Slow-cooker chicken tacos are the ultimate weeknight dinner, offering the perfect balance of convenience, flavor, and versatility. This recipe requires minimal prep time and delivers tender, juicy chicken that falls apart with a fork, ready to be loaded into warm tortillas. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or just looking for a quick, satisfying meal, slow-cooker chicken tacos are sure to be a hit.
The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity. To begin, boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs are seasoned with a flavorful mix of spices such as cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, and paprika. These spices infuse the chicken with a savory, slightly smoky flavor that’s characteristic of traditional taco seasoning. You can even add a little lime juice for a touch of acidity that brightens the dish.
Once the chicken is seasoned, place it in the slow cooker with a can of diced tomatoes and green chilies, or even a bit of salsa for extra flavor. The slow cooking process allows the chicken to absorb all the flavors while staying incredibly moist and tender. After a few hours of slow cooking, the chicken shreds easily, creating the perfect filling for your tacos.
When it’s time to assemble the tacos, simply pile the shredded chicken into warm tortillas and top with your favorite taco fixings. Classic toppings include shredded lettuce, cheese, diced tomatoes, cilantro, avocado, and a squeeze of lime. You can also get creative with your toppings by adding salsa, sour cream, jalapeños, or even pickled onions for extra flavor and texture.
Slow-cooker chicken tacos are incredibly versatile, allowing you to customize them with different toppings and sauces based on your personal preferences. You can also serve the shredded chicken in other ways, such as over rice or in a salad, making it a great base for multiple meals.
Perfect for busy weeknights, meal prepping, or feeding a crowd, slow-cooker chicken tacos are an easy and delicious way to enjoy a flavorful meal with minimal effort. The slow cooker does all the work, leaving you with a satisfying dinner that’s sure to please everyone.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 packet taco seasoning store-bought or homemade
- 1 cup salsa your choice of salsa
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 10 small taco shells soft or hard
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- 1 cup shredded cheese cheddar or Mexican blend
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/4 cup sour cream
Instructions
- Place chicken breasts into the slow cooker.
- Sprinkle taco seasoning over the chicken.
- Pour salsa and chicken broth over the seasoned chicken.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 hours until chicken is tender and cooked through.
- Shred the chicken with two forks and mix well with the sauce in the slow cooker.
- Warm taco shells according to package instructions.
- Fill each taco shell with shredded chicken, then top with lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, and sour cream.
- Serve and enjoy your Slow-Cooker Chicken Tacos.
These tacos were super easy to make! My kids loved them.
I didn’t have taco seasoning, so I used curry powder instead. It wasn’t awful, but not tacos!
I tried this recipe, but my chicken turned out dry. Maybe I left it too long?
Perfect! I used leftover chicken and it still turned out great! Easy peasy!
Totally forgot the sour cream! Still turned out good but a bit plain.
I was doubtful at first, but they turned out tasty. I used my own salsa tho.. Mine has pineapple in it.
Tacos? Yummy! But slow cookers are for soups…just sayin. 🥴
These chicken tacos are the bomb! So tender and flavorfull. My family loved it!
This recipe is sooooo good, I didn’t even need the salsa. Just chicken and seasoning was fine for me!
But isn’t the salsa like, the main part? Without it, I feel like it would just be plain chicken… idk.
I totally agree! The chicken was so flavorful, I didn’t even think about adding salsa either. Great recipe!
Quick and easy! I also added black beans and corn to mine. Delicious and filling!
So easy to make, perfect for busy weeknights! One of my faves now!
These tacos were a hit at my home! So easy to make, and everyone loved them. Will definitely be making again!
I’m glad you loved them! They are super easy and always a crowd-pleaser. What kind of salsa did you use?
Taco shells were too crunchy, couldn’t bite. But chicken was alright I guess.
I like tacos n all, but I need a recipe that doesn’t take 4 hours. Who has that kinda time?
I get what you’re saying! 4 hours is a long wait for tacos. You can try cooking the chicken in a pressure cooker instead, it’ll be a lot faster!
Taco shells too crunchy for my ortho! I shouldda tried soft ones. Gotta eat right tho!
5 stars if I could eat this everyday! Also, I add guacamole… yum!
This was way too salty for me, but maybe my salsa was not the best.
Too many steps man. Just cook the chicken and throw it in the tortilla. Simple, right?
Nah, that’s too much work for tacos. Who needs chicken broth and salsa? Just fry it up and wrap it, way easier. 😅
I get what you mean, but this recipe really brings out the flavor. I love the idea of slow-cooking it! Worth the wait 🙂
Seriously, it’s just chicken and salsa… how can this be good? But it is!
Slop! The chicken was too dry. How can you mess up tacos? Never cooking this again.
These tacos were a hit at my family dinner! So easy and tasty. Everyone loved them!
These tacos are legit! So glad I found this recipe. Can I use beef instead?
I’m skeptical about using a slow cooker, does it really work as well as they say? My chicken always comes out dry.
Yum! But my husband said he wanted beef instead. 😒 Guess I’ll try that next time.
Beef tacos sound good too! Maybe you can make both next time? 😃
These tacos were amazing! So easy to make and perfect for a busy weeknight. My family loved them!
They were good, but I thought the chicken was a bit bland. Maybe I’ll add some extra spices next time.
I’m so glad to hear that! These tacos really made my week too. I love how easy they are to put together. Family-friendly meals are the best!
My kids gobbled these up! The only thing is, I forgot the cheese. Who needs cheese anyway? Lol.
Yummy! I wish I could eat this every day. So good with the sour cream! 😋
I made these last night and they were okay but tasted a little bland. Next time, I’ll add more spices.
Not bad, but I think it needs more spices. It was kinda bland. Maybe add more salsa next time?
My kids ate it but I don’t think it’s authentic tacos… What’s with the slow cooker? Just fry it up!
But like, slow cookers make it easy for busy moms! Not every recipe has to be super authentic. Kids liked it, so that’s a win!
I totally get what you mean! Slow cookers are great for convenience but not for authentic flavor. Frying it up really does add that special touch!
Honestly, kinda bland. Needs more spice! I added some jalapenos but it didn’t help much. Might try again.
I made these for a party and everyone loved them! Can’t believe how easy they were! 👍