~ In just five minutes, these delicious chicken tacos are in the crock-pot and cooking away! Ridiculously easy and sure to become your go-to lifesaver! ~
This Recipe: • Includes Make-Ahead Steps •
We all have that one recipe.
The one that doesn’t even require a peek at the recipe card. The one that’s your standby and always saves the day when you have no idea what’s for dinner. You know what I mean.
At our house, these Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos really are “that one” recipe. The one that never ever fails to be awesome. The one that we are always excited to eat.
Wanna get really excited, too? Then check out our video tutorial on how ridiculously easy this recipe is! (While your tummy rumbles and begs you to make this ASAP, and you maybe drool just a little bit on your screen.)
Video Tutorial
True story: When my little ones dash into the house after school, if their first whiff of home is the incredible aromas of this chicken … well, they do that silly fist-pump move where they make a fist and say “YEAH!!!” while pumping an arm up and down. Uh-huh … that really happens … because it’s sooo goooood.
I was sure everyone on the earth had the recipe for my go-to. It was super popular on Pinterest a few years back, and I tell pretty much everybody I talk to about it. So, I just assumed everyone must make this constantly.
I guess not!
I mentioned this recipe to Shelley, and she looked at me like I was loony. She’d never heard of it! (When this happens, I joke that she lives under a rock. She knows so much about so many things, and has tried pretty much every food known to man, so if I come up with something new to her, I do my own little dance. Well, it’s more of me just clicking my heels. Alright fine. I usually just high-five. Myself.)
Ok anyhow …
If Shelley didn’t know anything about this, we realized there must surely be others out there whose lives have a similar gaping hole. But no more … today we’re gonna fix that!
So this recipe. This is the one that I make all. the. time.
Best part? It goes in the crock-pot. Yes, friends. We’re talking a 5-minute prep, and then you just let your slow cooker work its magic. You’ll just need another 5 minutes to finish the dish before you sit down to eat. Serious.
I went back and scoured my Pinterest boards, my pins, my notes – and I can’t figure out who to credit for this awesome recipe. In my research, I saw a reference that Weight Watchers had a recipe like this years ago, so we decided that must have been the genesis of the whole idea. But a Google search and a search of the Weight Watchers site didn’t yield a similar recipe we could link to for this. Ah, well … we’re gonna give them the credit, anyway!
In typical THK fashion, we both needed to test this recipe before we shared it with you all.
At first, Shelley was a little skeptical that something so incredibly simple could taste so good. But, she called me before her family was even done eating. They were loving it. Loving it.
I’m so excited her family gave the thumbs-up (possibly with fist pumps, too) – because now I get to share this recipe with you!
Ok. Get your pens and paper, because you’ll want to take very good notes here.
Ready?
1. Put the chicken in your slow cooker. 2.Cover with taco seasoning. 3. Cover with a jar of salsa. 4. Walk away.
Did you get all that? Should I repeat myself?
Yep. It’s that simple!
I totally think this’ll become your “go-to” recipe. Shelley’s made it multiple times since that first (fist-pumpin’) night. And I just know it’ll soon be your fave, too!
Looking for More Crockpot Chicken Recipes That’ll Make Your Life EASY?
- Top 10 Easy, Healthy Crock-Pot Chicken Recipes
- Top 10 Healthy Crock-Pot Chicken Soups and Chilis
- Crock-Pot Creamy Chicken Corn Chowder
And be sure to read up on the question so commonly asked about slow cooking:
3-Ingredient Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 (1.25-ounce) packet low-sodium taco seasoning (see note)
- 1 (16-ounce) jar of your favorite salsa
- For serving: tortillas or taco shells and your choice of optional toppings, such as shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, shredded cheese, black beans, corn, chopped avocados or guacamole, reduced-fat sour cream, and hot sauce
Directions
- Place chicken in the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Sprinkle taco seasoning over chicken.
- Pour salsa on top.
- Cook on low (for 6-8 hours) or high (for 4 hours).
- Just before serving, use two forks to shred the chicken.
- Stir to evenly distribute salsa throughout chicken.
- Serve immediately with desired toppings.
Recipe Notes
We recommend avoiding taco seasoning mixes that contain MSG. Also, there are differences in the amounts of sodium (and other ingredients) in various brands, so it's a good idea to read the nutrition information for the brands offered at your store.














Tamara Russell says
July 3, 2019 at 3:07 pmwhere are the nutrition facts and information. I need to know the calories for my calorie counter. I hate counting calories but i need to know



Two Healthy Kitchens says
July 6, 2019 at 2:31 pmHi, Tamara! This is a great question … with a bit of a lengthy answer.
At least thus far, we’ve opted not to include nutrition info, although we’ve actually debated about this issue since the beginning of our blog (and we address it in our FAQ at http://twohealthykitchens.com/about/).
Especially with Gretchen’s (my original business partner’s) master’s degree in nutrition, she could easily have calculated all this manually – plus there are loads of online calculators to use. However, for a variety of reasons, we have decided over and over again not to do that. One big reason is that we generally don’t specify exact brands (although on some occasions we need to), so the final nutritional profile of a recipe can vary widely, depending on the purchasing decisions our readers make. In the end, it could almost be a bit misleading to quote nutritional info, if readers make significantly different purchasing choices than we did in testing. For example, the final nutritional profile of these very simple 3-Ingredient Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos – could vary tremendously (particularly, in this case, the sodium) depending on which taco seasoning and which salsa someone purchases.
Also … having said all of this … I want you to know that we get questions like this from other readers from time to time, too. As a result, we are always re-evaluating this very good question and exploring how we may be able to offer nutrition information in a way that we can feel good about – a way that’s helpful and not potentially misleading. So stay tuned …
Thanks so much for reaching out to us! I hope this explanation helped you out at least a little!
Have a wonderful week! ~Shelley



Tia says
June 18, 2019 at 11:40 amI am just about to make this! Do you trim the fat off the chicken? Or just place it in there as is?



Two Healthy Kitchens says
June 25, 2019 at 3:47 pmHi, Tia! The chicken breasts we buy typically don’t have much fat on them, but if there is visible fat that’s easy to cut away, you’ll probably want to remove it. It just makes it that much healthier — but it shouldn’t affect cook time or flavor too much either way! Hope that’s helpful. 🙂 ~Amy



Pam Ernst says
June 13, 2019 at 11:15 pmI am excited to make this for a party on Saturday. If you were serving 20 people, how much of each ingredient would you use? (we are also serving salads) I appreciate your help!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
June 25, 2019 at 3:53 pmHi, Pam! I am so, so sorry — we’ve been out of town and are behind on comments! Hope you got this figured out! 🙂 For what it’s worth now, this recipe easily serves about 5-6 people, but for parties I always tend to overestimate because I never want to run out of food! To serve 20, I would probably just quadruple the recipe. 🙂 Of course, that depends on how many of these people are kids, whether snacks are put out before, how big the salads are, and so on. But quadrupling the recipe should definitely give you enough, with maybe a little extra left to enjoy later! ~Amy



Ana says
June 10, 2019 at 12:40 pmCan this be frozen afterward (assuming I start with fresh chicken)? I like to make a bunch of meals before particularly busy weeks and freeze ahead of time, if possible!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
June 28, 2019 at 1:06 pmHi, Ana! We’ve never tried freezing these (we never seem to have any left over! 😉 ) , but I can’t see any reason why that shouldn’t work! Seems like a great idea for busy weeks. If you give it a try, let us know how it turns out! ~Amy



BJ says
July 6, 2019 at 12:26 pmI am curious if you did freeze this recipe and how it worked out. I am creating a taco bar for 75 and would like to make this ahead and freeze for a few days. Thank you.



Ginger Castenholz says
March 22, 2019 at 2:34 pmI have a very picky family. Can I just do chicken and taco seasoning, or will it dry out? Do I have to add water or something else?



Two Healthy Kitchens says
March 28, 2019 at 3:31 pmHi, Ginger! We definitely haven’t tried this, but I agree it could be a useful picky-eater fix! Really just guessing here, but based on some other similar recipes we have, I’m thinking you would want to add at least 1/2 cup of liquid to keep the chicken moist. Instead of water, I would recommend using unsalted chicken broth. I also wouldn’t use the entire amount of seasoning called for — without the salsa, the flavor will probably be too assertive, so I would say you should use about 3/4 of the amount we call for. Again, we haven’t tried this — but besides losing some of the flavor (maybe a good thing, if they’re not flavors your family likes!) there really shouldn’t be any reason it wouldn’t work out as long as you keep the chicken moist. Let us know what you end up trying, and how it works out for you! 🙂 ~Amy



Lauren says
March 11, 2019 at 10:06 amHow much taco seasoning do you use? A whole packet? Or do you make your own?



Two Healthy Kitchens says
March 17, 2019 at 12:54 pmHi, Lauren! 🙂 We use an entire 1.25-ounce packet (that’s a standard size for most packets you’ll find at the store). But of course you could make your own if you wanted! I checked on one of our packets, and 1.25 ounces will work out to be about 4 tablespoons of seasoning. Hope that helps! 🙂 ~Amy



Cerissa Sample says
January 5, 2019 at 7:03 pmI never comment but I just had to let you know how much I appreciate you for this – it’s perfect and my whole picky family LOVED it. You have literally changed my life because now I get to eat tacos every week. What’s greater than the gift of tacos?



