Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Tacos (Printable)
Tender Mexican-spiced chicken slow-cooked to perfection, ideal for filling crispy or soft shells with your favorite fresh toppings.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
→ Seasonings & Sauces
02 - 1 packet (1 oz) taco seasoning
03 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
04 - ½ tsp salt
05 - ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
06 - 1 cup salsa (mild or spicy as desired)
07 - ¼ cup chicken broth or water
08 - Juice of 1 lime
→ To Serve
09 - 12 corn or flour taco shells
10 - 1 cup shredded lettuce
11 - 1 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
12 - ½ cup sour cream
13 - 1 cup diced tomatoes
14 - ½ cup diced red onion
15 - 1 avocado, sliced
16 - ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
17 - Lime wedges
# Steps:
01 - Place chicken breasts or thighs in the bottom of the slow cooker.
02 - Sprinkle taco seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper evenly over the chicken.
03 - Pour salsa and chicken broth (or water) over the top. Squeeze in juice of one lime.
04 - Cover and cook on high for 4 hours, or on low for 7 hours, until chicken is tender and easily shreds.
05 - Remove chicken from slow cooker and shred thoroughly using two forks.
06 - Return shredded chicken to slow cooker and stir well to coat in sauce.
07 - Warm taco shells according to package instructions.
08 - Fill each shell with shredded chicken, then add lettuce, cheese, sour cream, tomatoes, red onion, avocado, cilantro, and squeeze of lime as desired. Serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The chicken practically shreds itself, making you look like you put in way more effort than you actually did
- Leftovers taste even better the next day, so you are basically meal prep genius material
02 -
- Cheating the cook time by even an hour leaves you with chewy chicken instead of that pull apart texture
- Letting the shredded chicken sit in the juices for even ten minutes before serving makes a massive difference
03 -
- Thighs stay juicier than breasts if you plan to keep this warming for a party
- A splash of apple cider vinegar in the cooking liquid adds subtle brightness people cannot quite identify