• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
All Our Way
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Life
  • Wild Game
  • Contact
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Life
  • Wild Game
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • Recipes
    • Life
    • Wild Game
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Poultry

    Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken

    Published: Dec 30, 2021 · Modified: Feb 6, 2023 by Marisa Franca · 17 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    This Crockpot pulled chicken recipe is so easy to make! All you need is chicken, taco seasoning and a jar of salsa. You can whip up the most tender and flavorful taco filling in no time at all. Slow Cooker chicken tacos are on our regular dinner menu rotation, and they’re always a hit with our family and friends. Make this pulled chicken in the slow cooker ahead and have a taco party by supplying the toppings and fillings.

    The slow cooker takes the work out of making these pulled chicken tacos. The zesty shredded chicken cooked with spicy taco seasoned salsa along with the crunchy flavorful Ranch dressing mixed salad makes taco night fun and easy.

    Stack those tortillas high with your favorite toppings, the sky is the limit.

    Two soft corn tacos made with crockpot shredded chicken and topped with seasoned salad mix.
    Making pulled chicken soft tacos is easy when we use our slow cooker.
    Jump to:
    • ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
    • 🛒 Ingredients
    • 🗒 Instructions
    • 🔪 Equipment
    • 🤔 FAQs
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Tips
    • 📚 Variations
    • 🥫 Storage
    • 📗 Related Recipes
    • 🍽 Serve with
    • 📞 Chiacchierata (chat)
    • 📝 Recipe Card
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe

    • quick and easy to make.
    • budget friendly with only 5 main ingredients.
    • you can use the filling in Mexican dishes including burritos, nachos, enchiladas and more!
    • spice up the pulled chicken to your liking.

    Chicken taco night is always one of our favorites. It's so easy to throw everything together in the slow cooker and let it do it's magic on the chicken breasts. We especially enjoy having the pulled chicken tacos on game day. We prepare our toppings ahead of time and then assemble our taco first chance we get.

    🛒 Ingredients

    Image of the ingredients for Crockpot Shredded Chicken tacos.

    Note: The full list of this slow cooker pulled chicken crockpot recipe ingredients with their amounts and options are listed in the recipe card below.

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    • Chicken breasts -- we use boneless and skinless.
    • Jarred Salsa -- we like it spicy, use your favorite.
    • Taco Seasoning -- adds that great Tex-Mex flavor.
    • Corn tortillas
    • Bagged salad or cabbage mix
    • Ranch dressing
    • Cilantro
    • Fresh lime

    🗒 Instructions

    Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the recipe card below.

    First four steps making the slow cooker shredded chicken soft tacos.
    1. Place chicken in a slow cooker, sprinkle on the taco seasoning and top with salsa. Cook on low heat for about 4-6 hours or until the chicken pulls apart easily.
    2. In a medium mixing bowl combine salad mix, ranch dressing, and reserved salsa.
    3. Once chicken is done, shred with 2 forks and stir to combine the pulled chicken with the salsa. Over the slow cooker pot or sink, drain the chicken using a strainer or colander.
    4. Heat the tortillas in a small skillet until slightly browned on both sides. Add desired amount of salad mix to a tortilla and top with chicken. Garnish with a sprinkle of cilantro and a squeeze of lime or use your favorite toppings.

    🔪 Equipment

    The following are affiliate links. We are a participant i the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

    You’ll need the following items to make the Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Taco recipe.

    • Slow Cooker medium size -- this cooks the meat easily ensuring the chicken is a snap to shred.
    • Mixing bowls -- for combining the salad ingredients.
    • Two forks -- use for shredding the cooked chicken.
    • Skillet -10 inch -- needed for heating the tortillas.
    • Strainer or Colander -- use to remove the liquid from the pulled chicken.
    Side view of the pulled chicken tacos with the slow cooker in the background.
    Pile your favorite toppings on the spicy shredded chicken tacos.

    🤔 FAQs

    These are the questions we are most frequently asked about making (recipe name)

    Can you put raw chicken in a slow cooker?

