3-Ingredient Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos
~ With just 3 ingredients and 5 minutes of prep, these EASY and delicious Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos are an absolute lifesaver on busy nights! Enjoy them very simply, just rolled in tortillas … or create a festive taco bar featuring your family’s favorite toppings! (Originally published on January 8, 2014. Text and photos refreshed, but recipe remains the same.) ~
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 (aka Crock Pot Chicken Tacos OR Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos OR just “Oh Yum”!) 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
It’s Just Always That Good!
True story: When my little ones dash into the house after school, if their first whiff of home is the incredible aromas of these chicken tacos … 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 8 or 9 years ago, and I tell pretty much everybody I talk to about it. So, I just assumed everyone must make this constantly.
I guess not!
When I first mentioned this recipe to Shelley, 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.
The Very Best Part of All
Absolute 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 crock pot chicken tacos 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!
Tested and Re-tested … And It Just Never Fails
In typical THK fashion, we both needed to test this recipe before we shared it with you all. You know we test … and test … and test again.
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?
How to Make Crock Pot Chicken Tacos (Easiest Ever Instructions!)
1. Put the chicken in your slow cooker.
2. Cover with taco seasoning.
3. Cover with a jar of salsa.
4. Walk away … and come on back when it’s dinnertime.
5. Shred your chicken and serve. (And be prepared for the fist pumps.)
Did you get all that? Should I run through it again?
Yep. It’s that simple!
Pssst … You’ll Also Love: Crock Pot Chicken Burrito Bowls AND Crock Pot Southwestern Corn Chowder!
How to Serve Your Tacos
The options here are pretty much endless … and entirely up to you!
• You can simply roll the chicken taco meat in a tortilla and call it a day. You don’t really need anything else.
• But, you can definitely get all fancy-schmancy, and add whatever additional toppings you like – maybe reduced fat cheese and sour cream, shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes … there’s no wrong answer here. And, it’s wonderful that everyone at the table can make their own tacos, exactly how they like them. Happy kiddos, happy parents – happy everyone!
• This is a terrific option for family parties and taco bars, too. Set out a slow cooker full of delicious chicken taco meat, and let your guests have a blast creating their own masterpieces (while you relax, stress-free, and enjoy the party)!
• Or ditch the tortillas, and serve your shredded chicken piled on a taco salad. Maybe some whole grain tortilla chips tucked around the side. Fabulous!
• And speaking of tortilla chips, you could even use your chicken to top baked nachos for a great game day appetizer – kind of like we do with our Buffalo Chicken Nachos.
Plus, as if this just couldn’t get any better, the taco chicken meat reheats really well, too. So, it’s perfect for meal prepping and make-ahead meals for busy weeks.
No doubt, 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
Oh! And be sure to read up on the question that’s so commonly asked about slow cooking:
3-Ingredient Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos
These Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos are so ridiculously easy – just 3 ingredients and 5 minutes of prep! Enjoy the shredded chicken very simply, just rolled in a tortilla ... or create an entire taco bar of festive toppings!
• Includes Make-Ahead Steps •
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
- Ideas 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
Instructions
- 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 optional toppings as desired.
Notes
Taco seasoning: 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.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 servings Serving Size: 1/2 cup shredded chickenAmount Per Serving: Calories: 137Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 58mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 22g
Nutrition information should be considered an estimate only, and may 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.
Hi shelley!! I tried this and added some cream cheese as well and it came out SO creamy and delicious! Thank you for posting this!!
You’re so welcome, Cindy – I’m really happy you loved the chicken tacos! And thanks for sharing your clever idea to make them creamy – I always love when readers share little twists and personalizations, since I just bet other readers will enjoy trying your idea, too! 😀 ~Shelley
What would be the cook time if I were to do this recipe in a instapot? Thank you!
Hi, Matthew! Great question. The short answer is that you can make these in the Instant Pot (instead of the Crock-Pot) with a high-pressure setting and a time of 15 minutes. But, you also need to add just a little extra water. You can check out the full details in my recipe for Instant Pot Chicken Tacos. (I don’t know if you’re interested, but that Instant Pot version also discusses how you can adjust the recipe cook time if you want to start with frozen chicken breasts. While it isn’t considered safe to start with frozen meat in a slow cooker, it’s actually ok to use frozen meat in Instant Pots – usually with a little adjustment of cooking time.) Hope that helps – enjoy! ~Shelley
I decided to try this as a healthier option for taco night. I used restaurant style salsa. I Served them with fat-free refried beans, cheese, taco sauce, plenty of freshly sliced avocado, shredded green leaf lettuce and low-fat sour cream. We ate them as tostadas. My man and daughter were skeptical because I usually do the regular beef taco kit, but they loved it. Since there is only three of us, I thought about cutting the recipe in half. I’m glad I didn’t. We will be eating the left overs in a couple of days. The only thing I may do differently next time is make my own seasoning instead of store-bought. Either way, so simple and so delicious.
So glad these taco were a hit, Leigh – even for a family that normally goes for the typical beef tacos! Thanks for the great feedback! 😀 ~Shelley
Can left overs be frozen?
Hi, Mo! Absolutely – leftovers freeze great. I actually like to portion out individual servings into separate baggies so I can thaw just enough for a single portion of chicken tacos at a time, as needed. Great for meal prep and quick meals when I don’t know how many family members will be around at dinnertime! Enjoy! 😀 ~Shelley
This sounds amazing! Can you double this recipe in one crockpot? (cooking for 20 people) Or should I use 2 crockpots?
Hi, Jaynie! As long as you’re using a slow cooker that’s large enough (for proper cooking, it’s best not to fill a crock-pot more than about 2/3 full) – then you should be just fine. I love doubling or even tripling this recipe for “taco night” at family beach weeks or big parties. It’s so nice to have chicken tacos as an alternative to the typical ground beef. And, people always enjoy DIY taco bars! Hope your party’s terrific – and that this easy recipe makes your life as hostess a BREEZE!! 😀 ~Shelley
Shelley! Oh my word thank you so much for sharing this recipe! Several ladies from my church did a dinner for our elders, their wives and a few other people, and we served them burrito bowls. I volunteered to make the chicken. Because we were feeding over 20, I doubled the chicken recipe (as you suggested, I did not fill it too full) and everyone absolutely LOVED the chicken! I received so many compliments, and several wanted the recipe! This will not be the last time I make it! Thank you again!
This makes me so happy, Jaynie! I’m delighted the chicken worked out so well and was such a huge success for you – and I really and truly appreciate that you took the time to pop back and let me know how it all worked out! Thank you so much!! 😀 ~Shelley