Two Healthy Kitchens says
January 6, 2019 at 10:09 amOh my goodness, Cerissa, you totally made my day! Thanks bunches for taking the time to leave a comment – it truly does mean a lot to me! I’m so thrilled that you’ve got a new go-to recipe that YOU love making, and that the rest of your family looks forward to, as well! And you’re so right – the gift of tacos really is a pretty terrific gift, for sure! 😉 I hope you’ll find some more of our recipes work well for your family, too – let me know if I can help make any suggestions. And if, by chance, some of those picky eaters around your table are kiddos, maybe our 5-part series on “Parenting Picky Eaters” might help you out, too (the first article in the series is here: https://twohealthykitchens.com/25-tips-for-picky-eaters-part-1-getting-started/. Have a terrific week – and thanks again! ~Shelley



April says
November 10, 2018 at 4:40 pmMy last comment never even got posted, forget the question in it replied to. I made it that way anyway, with extra taco seasoning and tomato sauce instead of salsa. OMG. That is some fantastic chicken. I turned mine into nachos with a creamy queso sauce. Tastes like something that should have cost double what I actually spent, both in terms of time standing in the kitchen and in terms of money.
I didn’t make it for a group, just for myself, let the chicken cook while I was at school (the life of a busy college student, lol) in 2 days I have eaten over half of it, and the leftovers are just as good. DEFINITELY something I will be making again.



Two Healthy Kitchens says
November 13, 2018 at 2:44 pmHi April! First off, I really apologize that your first comment didn’t get published – I’ve been combing back through and haven’t been able to find it yet – maybe I need to do a deep-dive into my spam folder??? Please accept my apologies. And thank you so much, nonetheless, for popping back to let me know how wonderfully this worked out for you! That really means a lot to me. And I really appreciate your (delicious!) idea for turning this into nachos – I think ideas like that are so helpful to inspire other readers (and me, too, for that matter!). Also loved your analysis that this was worth double what you spent in money – AND your valuable TIME! Seriously – that’s one of the most wonderful reviews you could have given for this recipe – thank you so much! Have a terrific rest-of-the-week, and I hope you get a nice break from your classes with the holidays coming up! ~Shelley



April says
November 16, 2018 at 12:18 amIt is ok, the question was not super important, and the recipe is wonderful, I had the entire batch gone by myself in 5 days, and will most likely be making it again before years end. It even gave me the idea to cook chicken in the crockpot just covered with water when making other chicken dishes.
I got most of December off between fall term and winter term, will make a nice break.
I JUST got the crockpot last June, and only in the last couple of months have I really started using it a lot, the more I use it the more I like it.



Two Healthy Kitchens says
November 16, 2018 at 6:59 amOh, I know just what you mean about the more you use your slow cooker, the more you LOVE it, April – I hear ya! If you’re looking for more inspiration, you can peek at all our slow cooker recipes HERE. I especially was thinking you might like the Easy Crock-Pot Chicken Burrito Bowls. They kind of have these tacos that you love as their base, and then add in lots of other yummy goodies, too. And they’re super-adaptable, which I can tell is just the sort of recipe you really like! Have a wonderful break – so great that you get a nice, long time away to recharge! Enjoy – and happy holidays! ~Shelley



Ashley says
November 8, 2018 at 9:21 pmSuch a simple recipe! I just finished shredding and my chicken breasts were falling apart with a spoon!! I doubled the recipe for my husbands potluck tomorrow and I found myself still needing a few sprinkles of a 3rd taco seasoning packet. Now I’m typing out my review while stealing a few pieces 😜 Hopefully it tastes just as good reheated in the crockpot tomorrow morning! Thank you!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
November 12, 2018 at 2:28 pmHi Ashely! Thanks bunches for taking a moment to leave such lovely feedback! I’m thrilled! And wow … lucky hubby to show up with this at the potluck! It’s always reheated really nicely for me, so I hope it worked out terrific warmed up the next day for you guys, too. Thanks again – I really appreciate your sweet note! ~Shelley



terdralynn says
September 11, 2018 at 11:58 amHahaha! When I read the ingredients, I thought, “Where do I get 11.25-oz. package of taco seasoning? Is there such a thing? Isn’t that too much?” Then I looked again, and saw it was 1 (one!) 1.25-oz. package, which is what they are! Some things are just too funny not to share. By the way, I’m making this tonight for my husband (with a 1.25-oz. package of seasoning) because it sounds really good. He’s going to love it!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
September 14, 2018 at 1:51 pmOh my goodness – that IS pretty funny! Holy cow, 11.25 ounces of taco seasoning could feed an army, for sure! 😀 But you know – you actually made a really great point about the difficulty in reading that ingredient. With our site redesign and new recipe card format, I’m realizing from your comment that some of our older recipes’ ingredient lists might be a little hard to read (especially on a mobile device) – so I really appreciate that you mentioned it (besides just that it’s pretty funny)! I added some parentheses (which we typically now do on newer recipes) that I think will make it more clear – thanks bunches for the idea! And also …. did the hubs love it???? I can’t wait to hear! 🙂 ~Shelley



terdralynn says
September 17, 2018 at 8:16 amOh, yes he did! We both did, and I’m really glad to have a new recipe to add to my collection. Thanks so much!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
September 17, 2018 at 3:29 pmI’m just thrilled you both liked these chicken tacos! Yay! And truly – thanks so much for taking a moment to pop back and let me know – it really means a lot to me! Have a fantastic week! ~Shelley



Two Healthy Kitchens says
September 17, 2018 at 3:31 pmOh! And you know … I was just thinking that you might also really like our Easy Crock-Pot Chicken Burrito Bowls (https://twohealthykitchens.com/easy-crock-pot-chicken-burrito-bowls/). The base is pretty similar to these chicken tacos, but there are also yummy additions like onions and corn and black beans stirred in – it’s still really easy and soooo good, too! 😉 ~Shelley



Nicole says
July 30, 2018 at 12:01 pmI love tacos! Especially chicken tacos. Taco Tuesday’s anyone?!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
July 31, 2018 at 7:14 pmThat’s what I’m sayin’! How about taco everyday? 😉 ~Amy



Kelsey says
July 30, 2018 at 7:12 amCrock Pot meals are my favorite! Especially with school starting up! This one I must keep around to have weekly!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
July 31, 2018 at 3:18 pmThis is a great recipe for busy weeknights! You’ll have to let us know what you think! 🙂 ~Amy



Nicoletta Sugarlovespices says
July 30, 2018 at 12:11 amNice to have those kind of recipes, especially the ones your kids are super excited about! Looks simple and yummy.



Two Healthy Kitchens says
July 31, 2018 at 2:02 pmOh, Nicoletta — I so agree! Thanks so much for the sweet comment … and hope your kids end up loving it! ~Amy



Jessica (Swanky Recipes) says
July 29, 2018 at 11:11 pmI just got back to New Orleans and the hubs has been asking me to make tacos. I asked him how come he didn’t just make them and he said because I make them better. I can’t wait to surprise him and try this new recipe!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
July 30, 2018 at 10:56 pmWow! That’s a lot of responsibility for these tacos to bear … I sure hope they don’t disappoint! 😉 Glad you like this recipe! ~Amy



Kitty says
July 29, 2018 at 10:25 pmI need to try this! We’ve been working on our honey-do list and it’s eating up our time! By the time we’ve completed a project we need an easy meal waiting for us! And tacos is a great reward for a hard day’s labor!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
July 30, 2018 at 12:11 pmHahaha sounds like quite the fun day! 😉 Hope these were a great end to it for you guys! ~Amy



Julie says
July 29, 2018 at 7:10 pmMy 3 year old is obsessed with tacos, so we usually have them at least once a week. Add in the ease of a crockpot dinner, and this sounds totally perfect. Adding it to the dinner menu for this week!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
July 30, 2018 at 12:05 pmWhat a coincidence — I’m also obsessed with tacos! 😉 Hope you and your little cutie enjoy! You’ll have to let us know what you think! ~Amy



Patti @ Patty Cake's Pantry says
July 29, 2018 at 3:56 pmIt’s awesome when something easy to prepare becomes a family favorite. I love this recipe. I also make it with a small or medium pork roast.. Like you, I can’t remember where I first heard about it. I just know that it’s easy and delicious.



Two Healthy Kitchens says
July 30, 2018 at 10:32 amThanks so much, Patti! And substituting pork roast sounds super tasty! Maybe not quite so healthy, but definitely a delicious meal — thanks for sharing that idea! ~Amy



anna says
July 28, 2018 at 12:24 pmwow! I can’t believe how simple and easy this recipe is! Sooooo good for a mid-week dinner! saving 🙂



Two Healthy Kitchens says
July 29, 2018 at 5:46 pmThanks so much for the sweet comment, Anna! I’m so glad you like this recipe — you’ll have to let us know what you think of it when you make it! 😀 ~Amy



Dominique | Perchance to Cook says
July 28, 2018 at 8:58 amI’m all about simple easy recipes these days and these fit the bill! I’m excited to try them because I have everything I need to make them at home!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
July 29, 2018 at 1:12 pmYay! We always try to use ingredients most people will have on hand or can get easily — so happy this recipe works out for you! ~Amy



carissa says
July 28, 2018 at 1:53 amI’ve never had this before but I’m seriously going to change that this week. I work third shift so I am in desperate need of super easy yet delicious recipes like this one. I can’t wait to try it!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
July 29, 2018 at 7:27 amThanks so much for the sweet comment, Carissa! I really hope you end up loving this recipe — I know our family does! 😀 ~Amy



Kiki Johnson says
July 26, 2018 at 9:58 pmShredded chicken, taco seasoning and salsa! The holy trinity of taco awesomeness! So easy to make with clear instructions like these! Love this!



