Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos are juicy and packed with flavor. Quick and easy dinner recipe that only requires a few minutes of prep time.
This chicken is easily made in the crockpot with lots of seasoning, salsa, chicken broth, garlic, and onion. The chicken makes the perfect taco filling, but there are lots of other ways to enjoy this delicious recipe.
SLOW COOKER CHICKEN TACOS
Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos are made by cooking chicken in a crockpot with salsa, chicken broth, taco seasoning, onion, garlic, and a variety of seasonings and spices. The cooked chicken is perfect for making tacos. Place the chicken in a tortilla with avocado, tomatoes, cheese, and any other toppings you want. Cilantro Lime dressing is delicious on these tacos as well – find the recipe below!
SOME OF OUR FAVORITE WAYS TO EAT CHICKEN TACOS:
- Burritos and tacos – Fill a tortilla with some of the chicken and add a little bit of cheese, some beans, rice, and maybe some lettuce and tomato. Add some cilantro lime dressing for even more flavor (recipe found below).
- In a salad – This chicken is delicious on top of a bed of lettuce and then you can add some sliced avocado, tomatoes, black beans, etc. Perfect if you’re cutting carbs or if you have gluten sensitivities.
- In a bowl – Fill up a bowl with some rice and add chicken on top. Add some beans, sour cream, cheese, and whatever other ingredients you’d like!
- Plain! There is so much flavor in the chicken that you can just serve it as-is for your entree! Add a slice of French bread and some fresh fruits and/or veggies on the side and you’ve got a complete meal!
Ingredients in Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
Chicken – You will need 2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts. The chicken breasts can be substituted with boneless, skinless chicken thighs or even chicken tenders if you are short on time and need the chicken to cook more quickly.
Chicken broth – A cup of chicken broth helps to make the chicken moist, juicy, and flavorful.
Salsa – A cup of salsa adds a lot of flavor to the recipe.
Taco seasoning – One packet of taco seasoning is a quick and easy way to add tons of flavor to the chicken.
Onion – You will need 1/2 cup of chopped yellow onion. I always keep chopped onion in my freezer for recipes like this one. They come in a bag in the frozen section at the grocery store and they save so much time and effort.
Garlic – You can mince three cloves of garlic or you can use 1 1/2 teaspoons of minced garlic from a jar.
Salt, chili powder, pepper, cumin, paprika – A delicious blend of spices and seasonings that make the chicken perfect for tacos.
Ingredients in Cilantro Lime Dressing:
Sour cream – Sour cream serves as the base of the dressing. You can swap this out with plain Greek yogurt if you prefer.
Lime juice – You can use 1/4 of freshly squeezed lime juice or the kind from a bottle.
Cilantro – A little bit of freshly chopped cilantro adds a lot of flavor to the dressing.
Mayonnaise – Just a couple of tablespoons of mayonnaise adds creaminess and flavor.
Garlic powder – Garlic powder is absolutely delicious in the dressing.
How to make Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
PREP & COOK THE CHICKEN
Place the chicken breasts in the slow cooker.
In a bowl, mix together chicken broth, salsa, taco seasoning, chopped onion, minced garlic, salt, chili powder, pepper, cumin, and paprika. Pour the mixture over the chicken.
Cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high for 1½ – 2 hours until the chicken is cooked through and easily shreddable. The chicken needs to reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
Once cooked, shred the chicken in the pot. Allow the chicken to absorb the flavors for an additional 15-20 minutes on low heat in the slow cooker before serving.
MAKE CILANTRO LIME DRESSING
In a small bowl, whisk together sour cream, lime juice, chopped cilantro, mayonnaise, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Adjust the seasoning to your taste preferences, adding more lime juice or salt if needed.
ASSEMBLE THE TACOS
Warm the tortillas and serve the shredded chicken on them with a drizzle of the cilantro lime dressing, as well as your favorite toppings such as shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, shredded cheese, and a dollop of sour cream.
Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
Ingredients
- 2-3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup salsa any kind
- 1 1-ounce taco seasoning packet
- ½ cup yellow onion finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
Ingredients in Cilantro Lime Dressing:
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup lime juice
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- PREP & COOK THE CHICKEN: Place the chicken breasts in the slow cooker.
- In a bowl, mix together chicken broth, salsa, taco seasoning, chopped onion, minced garlic, salt, chili powder, pepper, cumin, and paprika. Pour the mixture over the chicken.
- Cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high for 1½ – 2 hours until the chicken is cooked through and easily shreddable. The chicken needs to reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Once cooked, shred the chicken in the pot. Allow the chicken to absorb the flavors for an additional 15-20 minutes on low heat in the slow cooker before serving.
- MAKE CILANTRO LIME DRESSING: In a small bowl, whisk together sour cream, lime juice, chopped cilantro, mayonnaise, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Adjust the seasoning to your taste preferences, adding more lime juice or salt if needed.
- ASSEMBLE THE TACOS: Warm the tortillas and serve the shredded chicken on them with a drizzle of the cilantro lime dressing, as well as your favorite toppings such as shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, shredded cheese, and a dollop of sour cream.
Nutrition
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Tips for making Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
- Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this recipe. They shred easily and absorb flavors well.
- Adjust the seasoning to your taste preferences. If you prefer spicier tacos, add more chili powder or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- Adding a can of diced green chilies or chipotle peppers in adobo sauce can add depth of flavor to the dish.
How should I store the leftover chicken?
Leftover shredded chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
What else can I use this chicken for other than tacos?
This chicken is great to be used for quesadillas, burrito bowls, enchiladas, chicken wraps, chicken soup, and much more!
What if I don’t have salsa?
If you don’t have salsa on hand, you can substitute diced tomatoes or a can of diced tomatoes with green chilies.
CAN YOU MAKE CHICKEN TACOS IN AN INSTANT POT?
Yes, you can make chicken in an instant pot! It’s quite a bit faster than using a Slow Cooker (it takes about 2 hours total!) and I think I like the results even more! The chicken is fall apart tender and so flavorful! Instant Pot instructions included below- I’ve even made it in my baby 3-qt Instant Pot with great success!
HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN TACOS IN AN INSTANT POT
Set your Instant Pot to Saute so that the pot begins heating up while you gather the ingredients. Add all ingredients to your Instant Pot. Push “cancel” then “Pressure Cook” and set the timer to 15 minutes. Toggle the pressure release to “sealing.” It will take about 20 minutes to come to pressure. After cooking, I always let the chicken Natural Pressure Release (NPR) because I think the consistency is better. The full process in the IP takes about 40 minutes.
Remove the chicken breasts from the Instant Pot, reserving the liquid, and shred with a fork.
MORE DELICIOUS CHICKEN RECIPES TO TRY:
- Coca-Cola Chicken
- Best Chicken Tenders Recipe
- Chicken Cordon Bleu Lasagna
- Chicken Pineapple Tacos
- Cheesy Sour Cream Chicken
- Cheesy Grilled Pineapple Chicken
- Chicken Garlic Butter Pasta
- Marinated Grilled Chicken Thighs
- Easy Chicken Enchiladas
- Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
- Chicken Avocado Quesadillas
- Chicken Lettuce Wraps
- Zesty Italian Chicken
- Slow Cooker Chicken Carnitas
Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos are juicy and packed with flavor. Quick and easy dinner recipe that only requires a few minutes of prep time.
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