Unbelievably Easy Crockpot Chicken Tacos

Looking for a filling, healthy dinner that practically makes itself? Look no further than these crockpot chicken tacos! With just a few simple ingredients, this recipe checks all the boxes for a great meal – it’s affordable, delicious, easy, and, most importantly…my kids LOVE it.

In fact, it’s fair to say that my family is obsessed with Mexican food. I have two somewhat picky eaters, but they will ALWAYS eat tacos. And who can blame them? Tacos are so good!

Plus, they’re usually simple to make, so that’s even better. That’s particularly true in this recipe – it’s as easy as tossing in your ingredients and hitting a few buttons!

This is seriously one of the best meals EVER. And it’s so unbelievably easy to prepare that you’ll find yourself saying, “No, it can’t be THAT easy.” (which is exactly what I did when a friend first gave me the recipe 10 years ago).

Why You’ll Love These Crockpot Chicken Tacos

• Truly hands-off. About 10 minutes of prep, then the slow cooker does the work while you get on with your day.
• Just a handful of ingredients. If you can open a jar of salsa, you can make this.
• Creamy, never dry. The cream cheese melts into the salsa to make a rich, taco-seasoned sauce that keeps the chicken juicy.
• Picky-eater approved. Let the kids build their own tacos. In my house, that’s half the battle won.
• Budget-friendly. Chicken breast goes a long way, especially when it’s on sale.
• Perfect for sharing. It’s my go-to for new-baby meals, hard-week meals, and feeding a crowd.
• Freezer-friendly leftovers. Make it once, eat it twice.
• Naturally gluten-free filling. Just serve it on gluten-free wraps or taco shells.

Looking for another easy and delicious way to serve chicken for dinner? You’ve got to try this easy Hawaiian chicken recipe!

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make these tasty tacos:

• Chicken breast – stock up when it’s on sale! Boneless, skinless thighs also work and stay extra juicy.
• Chunky salsa – a thick, chunky salsa gives the best sauce. Pick the heat level your family likes.
• Homemade taco seasoning (or storebought taco seasoning works too!)
• Softened cream cheese
• Tortilla wraps (or whatever else you want to serve this shredded chicken in/on)
• Your choice of toppings – lettuce, tomato, avocado, onion, sour cream, cheese, etc.

How to Make Crockpot Chicken Tacos

Let me show you just how simple it is to make these tacos. You’ll need about 10 minutes of hands-on time in total!

First, place the chicken breasts in the slow cooker and season with half the taco seasoning. Turn them over and season with the remaining taco seasoning.

Then, add the salsa on top and cook on high for 4 hours. Alternatively, you could cook on low for 6-8 hours. Chicken is done when it reaches 165°F in the thickest part and shreds easily.

Next, remove the chicken from the slow cooker and set aside. Add the cream cheese to the sauce in the slow cooker and cover.

Shred the chicken with a fork (or simply toss in your stand mixer for even quicker shredding).

Back to the slow cooker – stir in the cream cheese until well incorporated.

Then, add the chicken back in and cook for another 20-30 minutes. Then, it’s ready to eat!

Storage

Let the chicken cool, then store the filling separately from the tortillas so they don’t get soggy.

Fridge: Keep it in an airtight container for 3-4 days.

Freezer: Cool completely, then freeze in freezer-safe containers or bags for up to 3 months. Lay the bags flat to freeze so they stack easily and thaw faster.

To reheat: Thaw overnight in the fridge. Reheat on the stovetop over medium-low, stirring often and adding a splash of water or broth if the sauce has thickened. Or microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring in between, until hot all the way through (165°F).

Tips + Tricks for the Best Crockpot Chicken Tacos

• Don’t skip the soft cream cheese. Cold cream cheese stays lumpy. Pull it out when you start the chicken and it will melt right into the sauce.
• Shred the chicken in a stand mixer. Drop the cooked breasts into the bowl and run it on low for about 30 seconds. It’s the fastest way to get evenly shredded chicken, and it saves your wrists.
• Don’t overcook the chicken. Breasts go from tender to dry quickly. Check them at the early end of the cook time, especially if your slow cooker runs hot.
• Stretch the meal. Use a little less filling and more toppings per taco. The kids won’t notice, and you’ll probably have leftovers.
• Toast the tortillas. Warm them in a dry skillet for 20-30 seconds per side. It makes a big difference in flavor and keeps them from tearing.

How to Serve Shredded Chicken Tacos

There are so many ways to serve this delicious dinner! Our go-to is on soft tortillas with some of our favorite taco toppings (see below for some ideas!).

If you are gluten-free, you can easily serve this on gluten-free tortilla wraps or hard taco shells. (Though tortilla wraps are our favorite way.)

A few other options include:

• Serve over a bed of greens to make a delicious salad
• Scoop over a bed of rice
• Put it over nachos for a nice punch of protein
• Serve with crackers or toast for an open-face sandwich
• Scramble with eggs for a fun brunch idea
• Sprinkle it over a pizza with chopped tomatoes and a Mexican blend cheese
• Eat it right out of the bowl – no judgment here!

The Best Toppings for Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

Part of the fun of taco night is getting to personalize your tacos with toppings! This is especially true for kids—it’s nice to let them choose their own. Some of our favorite options include:

• Lettuce
• Diced tomatoes
• Sliced avocado
• Cilantro
• Beans
• Chopped onion
• Sour cream
• Cheese
• Taco sauce – this is one of my favorite recipes and is SO easy to make!
• Salsa

And that’s all there is to it! These crockpot chicken tacos have been on my dinner rotation for over a decade, and they still get requested all the time. Make a double batch and stash some in the freezer for a night when you really need dinner to take care of itself.

If you’re building a taco night, don’t forget my homemade taco seasoning and homemade taco sauce. For more easy dinner ideas, check out my favorite easy chicken dinners. If you make these, I’d love to hear how they turned out in the comments below!

More Slow Cooker Dinners

• Slow Cooker Paleo Beef Stew
• Easy Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
• Beanless Turkey and Sweet Potato Chili
• Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

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