Sanna says
July 26, 2018 at 8:16 pmJust what I need for those nights I want dinner quick and simple. They look irresistibly good.



Two Healthy Kitchens says
July 27, 2018 at 8:03 amOh, Sanna – I hear ya! Weeknights get so busy at our house, but I really like to be able to gather the whole family together when I can, even just for a few minutes to talk about the day and reconnect over a (quick!) dinner. These tacos are so perfect for those hectic nights – they’re ready and waiting for us whenever we happen to finally roll in, and they are so crazy-good every time! Thanks bunches for popping by – and have a terrific weekend! ~Shelley



Ashley says
July 15, 2018 at 10:29 amWe make this almost every week. It is one of our favorite meals!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
July 21, 2018 at 5:08 pmOh Ashley, thank you so much for your sweet comment! I’m so happy you and your family love these chicken tacos! They really are a perfect go-to recipe for busy nights, aren’t they?!? So ridiculously quick and easy, and everyone can customize their own! Total win! 😀 ~Shelley



Rebecca says
April 25, 2018 at 8:33 amDid you use non frozen chicken or frozen?



Two Healthy Kitchens says
April 25, 2018 at 9:19 amHey there, Rebecca! Terrific question – and one that we haven’t had for a while, so I’m glad you brought it up again. In fact, another one of our readers, Whitley, asked this same question (you can find it much further down in the comments on this post) more than four years ago, and we realized back then that other readers might have a similar question, so we actually ended up writing an entire, separate post about whether it’s safe to use frozen meat in your crock-pot (https://twohealthykitchens.com/is-it-safe-to-use-frozen-meat-in-your-crock-pot/). Basically, we don’t recommend using frozen, unthawed meat in any slow cooker recipe. As we explained to Whitley, this isn’t an issue about whether or not it will work (because it will – you may have some slight variation in texture, but your meat will cook), but rather an issue of food safety. If you’re interested, you can dive into further details in the post I linked to above, but the short answer here is that you should always properly thaw frozen, raw meat before using it in a slow cooker recipe. Thanks again for the great question – and I hope you love these Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos as much as we do! ~Shelley



Lerin says
March 4, 2018 at 6:37 pmHow many calories in one serving? Thanks



Two Healthy Kitchens says
March 6, 2018 at 8:27 amHi Lerin! This is a great question … with a bit of a lengthy answer.
At least thus far, we’ve opted not to include nutrition info, although we’ve actually debated about this issue since the beginning of our blog (and we address it in our FAQ at http://twohealthykitchens.com/about/).
Especially with Gretchen’s (my original business partner’s) master’s degree in nutrition, she could easily have calculated all this manually – plus there are loads of online calculators to use. However, for a variety of reasons, we have decided over and over again not to do that. One big reason is that we generally don’t specify exact brands (although on some occasions we need to), so the final nutritional profile of a recipe can vary widely, depending on the purchasing decisions our readers make. In the end, it could almost be a bit misleading to quote nutritional info, if readers make significantly different purchasing choices than we did in testing. For example, the final nutritional profile of these very simple 3-Ingredient Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos – could vary tremendously (particularly, in this case, the sodium) depending on which taco seasoning and which salsa someone purchases.
Also … having said all of this … I want you to know that we get questions like this from other readers from time to time, too. As a result, we are always re-evaluating this very good question and exploring how we may be able to offer nutrition information in a way that we can feel good about – a way that’s helpful and not potentially misleading. So stay tuned …
Thanks so much for reaching out to us! I hope this explanation helped you out at least a little!
Have a wonderful week! ~Shelley



Susan Grottke says
May 10, 2017 at 10:05 amI make this all the time. But I use JUST salsa and I add a half a brick of cream cheese the last 5 minutes. Delish!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
May 10, 2017 at 10:20 amThanks so much for the wonderful feedback, and the yummy suggestion, Susan! Really appreciated! Have a terrific week 🙂 ~Shelley



Becky says
July 31, 2017 at 12:54 pmCan u use chicken tenders besides Breast.



Two Healthy Kitchens says
August 1, 2017 at 3:31 pmHi Becky! I haven’t tried using tenders, but I have seen other slow cooker chicken recipes that spcify chicken tenders in various applications – so I think it’s worth a try. My biggest concern, however, is just that, because tenders are so much smaller and thinner than the chicken breasts we specify, they might overcook or become dried out, particularly toward the end of cooking. Maybe just monitor them closely the first time you try it, adjusting cook time as needed, to be sure you’re happy with the end result. And if you do give these chicken tacos a try using tenders, I’d love to hear how it works out! Thanks so much! ~Shelley



Taylor says
April 26, 2017 at 9:57 pmI made these today and used the 4 hour on high method and….. I CANNOT wait for it to be done! (30 more minutes). It makes my apartment smell so amazing and it will be ready just in time for when the hubby comes home from work!
We’re going to be making tacos tonight and tomorrow packing up taco salads for lunch…. YUM.
Easiest, least messy way for taco nights. New favorite and I will never go back!
Thank you!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
May 5, 2017 at 3:23 pmOh, Taylor … thank you so much! I’m terribly behind on finding your lovely comment, as I’ve been traveling a bit lately, but it was absolutely perfect timing to read your comment TODAY! Why? Because it’s Cinco de Mayo (and, you know … Cinco de Mayo tacos … 😉 ! And it’s also so perfect because I’m actually making this chicken taco recipe for my family’s Cinco de Mayo dinner tonight! No kidding! Those yummy tacos are cooking away in my crock-pot at this very moment, just a few inches from where I’m sitting to type this! We love them, too, and I’m so happy that they’ve become a new go-to for you and your hubby. Happy Cinco de Mayo … and thank you so much for your really sweet comment! ~Shelley



Lisa says
January 3, 2017 at 6:08 pmI have a friend that on facebook asking for easy recipes since they have 3 kids in sports band…always on the go, someone posted this recipe and me and my husband working 12 hour shifts thought it was perfect, we throw (sorry to say we have used frozen chicken) but we put it in the crockpot at 6am on low, get home at 7:30 shred it up and its awesome. So easy and its nice to come home to something cooked instead of cooking and eating at 9pm. Very easy love it!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
January 13, 2017 at 1:22 pmOh, Lisa – thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a wonderful compliment! I totally get where your busy friend is coming from … sports, band … yep!, I’m right there with her! 🙂 These chicken tacos are definitely a lifesaver on busy nights, and it truly is fabulous to come home to a hot, delicious slow cooker meal, with the whole house smelling deliciously welcoming at the end of a long day! I’m so truly happy that you’re enjoying it! Have a lovely weekend! ~Shelley



Rian says
October 8, 2016 at 6:16 amI love this recipe. Tried it once before and got it going in the crock pot again now! I love doing mine in lettuce shells! So refreshing!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
October 10, 2016 at 9:16 amThank you so much for the wonderful feedback on these chicken tacos, Rian! And most especially, thank you for taking a moment to share your great idea of lettuce shells with our other readers! It’s always terrific when our readers swap their own personal recipe twists and suggestions – such great inspiration for others! We really appreciate it! Have a fabulous week! 😀 ~Shelley



Vanessa Price says
September 17, 2016 at 9:22 pmI love how easy and delicious this is! I’ve made it and I included the recipe link in my blog’s Weekly Meal Plan. I hope a lot of my readers give it a try 🙂



Two Healthy Kitchens says
September 27, 2016 at 10:08 amThank you so much, Vanessa – both for your really kind words, and for including our taco recipe in your Meal Plan! I hope your readers love it as much as ours have! Now … I’m off to check out your blog … 🙂 ~Shelley



Jessica says
August 26, 2016 at 9:27 amI am going to make tomorrow for my sons party. We are doing a taco bar. I am doing ground beef THIS chicken reciepe. Iam having about 10 kids and 8 adult so should I double or triple and do I double each the seasoning and Salsa? Also do u have a easy cockpot group beef recipe? I have never used a crock pot and am not an adventurous cook please help lol thank you



