Description
These Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos are an easy, flavorful meal made with simple spices and tender shredded chicken. Perfect for a hands-off dinner, this recipe uses a slow cooker to meld spices deeply into the chicken for juicy, delicious tacos ready in just a few hours. Customize with your favorite toppings and enjoy a stress-free Taco Tuesday every week.
Ingredients
Scale
Spices
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon mild chili powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
Main Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts (or boneless skinless chicken thighs)
- 2 cups salsa of choice (jarred chunky salsa used, but any type works)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Instructions
- Prepare the Spice Mix: In a small bowl, combine the granulated garlic, ground cumin, mild chili powder, and kosher salt thoroughly so the spices are well mixed.
- Season the Chicken: Place the chicken breasts into a 6-quart slow cooker. Using clean hands, rub the spice mixture evenly on all sides of the chicken, ensuring every piece is coated with the flavorful blend.
- Slow Cook the Chicken: Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 3 to 4 hours or on low for 5 to 6 hours. The chicken is done when it is cooked through and easily shreds with a fork.
- Shred the Chicken: Remove the chicken from the slow cooker onto a cutting board. Use two forks to shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces or dice if preferred.
- Drain and Recombine: Drain all but 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid from the slow cooker. Switch the slow cooker setting to warm, then add the shredded chicken back in along with the fresh lime juice and salsa. Stir well to combine and let warm through for about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Serve: Transfer the warmed chicken mixture to serving dishes and add your favorite taco toppings for a delicious meal.
Notes
- This recipe uses only 6 ingredients, making it simple and quick to prepare despite the slow cooking time.
- Using a slow cooker allows the spices to penetrate deeply, resulting in tender and flavorful shredded chicken perfect for tacos.
- You can skip the salsa if you prefer a milder or less saucy taco filling.
- Great for meal prep and can be made ahead and refrigerated or frozen for future meals.
- Perfect for Taco Tuesday or any casual weeknight dinner.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 taco (of 8)
- Calories: 201 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 632 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0.02 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 97 mg
