Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos (Printable)

Tender spice-infused chicken shreds effortlessly for easy taco assembly with fresh toppings

# What You’ll Need:

→ Poultry

01 - 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes with juices
05 - 1-2 jalapeños, seeded and minced (optional)

→ Spices & Seasonings

06 - 1 tbsp chili powder
07 - 1 tsp ground cumin
08 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
09 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
10 - 1/2 tsp salt
11 - 1/2 tsp black pepper

→ Liquids

12 - 1/2 cup chicken broth
13 - Juice of 1 lime

→ To Serve

14 - 12 small corn or flour tortillas
15 - Optional toppings: shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, diced red onion, avocado, shredded cheese, sour cream, fresh cilantro, lime wedges

# How-to Steps:

01 - Place chicken breasts or thighs in the bottom of the slow cooker.
02 - Add diced onion, minced garlic, and jalapeños if using. Pour diced tomatoes with juices over the chicken.
03 - Sprinkle chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper evenly over all ingredients.
04 - Pour chicken broth into the slow cooker.
05 - Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 3 hours, until chicken is very tender and easily shreds with a fork.
06 - Remove chicken from slow cooker and shred using two forks. Return shredded chicken to the sauce.
07 - Stir in fresh lime juice and combine thoroughly.
08 - Heat tortillas according to package instructions.
09 - Spoon shredded chicken onto warm tortillas, add desired toppings, and serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Set it and forget it cooking that delivers restaurant quality flavor with zero effort
  • The chicken shreds like a dream and creates its own silky sauce while cooking
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day, if they last that long
02 -
  • Don't open the slow cooker during cooking time, every time you lift the lid you add 15 to 20 minutes to the cooking process
  • The liquid might look thin at first but will thicken beautifully once you shred the chicken and stir everything together
  • Letting the chicken rest in the sauce for 10 minutes before serving helps it absorb even more flavor
03 -
  • Pat the chicken dry before adding it to the slow cooker for better browning and spice adherence
  • If the sauce is too thick after cooking, add a splash more chicken broth to reach your desired consistency
  • Corn tortillas taste best when lightly charred, flour tortillas when steamed soft

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