Two Healthy Kitchens says
August 26, 2016 at 4:30 pmHi Jessica! Sounds like such a fun party! I’ve actually done exactly what you describe – making these Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos, plus regular ground beef on the stovetop – for a beach house full of about 20 family members. It worked beautifully! We started the Chicken Tacos earlier in the day, and they were perfect by dinnertime – so easy and ideal for a taco bar! Just double or triple the entire recipe – each ingredient – depending on how much you decide you want. I’m really excited for you to try it!
Also – I imagine you mean that you’re hoping I also have a beef taco recipe?? I’m sorry – I don’t. But, if you want to make that ahead, too, I would just prepare the beef taco mixture on the stovetop the way you usually do for tacos, store it in the fridge, and then reheat it in a big batch right before serving. You could even reheat it and, once it’s piping hot again, place it in a second slow cooker (not the one you’re using for the chicken 🙂 ) and keep it hot on the taco bar that way.
As a side note, we do have another taco bar recipe for the slow cooker that you might like to try another time: Mediterranean Crock Pot Chicken Taco Bar (http://twohealthykitchens.com/2015/10/22/mediterranean-crock-pot-chicken-taco-bar/), and also a recipe I’ve used at a neighborhood potluck to feed a group: Easy Crock Pot Chicken Burrito Bowls(http://twohealthykitchens.com/2015/09/10/easy-crock-pot-chicken-burrito-bowls/).
Once you get in the swing of using your slow cooker, I think you’ll really fall in love! When you’re looking for more slow cooker recipe ideas, check out our whole slow cooker category at http://twohealthykitchens.com/recipes/index/crock-pot-slow-cooker/ – lots of yummy (easy!!!) recipes for soups, stews, chilis, sandwiches … even appetizers!
Good luck tomorrow! 😀 ~Shelley



Nathan Atkinson says
June 28, 2016 at 6:04 pmSo easy and it looks so yummy! We’ll be trying this out this week. Thanks!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
July 3, 2016 at 11:16 amIt definitely is yummy! My favorite part is that you can basically eat it all year round. I mean yes, technically it’s more of a spring/summer recipe, but I, for one, have no issue with having some fish on a chilly fall night … or a frigid winter one … but maybe that’s just because I love this recipe so much! 😉 ~Amy



plasterer bristol says
June 8, 2016 at 12:21 amOh delicious, i love this sort of food, Great recipe.
Simon



Julie Hood says
April 11, 2016 at 9:27 amFound this on Pinterest and I can’t wait to try it! Sounds great and super easy 🙂



Two Healthy Kitchens says
April 11, 2016 at 12:27 pmWhat a nice message, Julie – thank you for taking a moment to say hello! I can’t wait for you to try these chicken tacos – they’ve been crazy-popular on Pinterest (so I’m not surprised that’s where you found the recipe 🙂 ) – and we get lots of raves about this! Definitely a super-easy recipe, and you can absolutely adapt it for your family’s tastes depending on the salsa you choose and the toppings you offer. Make it your own – and have fun! I hope you’ll let me know how it went! 😀 ~Shelley



Marie says
April 6, 2016 at 5:49 pmLooking forward to trying your recipes thanks



Two Healthy Kitchens says
April 6, 2016 at 5:52 pmHi Marie! You’re so very welcome! These chicken tacos have quickly become our all-time, most popular recipe ever! So easy, so adaptable, and just so yummy! I’m really excited for you to try them! Have a fabulous evening! 🙂 ~Shelley



Kim Smith says
February 10, 2016 at 9:50 pmThese look awesome and I am always looking for something different to make with chicken. I have always had beef tacos so this will be great. And you can’t ask for better than a “crock pot” meal.



Two Healthy Kitchens says
March 22, 2016 at 7:23 pmOh, Kim! You’re always so sweet! I think you’ll just love these, and definitely be hooked on chicken tacos from now on! They’re super-duper easy, and we just get rave upon rave upon rave – so delicious for something so simple! 😀 ~Shelley



Lando says
November 1, 2015 at 7:08 pmIf I start with frozen chicken breast halves, can I let it cook on low for 11-12 hours? I have quite a commute to/from work. Should I add more salsa or chicken broth if cooking that long? Thanks!



Ashley says
March 20, 2016 at 4:53 pmSlow cooking is new to me, but I too have an hour commute. If I put this in the crock pot at 7am and don’t get home till 6pm is ok to cook on low this whole time?



Two Healthy Kitchens says
March 22, 2016 at 7:18 pmHi, Lando and Ashley! Thank you so much for the great questions, and – Lando – my apologies that we somehow missed answering your comment sooner!
So, to start, we really don’t recommend that you use frozen meat in any slow cooker recipe, for food safety reasons. You can read more about that in our post “Is It Safe to Use Frozen Meat in Your Crock-Pot?” (here: http://www.twohealthykitchens.com/2014/02/03/is-it-safe-to-use-frozen-meat-in-your-crock-pot/).
Neither Gretchen nor I have ever tried cooking this recipe for as long as 11-12 hours, so we can’t guarantee how it will work. Our only real concern in cooking this recipe for so long is just that, with such a small amount of overall liquid in the recipe, the meat may begin to dry out and get tough. Your idea, Lando, of adding a bit of broth to help with this problem might be a really good solution for such a long cook time. If either of you try it – we’d love to know how it worked!
A couple of other ideas: If your slow cooker has the option of switching to “keep warm” after cooking, that might buy you an hour or two, but you generally don’t want food held at that setting for more than a couple of hours at most (check your slow cooker’s manual).
Lastly, you could always make this chicken taco recipe on a weekend day when you’re home, and reheat it after work during the week. Not quite a perfect application of the slow cooker for long work days, but it would definitely solve the problem, as this reheats really well!
I hope all of these ideas help, at least a little! And again – thanks so much for popping by and for asking terrific questions!
~Shelley



Dani says
May 5, 2016 at 11:59 amI have a long commute to work as well. I put a slow cooker bag in my crock pot, load it up, and let it cook all night while I sleep. In the morning I just lift the whole bag out of the crockpot and put it in a container. When I get home from work, I just have to heat it up. It takes the guess work out, and I never have to worry about my food drying out or overcooking.



Nichole says
October 21, 2015 at 3:14 pmIs there any way to make these delicious tacos any easier? YES! Instead of shredding with two forks, let your hand mixer do the work. It shreds any meat perfectly!



Alexandraya says
October 14, 2015 at 11:07 pmCrockpot chicken is my goto in general, chicken and noodles, buffalo, tacos; though I usually dump a tub of spicy queso dip on instead of salsa because I’m allergic to tomatoes.



Amanda says
February 15, 2016 at 2:07 pmUsing the salsa Verde is also delicious in this. Add some white beans and fresco cheese so good



Becky Shea says
September 27, 2015 at 7:23 pmWhat is the calorie/nutritional content for the 3 ingredient crock pot chicken tacos?



Diann says
July 15, 2015 at 10:43 amThank you so much for the easy recipe. It’s in the Crockpot now for my daughter and granddaughter’s dinner tonight. She will be happily surprised when she walks in the door from work.Thanks again – Diann



Two Healthy Kitchens says
July 15, 2015 at 9:34 pmHi Diann! So happy you’re already lovin this!! It always smells SO good when it’s cooking! I just love that about using the crock pot – dinner smells amazing all day! 🙂
Hope your daughter and precious granddaughter loved their dinner – how sweet of you to cook of her! Best ever!!! ~Gretchen



Sarah says
July 12, 2015 at 11:07 amThanks for the response and feedback! I used 5 fresh chicken breast I just bought from the store and pace medium chunky salsa. The only difference was that I blended the salsa in the food processor to get rid of the chucks because I have picky eaters in the house but that actually made the salsa thicker. I’ve had this issue when trying to do BBQ pulled chicken as well so I’m wondering if my crockpot cooks hotter than the usual low setting?



Two Healthy Kitchens says
July 12, 2015 at 1:00 pmHello!! I think you may be absolutely right – I’m guessing your crock pot is getting really hot, and there’s a lot of steam buildup that can lead to mushy food. Since it sounds like there wasn’t an over abundance of liquid, perhaps you could try cooking for a bit less time.
Does your slow cooker have a small hole in the lid? I have several (it’s more of a collection … I just love cooking in crock pots and always need to have one ready to go!) and one I use often has a small hole under the handle – to allow steam to escape, and so there sin’t a vacuum effect with the lid and the bowl. It’s very tiny, so it’s not losing a lot of heat, but there also isn’t a buildup of steam inside.
I’ve seen some articles in the past that suggest taking the lid off for a few minutes every couple hours. This allows some steam to escape, but then also cools the food and slow cooker itself, so it’ll take some time for everything to come back to the right temperature. I don’t think that’s the best idea … but I wanted to share it with you.
I’m sorry that I can’t be of more help! You must have a super-charged slow cooker!! 😀 As long as your food comes to the appropriate temperature, the slightly shorter cook time may be your best bet!
Have a wonderful day! ~Gretchen



Sarah says
July 11, 2015 at 6:35 pmI followed the recipe to a “t” and I found that there was too much liquid that when I shredded the chicken it became soggy. I didn’t see any other comments with regard to this issue so I’m confused at where I went wrong? Overall flavor was great but chicken texture wasn’t pleasant. I’d love to give this recipe another try just looking for some tips to prevent this from happening again. Thank you!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
July 11, 2015 at 10:00 pmHi Sarah! I’m so sorry that the recipe didn’t turn out as well for you! I’ve got to tell ya, I make this recipe all.the.time and I’ve never had too much liquid. So let’s problem solve!! 🙂 Here are a few ideas I thought of …
– Was your salsa particularly liquidy? Perhaps a thicker, chunkier-style salsa may help! I tend to use a thinner salsa, but if it’s too thin it could become too watery.
– What type of chicken did you use? Some brands of chicken inject broth or water into the chicken breasts – the packaging may read, “Enhanced with 15% chicken broth” or similar wording. Brands claim this will help with a juicier and better tasting chicken breast, but I usually skip over the ‘enhanced’ meats. I’ve not ever had an issue with ‘un-enhanced’ chicken being too dry or under flavored. However, if you used this type of chicken, the extra liquid may be causing the sogginess.
– Was your meat completely thawed? We’re super passionate about using totally thawed meats in crock pots here at THK (we’ve even written about it here!). If your chicken was even a little icy, the extra liquid that would melt off could cause the unpleasant texture, as well as some other issues discussed in our other post.
I’d really love to hear back – I really want this recipe to work for you! It’s absolutely one of my favorites (SO perfect for a busy night – and the leftovers are amazing, too!) and I want it to be one of your favorites, too! ~Gretchen



Ilka says
June 30, 2015 at 10:36 amWhat is your favorite jar salsa for this recipe?



