Crock Pot Chicken Tacos (Mexican Chicken)

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Crock Pot Chicken Tacos are an easy and nutritious recipe that only takes 5 minutes to prepare! Mexican shredded chicken is delicious served in tortillas, over rice or on top of a salad, and is a great way to meal prep chicken for the week!

slow cooker chicken taco on a plate

I never, ever have trouble getting my kids to eat dinner when tacos are on the menu! These slow cooker chicken tacos are a healthy recipe that is easy to prepare, and can be served many different ways.

Seriously, this Mexican shredded chicken only takes 5 minutes to prepare. It’s delicious served in tortillas, over Mexican rice or cilantro lime rice, or on top of a salad, or with your favorite Mexican Recipes!

Plus, it’s a great meal-prep recipe that can be made once and enjoyed all week long. And it’s gluten-free, dairy-free and Paleo – just like these ground chicken tacos!

overhead view of three crockpot chicken tacos

Crock Pot Chicken Tacos: Ingredients & Substitutions

Here are a few notes about the ingredients in this crock pot Mexican chicken recipe, as well as possible substitutions: 

overhead view of the labeled ingredients in this crockpot chicken tacos recipe
  • Salsa. Use your favorite salsa (or make your own homemade salsa).
  • Onion & minced garlic. 1 teaspoon each- onion powder & garlic powder – is a good substitute for onion and minced garlic.
  • Spices. This recipe is mild, to increase the heat add chili powder, a dash of cayenne, or diced jalapeรฑos. You can also substitute all the spices and use 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning instead.
overhead view of three crockpot chicken tacos on a plate

How to Make Crock Pot Chicken Tacos

I love these slow cooker chicken tacos because all the work is done in the pan of your slow cooker – which means minimal dirty dishes. This Mexican shredded chicken is easy to make, but as always we will walk through the process step-by-step, and don’t forget to watch the video!

Begin by adding the salsa, onion, minced garlic, lime juice and seasonings to the container of a slow cooker & stir to combine.

sauce ingredients in a crock pot to make crock pot chicken tacos

Then, add the chicken breasts and turn ot coat in the salsa mixture.

adding chicken breasts to crock pot to make shredded mexican chicken

Next, cover and cook on high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours, until the chicken is tender and easily shredded.

Crock Pot Chicken Tacos after chicken has finished cooking in the slow cooker

Then, shred the the slow cooker chicken tacos with two forks in the slow cooker and stir it into the salsa mixture. Some people prefer to transfer the chicken to the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment to shred it by turning it on to medium speed for 15-30 seconds. This works well too

a hand with two forks shredding chicken in a crock pot for shredded chicken tacos

After shredding, cook the Mexican chicken for an additional hour with the lid slightly ajar. This allows some of the moisture to escape so you do not have runny chicken tacos! 

shredded mexican chicken in the container of a slow cooker

Serve

Serve the crockpot Mexican shredded chicken as chicken tacos, wrapped up in tortillas with your choice of toppings and sides. Here are some of our favorite Mexican recipes: 

Store/Freeze

To store, simply put the chicken tacos it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months. If freezing, I recommend portioning it out into the amount you would eat in one sitting or meal.  

front view of a hand holding a Mexican shredded chicken taco

Crock Pot Chicken Tacos Recipe FAQS

Is it OK to put raw chicken in slow cooker?

Yes! As the chicken cooks it will reach a temperature above 160 degrees F, which ensures it is safe to eat.

Can you put frozen chicken in the crockpot?

Another yes. You can place frozen chicken in a crockpot, but I suggest doing so only if you will be cooking it on low heat for a longer period of time. If chicken changes temperature too quickly it can become rubbery. To avoid this, cook frozen chicken breasts slowly on the low setting.ย 

Can you cook chicken in the crockpot on high for 4 hours?

Yes, I suggest cooking on low for 6 hours or high for 3-4 hours.

overhead view of 3 crock pot chicken tacos

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Crockpot Chicken Tacos (Mexican Chicken)

Laura
Crock Pot Chicken Tacos are an easy and nutritious recipe that only takes 5 minutes to prepare! Mexican shredded chicken is delicious served in tortillas, over rice or on top of a salad, and is a great way to meal prep chicken for the week!
5 from 65 votes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 12 Servings
Calories 99
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time4 hours
Total Time4 hours 5 minutes

Ingredients 
 

To serve

  • Tortillas, sour cream, cheese, guacamole, chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions 

  • In the container of a slow cooker, add onion, minced garlic, salsa, lime juice and seasonings. Stir to combine.
  • Add chicken breasts and stir to ensure they are covered with the salsa mixture.
  • Cover and cook on high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours, until the chicken is tender and easily shredded.
  • Shred chicken with two forks in the slow cooker and stir it into the salsa mixture.
  • Cook for an additional 1 hour with the lid slightly ajar (to let moisture escape).
  • Serve in tortillas with your favorite taco toppings!

Video

Notes

Ingredient Substitutionsย 
  • Salsa.ย Use your favorite salsa (or make your own homemade salsa).
  • Onion & minced garlic. 1 teaspoon each- onion powder & garlic powder – is a good substitute for onion and minced garlic.
  • Spices. This recipe is mild, to increase the heat add chili powder, a dash of cayenne, or diced jalapeรฑos. You can also substitute all the spices and use 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning instead.
Store/Freeze
To store, put the chicken tacos it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
If freezing, I recommend portioning it out into the amount you would eat in one sitting or meal.ย ย 

Nutrition

Serving: 3ounces | Calories: 99kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 404mg | Potassium: 398mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 313IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you enjoy this recipe? Have a question? Leave a comment below!

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5 from 65 votes (48 ratings without comment)

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