    Yes. Raw chicken cooked on a low setting, will usually cook in 4-6 hours if you haven't overfilled your slow cooker with ingredients. The more sauce in the pot and the fewer pieces of chicken, the shorter that time is needed to cook.

    How long does chicken take to cook in slow cooker?

    Depending on the size and thickness of the chicken pieces, it will take 6-8 hours on low or high for 3-4 hours.

    Is it better to cook chicken on high or low in crockpot?

    For the best results, always cook your boneless skinless chicken breasts on low. Cooking boneless chicken breast on HIGH could make them dry. I always recommend using the low setting for chicken breast.

    Can you overcook chicken in a slow cooker?

    Yes, it is possible! If the meat is cooked too long it could end up dry and not juicy and tender. It's wise to follow the recommended times in the recipe for the best results.

    👩🏻‍🍳 Tips

    • Slow cookers vary in cook time so be sure to check the chicken breast to make sure they're done. Mine was done in about 4 hours.
    • For this recipe, you can use fresh or frozen boneless ,skinless chicken breasts.
    • Use your favorite salad or cole slaw mix. If a salad dressing is included in the package, use it at a later date. This recipe is for the Salsa-Ranch dressing combination.
    • Be sure to drain the chicken after shredding and combining with the salsa. This helps prevent the tortillas from getting soggy and ripping.
    • Slightly cooking the tortillas brings out their flavor. Don't skip this step.

    📚 Variations

    You may use pulled pork or bbq pork in place of the shredded chicken.

    Make a seafood taco with shrimp, salmon, even fresh tuna.

    If you don't like corn tortillas, you may use flour tortillas instead.

    Your toppings are endless: sour cream, avocados, jalapeños, guacamole, diced peppers, diced tomatoes, etc.

    🥫 Storage

    Store leftover shredded chicken and salad mix in the refrigerator. Reheat the meat in the slow cooker of microwave.

    If you use fresh chicken, you can store it in an airtight freezer container for up to 3 months.

    📗 Related Recipes

    If you love Tex-Mex flavors, you'll really enjoy our Beef enchiladas with an amazing cheese sauce.

    And you'll find a delicious fusion of food cultures in our Chipotle Cashew Chicken with Brown Rice.

    Nutty about tacos? Then this Blackened Mahi-Mahi Tacos with Cilantro Lime Sauce will make you swoon.

    Instead of using packaged seasoning, make some Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix, it's so much better.

    Two Shredded Chicken Tacos on a cutting board with lime and cilantro on the side.
    Let your guests make their own shredded chicken taco by supplying the additional toppings.

    🍽 Serve with

    The shredded chicken tacos would be delicious served along with nachos and Creamy Guacamole Dip.Easy Creamy Guacamole Salsa Recipe. If you like a chunky salsa, then our Italian inspired avocado salsa is what you want.

    Let family and friends make their own pulled chicken taco. Supply all the toppings you think the gang will want:

    • Black beans
    • Homemade Salsa
    • Pico de Gallo
    • Sour Cream
    • Tomatillo Salsa Verde
    • Mango Salsa
    • Pineapple Salsa
    • Guacamole
    • Chipotle Sauce
    • Shredded cheese
    • Roasted corn

    The list is endless -- Sweet, spicy, savory, whatever floats their boat.

    📞 Chiacchierata (chat)

    Anytime I say that we're having Mexican for dinner I get a standing ovation. Well, I may be exaggerating a bit but it is super popular. If I really want to jazz up this recipe I'll even add some taco seasoning to it before flipping on the crockpot. Taco night is easy when the chicken is already made!

    Four pulled chicken crockpot tacos with salad mix on top and a jalapeño circle.

    What's new? Check out my All Our Way Store on Amazon. We'll be adding more items we love and use or wish we had to make cooking fun and easy.

    📝 Recipe Card

    What I love best about this crockpot pulled chicken recipe is that it’s just so easy to make! If you have chicken, and salsa, you can cook up the most tender and flavorful tortilla filling in no time at all. These crock pot chicken tacos are on my regular dinner menu rotation, and they’re always a hit.

    If you're as crazy as we are for Mexican inspired dishes, you're going to go nuts over our White Chicken Enchiladas that's super easy to make.