Two Healthy Kitchens says
July 14, 2015 at 10:35 amHello Ilka! Honestly, I don’t have a favorite salsa for this recipe!! I know it sounds funny, but I always just use what I’ve got on hand. I tend to buy a lot of salsa at Trader Joe’s, but sometimes I’ve only got my local store’s brand in my pantry!
That’s the beauty of this recipe – it works with YOUR favorite! You can have a more mild flavor, or really heat things up with a spicy salsa. We usually opt for a medium … it’s mild enough for the kids, yet has a little zing for my husband and I. I tend to use a thinner salsa, but I know Shelley’s fave is a chunkier style. It all works! 🙂
I apologize for not giving you a direct answer … I guess that would be what you love most!! 😀 ~Gretchen



Tammy says
May 17, 2015 at 7:20 pmThis sounds delicious. Did you use raw or frozen chicken?
Thanks so much!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
July 14, 2015 at 12:24 pmHi Tammy! Great question! We always, always use only raw, completely thawed chicken. While it may seem convenient to toss frozen chicken in, it’s never a good idea. We’ve even written a post about not using frozen meat in your crock pot! Simply put, frozen meat spends too much time hovering in the ‘danger zone’ (40F-140F) since the crock pot would need to defrost it before it can begin cooking it, and it could lead to bacterial growth in your food. Super yucky and not at all appetizing. So for this (and all other crock pot chicken recipes!) use totally thawed meat!
This recipe is one of my very favorites (I just made it for dinner last night – no joke!) and my family is always excited about it! Enjoy!! ~Gretchen



mike says
February 23, 2015 at 2:49 pmMaking dinner for the family while my wife is out enjoying some much needed time without hearing mom…mom…mom…mom lol. We will see if it turns out good



Two Healthy Kitchens says
February 23, 2015 at 3:21 pmOh, wow! First off, you are so incredibly awesome to tackle dinner duty while your wife snags some sanity time! I can sure relate to how happy she must be! I know that one day I’ll dearly miss hearing “mom…mom…mom” but it sure can get exhausting at times – lol! So thrilled that you’re giving these chicken tacos a try! One thing that’s awesome about this recipe when you have kiddos is that each person can tailor this to exactly how they like to eat tacos – you can spice it up with hot sauce, add lots of great veggies like lettuce and tomatoes … whatever!
And, I’m not sure how young your kids are, but one other little tip that sometimes helps if one eater in the family is particularly suspicious of spices or salsa: before you start to shred the chicken, just set some of it aside for the “pickier” eater, and don’t mix it back into the flavorful salsa mixture in the slow cooker. That way, their portion will be a little more plain and they can flavor it up however they feel most comfortable. (We’ve written several posts on picky eating and spoken about it for some parenting groups, so we totally know how one little tip like this can save a parent’s sanity! 😀 ).
Anyway, happy munching … and hope your wife had some great “me time”! ~Shelley



Lara O says
February 20, 2015 at 6:47 pmCan’t wait to try this! Fyi, you can make your own taco seasoning. I do pico de gallo, sea salt to taste, probably around 2 tsp. Of cumin and about 1 1/2 tsp. Of garlic along with a homemade chili powder to taste. I’ve been told it tastes better than buying premade taco seasoning!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
February 23, 2015 at 1:11 pmHi, Lara! So excited for you to try these chicken tacos … the all-time most popular recipe on our site! People just love this easy recipe! One of the very best things about it is how flexible it is – you can use all different types of salsa and choose whatever toppings you and your family like! And great idea on the homemade taco seasoning! You should definitely try that with this recipe! Sounds wonderful! Thanks a million for sharing your recipe and measurement amounts with our other readers, too! 😀 ~Shelley



Lara O says
February 23, 2015 at 1:36 pmIt was great! We added more cumin and garlic than what posted. We also didn’t have enough salsa so i used 1 can of rotell original diced tomatoes with green chiles and 1 can of rotell cilantro lime diced tomatoes with green chiles. It was fantastic! We ended up with extra meat that we mixed in with homemade spanish rice and made 2 more meals for us!!! Great recipe. Love the versatility of it!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
February 23, 2015 at 2:57 pmOh, wonderful, Lara! I’m so thrilled you loved this recipe, and it was really, really sweet of you to stop back and let us know! I enjoyed your update on the different personal twists you used, too! Truly – the flexibility of these Chicken Tacos is so fabulous – totally customizable!
Oh – and you got me thinking … if you love this recipe, make sure to check out our Crock-Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup – it was actually based on this Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos recipe!
And actually, along the same lines, we have a recipe for slow cooker Chicken Burritos Bowls that was published in the cookbook you can download when you sign up to receive our e-mails (you know – in that little box toward the upper righthand margin of our site). I didn’t hop over to our subscriber list to see if you’ve already subscribed and received your ebook, but if you haven’t, you might check that out, too! The ebook is gorgeous and has loads of great slow cooker recipes (not just our Chicken Burrito Bowls! 😀 ).
Anyway – I know that’s a lot of info, but since you enjoyed these Chicken Tacos so much, I thought you might like the Tortilla Soup and Burritos Bowls, too – they both have lots of wiggle room for customization (spicier salsas, etc.) – which sounds right up your alley!
Thanks again, and have a fantastic week! 😀 ~Shelley



Lara O says
February 23, 2015 at 3:14 pmI look forward to trying them soon! I still have 2 lbs of chicken to use!



Debi @ Life Currents says
February 12, 2015 at 6:26 pmThis is the perfect kind of dish I like to serve at a party. Easy on the cook, but tasty for the guests. And, I like to let people make their own so they can put whatever they want in the taco. Thanks for the recipe.



Two Healthy Kitchens says
February 23, 2015 at 1:06 pmYou know, Debi, you’re exactly right! This is such a perfect recipe for a party! I love recipes that are easy for the hostess! And how fun to make this into a taco bar – everyone can enjoy customizing their own tacos and chatting with other party guests while they do it … it’s social and yummy, too! Thanks so much for popping by! 😀 ~Shelley



Shannon says
February 3, 2015 at 7:32 amJust threw this in the crockpot and I can’t wait! I added some Frank’s Red Hot to spice it up a little. Gonna be delicious!! thank you



Two Healthy Kitchens says
February 23, 2015 at 12:47 pmHi, Shannon! Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you absolutely loved this recipe as much as Gretchen and I both do! And high-five on your plan to use Frank’s to spice it up a bit! We both loooooove Frank’s and use it a lot in our own homes! Especially since our hubbies sometimes like things spicier than some of our kiddos, we often hot sauce at the table so everyone gets just the spice level they like. Yum!!! Another idea for you, if you have a spice-loving family, is to use a hot-and-spicy salsa. Mmmmmmm … 😀 ~Shelley



Shannon says
December 15, 2014 at 10:07 pmI wanted a easy recipe for chicken taco meat and I found it. I made this for our work Christmas party and it was fantastic!! I loved your humor inthe directions and when I was asked how I made it, I quoted directions exactly as you did!!



angela says
November 8, 2014 at 6:32 pmHello, I do not have a crock pot but I do have all other ingredients is it still possible to make?



amanda says
November 8, 2014 at 7:35 pmI bet you could simmer it on the stove top and get the same result! If you’re simmering it you might need to add more liquid to it.. just keep an eye on it. I almost attempted the simmer method yesterday when I was short on time (was making it for lunch).



angela says
November 8, 2014 at 8:15 pmI will try that, thank you.



amanda says
November 7, 2014 at 9:07 amI needed an idea for dinner and this sounds perfect. I don’t really want to run to the store with my sick two year old… but i only have half a Jar of salsa in the fridge 🙁 think half the salsa and adding a small can of Rotel would work?



