These crock pot chicken tacos are a breeze to prepare, making them a perfect weeknight meal for the whole family. With a few simple ingredients in your slow cooker, you'll have juicy, flavorful chicken perfect for tacos.
Tacos are a classic Mexican favorite. They don't call it Taco Tuesday for nothing, after all. While traditional beef tacos are great, I like to switch things up, so I love making them with seasoned crock pot chicken and topping them with flavorful sides. They're a great Mexican chicken dish perfect for weeknight meals or parties.
Crock Pot Chicken Tacos
These Crock Pot Shredded Chicken Tacos are easy and delicious. Just toss chicken breasts, salsa, seasonings, and green chilies into the slow cooker in the morning, and by dinnertime, you'll have juicy, flavorful chicken perfect for taco night. Plus, the leftover chicken is versatile—it's great in burritos, nachos, salads, wraps, casseroles, or soups for a tasty twist.
Why You'll Love These Crock Pot Chicken Tacos
There's so much to love about a flavor, easy recipe like this one. Of course, it's delicious, but the pluses of a recipe like this one don't stop there.
- Limited Ingredients: This recipe uses a total of five ingredients. That's it!
- Easy: Simply mix everything together and let the crock pot do all the heavy lifting.
- Versatile: Use this chicken for tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, sandwiches, sliders, and more.
- Great for Meal Prepping: Because the chicken is so versatile and easy to store, it's a great protein source for planning meals ahead of time.
Ingredients
This easy recipe only uses a handful of ingredients that you can find in just a few minutes at any grocery store. They're all listed here, but you can find their exact amounts in the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts: Chicken breasts have a mild flavor that complements the other zesty ingredients in this recipe.
- Salsa: Salsa makes a zesty base for your chicken. Use any variety and heat level you prefer.
- Taco Seasoning: Taco seasoning is the easiest way in the world to add that signature taco flavor to the chicken.
- Diced Green Chilies: Diced green chilies add a kick of flavor and slight heat to the chicken.
How To Make Crock Pot Chicken Tacos
This is a slow cooker recipe, so you already know it's incredibly easy to make. You'll find the highlights here, but the specific instructions are in the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Add the chicken to the crock pot and over it with the other ingredients.
- Cook until super-tender and shred it.
- Serve on tortillas with your favorite toppings.
Common Questions
Can you cook raw meat in a crock pot?
You absolutely can. Crock pots were designed for slowly cooking raw ingredients. Any kind of meat and vegetables can be safely cooked in a crock pot.
How do you know when chicken is done in a crock pot?
The great thing about a crock pot is that you never have to guess. Because the chicken is cooked for so long, it's not about how done it is - it's about how tender it is. For shredded chicken like this, the breasts are done when they can be easily shredded with a fork.
Why is meat placed on the bottom of a crock pot in recipes?
Moisture is just as important to crock pot meals as the long cooking time and low heat. Meat is placed on the bottom of a crock pot so it's adequately hydrated by the wet ingredients placed on top of it.
What toppings are good on chicken tacos?
All your favorite taco toppings work well with chicken tacos. Use any of your favorites like onions, lettuce, tomatoes, taco sauce, cheese, and sour cream.
Serve With
No taco is complete without its tasty toppings! Assemble a colorful and flavorful spread with options like:
- Tortillas (corn or flour): The base for your taco masterpiece and both work great
- Shredded cheese: Cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a blend for a creamy touch.
- Chopped lettuce and diced tomatoes: Freshness is key! Don't buy canned or pre-shredded!
- Sliced avocado: Creamy indulgence.
- Chopped onion and cilantro: Aromatic and vibrant. White onions are my go-to with any Mexican dish.
- Lime wedges and sour cream: Classic taco companions.
- Jalapenos: you can add a few or choose a spicy salsa.
In addition to your toppings, when serving crock pot chicken tacos, consider pairing them with fresh sides like mango salsa or pico de gallo for a burst of flavor. Heartier options like guacamole or refried beans provide satisfying richness, while crunchy lettuce and tortilla chips add texture.
- Street Corn Dip: This creamy dip is packed with the flavors of Mexican street corn, with roasted corn, spices, and a touch of crema. It's perfect for scooping up with tortilla chips.
- Crock Pot Pinto Beans: Slow cooker pinto beans are a simple and flavorful side dish that is perfect for busy weeknights. They are hearty, filling, and easily customized with your favorite spices.
- Bean Dip: This classic Mexican dip is made with mashed beans, spices, and cheese. It's a great way to add protein and fiber to your meal.
- Velveeta Cheese Dip: This easy and cheesy dip is a crowd-pleaser. It's perfect for dipping chips, tortillas, or even vegetables.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. There are many other delicious side dishes that you can serve with chicken tacos, so feel free to get creative.
Storage
Your crock pot chicken should be refrigerated as soon as it's cool enough to do so for maximum flavor, freshness, and food safety.
To reheat the chicken, microwave it covered until heated through.
Refrigerator: Store in an air-tight container for up to three days.
Freezer: Store in an air-tight, freezer-safe container for up to three months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator.
Some Of My Favorite Taco Recipes
SHARE IT & RATE IT
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Crock Pot Chicken Tacos
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 4 medium chicken breasts)
- 1 (16 oz.) jar of your favorite salsa
- 1 (1.5 oz.) packet of taco seasoning
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 (4 oz.) can diced green chilies
Instructions
- Place chicken breasts in the slow cooker. Cover with salsa and sprinkle taco seasoning, black pepper, and green chilies over the top.
- Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hour or on high for 2½-3 hours. When done cooking shred the chicken with two forks and stir into the sauce.
- Serve on tortillas with your favorite toppings.
Notes
Nutrition
*Nutrition information is an estimate. It may vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact ingredient numbers, I recommend calculating them with your preferred nutrition calculator.
Christy N
So easy and so delicious! I’ll definitely be making this again!
Ryan Allen
So glad that you liked this
Jess
Best crockpot chicken taco recipe I’ve found! Made others that completely lacked flavor but this one is a total winner! Making it for the second time and so excited! Yum!
Ryan Allen
I am so glad you enjoyed it.
Denee
If I double this recipe, do I need to double the cook time?
Ryan Allen
You should not need to double the cook time. I would check the chicken to make sure it reaches 165 degrees internally.
Chase
The tortillas you used look amazing. What did you use for the tortillas?
Ryan Allen
I just used store-bought flour tortillas and toasted them on the flames of my gas stove.
Dorothy
I tried this recipe, omitting the green chilies. It is a winner. My son, granddaughter, and her cousin loved it. I will be making this again. ❤️
Ryan Allen
I am so glad you and your family enjoyed it.
Kelygrn
Very easy to make. Chicken came out nice and tender. Of course I added my own seasonings and included the taco seasoning for great flavor. Clean up was a breeze. Thank you for sharing.
Ryan Allen
I am so glad that you enjoyed it.
Pat B.
This chicken taco recipe is delicious! I used Bill Echols taco seasoning recipe which is quick & easy. The tacos were very spicy, so I might use less chilies next time. I served black beans & yellow rice on the side. Makes a good burrito, too. It’s definitely a keeper and going into the dinner rotation
Thank you!!
Ryan Allen
I am so glad you enjoyed it. It is one of my family's favorites.
Diana
This was a hit with family and friends.
Ryan Allen
That makes me happy to hear that you all enjoyed these tasty tacos.
Jamie Johnston
Great recipe! I filled the bottom of my crockpot with about 4 chicken breasts. Cooked on LOW and it was done in 4 hours!!! Glad I decided to check it. It tastes sooo delicious.
Ryan Allen
I am so glad that you enjoyed it.