Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Tacos (Print)

Tender, spice-infused chicken that shreds beautifully after hours in the slow cooker with salsa and lime.

# What You 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

# How to Make:

01 - Place the chicken breasts or thighs in the bottom of the slow cooker.
02 - Sprinkle the taco seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper evenly over the chicken.
03 - Pour the salsa and chicken broth (or water) over the top. Squeeze in the juice of one lime.
04 - Cover and cook on high for 4 hours, or on low for 7 hours, until the chicken is tender and easily shreds.
05 - Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred thoroughly using two forks.
06 - Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir well to coat it in the sauce.
07 - Warm the taco shells according to package instructions.
08 - Fill each shell with the shredded chicken, then add lettuce, cheese, sour cream, tomatoes, red onion, avocado, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime as desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The chicken practically shreds itself, turning effort into something that feels impressive
  • Your kitchen smells like a Mexican street food stand for hours
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day in burrito bowls
02 -
  • The shredded chicken absorbs significantly more flavor if you let it sit in those juices for 15 minutes after shredding
  • Thighs transform this recipe from good to cant-stop-eating-it with their extra fat content
  • The lime juice is not optional it cuts through the richness and wakes up all the spices
03 -
  • A pinch of cayenne pepper transforms this into something with real heat
  • Pickled jalapeños add the tangy spice that takes this over the top
  • Reserve some of the cooking liquid to drizzle over the final assembled tacos

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