I definitely need to try.
I find that when I make things in my slow cooker they get really liquid-y…has anyone else had this issue? Also, the past couple meats that I’ve done in my slow cooker have gotten really tough. So I’ve stopped using my slow cooker. I wonder what I’m doing wrong….
Thanks for this, Jenna! Do you think it would work with tofu for vegetarians? Any suggestions? Thanks again!
Love this! I’m always on the lookout for more lettuce wrap recipes. And I can’t wait to read your book!!
mmm.these look great! what brand of salsa do you use? i always have the hardest time finding a good salsa.
it is hard to find! that’s why homemade is always best!! if it calls for anything tomato or salsa type i usually end up using Rotel with green chilies, love that stuff!!
I really like “Green Mountain Gringo” salsa and just the generic Whole Foods 365 salsa the best
I recently tried some peach salsa from Harry & David and loved it, too!
We’ve been having asian lettuce wraps once a week this summer…I’m so excited to switch it up next week! And break out my crock pot. And read your book.
A lot of excitement over here.
I just got your book last night-I can’t WAIT to read it!! The design layout is fabulous
Congrats!
That looks delicious! It’s on my to-do list to buy a crock pot for fall.
Your book arrived on my doorstep yesterday. Can’t wait to dig in! Congrats
Just ordered your new book from Amazon!!! Can’t wait to read it.
Congrats!
I’m writing that release date down so I know when to head over the bookstore to pick up my copy!
Anything tex-mex, you can’t go wrong. Looks so good!
What goes around comes around!
I sold my crock pot in a garage sale about 25 years ago…and now they’re baaack:-)
This recipe does sounds delish, easy and healthy, so I may be making a trip to Target soon.
Still haven’t ordered the book from Amazon, as I will be at the SF book signing, and want to know if you can still sign it if I don’t buy at Omnivore?
Excited that your “baby” is here!
I am SURE you can just bring in your book…and if that is “against the rules”, come find me after and I will sign it for you! (it’s like bringing your own snacks to the movie)
I love the ease and yumminess of this recipe! Perfect for school nights. Excited for your book and can’t wait to read it!
This looks so delish! It reminds me of Korean BBQ, where they wrap up the meat with lettuce – so yumz
Firstly, your book is fabulous. I am so glad I got to read it! Everyone needs to go out and buy it!
Secondly, these lettuce wraps are calling my name. You know how I feel about Tex Mex. I’m making these this weekend!
So excited for you!! I am looking forward to reading your memoir.
After making your beef carnitas is the crock pot last week!! Amazing. I put it all together before we left and spent the day on the lake and Bam! Dinner was served when we got home, ( right after my hubby made his famous skinny margaritas!)
I will definitely be trying all your crock pot recipes!
We really loved your beef carnitas – these are a nice variation.
Made these tonight – delish!
I made this for dinner tonight with a corn salsa, soooo good!
Very excited for your book release! I always love a good Crock Pot recipe. With the relentless heat in the Midwest, I’ve been using mine a lot this summer. Do you think pork tenderloin might work for this recipe as well?
I do think pork would be delicious in this!
i don’t get how your book is coming out next tuesday but amazon is already selling and shipping it?? do they get some kind of early release thing? in any case, doesn’t matter, cause i bought it and am reading it on the plane ride to Seattle next month
so so excited!!! idk if i can even wait that long to crack it open! gorgeous lettuce wraps, i want to eat it all up!
Yes! They get early release. Crazy, huh? I am so excited to hear what you think of it, Julie!!
That is the best crock pot recipe that I’ve seen in a long time. It looks amazing and it is definitely going into my Sunday football rotation!
This recipe sounds AMAZING. I need to dust off my crockpot.. it’s been in the closet all summer, but this recipe is too yummy looking for it to sit unused any longer!
Thank you for my next crock pot meal! Can’t wait to try these.
Smart! And so easy! Love these.
This recipe sounds amazing !
This looks sooo good! Jalepenos plus avocado in lettuce wraps and U already have me.
Yeyy can’t wait to read your book!
Neeeeed to make these ASAP, yum! I don’t use my crockpot nearly as much as I should!
So exciting for the book release and your website makeover, Jenna.
A perfect way to celebrate is a huge plate of these lettuce wraps. Whenever I see lettuce wraps on the menu, I order them right away. My favorite. 
I made this yesterday for Ben and me… delicious and super easy. Thank you!
This looks awesome! Plus, it must be so exciting to have the book release be so close!!! Congrats, again!
