Slow Cooker Zesty Chicken Tacos
These zesty Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos are slow simmered in a mixture of spices and salsa verde! An easy, healthy dinner your entire family will love!
I only have a handful of slow cooker recipes that aren’t soup on this website, which is crazy because I use my slow cooker all of the time! Really, probably once a week at least. I think my hesitation is that things cooked in a slow cooker are generally not pretty.
If it isn’t pretty, it isn’t going to photograph well, and if it doesn’t photograph … well, you will never want to make the recipe no matter how good I say it is because it doesn’t look good. But these Crockpot shredded chicken tacos are the exception. Not only do they look scrumptious, they are also a cinch to make and super healthy!
Ingredients for Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
These delicious slow cooker pulled chicken tacos only require four real ingredients, plus two spices. The ingredients you will need are:
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 packet dry Ranch dressing seasoning
- Salsa verde
- Lime juice
- Cumin
- Garlic powder
How to Make Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
We served this chicken in crunchy taco shells and garnished with a little cheese, lettuce, tomato and a bit of extra lime juice. But this also makes a great filling for enchiladas, quesadillas or anything else!
- To make the chicken tacos lightly spray a small slow cooker with cooking spray.
- Add the chicken, top with the ranch seasoning, salsa verde, lime juice, cumin and garlic powder.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours
After the chicken has simmered in salsa and lime juice all day, just drain all of the liquid and shred the chicken; it will practically fall apart it is so tender.
What to Serve with Pulled Chicken Tacos
Tacos are kind of a meal in itself, aren’t they? You can serve these tacos with chips, salsa and queso, but I have some other great ideas if you’d like to shake things up.
Can I Substitute the Ranch Dressing?
If you live in a country where dry ranch dressing packets aren’t available, I’m not sure if there’s anything you can substitute for it. You can also try using Homemade Taco Seasoning instead, noting that these Crockpot shredded chicken tacos won’t be zesty (but they’ll still be flavorful!).
Tips for the BEST Chicken Tacos
- One thing about these slow cooker pulled chicken tacos is that they are excellent with other proteins as well. If you have a roast or pork loin on hand, you can sub that for the chicken breast and have beef or pork tacos as well.
- I’ve only made these slow cooker chicken tacos with chicken breasts, but I imagine boneless skinless thighs would also work.
- This recipe is great for meal prepping! It can stay in the fridge all week or can be frozen for up to 3 months.
More Easy Slow Cooker Dinners:
- Slow Cooker White Bean Chicken Chili Verde
- Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup
- Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken
- Slow Cooker Keto White Chicken Chili
- Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Zesty Chicken Tacos
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast
- 1 packet dry Ranch dressing seasoning
- 1/2 cup salsa verde
- 1/2 lime, juiced
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Equipment
Instructions
- Spray the inside of a 2-quart small slow cooker with cooking spray, set to low.
- Place chicken breast in slow cooker add the remaining ingredients.
- Cook on low for 8 hours.
- Drain off all liquid, shred chicken and place in taco shells or on tortilla chips.
- Garnish with your favorite fixings.
Notes
I love how a slow cooker can make dinner so easy. It’s the next best thing to having a fairy or a maid come in and whip up dinner while you are out. It’s wonderful to walk in the door after a long day and smell dinner is ready 😀 These tacos look fantastic! Can’t wait to try with some salsa verde.
Oh me too! And on top of the fact it does all the work for you, there is really no major clean up, which makes it kind of like a miracle! haha!
Note to self: must simmer chicken in salsa and lime all day soon!!! Yum, beautiful, delicious, fabulous, drool worthy!
Thanks Kathy! I think it is drool worthy too! 😉
This truly sounds just up my alley. I love that there are hardly any ingredients involved but the meal still sounds super tasty. Love your recipe index, by the way. I will have to ask you how you did that some day. I did some research ages ago and unlike you my technology challenged self couldn’t figure it out. Oh, well. 😉
I am so so so bad with computers, it is embarrassing! But I came across the plug in link that is at the bottom of my recipe index and it has really good instructions that were easy to follow! It self updates which is a huge plus in my book because sometimes I would forget to go add a recipe to the index page!
You had me at zesty! I am a huge Mexican fan and tacos like this make my world go round. Ugg, I feel you – I make food that is delicious, but not at all photogenic. Truly a food blogger problem!
I feel you! We have “Taco Tuesdays” in this house, it is my favorite day of the week!
Just look at how moist and tender that chicken is! I really should do more slow cooker meals. I rarely do. I’m not good at planning ahead like that. I can definitely see myself adding this recipe into the rotation!
Oh you will be hooked on your slow cooker after you try these!
These tacos look amazing! I’ve always wanted to make them in the slow cooker (I use mine all the time too) but just haven’t gotten around to it. I love how easy your recipe is, too. I’m definitely trying this out soon! And I also love your new recipe index! I may just have to use that plugin to spruce up my page, too! 🙂
I love how easy this one is! My husband eats them as nachos but I like the tacos…both are great!
Simple, fuss-free dinners are always the best! I generally put my slow cooker away during the warmer months, but I really should bring it back out! I like the idea of having dinner waiting for me after work. Yum! Also, nothing beats a delicious soft taco loaded with guac!
I could eat a ton of these, plus using the crock pot is another plus! Lovely site you have here.
Thank you Suzanne! I totally agree, anything I can throw in the crock pot is a winner in my book!
I looooove making the meat for tacos in the crockpot! It practically guarantees an amazing taco. 😉 Seriously digging how few ingredients these tacos call for!!
Who doesn’t love tacos?! These look so delish Annie!
This slow cooker chicken recipe looks so simple and so good. Love those red boards you used for the photos!
It is true that slow cooker recipes sometimes aren’t the best to look at, but they are always SO delicious and SUPER easy! I say you post ’em anyways, because most of the times the unattractive dishes are the tastiest!! Love these tacos, chicka!! Zest chicken stuffed in a taco sounds amazing! I’ll take 2 for each hand please! Cheers!
My friend has been telling me she makes chicken tacos like this and I’ve never done it yet! This recipe looks just perfect for my busy weeks — slow cooker recipes are the best and my family loves tacos!
I love fast and delicious meals! Thanks for the recipe!
Thanks Agness!!! We love this one too!