Slow Cooker Chicken and Quinoa is an easy one-pot dinner with chicken, black beans, bell peppers, tomatoes, and fajita seasoning. The uncooked quinoa cooks right in the crock-pot, soaking up all the Tex-Mex flavors.

White bowl with slow cooker chicken, quinoa, black beans, and vegetables topped with shredded cheese and cilantro with avocado slices and lime wedges next to it.

Notes from my kitchen

This is one of my favorite dump-and-go dinners for busy days. Chicken, quinoa, black beans, and vegetables all cook together in the slow cooker, so there's no need to cook the quinoa separately.

The fajita seasoning, peppers, and onions give it plenty of Tex-Mex flavor, and everyone can customize their bowl with their favorite toppings.

It's also great for high-protein meal prep. Enjoy it as a fajita bowl the first night, then use the leftovers for tacos or nachos.

Marjory

Ingredients

Here's what you'll need to make Mexican-inspired chicken and quinoa in the slow cooker:

Of special note:

Chicken breasts - We cut the chicken into pieces. However, chicken breasts can be added whole and shredded before serving with two forks instead.
Quinoa - Rinse it well before using. There's no need to cook it first; the dry quinoa cooks right in the slow cooker with the chicken and vegetables.
Black beans - Rinse and drain before using.
Fajita seasoning - We included a DIY mixture in the recipe card or you can buy a packet at the grocery store.

If you love this combination, try my slow cooker chicken quinoa soup next.

The recipe card below includes ingredient amounts, step-by-step instructions, and nutritional information.

How to cook chicken and quinoa in a slow cooker

Use these pictures to guide you in making the recipe:

Quinoa, black beans, diced tomatoes, sliced onions, red peppers, and broth in the base of a slow cooker.

Step 1. Add uncooked quinoa, black beans, diced tomatoes with their juices, sliced onions, bell peppers, and chicken broth to the slow cooker, then stir to combine.

Chicken pieces sprinkled with seasoning on top of the other ingredients in the slow cooker.

Step 2. Layer chicken pieces on top and sprinkle with fajita seasoning.

Black serving spoon lifting cooked chicken, quinoa, black beans, and vegetables from a slow cooker.

Step 3. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 5-7 hours.

White bowl with a chicken, quinoa, black beans, and vegetables topped with shredded cheese and cilantro with avocado slices and lime wedges next to it.

Step 4. Add your favorite toppings and enjoy.

Chicken Quinoa Fajita Bowl Toppings

Turn the slow cooker chicken and quinoa into fajita bowls with your favorite Tex-Mex toppings. I especially like pink pickled onions for a tangy crunch and a spoonful of easy guacamole dip for creaminess.

Shredded cheese
Chopped cilantro
Sliced green onions
Sliced avocado
Quick pickled onions
Sour cream
Easy guacamole
Healthy taco salad dressing
Lime or lemon wedges.

Can You Cook Quinoa in a Slow Cooker?

Yes! Quinoa cooks by absorbing liquid, so it can go into the slow cooker uncooked and become tender right along with everything else. And in saucy recipes like this one, the liquid ratio doesn't have to be exact since any extra becomes part of the dish. I use the same easy method in my black bean quinoa soup.

Would you like more easy, healthy, carb-conscious recipes?

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📋 Recipe

This recipe was originally published on February 26, 2014 and has been updated to improve the reader experience.