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These slow cooker shredded chicken tacos are insanely easy, absolutely delicious and great for meal prep. Combine a few simple ingredients like salsa and taco seasoning with chicken breast for super easy an flavorful crockpot chicken tacos!
Figuring out dinner every single night is a huge challenge. I’m always looking for easy dinners my family will enjoy that don’t take hours to prep. These easy slow cooker chicken tacos are perfect for busy weeknights or as an easy weekend meal prep.
Why You’ll Love This Chicken Taco Recipe
- Super easy. Throw a handful of simple ingredients into your slow cooker and let it do all the work. Couldn’t be easier!
- Lots of ways to use it! You can use this shredded chicken in tacos of course, but it also works in quesadillas, taco salad, burrito bowls or even fajitas.
- Lean protein. This shredded chicken calls for lean chicken breast and shreds up perfectly after cooking slowly.
- Perfect for meal prepping. This recipe is wonderful to make on a Sunday afternoon for an easy protein for the week.
I’m a big fan of prepping protein right in my slow cooker. Try my Brown Sugar BBQ Chicken Recipe (Slow Cooker) next!
Ingredients
For full recipe instructions and complete list of ingredients, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of this page.
- Chicken breast: I like to use boneless skinless chicken breast but boneless skinless chicken thighs work great too.
- Jarred salsa: Use a 15 oz jar of your favorite salsa (mild, medium or spicy).
- Taco spices: I create my own taco seasoning using chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. You can also use a packet of taco seasoning. My favorite is Siete.
- Taco fixings for serving: Grab your favorite flour or corn tortillas or shells, chopped romaine lettuce, tomatoes, onions, avocado, sour cream and shredded cheese. The possibilities are endless!
Variations
- Use a seasoning packet: Use about 3 tbsp prepared taco seasoning instead. My favorite seasoning blend is Siete.
- Kid-friendly. Make sure to use mild salsa if you’re serving to kids or adults who are sensitive to spice. You can always add your own hot sauce.
- Add beans: Add a can of drained and rinsed black beans, pinto beans or kidney beans for fiber and protein.
- Chiles: A small can of diced green chiles or 2 chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce make for a flavorful addition.
- Burrito bowls: Build a bowl with 1 cup rice, 1/2 cup beans, a heaping scoop of shredded chicken and whatever fresh toppings you like, like diced tomatoes and shredded lettuce.
How To Make Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Tacos
- Mix. Add all spices to a small bow, whisk to combine.
- Assemble. Add chicken breasts to the bottom of the slow cooker. Sprinkle evenly with spice blend and top with jarred salsa.
- Cook. Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours. Chicken should be at least 165 degrees F and fall apart when pierced with a fork.
- Shred. Shred the chicken with two forks. Mix into sauce. Assemble your tacos and enjoy!
How To Store
Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Jamie’s tips
Recipe Tips
- Know your cooker. Older models may cook more slowly. Check the chicken after 3-4 hours. It should fall apart if you try to lift it with a fork.
- Make it faster. If you’re short on time, you can also cook on slow for 2-2.5 hours. It will just be a little more difficult to shred, but still delicious.
- Shred on a cutting board. Save the ceramic coating on your slow cooker and take chicken out to shred it. Return to sauce, stir and keep warm until you’re ready to eat.
- Use it for whatever taco-recipes you want! You don’t have to just use these for tacos. They work great in quesadillas, on top of salad, in a sandwich on a roll, or in homemade burritos.
More Taco Inspired Meals
If you’ve made and loved these Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Tacos or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and comments below!
Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Tacos
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast, or boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 15 oz jarred salsa
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- soft or crunchy tortillas, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, shredded cheese, and sour cream for serving
Instructions
- In a small bowl mix seasoning (paprika, chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper).
- Add chicken breast to a crock pot, sprinkle with seasoning and top with jar of salsa.
- Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours. Chicken should easily break apart when pierced with a fork or tongs.
- Remove chicken and shred. Return to crock pot, stir. Keep warm until ready to serve.
- Serve toppings in individual bowls and assemble your perfect taco!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an estimate.
