*Originally posted December 13th, 2015.
Slow cooker shredded chicken tacos are tender, full of flavor, and best of all, a cinch to prepare. Simply toss the ingredients into the slow cooker and dinner is made!
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We’ve owned a slow cooker for years, but it wasn’t until the last couple of years that we started to put it to use. Shredded chicken tacos are one of our favorite slow cooker recipes mainly because it’s so versatile.
This recipe was one of the first to appear on the blog, and it was one of the most basic. At the time, the recipe only consisted of chicken and a few spices. Fast forward over a year and we’ve given it quite a make-over.
Now the shredded chicken tacos are complete with chicken, peppers, tomatoes, salsa, taco sauce, and spices. We even updated the topping. Instead of using an avocado crema, we made a spicy coleslaw that pairs wonderfully with the flavor of the chicken.
When I first started cooking, there are two big issues I kept having in regards to chicken. Dry and flavorless meat. However, cooking chicken in a slow cooker solves both of these problems by locking in flavor and moisture. Since the chicken is cooked at a lower temperature, it doesn’t dry out. Additionally, the seasonings have a chance to really soak in and give the chicken an amazing flavor.
Even though the flavor of the tacos is amazing, the best part about this dish is the ease of preparation. It only takes minutes to place all the ingredients into the slow cooker. After the chicken is cooked, shred it using two forks, a set of meat claws, or my favorite way, with a hand mixer and beater attachments.
Place the shredded chicken into your favorite flour or corn tortillas and add your favorite toppings. We also like to add sour cream, guacamole, vinegar slaw, fresh tomatoes, or onions. However you prepare it, make this dish your own and you’ve got an easy dinner that can feed a crowd. This recipe can be easily adjusted to specific tastes or quantities.
- 1 pound chicken breasts
- 1 cup salsa
- 1/4 cup taco sauce
- 1 cup bell peppers, chopped (mixed variety)
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped
- 2 small tomatoes, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon chipotle powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 32 ounces chicken broth
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Place all ingredients in slow cooker.
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Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 6 hours.
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Filling is done when liquid has cooked down and is level with chicken. Chicken should be tender and shred on its own.
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Place in warm tortillas and add toppings.
*Calorie count is for chicken only and does not include tortillas or toppings.
These are perfect for taco Tuesday! We make mexican food every Tuesday and these will be a nice addition to our menu rotation.
Thank you, Robin! Awesome, I hope you enjoy the tacos. PS. We do Fiesta Fridays lol! Have a great Wednesday 🙂
I use my slow cooker several times a week, especially on Sunday when the entire family comes over for lunch. Your shredded chicken tacos will be a lovely addition to my slow cooker recipes. Looks delicious!
Thank you, Alli! I hope you and your family enjoy the tacos. We wish you a wonderful Wednesday 🙂
When I make chicken or any meat I always like to make extra. Cook once eat twice is my motto. Anything shredded works in my family. Plus they love adding their own sauces and toppings.
Thank you for commenting Candy! Shredded chicken is always an easy meal to prepare for a big group. Have a great day 🙂
Slow Cookers are my life saver. Especially when its too hot to heat up the kitchen! like NOW! I love chicken tacos and yours look amazing! YUM!
Thank you, Heather! I agree, slow cookers are a great option when you don’t want to use your oven. I am glad you enjoyed the recipe and hope you have a lovely day 🙂
On man you are totally speaking my language! I love how easy it is. I love how delicious it looks. Anything I can do in the slow cooker I really love doing it because it really is so easy and less time-consuming. I love coming home to a house filled with the smell of food. I can’t wait to try this.
Thank you, Jeanette! I love my slow-cooker too. It’s such an easy way to cook a hearty meal. I hope you enjoy this recipe when you make it. Have a lovely Thursday 🙂
Oh my goodness, you’re making me so hungry! These look amazing, we have family coming up this weekend, I’m going to have to try these because I know they’ll be a hit!
