Crock Pot Chicken Tacos are an easy, crowd-pleasing dinner recipe made in the slow cooker. Use the shredded chicken in a variety of ways!
We’ve got a code red here, people! Or is it a code blue? I can never remember which one requires immediate attention be paid to the situation at hand…probably both, now that I think about it.
Forget it – we’ve got a code crock pot!
I need to inform you of one of the easiest, most delicious crock pot recipes I have ever come across, so you can go get the ingredients to devour Crock Pot Chicken Tacos ASAP!
Chicken breasts are seasoned and spiced with just 2 ingredients – taco seasoning and jarred salsa – then cooked low and slow in a crock pot until they’re fall apart tender.
The juicy shredded chicken is stuffed inside crunchy taco shells with shredded cheese then popped into a piping hot oven to warm, melt, and create an irresistibly cheesy NACHO-ESQUE taco. SO GOOD.
Served alongside fluffy Mexican-Style Rice, this will be one of the easiest meals you’ve made in ages!
Get your crock pots out, and appetites ready – it’s taco time!
How to Make This Recipe
Start the Crock Pot Chicken Tacos by making the crock pot chicken, which could not be any easier. First slice 4 large chicken breasts, about 2lbs chicken total, in half.
Lay the chicken halves into the bottom of a 6 quart crock pot in one layer, then sprinkle on 1 packet taco seasoning and pour in 1-16oz jar salsa.
Place a lid on top, then cook the chicken on low for 4 hours, or high for 2 hours, or until it shreds easily with two forks.
Shred the chicken then add some or all of the cooking liquid back in. That’s it! Juicy, tender, and unbelievably delicious – you would never know this only has 3 ingredients in it!
I like to serve the Crock Pot Chicken Tacos withe Mexican-Style Rice.
Saute 1/4 cup minced onion in 1 teaspoon olive oil until tender, then add in 1 cup salsa, 1 cup jasmine rice, and 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth.
Bring the mixture to a boil, then place a lid on top and simmer until the rice is tender, about 12-15 minutes.
When the rice has a few minutes left, place some of the shredded chicken into corn taco shells, top with shredded cheese, then bake at 425 degrees for 2-3 minutes, or until the cheese melts. This step does double duty of warming the shell AND melting the cheese!
Add the toppings of your choice (chopped tomatoes, green onions, and truck loads of salsa for me,) then chow down!
I could hardly control myself around this chicken – it is so flavorful, so tender, and so juicy. Plus, hello, it’s surrounded by melted cheese. How bad could that be?
The Mexican-Style Rice definitely gives the tacos a run for their money, though. Creamy, fluffy, and so tasty. Enjoy!
More Easy Tex-Mex Recipes
- Beef Enchiladas
- Gluten Free Enchilada Sauce
- Crock Pot Ranchero Chicken
- Fish Tacos with Avocado Sweet Corn Slaw
- Large Batch Homemade Taco Seasoning
- Crock Pot Shredded Beef Enchiladas
- Cheese Enchiladas with Homemade Red Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts, ~2lbs, sliced in half
- 1 recipe homemade taco seasoning, or 1 packet store-bought taco seasoning
- 16 oz jar salsa
- Corn taco shells
- Taco toppings: shredded cheese, chopped tomato, lettuce, green onions, cheese, black olives, etc
For the Mexican-Style Rice:
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup minced onion
- salt and pepper
- 1 cup salsa
- 1 cup long grain white rice, Lundberg recommended
- 2 cups chicken broth
Directions
For the Chicken Tacos:
- Lay chicken breasts in a single layer in bottom of a 6 quart crock pot. Sprinkle on taco seasoning then pour in salsa. Lift chicken breast halves to get salsa underneath then cook on low for 4 hours, or high for 2 hours, or until chicken breasts shred easily with 2 forks. Shred then mix with some of the cooking liquid.
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Add shredded chicken into the bottom of taco shells then top with shredded cheese. Bake on a foil-lined baking dish for 2-3 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Top with desired toppings.
For the Mexican Rice:
- Heat oil in a pot over medium heat. Add onion, season with salt and pepper, then saute until tender, 5 minutes. Add salsa, rice, and broth then bring to a skimmer. Place a lid on top then turn the heat down to low and simmer until rice is tender, 12-15 minutes.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
Can I use frozen chicken breasts do you think? I’ve got a bunch in the freezer :)
I’m not sure – I’ve never tried! I’d just let them thaw in the fridge overnight before popping in the crock pot.
I made this this evening for my real-life chef husband. It’s tough cooking for him as he has such a taste for fine foods and a real habit of pointing out what was wrong with the dish. Challenge accepted! I made the chicken and the CHEF loved it! I did serve it over rice with lettuce, cheese and topped with Greek yogurt to make it like a messy chicken taco salad and it turned out wonderfully. It was also filling and a healthy option over loaded beef tacos. Thanks for the recipe!
Both these recipes look amazing! Thanks for sharing!
can you double the recipe?
I’m sure you can – it might just take a few more hours of cooking time!
Have made this several times and the whole fam loves it- thanks for sharing!
Love this! this recipe looks so good, and easy.. saving on Pinterest, thanks!
Ah, I loved this recipe!! Great flavor and so easy peasy- thanks for sharing!
I tend to dislike crockpot recipes, seems to dry the meat out…this was loved by all, even loved the rice! Making again mañana for more of my family. Thanks!
These just finished cooking in the crock pot and holy &*%&^%!!! Like you said, COULD NOT POSSIBLY be any easier and full of flavor! I want to dig in right now.
My boyfriend is going to be so impressed when he gets home. :)
Yay! Hope you both enjoyed!
Sooo easy and delicious. Will now be a staple. Thanks so much. I am loving that I discovered your blog by Pinterest. My daughter says she is also
My sister and I will be coming. Looking forward to it!
Coming X 3!!!
I just made these tacos! They tasted just like the ones they serve at the Mexican restaurant we go to! I loved them and can’t wait to have the chicken on my salad for lunch tomorrow!