~ 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:

• Is It Safe to Use Frozen Meat in Your Crock-Pot?