Crockpot Chicken Tacos (Mexican Chicken)

Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Crockpot Chicken Tacos are an easy and delicious dinner 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 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!

overhead view of three crockpot chicken tacos

Crockpot Chicken Tacos: Ingredients & Substitutions

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

overhead view of the ingredients in this crockpot chicken tacos recipe
  • Salsa. One of the wonderful aspects of this recipe is that you can use your favorite salsa (or make your own homemade salsa) and really set flavor profile for the dish. I opt for a mild variety because I’m a spice wimp, but you can choose the heat, flavor, etc. 
  • Lime Juice. I never make chicken tacos without a splash of lime juice, it adds such a great flavor.
  • Spices. I created a spice blend that is perfect for our family’s tastes (i.e. not to spicy). Feel free to play with the heat if you want and add more chili powder, a dash of cayenne, or even some hot sauce. 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 Crockpot 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! 

Combine ingredients in the Crockpot

In the container of a slow cooker, add 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.

two overhead photos showing how to make crockpot chicken tacos in a slow cooker - combining ingredients and adding chicken

Shred chicken 

Shred 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!

Cook with the lid ajar

Cook for an additional 1 hour with the lid slightly ajar. This allows some of the moisture to escape so you do not have runny chicken tacos! 

two overhead photos showing how to make crockpot chicken tacos in a slow cooker - chicken being shredded after finished cooking

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: 

front view of a hand holding a Mexican shredded chicken taco

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.  

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. 

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 chicken tacos

If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can your creations!

Crockpot Chicken Tacos (Mexican Chicken)

Laura
Crockpot Chicken Tacos are an easy and delicious dinner 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 59 votes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 12 Servings
Calories 99
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time4 hours
Total Time4 hours 5 minutes

Ingredients 
 

Instructions 

  • In the container of a slow cooker, add 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 Substitutions 

  • Salsa. One of the wonderful aspects of this recipe is that you can use your favorite salsa (or make your own homemade salsa) and really set flavor profile for the dish. I opt for a mild variety because I’m a spice wimp, but you can choose the heat, flavor, etc. 
  • Lime Juice. I never make chicken tacos without a splash of lime juice, it adds such a great flavor.
  • Spices. I created a spice blend that is perfect for our family’s tastes (i.e. not to spicy). Feel free to play with the heat if you want and add more chili powder, a dash of cayenne, or even some hot sauce. You can also substitute all the spices and use 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning instead. I just love making this with our own spice blend. 

To 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.  

Nutrition

Serving: 3oz | 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!

Photos in this recipe were taken by the talented Jamie from Dishing Out Health

The links in this post are affiliate links, thank you for supporting JoyFoodSunshine.




latest recipes

Post a Comment or Ask a Question!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




36 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Being stuck home for almost 3 months due to the outbreak in NY, we have grown tired of making the same old food. I had boneless chicken and no idea what to do with it. I googled chicken recipe ideas and this came up.
    Wasn’t planning on making tacos but I am so glad I did!! I used boneless chicken breasts and sliced them very thin and cooked them after letting them sit in the spice rub for a couple hours. I didn’t have fresh pico but salsa was good as well. My younger son even tried them and ate 2 tacos himself, which is highly unusual because he eats almost nothing new even though we try! These will be made again and again! Thank you!

    1. Any salsa works well in this recipe! I use a mild variety because I am cooking for kids. But choose your favorite salsa and you can’t go wrong!

  2. 5 stars
    yum! These look so delicious and easy! Always so good to have some great crockpot recipes up your sleeve for those busy days! I can’t wait to try these tacos. 🙂

  3. 5 stars
    This was so easy and delicious. My husband normally is not a big fan of chicken (he finds it boring) but he absolutely loved this chicken. With the combination of salsa and added spices this is very flavorful and is excellent is soft tortilla shells. So happy I found your website and recipes!

  4. 5 stars
    Laura
    This is such an amazing recipe and it gives a chance for me to put my crocpot to the best use and I like the way you have used tacos with the shredded chicken. I can’t wait till I try this for a weekend dinner. Thanks

    1. 5 stars
      Really enjoyed this chicken taco recipe! It’s quick, easy & tasty. I used a chunky salsa & used the same spices, but increased the spices to suit our taste. It was terrific! The lime juice really adds a nice flavor. I appreciated having only 1 dish to wash. I highly recommend.

  5. I will have to give this a try, I am in the process of getting a slow cooker. This will definitely be one of my first meals to cook.