Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

We've been making these chicken tacos for years, well before we ever started the blog. It's one of our favorite taco recipes and certainly one of the easiest.

These tacos make a great weeknight dinner, because they're so low maintenance and everyone can add their favorite toppings. Not to mention, cleanup is a breeze.

How to make slow cooker chicken tacos:

• Place 1 pound of chicken in the slow cooker, then top with chicken broth.
• Add the salsa, onion, taco sauce, minced garlic, tomatoes, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, salt, pepper, chipotle, smoked paprika, and cayenne.
• Cover, and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours.
• After the chicken cooks, uncover, and use 2 forks or a set of meat claws to shred. It should shred easily.
• Place the shredded chicken into tortillas and garnish with your favorite toppings.

How to make slow cooker chicken tacos with no salsa?

If you don’t want salsa in the recipe or don’t have salsa in the pantry, simply omit it. The salsa gives a little more tomato, green chile, and pepper flavor, but it’s not so predominate that leaving that ingredient out will made a huge difference.

Is it okay to add raw chicken to the slow cooker?

Yes, that’s exactly how we make this recipe. We start with raw chicken so when it cooks, the connective tissue breaks down slowly and makes the chicken nice and tender. All the spices and seasoning add a ton of flavor, since the chicken is slow cooked and submerged in a flavorful broth for several hours.

How do you slow cook chicken without drying it out?

Try to avoid cooking chicken on high heat if possible. Although, high can be used in a pinch. The low heat setting is the better option.

Additionally, chicken with a higher fat content is less likely to dry out than chicken with a lower fat content. Chicken thighs are a great choice if you enjoy that cut. They do take a little longer to cook than chicken breasts, but as the fat breaks down it keeps the chicken meat nice and moist.

What are some topping ideas for chicken tacos?

The list is endless, but here are some of our favorites:

Shredded Lettuce
Cheese
Diced Tomatoes
Guacamole
Pico de Gallo
Homemade Cheese Sauce
Salsa
Diced Onions
Cilantro
Spicy Coleslaw

Can you double the recipe?

Yes, absolutely! We recommend doubling the chicken only, because there are plenty of liquid and spices for 2 pounds of chicken without having to double all the other ingredients. As long as the broth covers the chicken in the slow cooker, there’s no need to add additional liquid.

Can you freeze this recipe?

We do not recommend freezing the chicken after it’s been cooked.

Can you use taco seasoning in place of the spices?

Yes, regular packet or homemade taco seasoning can be used in place of the spices in this recipe. I’d start with 2-3 tablespoons keeping in mind that packet seasoning will have more sodium than homemade.