Mediterranean Crock-Pot Chicken Taco Bar

by Shelley and Gretchen · May contain affiliate links

Published • Updated October 10, 2023

~ Next time you’re thinking “taco night,” think beyond the typical Mexican-style taco bar and try this incredibly delicious Mediterranean Chicken Taco recipe! It’s a fun make-it-your-own dinner that’s easy to prep ahead for busy nights. And, it’s a classed-up version of the traditional taco bar that’s perfect for parties and game day, too! ~

This Recipe Is:     Make Ahead  

Flatlay of 3 tacos piled with chicken and different topping combinations, with extra toppings surrounding.

*We partnered with Flatout for this sponsored post, and we’ve been compensated for our time in working with their products, however all opinions are entirely our own.

When it comes to making dinnertime fun, there’s just nothing like a taco bar, jam-crammed with loads of yummy topping choices.

Picky kiddos (and, let’s face it … even the adults, too!) appreciate the ability to make their own creations, piled high with the flavors and textures they like.

It’s one of the recurring themes in all of our articles about parenting picky eaters … if you help kids feel empowered and like they’re a part of the entire meal process, then they’ll be much more likely to eat healthfully and try new foods. It really works!

Overhead of hummus dressing mixed in white bowl with spoon.
The super-easy, 2-ingredient hummus dressing really brings all the wonderful Mediterranean flavors together!

We actually saw this very principle in action when Gretchen first served her kids these Mediterranean Chicken Tacos.

Her littlest looked suspiciously at the roasted red pepper strips. “Those aren’t peppers,” (glaring accusingly at the red slivers). “Yes they are,” Gretchen patiently explained. “They’re just roasted!”

Her daughter proceeded to try one … along with all the other toppings she’d chosen … and guess what! (You know what’s coming here …) That suspicious-looking, roasted pepper strip turned out to be a-ok! Huh! And just like that, her daughter added one more type of vegetable to her “edible” list. Brilliant!

While all of that was going on, Gretchen’s older daughter was eyeballing the feta, certain she’d never tried it before … which is ludicrous since she’s had our Baked Hummus Dip with Easy Tabouli Topping, and Super-Fast Mediterranean Herbed Shrimp Pasta, and Citrus Quinoa and Chickpea Salad – to name a few! That kid has eaten more feta than she realized! And … you guessed it! She felt empowered enough to try it (again) … and she loved it (again! 😀 )!

Flatlay of 3 open tacos with extra flatbreads and small dish of roasted red peppers.This is why we really love Flatout’s goal to give kiddos lots of healthy options, through their #FlatoutIsMyCanvas campaign. Flatouts are deliciously nutritious little blank canvases, just waiting for kids to fill in the spaces with healthy foods they love.

These easy-to-make, yummy-to-eat Mediterranean Chicken Tacos are a perfect recipe to showcase how a blank canvas can become a delicious work of art … and how each artist’s masterpiece can be personalized and unique!

So, let’s build some tacos!

Overhead of one chicken taco open on white paper, piled with toppings.

To start the taco bar fun, we like offering a variety of flatbread options.

Flatout Foldits, cut in halves, are the perfect starting point for mini tacos. These tiny, personalized tacos are terrific because everyone can build different combinations throughout dinner. They’re also great if you’re serving this taco bar at a party – the little Foldits are ideal for your guests to make perfectly sized party snacks (hello, game day food!).

For those who’d rather create one big, burrito-style soft taco, the larger Flatout wraps are just right. Although there are lots of great whole-grain, high-protein Flatouts to choose from, we found that the Red Pepper Hummus wraps and the Light Italian Herb wraps had flavor profiles that perfectly complemented the other Mediterranean ingredients in these chicken tacos.

After the taco “shells” … next stop … the chicken. (Spoiler alert: it’s made in the slow cooker, so it’s a total breeze to throw together ahead of time! Perfect for busy nights!)

Side view of open-face taco piled high with shredded chicken and toppings; more tacos in background.The chicken in these tacos is mildly seasoned with Mediterranean flavors and Greek-inspired spices – a perfect building block for the bursting-with-flavor toppings that are just waiting to be piled on top.