Thank you, Doria! I hope you and your family enjoy the tacos. Have a Thursday and a wonderful weekend 🙂
I love anything I can make in the slow cooker. These tacos look amazing. I can’t wait to try this recipe.
Thank you, Lisa! Me too, slow cookers are the best. I hope you enjoy preparing the tacos. Have a great day 🙂
I love our slow cooker. I can always make a delicious, easy meal in there. YOu cant beat the convenience and great taste.
Thank you, Jenn! I share your sentiment for slow cookers. Have a great day 🙂
These slow cooker shredded chicken tacos sound so good. I love using my slow cooker. It make sure cooking flavorful meals so easy.
Thank you, Pam! Me too, slow cookers make cooking a breeze. Have a great day 🙂
I don’t know how to make a lot of things in my slow cooker, but shredded chicken is one of those things. We have tacos in our home once a week so I try to change it up with different meats so it doesn’t get boring.
Thank you for commenting Mimi! I use my slow cooker quite a bit. It’s perfect for shredded meats, bbq flavored dishes, soups, and a whole lot of other meals. Have a great day 🙂
Oh my goodness!! This is really look good and tasty for sure! I’ll make sure to make it tonight for my family.
Thank you, Victoria! I hope you and your family enjoy the tacos. Have a lovely Thursday 🙂
This sounds like a flavorful dish! I love my slowcookers, they don’t heat up the kitchen in the summer.
Thank you, Val! I do too, my slow cooker makes cooking a breeze. Have a great Thursday 🙂
Tascos are a favorite in my family and I love making them too. The recipe is so versatile I can mix and match any meat and vegetable and they’d still love it. I will try this recipe with slow cooker shredded chicken. Looks really delicious!
Thank you for commenting! Chicken is one of those meats that are a great “blank slate” for cooking. You can use any kind of seasons and sides you want and still create a delicious meal. I hope you and your family enjoy this version of the chicken and have a wonderful Friday 🙂
This is making me so hungry! It has been so hot here lately, so I haven’t used my slow cooker. I know fall will be here soon and I can’t wait to start using it again. I will be trying this recipe for sure!
Thank you, Jillian! That’s unfortunate you haven’t been able to use your slow-cooker. We live in South Florida, so it’s always hot here lol! We just crank up the AC and fire up the slow cooker. I hope you enjoy the tacos this Fall and have a lovely weekend 🙂
What an awesome recipe! I can’t wait to try it.
Thank you, Kita! I hope you enjoy the tacos. Have a great weekend 🙂
I love making chicken tacos in the slow cooker but my recipe is a little bit bland. Looking forward to using your recipe and spicing it up a bit!
Thank you, Amanda! I hope you enjoy the extra spices. The slaw will spice things up a bit as well. Have a lovely weekend 🙂
Oh yum!! These look and sound delicious! We are taco fanatics!
Thank you, Kate! We love tacos as well. I hope you have a wonderful weekend 🙂
This chicken looks wonderful. It actually looks very similar to a recipe for a chicken in a slow cooker that a person at my work makes. It ‘s called tinga and it’s absolutely wonderful. Although we use tostada shells instead of taco shells.
Thank you, David! Huh, I have never heard of tinga. I will look into it today. Tostado shells would be a great way to change the presentation and texture of the dish. Thanks again for commenting and have a great weekend 🙂
Can’t wait to fire up my slow cooker and make these!
Thank you, Amanda! I hope you enjoy the tacos. Have a wonderful Tuesday 🙂
I need this recipe in my life. Wowza! That looks amazing. Bookmarked – this hockey momma lives on slow cooked meals from mid August to May. And this looks like a winner because my son LOVES tacos and chicken!
Thank you, Kimberly! slow cooker recipes are wonderful for families on the go. I hope you and your family enjoy the tacos. Have a wonderful Tuesday 🙂