These Crock Pot Shredded Chicken Tacos are an absolute hit when you’re looking for a quick and easy family meal to whip up. You’ll need just a handful of simple ingredients to put them together, and they’ll turn out just perfect!
They have become an absolute family favorite and an obsession of my son’s for years.
We’ve loved our slow cooker pulled beef tacos for years and paired them with some smoked guacamole for a bit of extra flavor and deliciousness, but this time, I wanted to try something different. And that’s the inspiration for these easy tacos!
Why You’ll Love This Crock Pot Pulled Chicken Taco Recipe
- Family-friendly: These chicken tacos are a great dinner option for families- perfect for taco Tuesdays.
- Versatile: When you’re done using the pulled chicken for tacos, you can also use it for lots of other recipes- it is pretty versatile that way!
- Easy to make: With just 4 main ingredients and a few minutes of hands-on kitchen time, this is one of the easiest recipes out there.
- Flavor-packed: These shredded chicken tacos turn out insanely delicious, every single time.
Ingredients
- Chicken: Opt for skinless, boneless chicken breasts or chicken thighs.
- Salsa: Use chunky salsa to add a bit of texture. To keep it healthy, you can also use a simple homemade salsa.
- Peppers: Sweet peppers taste fantastic along with the chicken. These are optional, but I highly recommend using them.
- Tortillas: Use either soft tortillas or hard tacos- whatever you prefer.
- Taco seasoning: Feel free to use your favorite store-bought brand or make it homemade if you prefer.
- Taco toppings: Use any of your favorite toppings. Lettuce, cheese, sour cream, avocado, jalapenos, black olives, and chopped cilantro are just a few options.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Add mix-ins: You can experiment with different mix-ins too! Diced avocado, shredded lettuce, and sliced onions are all great choices.
- Choose toppings: Toppings like cheese, sour cream, and guacamole also make for great additions to these pulled chicken tacos.
- Make it spicy: Love that kick of heat? Add in some jalapenos or use spicy salsa instead of your regular salsa for this recipe. You might also give our jalapeno powder, smoked jalapeno powder, or chipotle powder a try!
- Saucier consistency: Add a ½ cup of chicken broth to the chicken.
- Add beans: Stir in some drained canned black beans or pinto beans towards the end of cooking.
How to Make Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken Tacos
Once you have all the ingredients ready, grease the inside of your slow cooker with some cooking spray before you load it up!
Step 1: Season the chicken. Carefully add the chicken into the Crockpot and sprinkle in the taco seasoning, coating the chicken well.
Step 2: Add the salsa. Pour in the salsa, cover the Crockpot, and cook.
Step 3: Shred chicken. Shred the chicken inside the Crockpot or on your chopping board. Add it back in.
Step 4: Add peppers. Add the peppers.
Step 5: Cook the peppers. Allow the peppers to cook until they are tender.
Step 6: Assemble. Spoon the shredded chicken mixture into tortillas or taco shells, add toppings, and enjoy.
⭐️ Hint: Don’t forget to top the chicken tacos with some fresh cilantro right before you serve.
If you love this recipe you may also enjoy our slow cooker pulled pork, Easy CrockPot Salsa Chicken, Smash Burger Tacos, Salsa con Queso or our Air Fryer Chicken Tenders with Flour too!
Storage Directions
- Storing: Your leftover pulled chicken for tacos can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. The pulled chicken mixture can be frozen too! Batch make it and freeze it for up to 2 months, if not longer. Use freezer-safe containers or freezer bags for best results.
- Reheating: While you can reheat the chicken in the microwave too, I would recommend reheating it in the Crockpot or in a pan over low heat. You might also need to add a splash of water to it to keep it from getting too dry.
- Make Ahead of Time: You can prep the shredded chicken mixture up to 3 days ahead of time and refrigerate it in an airtight container. Then, all you need to do is reheat it, spoon it into tortillas, top it with your favorite toppings, and enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
These slow cooker pulled chicken tacos taste fantastic when teamed up with some smoked salsa or a simple queso dip.
On days when I really want to go all out and whip up an entire Mexican fare, I put together my spicy chili relleno soup or my Instant Pot cheesy broccoli rice to go with it.
You can also serve these tacos as a snack, teamed up with some grilled mangos and your favorite Mexican condiments and sauces.