And now (drum roll, please …) the toppings!

This is where the fun really starts and where the big flavors begin. We’ve got a whole list of suggested toppings for you – and when we make this taco bar in our own homes, we usually do offer all the options (and Gretchen and I both love to pile them allllll on!). But just like with Mexican-style taco bars, you can definitely feel free to improvise and offer whatever you think your family will like best.

Bonus for busy nights: the toppings can all be chopped and prepped even a day or two ahead! (And hey – if you’ve got a lot of busy nights – you’ll no doubt also love some of our other super-easy crockpot chicken recipes that’ll make your life easier! 😉 )

One large, rolled-up taco on white paper with extra wraps and toppings nearby.

With so many great, healthy topping choices, any toppings your kiddos choose are a win. And every single one adds up to more big flavor! Salty kalamatas and feta? Check! Vibrantly fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, spinach and parsley? Yup – got those, too! Wanna jazz it up and go a little highbrow with artichokes and roasted peppers? Sure thing – just pile ’em on!

There’s no wrong answer here, friends – build your tacos any way you like!

Just don’t skip the yummy hummus dressing! It’s crazy-easy to whip up, but absolutely pulls all the flavors together.

Overhead of 2 tacos with different toppings, side-by-side on white paper.

And don’t forget to offer a couple of things that you aren’t positive your kids will go for … because who knows … while they’re having fun creating their own masterpieces, they just might surprise you by trying something new!

Have Fun with These Other Great Taco Recipes, Too!

Mediterranean Crock Pot Chicken Taco Bar Recipe {www.TwoHealthyKitchens.com}
Mediterranean Crock Pot Chicken Taco Bar Recipe {www.TwoHealthyKitchens.com}
Mediterranean Crock Pot Chicken Taco Bar Recipe {www.TwoHealthyKitchens.com}
Flatlay of 3 tacos piled with chicken and different topping combinations, with extra toppings surrounding.

Mediterranean Crock Pot Chicken Taco Bar

Yield: About 3 3/4 cups of chicken, plus toppings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes

Make taco night special with this Mediterranean Crock Pot Chicken Taco Bar recipe! Easy to prep ahead for busy nights! Perfect for parties or game day, too!

•  Make Ahead  

Ingredients

Chicken Taco Meat:

  • 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar (white or golden balsamic are fine, too)
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Hummus Dressing:

  • 3/4 cup plain hummus
  • 3 tablespoons water

Taco Bar Options:

  • Flatout flatbreads (see note on sizes and flavors)
  • Optional toppings: chopped baby spinach, diced tomatoes, seeded and diced cucumbers, chopped roasted red peppers, chopped (canned or jarred) artichokes, chopped kalamata olives, minced fresh parsley, crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese

Instructions

  1. Place chicken in slow cooker and add vinegar, 2 tablespoons water, basil, garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, salt, oregano, and black pepper on top.
  2. Cook in a 3-4 quart slow cooker, on high for 4-5 hours or on low for 6-8 hours. If using a larger 5-6 quart slow cooker, cook on low for about 6 hours. (See note.)
  3. Just before serving, shred chicken (with two forks) and stir back into remaining liquid in bottom of slow cooker, to incorporate.
  4. Meanwhile, combine hummus and 3 tablespoons water to make dressing, stirring or whisking until smooth. (You can adjust the exact amount of water slightly, depending on the thickness of your brand of hummus and how thick you'd like your dressing.)
  5. Serve chicken in flatbreads, allowing everyone to select toppings and drizzle with hummus dressing, as desired.

Notes

Flatbread options: If you'd like to serve this recipe as mini, personal tacos for a fun dinner or as appetizer-sized party tacos, we recommend using Flatout Foldits. Cut each Foldit in half to form perfectly sized mini soft taco shells. Alternately, if you'd like to serve larger, heartier-sized soft tacos, try using Flatout wraps – we found that the ProteinUP Roasted Red Pepper and Light Italian Herb varieties had flavors that paired nicely with the Mediterranean ingredients in this recipe.

