Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken Tacos

Delicious slow-cooker chicken tacos with bell peppers, pulled juicy chicken breasts, and delicious ranch dressing. A 5-minute prep time meal that goes a long way!

My secret to making game night meal prep a breeze is to always have some of this slow-cooker chicken taco meat frozen. You then just thaw it and assemble tacos with Mexican-style toppings – and you’re done!

So how to make it taste the best? Let me share a tip with you – add some bouillon cubes to the slow cooker to make ultra-savory chicken flavor and cook some bell peppers with the chicken to give it moisture and make juicy saucy cooking liquid.

Love taco recipes that are not just tacos? Go full swing with this comforting taco casserole, my taco stuffed shells, or tasty chicken birria tacos. They are super easy to make and are finger-licking good!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Amazing flavorful dinner for the whole family, taco night, or game day that even picky eaters will love.
• Pulled chicken meat is perfect for a weekly meal prep as it stores really well. You can use it not just in tacos.
• Minimal prep time, literally dump and go – that’s why I love slow cooker recipes. I highly recommend doubling the recipe and freezing leftovers.
• Apart from tacos, you can use this shredded chicken in any other recipe from quesadillas to casseroles, chicken and cilantro lime rice, and salad bowls!
• The slow cooker chicken tacos are naturally gluten-free and dairy-free.

Ingredients Notes

You can find all the exact quantities on the recipe card at the end of the post.

• Boneless skinless chicken breasts. Chicken breasts can turn out dry in the oven, but there is no chance of making them tough in the slow cooker! They will be super tender and delicious, plus leaner and healthier than classic beef taco meat. You can use fresh or frozen chicken.
• Dry mix ranch dressing. Note, the dry mix, not the regular ranch dressing in a bottle (homemade or not doesn’t matter).
• Taco seasoning. Homemade or store-bought. It has all the needed spices and seasoning, you don’t even need to add salt.
• Chicken bouillon cubes to make a flavorful sauce for the chicken meat to cook. Chicken broth or cream of chicken soup will work too.
• Onion peeled and cut into ½-inch wide and 2-inch long strips
• Green and Red bell pepper (can use orange also) seeded and cut into ½-inch wide and 2-inch long strips.

To make tacos you will need corn or flour tortillas too. Hard or soft shell, whichever you prefer. You can also serve the chicken tacos in lettuce leaves for a super healthy snack.

Kitchen Equipment

• 4-6 quart crock pot
• Bowl
• Two forks
• Optional, slow cooker liner (for quicker and easier clean-up)

How To Make Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

1: Load All The Ingredients

1. Spray the slow cooker insert with cooking oil. 
2. Place the chicken at the bottom of the insert.
3. Add the ranch and taco seasonings as well as the bouillon cubes on top of the chicken.
4. Add the onion and peppers on top of the seasoned chicken.

2: Slow Cook Chicken For Tacos

1. Pour in the water.
2. Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low heat for 6-8 hours or until the chicken is cooked through and the chicken is fork-tender. It should just fall apart easily.

3: Assemble Tacos

1. Shred the chicken in a separate bowl using two forks. Slow-cooked chicken shreds easily even with hands.
2. Warm tortillas over an open flame, assemble tacos, and serve immediately while hot with all your favorite toppings.

Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos Toppings Ideas

There are so many toppings for tacos you can come up with, here are some of the simple ideas I love. You can add as much as you want depending on you serving size.

• fresh cilantro,
• shredded cheese
• shredded lettuce,
• reddish slices
• fresh finely chopped tomatoes,
• pickled onions, or fresh white onion
• pickled jalapenos (I love them! They are absolutely not spicy!)
• lime wedges or drizzle some lime juice
• and salsa verde or your favorite salsa. Hot sauce works too.
• Guacamole
• a dollop of sour cream

Storage

Store leftover slow-cooker chicken taco meat in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days. Reheat on the stove or microwave.

You can freeze leftovers of the shredded chicken in a freezer bag for 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

Reheat in a microwave or on the stove, or cook in the slow cooker frozen for 2-3 hours.

Substitutions & Variations

• You can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs, tenderloins, or beef taco meat. You can even use fish! Thighs will be tenderer than boneless chicken breasts because they have dark meat.
• Bulk it up with some corn and canned beans to add more authentic flavor.
• Add cream cheese (a whole brick, softened) to the slow cooker. It will make an incredibly creamy and flavorful sauce.
• Deeper flavors. Add ketchup, honey, BBQ sauce, or Worcestershire sauce.
• Instant pot version. Add chicken meat, chicken broth, bell peppers, and taco seasoning in the instant pot. Cook on manual (high pressure) for 12-20 minutes, release pressure, shred the chicken, and assemble the tacos.
• Add more spices and seasoning like cumin, ground coriander, garlic powder, adobo, cayenne pepper (if you love heat), garlic powder, or chili powder.

Popular Questions

Can I Put Raw Chicken In A Slow Cooker?

Absolutely! Raw chicken can be safely cooked directly in the slow cooker. The low and slow cooking process will heat the chicken to a safe temperature and cook it through. Make sure to follow the slow cooker recipe instructions closely. Cooking time will depend on the size of the slow cooker and how much chicken you use.

Will Taco Meat Dry Out In The Crockpot?

No, taco meat typically doesn’t dry out in the crockpot if you use enough liquid and cook it in the right setting. The slow cooker is designed to retain moisture, which helps keep the meat juicy and flavorful. If you’re worried that chicken tacos will be dry, sear the chicken breasts before slow-cooking them.

Do You Put Taco Seasoning On Chicken Before Or After Cooking?

For the best flavor, you should put taco seasoning on the chicken before cooking. Simply sprinkle the seasoning over the chicken before starting the slow cooker. During these long hours, the chicken meat will soak all the flavors!

Is It Ok To Cook Chicken On Low In A Slow Cooker?

Yes, cooking chicken on low in a slow cooker is perfectly fine and often preferred for achieving tender, juicy meat texture. Cooking on low heat also helps you keep the chicken from becoming tough or rubbery. Just be sure to check the internal temperature of the chicken.

If you love this easy slow cooker taco recipe, you’re going to love these other recipes to pair it with too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!

More Awesome Taco Night Recipes

Mexican Meatballs

Instant Pot Barbacoa Tacos

Easiest Instant Pot Carnitas

Walking Taco Casserole

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