If you’re making these for a little party you’re hosting, you can set up the chicken, toppings, and mix-ins in separate bowls, everyone can pick what they like and assemble the tacos their way. Don’t forget to whip up a quick salsa pesto too!
Recipe Tips
- Add in some more: To make the dish healthier and more filling, you can also add in other mix-ins like jalapenos, green onions, onions, corn, olives, and even some pico de gallo if you want.
- Make it healthier: If you’re trying to control your carb intake, you can swap the regular tortillas for protein tortillas or just use some lettuce leaves instead. You can also add some beans into the mix along with the chicken to make it extend further and also add some fiber.
- Top with lime juice: You’ll be surprised at how just a little squeeze of lime juice can transform your tacos. Don’t forget this one!
- Experiment with cheese: Stick to the classic cheddar or Mexican cheese blend or experiment with other kinds of cheese like feta cheese and cotija cheese. You can also top the tacos with some sour cream or Greek yogurt if you want to keep it healthier.
Recipe FAQs
You can use practically any kind of Mexican salsa you prefer. Pico de Gallo, mango salsa, peach salsa, corn salsa, and even salsa verde are all great choices.
Yes, you can start off with frozen chicken too, but remember that it might take slightly longer to cook than thawed chicken.
Pulled Chicken Crock Pot Tacos Video
Easy Mexican-Inspired Recipes
Do you like Mexican food? Here are some recipes you may also like to try!
Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken Tacos
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken breasts or chicken thighs, boneless, skinless about four breasts
- 2 cups chunky salsa or my Easy Homemade Tomato Salsa
- 3 tablespoons Taco seasoning about one package
- 2 cups peppers, green, yellow, orange or red, sliced
- 8 soft flour tortillas
Optional Toppings
- lettuce chopped
- cheese, shredded your favorite
- sour cream
- avacados, sliced or diced or guacamole
- Jalapeno pepper, chopped or diced
- green onion. thinly sliced
Instructions
- Spray bottom of slow cooker with cooking spray.
- Place chicken in slow cooker and sprinkle as evenly as possible with Taco seasoning.
- Pour 1 ½ cups of salsa on top of the chicken.
- Cook covered on low for 6-7 hours or high 3-3 ½.
- Shred chicken with forks inside slow cooker or remove chicken and shred on cutting board.
- Once shredded chicken is done and inside slow cooker add peppers.
- Stir and cook covered on high for about 10 minutes or until heated through.
- Spoon about ⅔ of a cup of the chicken mixture down the center of each tortilla and add preferred toppings.
- Fold bottom end of tortilla over filling. Fold in sides, leaving top end open. Secure with a toothpick, if necessary.
Video
Notes
- Add in some more: To make the dish healthier and more filling, you can also add in other mix-ins like jalapenos, green onions, onions, corn, olives, and even some pico de gallo if you want.
- Make it healthier: If you’re trying to control your carb intake, you can swap the regular tortillas for protein tortillas or just use some lettuce leaves instead. You can also add some beans into the mix along with the chicken to make it extend further and also add some fiber.
- Top with lime juice: You’ll be surprised at how just a little squeeze of lime juice can transform your tacos. Don’t forget this one!
- Experiment with cheese: Stick to the classic cheddar or Mexican cheese blend or experiment with other kinds of cheese like feta cheese and cotija cheese. You can also top the tacos with some sour cream or Greek yogurt if you want to keep it healthier.
Jodi says
What an easy, tasty meal! Made for dinner tonight and it was thoroughly enjoyed. Going to cook up some rice and make the leftovers into burritoes for lunches.
This has made its way into my regular rotation. Thanks for sharing!
Karin and Ken says
As always you are most welcome! I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed this recipe! Hopefully you find some other recipes on this site that you enjoy just as much! Thank you for taking the time to let me know. All the best. Karin
Brill says
Great easy recipe loved by all Will make again Ty
Karin and Ken says
Happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe! Can’t thank you enough for taking the time to let me know how much you enjoyed it! Take care and all the best. Karin
Mary says
Added onions and hot sauce. Delicious idea Thanks
Karin and Ken says
Adding the onions and hot sauce is a great idea. I am going to try that myself! Thank you for the ideas! I am truly grateful. Take care and be well. Karin