Make-ahead tips: Because you're using your slow cooker, you begin the chicken hours ahead of serving it. In addition, though, you can also cook it even a day or two ahead, then refrigerate it after cooking and reheat it for serving. You can also prepare and chop all of the toppings up to a day or two ahead. Store each topping, wrapped separately, in the refrigerator.

Cook time and slow cooker variations: Through all of our testing, we've found that slow cooker chicken recipes like this one typically work best in a 3-4 quart slow cooker. If you’re using a larger 5-6 quart model, we recommend cooking on low for only about 6 hours. We do not recommend cooking this recipe on high in a 5-6 quart slow cooker because the chicken may overcook and become dry. At the end of cook time, the chicken should be cooked through and should shred easily and be really moist. Also, note that the exact heat and speed of cooking can vary between different slow cookers. Our research has also led us to believe that some models allow for imperceptible evaporation of liquid (although you’d expect that no liquid would be lost when using a slow cooker), which can leave your recipes less saucy and moist. Because this particular recipe uses very little liquid, it’s particularly sensitive to these variations. No need to worry – it’s delicious even when cooked until it’s a bit drier.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 15 servings Serving Size: 1/4 cup chicken with dressing
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 99Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 39mgSodium: 222mgCarbohydrates: 3gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 15g

Nutrition information does not include flatbreads and toppings, as those can vary significantly depending on what you choose to use. Nutrition information should be considered an estimate only, and may additionally vary depending on your choice of ingredients or preparation. No guarantees are made regarding allergies or dietary needs. Always consult a physician or dietician for specific advice and questions.

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72 thoughts on “Mediterranean Crock-Pot Chicken Taco Bar”

  1. I got really into tacos since I moved to Sweden, because tacos is the national food in both Sweden and Norway apparently. Not something I used to eat back in Italy, but here it became part of the monthly eats. And I got pretty used to the classic standard toppings we use in Swedish tacos. And I feel so narrow-minded now that I read about kalamata olives, roasted peppers and artichokes. I mean, how could I not think about those myself? With my Italian background? But I guess my brain never processed “pizza toppings” as “taco fillings” yet it’s such an amazing idea! I need to try asap! Maybe make pizza tacos while I’m at it. Because as you say, there is no limit to tacos topping!!

    Reply
    • Hi, Eva! I love hearing from you – hope you’re well! I had no idea that tacos are considered a national food in Sweden and Norway! Huh! Oh my goodness – that actually gets me thinking of even MORE creative ways to spin the toppings into other flavor profiles. And YESSSSS – pizza tacos – that’s such a good idea, too! I like how you think, girl! 😉 ~Shelley

      Reply
    • Could I use shrimp instead of chicken? Maybe not in the crockpot but with your spices?
      I am going to try this for my women’s group! Can’t wait.

      Reply
      • Hi, Karen! I’m really not sure precisely how you might tweak this recipe for shrimp, although I’m sure it could be done and would be delicious. The spices should be just fine, but it’s possible there might need to be some slight adjustment in the amounts – I can’t say for sure without testing it. And yes – I agree that you would definitely not want to use the slow cooker since shrimp are very fast cooking. Probably just a quick cook on the stovetop, or a fast roast in the oven (like I do with my Shrimp Fajitas). I’ll be REALLY interested to hear how it all turns out – keep me posted – and GOOD LUCK! 😀 ~Shelley

  2. I loved your herbs and spices list that you used in this chicken taco recipe. I will pass this recipe to my friend who likes chicken and tocos. This will be huge hit for her 🙂

    Reply
  3. This is a fantastic idea!! I really love Mexican tacos, but the idea of making it Mediterranean is certainly appealing for a change of pace. The idea of flatbread instead of tortillas is so clever.

    Reply
    • I know, right? Nothing wrong with Mexican tacos – I still love ’em, too! (I mean, my goodness … my beloved 3-Ingredient Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos just never get old lol!) But, it’s just a lot of fun to shake things up sometimes. And you’re right – the flatbread idea is so yummy and the perfect way to add a little extra “Mediterranean” vibe! Enjoy, Marisa – catch you soon! 😉 ~Shelley

      Reply

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