    If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

    📖 Recipe

    Close up of Shredded chicken in a soft corn tortilla with a salad mix and a jalapeño circle garnish.

    Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken Tacos

    These crockpot chicken tacos are loaded with spicy shredded chicken and Ranch dressed crunchy salad mix. The chicken only requires 3 ingredients and can be in the crock pot with just 5 minutes of prep time. Set out your favorite toppings and let everyone make their own personal taco.
    5 from 12 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Lunch Dish, Main Course Chicken
    Cuisine: Tex-Mex
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 6 hours
    Total Time: 6 hours 5 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 362kcal
    As An Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound Chicken breasts skinless, boneless
    • 16 ounces Salsa remove 2 Tablespoons for salad
    • 2 Tablespoons Taco Seasonings
    • 8 Corn Tortillas

    Salsa-Ranch Salad

    • 12 ounce Salad Mix may use coleslaw mix
    • 2 ounces Prepared ranch dressing
    • 2 Tablespoons Salsa your favorite jarred variety

    Equipment Needed

    • Slow cooker
    • Fine sieves - medium and small
    • Mixing bowls
    • Forks
    • Whisk
    • Skillet - small

    Instructions

    • Place chicken in slow cooker, sprinkle with the taco seasoning and top with 12 ounces salsa. Cook on low heat about 4-6 hours or until chicken pulls apart easily.
    • In a small bowl, whisk together the Ranch dressing and the reserved salsa. In a medium size bowl mix together the salad and the salad dressing. Mix well and refrigerate until ready to use.
    • Once the chicken is done, shred with 2 forks and stir to combine with the salsa.
    • Heat tortillas in a small skillet until slightly browned on both sides. Over the slow cooker or sink, drain the chicken using a strainer or colander.
    • To serve, add the desired amount of salad mix to each tortilla and top with the pulled chicken.
    • Garnish with your favorite toppings. We like to sprinkle some fresh cilantro over the chicken and add a squeeze of lime.

    Notes

    NOTE:
    • Slow cookers vary so check cook time. Mine was done in about 4 hours using frozen chicken breasts. 
    • You may use fresh or frozen chicken breast.
    • Use your favorite salad or cabbage mix or chop your own. This recipe is for a salsa-Ranch dressing. Some bagged mixes come with dressing. This recipe does not use the dressing included in the bagged mix. You can use that dressing at a later date. 
    • It's important to drain the cooked chicken. This helps prevent the tortillas from ripping. 
    • Corn tortillas are best slightly cooked, be sure not to skip this step. You can also use flour tortillas if you wish.
    • Store leftovers in the refrigerator and reheat in the slow cooker or microwave.
    • If you use fresh chicken for this recipe, you can freeze it for up to 3 months. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 362kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 77mg | Sodium: 1289mg | Potassium: 1017mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1707IU | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 100mg | Iron: 2mg

    Sign up for the emails and never miss another recipe!!

      Powered By ConvertKit
      We'll never share your email or send you spam. Promise
      Pin
      Share
      Tweet
      Share

      Related Posts

      • Slow Cooker Polenta Cake With Caramelized Pears

        We are starting spring on a sweet note with Slow Cooker Polenta Cake With Caramelized…

      • Slow Cooker Italian Pot Roast

        Crock Pot Italian Beef is a one-pot roast meal that can be enjoyed as a…

      • Chicken Spinach Tortellini Soup with a Southwestern Flair Recipe

           

      More Poultry

      • Creamy White Chicken Enchiladas
      • Chicken Francese with Toasted Almonds | Pollo Alla Francese
      • Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
      • Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup Homemade, Nutritious And Comforting

      Primary Sidebar

      I’m Marisa Franca, a home chef, food writer, and photographer who believes that you can make gourmet quality food at home with simple seasonal ingredients. I’m passionate about family, food, friends, everything Italian, and happy endings.

      More about me →

      Footer

      ↑ back to top

      About

      • Privacy Policy
      • About
      • Accessibility

      Newsletter

      • Subscribe for emails and updates

      Contact

      • Contact

      As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

      Copyright © 2023 All Our Way