I am so thankful for this recipe, with the kids back in school and practices are starting, I need as many slow cooker meals as possible, and it is too funny how you had this posted today , when I woke up this morning, I had lettuce wraps on the brain, being my daughter’s love them, and this is super convenient with our busy schedules these days, thank you!
Hi Jenna! Can I leave the chicken in crockpot for longer? If I put it in at 8 and remove at 6, would that be OK? Cheers!
I’m sure that would be fine—just make sure it’s set on Low.
Hannah ~ If you put it in according to Jenna’s recipe, after the time allotted, it should automatically turn to “warm”. It will be fine there until you get to eat it
So excited to read your book! Big congrats, this is a HUGE step in life and you should be very proud of yourself! Your tex mex lettuce wraps look fantastic and I love that they’re as simple as throwing ingredients into a crock..my kind of cooking!
Thanks, Julia! About to make your chocolate zucchini cookies from TK right now!
I often think of my crock pot for the fall and winter seasons but have started using it more in the past week. In fact, I’ve got a Tuscan Stew going right now. It’s an essential for busy people. Pinning this for future reference!
So SO excited to read your book! And I have to admit I’m just as excited about the redesign—blog design warms my designer heart!
Congrats on the book. And seriously, any recipe that is reinvented into a chicken recipe AND slow cooker is perfect in my book.
Looks so great! MMmmmMmMmm… So excited for your big new things, girl!
Got your book yesterday! It’s beautiful. Excited to read it.
Congratulations on it’s release!
I’m making these right now. They’re in my crock pot. I get to eat them at 7pm. It smells GOOD in here!
I cannot wait to read your book!! Any word on when a kindle version will be available?
That looks delicious!
Jenna, I was wondering if you had ever grilled or roasted avocados? Somehow the other day I stumbled on a blog post about roasting avocados, and then when I searched for more information on that, I found a recipe for grilled avocado.
I am on an avocado kick right now and I quartered an avocado lengthwise, removed the stone and skin, and then grilled it in a grill pan with just a slight amount of olive oil (which was probably unnecessary) and a little salt and pepper. It takes just a minute or less on each side, to warm the fruit and get grill marks. INSANELY good! Before that, I could not even imagine warm avocado, let alone avocado with a bit of char. Grilled avocados would be great on these lettuce wraps. (They also apparently add a great smokiness to guacamole.)
Waiting “patiently” for your book to arrive…. Any suggestions as to what I should make while reading it??
Thank you a BUNCH for this yummy recipe! I was just looking for something tasty to make on our trip away for labor day. We’ll be at beach so this will be PERFECT to come back to after cooking away. Yeah! Have a great weekend!
I’m excited for your book my dear! Can’t wait to get a copy.
I think one of the best parts of using a Crock Pot is being able to smell your handy work all day long.
I got your book today from Amazon. I’m so excited. Congratulations Jenna. Enjoy your holiday weekend.
Made these tonight and my finace loved them. I can always count on your recipes. Keep the savory ones coming!
great recipe, definitely will have to try these out
Hi Jenna, I’m new here! Saw your little article in the Globe today(great paper, aside from their political bias). Will be joining your email list and looking forward to your posts. Am already impressed with your photography…oh no, do I see a book purchase in my near future? Will be making this crock pot recipe this w/end. To add to the taco-ness of the end result, will be wrapping up some fried tortilla strips in the lettuce. Your version seemed WAY to healthy (yes, I’m kidding)! Good luck with the book!
Made these last night…finished with a squirt of lime, a sprinkle of cheese and dollop of plain Greek yogurt. Super messy, but oh so tasty! Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Made the chicken last week and it got rave reviews. Thanks for the recipe. It will be a new staple for taco nights.
This recipe was soooo good and sooo easy! Thank you!
HUGE hit in our house! Made this yesterday and my hubby and I could not get enough. A keeper for certain!
i’m planning on making this friday for a group of friends – do you think that i can safely double everything without making any adjustments?
thanks!
-emma
Yes, you definitely can!
this recipe came out so well!!!!! i doubled everything (cooked on high for 4 hours, since the low-4 wasn’t an option), and it was amazing. we did a “make-your-own-chicken-taco” nite – cheese, sour cream, avocado, sauteed onions/peppers. BIG hit.
also, we made this corn salad as a side dish – highly recommend. one of my favorites!
http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2011/08/roasted-corn-with-manchego-and-lime
These were okay. Sort of boring/bland. Interesting idea but nothing worth writing about
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