Two Healthy Kitchens says
November 7, 2014 at 9:52 amHi, Amanda! So sorry to hear you have a sick little one – that’s just never fun for anybody! Hang in there! And about this recipe … I honestly haven’t tried making it quite that way, but in a pinch I think you should definitely go for it! You can always taste your concoction at the end of cooking, before you serve it, and add a dash of hot sauce or a pinch of herbs if it’s not quite where you want it to be. But honestly, I think the Rotel will sub in just fine for you, and beats the heck out of dragging your little one out to the store! Let us know how it goes … 😀 ~Shelley



amanda says
November 7, 2014 at 1:22 pmI went ahead and threw caution to the wind and went for it! As it turned out I had a tad under half a Jar of salsa left (my husband eats that stuff on everything!) I went ahead and dumped the salsa, an entire can of Rotel (even the juice) in with it. Since I had less salsa than originally thought I diced up small pieces of onions and added half a can of crushed tomatoes too. (Talk about a crazy substitution day!) We also cooked on high because I needed it ready for lunch. Smelled delicious cooking, and despite all my changes actually came out awesome! I think the Rotel gave it more spicey flavor than the entire jar of salsa would but my family likes a little kick. I think the Rotel worked great in a pinch! My little ones ate it up on soft shells with lettuce and cheese. Yum! My poor husband is going to be upset when there is no left overs for dinner lol. I ate mine on a salad and it was equally as delicious! I also made a corn and black bean “salsa” to go with it and it was awesome. The salsa is just a can of black beans (rinsed, drained) a can of corn drained and I used my other half can of crushed tomatoes but it called for freshly diced. Mix then add some cilantro and I squeezed two limes over it… yum! With the chicken it was over the top!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
November 7, 2014 at 2:42 pmLol – you crazy girl – good job on that “throwing caution to the wind” stuff! 😀 Seriously, though – I’m so, so glad this all worked out for you! I totally know how it is when you’re a mom with a sick little one at home – you really just need SOMETHING in your day to go well! I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to pop back and let us know how it turned out! Oh – and awesome idea on the yummy corn salsa – sounds fabulous!!! I hope you have a fantastic (healthy!!!) weekend! 😀 ~Shelley



amanda says
November 8, 2014 at 7:40 pmIt’s definitely going to be a staple in our house! We had leftovers today… i grilled the two year old some of the leftover meat between two small tortillas with a sprinkle of cheese. Hubs did a fajita style thing with it and the rest of us did salads and tacos. So versatile and yummy. Really you don’t even need to put it on something. I could eat it out of the crock pot with just a fork lol. My friend makes a similar version of this but said in the last hour she melts 1/2 brick of cream cheese in and makes a “creamy” version… also sounds delish (even though a bit unhealthier!) I’m so glad I found this recipe… who would have thought! And I think it got better the next day sitting in the juices!



Rachel says
September 24, 2014 at 2:20 pmWow! Just found your recipe and am so excited to try it. I’ve had my crockpot for 2 years and have just started to use it in the last 6 months. Everyone used to ask why I didn’t use it and I always tended to think that it was best to make soups (which my family are not big fans of). But I’ve now made beef and pork roast, bbq chicken drumsticks, etc. So I’m excited to add a new recipe to the mix.
Just a quick question…Do you have a prefered salsa you use. Salsas taste and texture differ from brand to brand. Just curious if you have a favorite that works best with this recipe. Thanks!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
September 24, 2014 at 5:31 pmHi Rachel!! YAY on using your crock-pot!! I own several … that way I’ve always got one ready when I need it! Lol! 🙂
Great question! As far as the salsa you should use, well, that really depends on your own preferences. Love really zesty, spicy foods? Go for hot salsa! Not quite sure the spicy stuff is for your family? Go for mild!
Honestly, I use whatever salsa I happen to have on hand – and it’s typically what is on sale! Personally, I tend to buy medium salsa, and usually a thinner style. Shelley goes for the salsa with more large pieces of veggies in it. Both salsas make it absolutely delicious!
Thicker or thinner, spicy or more mild … it’s really up to you! 🙂 ~Gretchen



jack says
October 22, 2014 at 9:20 pmThis recipe is a winner. Delicious, easy to make ,and inexpensive.I wasn’t sure a pound and a half of chicken would be enough to feed the 5 of us so I used 2 and a quarter pounds of chicken breasts. Believe me a pound and a half would have made plenty of tacos. For those that haven’t made this yet, when the crockpot finishes cooking the chicken, there will be a lot of liquid. After shredding the meat the chicken will absorb all the juice and you’ll be ready to have delicious tacos. Later on this week I will try the unstuffed pepper skillet.



Jonny says
September 18, 2014 at 10:00 amMade this for some friends at a board game night. It received universal appraise. Will make again. Thanks. http://i.imgur.com/Nz57uII.jpg



Tsmith says
September 10, 2014 at 10:07 amI made this for dinner yesterday and it was really good!



jane says
September 8, 2014 at 4:50 pmI am going to make chicken tacos for a group of about 20 people tomorrow. Can you give me an idea of how much chicken I will need to make? Not sure how many people your recipe is meant to serve. Thanks!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
September 8, 2014 at 6:45 pmHi, Jane! We’re so thrilled you’ll be making this – what a lovely compliment!
Ok – so exactly how much you want to make honestly depends on the type of party and your crowd (and how hungry they are! 😀 ). For example, if it’s for a potluck and everyone will be filling their plates with lots of other foods, too, you will obviously need much less. Also, if your group is like our families, and loves to pile on lots of (healthy!), yummy veggie toppings like the tomatoes and avocados and lettuce, then you again won’t need quite as much. So, a ballpark would be that one batch of this should feed about 6-8 people. We’d suggest that you definitely at least make a double batch, probably a triple if you have a large enough crock-pot or (if you’re like Gretchen who has 7 or 8 slow cookers 😀 ), fire up two of them. (Make sure you carefully check the chicken for doneness if the crock-pot is really full.) Admittedly, though – when we entertain, we always like to have too much rather than too little, and this particular recipe reheats so well that we’re truly delighted to end up with leftovers of it!
I hope that helps you a bit. Good luck, and have fun tomorrow! 😀 ~Shelley



Danny says
August 12, 2014 at 7:33 pmGreat recipe, and so easy! Even my super picky daughter loved it!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
August 13, 2014 at 7:21 amYay, Danny!! So happy your family loved it!! My favorite part is how totally simple this recipe is – less than five minutes and dinner is started! And it’s a meal all of us just really enjoy, it’s a total win-win! Hope you make it again! Thanks for stopping by, Danny! Have a great day! 😀 ~Gretchen



Chris says
July 30, 2014 at 8:21 pmDo you use bone-in, skin-on chicken?



Heather says
July 28, 2014 at 10:59 amThis is easy, super healthy and so yummy!!!! thanks for sharing!



HeatherCherrie says
July 8, 2014 at 10:01 amCould I just do water and seasoning? My little one has some reactions to salsa…



Two Healthy Kitchens says
July 11, 2014 at 3:35 pmThanks for the great question! Our best guess is that this would work – although we’ve never actually tried it ourselves and can’t vouch for how it would turn out. We did some research for you, though, and did find a few recipes around the Internet that use just seasoning and chicken broth, or seasoning with a combination of chicken broth and water. We wouldn’t suggest subbing out the 16-ounce jar of salsa for a full 16 ounces of water (and/or broth), though – maybe try starting with around a cup of liquid. Be careful that the chicken doesn’t dry out, though, since there will be somewhat less liquid for it to cook in. As we found when testing our Crock-Pot North Carolina BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches, crock-pot recipes with such a small amount of liquid may not do quite as well on the high setting if you’re using a larger (say, 5 or 6 quart) slow cooker. It may work best for you on the low setting – but give it a try and see what works for you and your crock-pot!
Also of course, you won’t have the same flavor boost from the salsa, nor the bits of onions, peppers, etc. that you would get if you included the salsa – so maybe you could stir salsa into the portion for the rest of the family if you’d like, or let the rest of the family use the salsa as a topping. Good luck! And if you have a moment – we’d love for you to pop back and let us know how it went!
Oh – and one more thing – this is probably obvious, but do check your packet of taco seasoning to be sure that whatever bothers your child in salsa isn’t also in the seasoning packet. Different brands of taco seasoning vary more than you might guess in their ingredient lists. ~G&S



Stephanie says
June 23, 2014 at 7:42 amI just wanted to share what a great recipe this is for summer! We recently went on vacation with a very large group of our family and did a dinner duty rotation. On our night, we chose a Mexican theme and we popped this into the crock pot (doubled the recipe), prepared some toppings, and headed out to the beach and pool for the rest of the day. We certainly didn’t have to slave away in the kitchen and miss a ray of vacation sunshine. This was a great recipe for all of our various aged diners. It also tasted really healthy. We had a fun night! Thanks for a great recipe for our fiesta! 🙂



Two Healthy Kitchens says
June 24, 2014 at 3:56 pmHi, Stephanie! Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by and leave us such a wonderful comment! That truly means the world to us! We love knowing that families are making our recipes (and on vacation, too!) and really enjoying them! Our whole goal at THK is to help people make really healthy foods that still leave plenty of time for the beach … the pool … whatever! Mission accomplished! We’re just thrilled! Thanks again so much! 😀 ~Shelley



GourmetGetaways says
May 20, 2014 at 5:30 amI can’t believe I still haven’t tried this dish after seeing it in January!! I am making this ASAP! Thanks for adding it to the linky party.



