These crockpot shredded chicken tacos are tender, juicy, and unbelievably easy to make! Made with boneless skinless chicken thighs and delicious spices like cumin, chili powder, paprika, and more, these take just 10 minutes of prep time before they start cooking! Serve with your favorite taco toppings, or use the pulled chicken as a topping for nachos or rice bowls.
Fact: chicken tacos taste better shredded. It’s just the way it is. Shredding means that every little strand soaks up as much flavor as physically possible. And, what could be better than getting all that flavor for under five minutes of prep work? Not much I tell you, not much.
Crockpot Chicken Tacos to the Rescue
Do you have tried and true go-to meals you come back to again and again? You know, the ones that are easy to make, so tasty the whole family will actually be excited to eat, and are always a safe bet when feeding a crowd. Yeah, those.
In my home, they take the form of homemade spaghetti or these crockpot chicken tacos! I love a good recipe with boneless skinless chicken thighs, especially a crockpot meal.
When I tell you this recipe is a lifesaver, I mean it. In fact, I rely on it so much, I find myself making it at least once a month and always have leftovers stashed away in the freezer for easy meals in a pinch. After all, you never know when the craving for a taco salad or warm chicken quesadilla is gonna strike!
If you’re like me, you’re probably always on the hunt for a new crockpot chicken dinner idea. This recipe only requires you to dump the ingredients in and then shred the chicken just before serving.
It doesn’t get any easier than that! Not to mention, these tacos are super forgiving. I say this because I once forgot to set my crockpot before hosting dinner… Taco Tuesday dinner to be exact. Luckily, these tacos came through for me cooking in just 2 hours.
What I thought was going to be a night of takeout and disappointment turned out to be a huge taco night success! I prefer low and slow, but quick works in a pinch.
Whether you’re cooking in a rush or are a little more prepared, one bite of freshly made tacos, and I’m sure that you’ll agree that this is one recipe you need in your arsenal. And if you like this one, you’ll LOVE my green salsa cilantro crockpot chicken recipe too!
Featured comment
“This is the chicken taco recipe I always use so I figured it’s high time I left a review. We use mild salsa since that’s all my kids can handle and always double it and freeze half for later. I usually use the frozen chicken to top nachos for our Friday night movie nights and it’s become a tradition around here.” 🙂
-Felicity R
What’s the Difference Between a Crockpot and a Slow Cooker?
Often used interchangeably, crockpots and slow cookers are not *quite* the same things. The most notable difference is in the way the heat is distributed.
The heating element on slow cookers is sometimes located at the bottom while crockpots are heated from all sides. This means that some slow cookers take longer to warm and cook foods slightly differently when compared to crockpots. That being said, most modern slow cookers are built like crockpot with heated sides and work the same way. You can use either appliance for this shredded chicken taco recipe, and your dinner will taste great.
I used a Hamilton Beach crockpot with heating elements below and in the sides.. If you’re using a slow cooker, just make sure to allow more time for the taco meat to cook.
If you love slow cooker recipes, make sure to check out my crockpot carnitas recipe and my Indian crockpot chicken curry.
As far as tacos go, you won’t want to miss my white fish tacos or ground turkey taco recipe either! I have an arsenal of chicken recipes too if you’re looking for more creative ways to use chicken breasts or thighs.
Simple Ingredients
- Chicken – Chicken thighs are best here but chicken breast works too. Thighs lock in moisture and impart extra flavor into the dish, but you can use what you prefer. I highly recommend taking the time to trim off any excess fat. If using chicken breasts, they are less forgiving and will be dry if overcooked so make sure to keep an eye on that crockpot.
- Spices – A combination of cumin, salt, pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and oregano adds warm flavor and just a bit of heat. Personally, I tend to keep a big batch of my own chicken taco seasoning on hand for easy cooking!
- Salsa – Used to lock in moisture and provide even more flavor taking your tacos from good to great. I typically opt for a medium salsa for a bit of heat without overpowering the other ingredients. Either red or salsa verde is fine. However, if spice isn’t your thing, use a mild salsa instead.
I kept the ingredient limited to make this a simple recipe. f you want to dump in some green chilis, lime juice, or improvise in another way, go for it!
How to make it
The only things you’ll need for this recipe is a crockpot and two forks. No, really! Just dump everything in, set it to the cook setting and come back later. Here are the basic steps to make the recipe:
- Trim any excess fat off chicken, and layer the chicken breasts or thighs in the bottom of your crockpot.
- Sprinkle the seasonings on top followed by the salsa, and stir to evenly coat the chicken. It will mix together as it heats up and cooks so just a quick stir is fine.
- Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 6-7 hours. Don’t over cook or your chicken will be dry. Some crockpots run hotter than others so err on the side of caution and check occasionally during cook time.
- The final (and arguably most fun) step is shredding. You’ve got to get in there with a couple of forks and just go to town. There’s no real technique here other than shredding until you have nice thin strands. Shred the taco chicken, serve in taco shells with all your favorite toppings, and enjoy!
How to Shred Chicken Taco Meat
The easiest way to shred your cooked chicken is with two forks. Just place the tongs in the center, and pull them apart in opposite directions to shred the chicken in the crockpot. Then, repeat this step until all of the chicken has been shredded.
Before you start shredding, it will look like there is an insane amount of liquid but don’t drain it! The shredded chicken will soak that back up. That’s what makes it super moist and juicy.
I have also heard of using a hand mixer to shred chicken in a large bowl. That sounds a bit messy to me, but by all means, go for it, and good luck!