Two Healthy Kitchens says
May 20, 2014 at 8:13 amOh, Julie! Definitely make this! It’s a game-changer … so ridiculously easy and infinitely customizable with different toppings! There’s for sure a reason that this is the most popular recipe we’ve posted to date! People looooove it! Can’t wait for you to try it! 😀 ~G&S



Amy says
July 22, 2014 at 11:42 amDo you place uncooked chicken in the crockpot? Frozen or fresh? Also, I’m hosting a taco bar, so I was hoping to double the recipe, would that still cook alright in the crock pot?
TIA!!


Ty says
January 29, 2014 at 8:55 amSince this recipe’s been posted, I eat these a lot, and they are super delicious. Thanks, THK!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
January 29, 2014 at 10:58 amYou are so very welcome! Just thrilled that you love them! 😀 ~G&S



Kathleen @ Fearlessly Creative Mammas says
January 27, 2014 at 1:50 pmYou’re kids are funny. My kids are similar when they come in the door and something yummy is cooking in the slow cooker. This is similar to something I make, only I use green chilies instead of taco seasoning. So easy and good too! I will try it your way next time.
You’re blog is beautiful. I’m so happy you found me and now I can look through your blog at all of the possibilities!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
January 27, 2014 at 9:22 pmHi Kathleen! Thanks so much for stopping by … and for your sweet words!!
Well, now I want to try your version! 🙂
I love preparing really healthy foods for my family, and it’s even better when they are so super excited about it! And the fact that it comes together in five minutes … well that’s just icing on top! ~Gretchen



Melinda says
January 21, 2014 at 4:47 pmOk. That’s it. I broke down and bought a crock pot in England. Not impossible to come by, but not as used as they are in the U.S. I plan to take your recipe and start a trend! Thanks for another great recipe!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
January 23, 2014 at 9:49 amHi, Melinda! I seriously had no idea that slow cookers were such a hard item to find in England! So many of the busy moms I know pretty much live and die by timesaving crock-pot recipes – we’ve gotta spread the word to all those busy British mums! And, hey – if you’re looking for more crock-pot recipes to break in your new purchase – check out our Crock-Pot Crazy Pineapple Chili! More THK crock-pot recipes to come … 😀 ~Shelley



Whitley says
January 21, 2014 at 4:33 pmOkay is this frozen or thawed chicken breasts?



Two Healthy Kitchens says
January 22, 2014 at 12:12 pmHi, Whitley! Thanks for the question! You definitely don’t want to use frozen chicken – in this recipe or any other slow cooker recipe. If you’re like us, then you’ve probably seen plenty of recipes online that say it’s ok to start a crock-pot recipe with frozen meat, or even had friends tell you what a great shortcut it is. And it does work – you may have some slight variation in texture, but your meat will cook. That’s not the issue. The problem is that it isn’t safe, particularly for people with certain health risks or increased susceptibility to food-bourne illness. Sure – you may have heard of people doing this with no problem at all … but there’s no guarantee that you’ll be that lucky. It’s a gamble we’re not willing to take with our families, and we wouldn’t advise you to take that risk, either. Slow cookers don’t bring frozen meat up to a safe temperature (above 140°F) evenly or quickly enough. Your meat will spend too much time in the unsafe temperature range (between 40°-140°F), opening up the possibility that you and your family could get sick from eating it. So, please – properly thaw your chicken for this recipe, and begin with raw, thawed chicken breasts. Thanks again for the great question and for taking the time to ask! We’re so glad you stopped by! ~G&S



Two Healthy Kitchens says
February 4, 2014 at 9:26 amUPDATE: Whitley – thanks again for your great question! When we received your comment, we knew there must be lots of other people wondering the same thing, which prompted us to write the post Is It Safe to Use Frozen Meat in Your Crock-Pot? Check it out! And thanks again for taking the time to reach out! ~G&S



Vicky and Ruth says
January 19, 2014 at 9:41 amWow, this dish is so simple, and I am sure it is so full of flavor!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
January 20, 2014 at 8:03 pmSOOO much flavor!! And it’s just the simplest dish to throw together … we can’t help but move this right to the very top of our favorite meals to make! ~G&S



Stephanie says
January 16, 2014 at 7:52 pmI seriously put this together in the crock pot in less time than it took for my windshield to defrost this morning…(Start car, start crockpot, get in car, go!!!) It was really delicious! Our kids loved it! I wasn’t sure that they were going to leave any for their Daddy who was going to be eating later! Thanks for a great, easy, healthy recipe! I love crockpot recipes, so I will make this one very frequently!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
January 17, 2014 at 7:42 amLOL!! That’s a fantastic (and pretty hilarious!) testimony to how fabulously fast this meal is to throw together! Hopefully there was some left when your husband got home! But it really is just soooo good – we really can’t blame the kiddos for wanting more! 🙂 Thanks so much for a really sweet comment! ~G&S



GourmetGetaways says
January 16, 2014 at 4:09 pmI can see this becoming my new favourite recipe! I make one with beans that the kids love but chicken would be the best!!! Thanks for sharing!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
January 17, 2014 at 7:46 amOh yes! A favorite for sure!! I would love to know about what you make with beans – I’m really interested! My kids (and Shelley’s!) can’t get enough of this – I’m pretty sure we could make this several times a week and everyone would be totally happy! Enjoy! ~Gretchen



Tina @ Tina's Chic Corner says
January 16, 2014 at 10:15 amUm, I’ve never heard of this so I’m REALLY glad you shared it. 🙂 It looks mad tasty. My husband loves tacos so I need to make this for him!
Fist pump ritual is hysterical, btw. 😉



Two Healthy Kitchens says
January 17, 2014 at 7:48 amHi Tina! I’m so happy you found this recipe! If your hubby loves tacos, this will be a hit at your house! (And you don’t even have to tell anyone how insanely easy it is … that can be a secret!) Then your hubby will be the one doing the fist pump!! Lol! 🙂 ~Gretchen



Lindsey @ DishingUpHope says
January 16, 2014 at 9:17 amThe crockpot stays on the counter in my house; love that little thing! This sounds delish!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
January 16, 2014 at 9:23 amI use mine constantly – I don’t know what I would do without a crock-pot!! I love it!! (And then it snowballed and I ended up with 6!) 🙂
Hope you try it – it’s a guaranteed hit at our house! I love when I make a meal that makes EVERYONE happy! ~Gretchen



Trish - Mom On Timeout says
January 15, 2014 at 5:21 pmEasy and fabulous! That’s my kind of dinner 🙂



Two Healthy Kitchens says
January 16, 2014 at 9:28 amYes, exactly! Incredibly simple and amazingly delicious! I had to try it to believe it – and I’m SO happy I did! This meal makes has saved the day – on multiple occasions! I love just throwing in the crock-pot when I know I have a busy day (who am I kidding – every day is busy!) and coming home to a yummy dinner! Lifesaver!! 🙂 ~Gretchen



Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor says
January 14, 2014 at 10:14 pmYour little ones are so cute with the fist pumps 🙂 I make a similar recipes with chicken baked in the oven and then top it with cheese too. I’ve never tried it in the crock pot but it sounds like the perfect meal. I’m always looking for a good quick chicken taco recipe so I’ll have to try this next time.



Two Healthy Kitchens says
January 14, 2014 at 10:56 pmHaha! Yeah – they get pretty excited about this! Who am I kidding? We all get really excited about this! 🙂
Ohhhh … I want your recipe for baked chicken! It’s always good to try new ones – and I love cheese! Mmmmmm!! ~Gretchen



liz | carpé season says
January 14, 2014 at 8:07 pmWe just tried this tonight. So, so easy, and so so good! This recipe is going in our regular rotation for sure. Thanks!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
January 14, 2014 at 10:58 pmYay Liz!! I’m sooo happy you liked it!! Honestly, we had this for dinner tonight, too! My little one has been begging for ‘Taco Tuesday’ so we had tacos tonight! Hopefully this quick recipe will make things a little easier once the new bundle of joy arrives! 🙂 ~Gretchen



liz | carpé season says
January 14, 2014 at 6:03 amThis is officially pinned. Trying to stockpile super easy recipes like this for when Baby #2 joins us and turns our world upside-down for a few months. Love it!!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
January 10, 2014 at 10:32 amIt seriously doesn’t get much easier than this! Literally 5 minutes and then walk away for the entire day! Can’t wait to hear all about Baby #2 and see gorgeous photos!! And yes … going from one kiddo to two is an adjustment, but in the best possible way! You’ll totally rock – and with super simple dinners like this – it will be a breeze! 🙂 ~Gretchen



ATasteOfMadness says
January 13, 2014 at 11:05 pmOh my goodness, this looks SO good! 3 ingredients, are you kidding me??



Two Healthy Kitchens says
January 14, 2014 at 11:00 pmNope – not kidding!! I would never, ever joke about something so amazing and delicious! Lol!! Seriously – it is so incredibly easy, and is a favorite meal at our house (and Shelley’s too!). Hope you try this out!! ~Gretchen



Cailee says
January 13, 2014 at 7:01 pmWow!! What a great recipe!! I’m sure that the chicken tastes amazing and I love how simple it is!! Great idea! I hope that you have a great week 🙂



Two Healthy Kitchens says
January 13, 2014 at 9:16 pmIt is SOOOO good. It literally just falls apart when you go to shred it – and it’s incredibly tender! Try it – you’ll love it!! 🙂 Have a fab week! ~G&S



Amy Alt says
January 13, 2014 at 4:03 pmWow this looks so delicious love the shredded chicken texture – a bit like slow roast pork (but much healthier!). You have 6 crockpots! is that because they are all different sizes or because you like to crock-pot 6 things at once?!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
January 13, 2014 at 5:07 pmI’m guilty, Amy! Some are different sizes, yes, but I also have a few that are the same size! I can’t help myself! I really only use multiple ones when we entertain – then I get several going at once! 🙂 I walked into the store today and saw a big new display … I almost bought another one! I wonder if there is some type of support group for people who own too many crock-pots?!?
I hope you try this recipe – I find that it shreds much easier than pork. And yes, the chicken breasts are super healthy! Thanks for stopping by! ~Gretchen



Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic says
January 13, 2014 at 8:57 amI actually heard about this recipe but forgot about it. Glad you reminded me! Definitely worth a fist pump 🙂



Two Healthy Kitchens says
January 13, 2014 at 5:09 pmWe think it’s worth several fist pumps! It’s sooo easy and just plain good! Hopefully you make this soon so you don’t forget about it again! ~G&S



Erin | The Law Student's Wife says
January 13, 2014 at 12:40 amHello snappy dinner! Everyone needs to be armed with this recipe. Classic!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
January 13, 2014 at 5:12 pmHi Erin! Yes, yes, I totally agree. This recipe needs to be tucked up the sleeve of pretty much every single person in the world! Just imagine a day where everyone knows exactly what they will be serving their family for dinner, and everyone is over-the-moon happy! Ahhhh … 🙂 ~Gretchen



Tara says
January 12, 2014 at 8:40 pmI rarely comment on recipes unless I find them to be outstanding and this is just that – outstanding!!!!! For as easy and simple as it is, it’s amazing. Thanks so much for posting!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
January 13, 2014 at 5:15 pmWow, Tara!! Thank you SO much!! I really appreciate your sweet comment – I’m glad you tried it and loved it! It’s obviously a fave at my house, and I hope it will be one at yours, too! Thanks, again! ~Gretchen



Cate @ Chez CateyLou says
January 11, 2014 at 9:41 amSeriously, how do I not have a crock pot?! This looks so delicious and I can’t get over how easy it is! Putting it on my weekend to do list – buy a slow cooker then make these tacos!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
January 11, 2014 at 11:21 amCate, put down whatever you are doing and get to the store! Right now! You will never regret this purchase! I use mine at lease once (but usually twice!) every week! When I look at my calendar and see that I have a hectic day coming up, I always plan to have dinner in the crock-pot before I head out. By the time I get home, dinner is ready and we can eat as a family before we go back out for evening activities! It really is SO easy! And the best part – you can just put the stoneware bowl and lid in the dishwasher! So cleanup is a breeze, as well! Simple, simple, simple! 🙂
And these tacos??? Your life will never be the same! Let us know how much you love them! ~Gretchen



Yvonne says
January 10, 2014 at 6:18 amI still love you guys!!! Will be making this Monday! I also really enjoy the ravioli sausage and pepper dish!!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
January 10, 2014 at 10:30 amHi Yvonne!! We still love you, too!! This is the perfect dinner for a busy mom like you! 🙂 Let us know how much your family loves it – especially that sweet little girl! Hugs! ~G&S



A Tallmadge MOM says
January 9, 2014 at 7:51 pmOkay, I am all in on this one! Crock-pot and three ingredients-does it get any easier? I too love the welcoming smell of a dinner ready at the end of a busy day.
Thanks for this one.



Two Healthy Kitchens says
January 10, 2014 at 10:51 amYes! It really is that simple! And … wonderfully delicious! Can’t think of anything that would be more simple – except going out to eat! But let’s face it, with activities for the kids after school and in the evening, that really isn’t a possibility! So we’ll just stick with super easy and really yummy meals like this! 🙂 ~G&S



Consuelo @ Honey & Figs says
January 9, 2014 at 3:54 pm3 ingredients only and it looks this delicious??? Am I dreaming or…? Great idea, I’m loving these! xx



Two Healthy Kitchens says
January 10, 2014 at 10:41 amNo, Consuelo, you’re not dreaming! It’s totally real! 🙂 We hope you try this – it’s been a crowd pleaser at both of our homes – we hope your family will love it, too! ~G&S



Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says
January 9, 2014 at 1:12 pmLove how easy but tasty this recipe (totally pinning). Tacos are always a hit and a classic to fall back on. Can’t wait to enjoy!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
January 10, 2014 at 10:40 amI’m not sure there is a more simple recipe out there … that actually tastes good. Three ingredients? Yep – and it’s amazing. (I’m getting hungry for this now!!)
We love (LOVE!) Mexican food, and this makes it simple enough to be able to enjoy it often. Like, all the time. It’s already on the menu for next week – my little one has been begging for ‘Taco Tuesday’ – and I’m more than happy to make these! A family fave for sure! 🙂 ~Gretchen



julia says
January 9, 2014 at 8:45 amGreat, easy slow cooker recipe!! As a busy Mom I fully appreciate these recipes. Thanks for sharing!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
January 10, 2014 at 4:44 pmOh, Julia – you’re so welcome! Don’t we all just need some recipes like this one to keep in our back pocket and pull out on those nothing-went-as-planned days!?!? 😀 ~G&S



Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen says
January 8, 2014 at 10:57 pmWhat a great, easy, weekday meal! I’m definitely putting this in my go-to recipes for those hectic nights!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
January 10, 2014 at 4:47 pmHey, Kristi! It’s so ridiculously easy! A go-to, for sure! Plus, you guys can each customize your toppings any way you want! Perfect! 😀 ~G&S



Christine @ 24 Carrot Kitchen says
January 8, 2014 at 1:51 pmWhat a great easy recipe! My go to is a quesadilla. It’s so easy and comes in handy on busy week night dinners.



Two Healthy Kitchens says
January 10, 2014 at 10:57 amSounds like we could have dinner together – Mexican! 🙂 That is another really delicious dinner that we love, as well! The leftovers from 3-Ingredient Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos would be amazing in a quesadilla! Mmmmm! ~Gretchen



Cindy @ Pick Fresh Foods says
January 8, 2014 at 1:40 pmLol, I can just imagine everyone running around fist-pumping! Isn’t it funny how some things just make everyone so happy it requires a fist-pump?! I love it! I know my guys will be loving this recipe, as will I. Anytime I can use a crockpot is a great day 😀 Pinning!!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
January 8, 2014 at 6:07 pmHey, Cindy! Honestly, if you could see Gretchen’s girls (especially her totally precocious and hilarious littlest) doing the fist-pumps – well, you’d be doing whatever is more than LOL’ing! And really – once you try this recipe, you guys will be as hooked as I was when Gretchen first had me try it! It’s now a total go-to lifesaver for me! Oh, and regarding our mutual love of crock-pots? We’ve got more slow cooker recipes coming up in the next couple months, so stay tuned! And thanks for the Pin!!!! 😀 ~Shelley



Abbe@This is How I Cook says
January 8, 2014 at 12:58 pmI don’t have a crockpot either but I do bake chicken or beef (when I ate it) overnight in the oven. Turns out perfect and you can vary up the seasonings. I love having it around because you can use it in almost anything! Great recipe, girls!



Two Healthy Kitchens says
January 8, 2014 at 6:02 pmHi, Abbe! I’ve never tried the overnight chicken idea – really intriguing! I’ll bet you could adapt this recipe, simply employing your overnight oven technique instead of the crock-pot. Although I’ve gotta say – I truly, truly love my crock-pots! I have only three (not six like Gretchen – that crazy girl!!! 😀 ), but they’re such a great option for days when I’m going to be gone all day long or running kiddos a million directions all evening right up until the time that dinner is supposed to magically appear on the table! I’d be nervous leaving my oven on so long when I wasn’t home! Regardless – try this recipe one way or another! I really was surprised and delighted that three simple ingredients could taste so good! 😀 ~Shelley



Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says
January 8, 2014 at 11:20 amThank you for this! I am always looking for easy dinner ideas and I am alllllll about the crockpot! This looks simple, Delish and like I need to make yesterday! 🙂



Two Healthy Kitchens says
January 8, 2014 at 11:28 amYep, Taylor … this is about to become your best friend! We each make this at least twice a month! So incredibly simple – and everyone is sooo totally happy with dinner! Yay!! 🙂 ~G&S



Sharon says
January 8, 2014 at 11:17 amThese look incredible. Lucky kiddos! Maybe 2014 is the year I actually purchase a crockpot 😉 As far as my go-to dinner, I’d have to say a simple plate of scrambled eggs saves the day.



Two Healthy Kitchens says
January 8, 2014 at 11:26 amOh Sharon! You must get a crock-pot!! I use mine all the time! (I actually own about 6 – but I don’t use them all at once!)
We love having breakfast for dinner, too! Yes – in a pinch I often whip up some eggs, as well! Such a lifesaver!
Now … head on out and go get that crock-pot! 🙂 ~Gretchen