Favorite Taco Toppings
The only thing better than a freshly made chicken taco is one that has is loaded up with all the best fixings. There’s something about taking corn or flour tortillas loading them up with all the goodies. Here are some ideas for your next taco bar:
- Easy fresh salsa or pico de gallo
- Mango avocado salsa
- Pickled red onions
- Shredded cheese
- Cilantro
- Guacamole
- Lettuce
- Sour cream
- Black beans
- Cilantro chimichurri or red chimichurri sauce
Serving Suggestions
Honestly, these easy slow cooker chicken tacos are super filling all on their own. However, if you want to go all out and serve them up with sides, try pairing with Mexican bean dip, chips and guac, chimichurri rice, or cilantro lime salad.
More Ways to Use Pulled Chicken Taco Meat
If you aren’t in the mood for tacos (can’t relate), there are tons of ways you can serve this shredded chicken or use up the leftovers.
I make this recipe regularly and normally do a double batch to help with meal prep. This way I can separate and freeze it into individual containers that I can pull out every time I get a chicken taco craving.
Here are some ideas to get you thinking beyond the taco:
- topping nachos
- as part of a burrito bowl
- served on a taco salad
- stuffed in a cheesy quesadilla
- rolled in chicken enchiladas
- layered in an easy chicken enchilada casserole
- folded in SW style omelets
- piled on top of baked potatoes
- tucked into lettuce wraps for a low-carb taco option
Making crockpot shredded chicken tacos ahead of time
To prepare the recipe ahead of time, add all ingredients to the crockpot the night before. The next day, simply pull out of the refrigerator and turn it on.
Storing Leftovers
Leftover shredded chicken will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Reheating in the crockpot or microwave works best for maintaining moisture.
It also will keep in the freezer for up to 4 months. To defrost, thaw in the fridge overnight and warm it up in the microwave or stovetop prior to eating.
Can you put frozen chicken in the crockpot?
According to the USDA, you are not supposed to cook frozen meat in a crockpot or slow cooker to avoid the risk of food borne illness. That being said, I and many others do it all the time. Just add an extra hour or so to the cook time and understand that the texture at the end may not be quite as good.
More Taco-Inspired Recipes
If you’re like me and can’t get enough tacos, you won’t want to miss these:
Equipment
- 1 Crockpot (slow cooker can be used if cooking times are increased)
Ingredients
- 3 lbs. boneless skinless chicken thighs, visible fat removed
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoons pepper
- 4 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 cup salsa
Instructions
- Place chicken thighs in crock pot.
- Sprinkle seasonings on top of chicken and stir to coat.
- Cook in crock pot for 2-3 hours on high or 6-7 hours on low heat. Exact cooking time will vary based on your crockpot model.
- Use two forks to shred chicken. Serve with other taco fixings or use meat in other recipes.
Notes
- This recipes makes about four cups of shredded taco meat. 1 serving is approximately 1/2 cup of taco meat.
- When placed in an airtight container, leftovers will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- The taco meat can be frozen in freezer safe tightly sealing containers for up to 4 months. When you are ready to use, let chicken thaw in the refrigerator overnight, and warm it up in the microwave prior to eating.
- While thighs maintain moisture better, chicken breasts can be used instead of thighs if desired.
- If you make this recipe often, the spices can be substituted with my chicken taco seasoning blend. To make this even easier, make a large batch of the seasoning blend and use 4 Tablespoons for 3 lbs. of chicken (or 4 teaspoons per lb.).
Nutrition
did you make this recipe?
Make sure to follow on Pinterest @feastingnotfasting and on Instagram @feastingnotfasting
Originally published in 2016. Post updated May 9, 2019 for content and again on November 21, 2022 for content and formatting.
Comments & Reviews
Laura says
I think for my liking it could use a lot less cumin. I did add some other fajita seasoning and lime after shredded and was very good besides the slightly intense flavor of the cumin.
Christy Gurin says
Hi Laura – sorry to hear you didn’t like all of the cumin! It’s a dominant spice in most taco seasoning recipes and if you make it again, knowing you don’t prefer it, you could always scale up a little more on the chili powder to counteract that.
Laura says
Thanks for the tip and amazing recipe
Christy Gurin says
You’re welcome! 🙂
Laura Denise says
This recipe is so good!! It’s my new favorite way to do chicken tacos!
Benthany Bravoro says
This recipe is fantastic! I just made it last night and am eating the leftovers as a taco salad! I’m going to try your other crockpot chicken taco recipe next week!!!
Christy says
I’m so happy to hear you loved it! We use the leftovers in everything from enchiladas to casseroles! It’s the best. 🙂
Felicity R says
This is the chicken taco recipe I always use so I figured it’s high time I left a review. We use mild salsa since that’s all my kids can handle and always double it and freeze half for later. I usually use the frozen chicken to top nachos for our Friday night movie nights and it’s become a tradition around here. 🙂
Jill says
Can you do in the oven low and slow?
Christy says
If it’s covered tightly, it should work fine. I haven’t done this before though so I am not sure how long it would take.
Victoria Curtis says
Well right now I’m pretty irritated with the site because it’s been 10 minutes then I’ve been trying and trying just to get this recipe that I really need a recipe don’t seem to be getting there instead it just keeps doing these other sites that are making me sign up for stuff. In order to get the recipe and I haven’t got there yet I’ll probably just move on I don’t have time for this
Christy says
Hi Victoria – that should not be happening! I reached out to my ad provider to try to figure out what happened the other day for you. So sorry to hear that you did not have a good experience.
Donna says
Do you think you can double the recipe and still cook throughout in the crockpot?
Christy says
Yes! I’ve done it. I can’t remember exactly how much longer it took but I think it was an extra hour or so.
Rob says
Can I just ask… Would the times on the slow cooker be switched… The low and the high seem the wrong way around awesome recipe though
Christy says
Thanks for pointing that out Rob! Yes, that was definitely a typo and I just revised it. 🙂