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Shredded chicken that’s been cooked low and slow in the crock pot, flavored with taco seasoning and salsa is great for tacos, nachos, burrito bowls and salads. This easy to make, versatile recipe will quickly become your go-to when it’s time to serve up your favorite Mexican dishes!
I am always on the lookout for recipes that save me time in the kitchen. I also want my food to be full of great flavor. Well, it looks like I hit the mother load when I discovered this Slow Cooker Shredded Mexican Chicken. It’s tender, juicy and has all the warm spices that I’ve grown to love in traditional Mexican food. It only takes three ingredients to make this dish and it’s cooked in the crock pot! One of the best things is, it’s one of those “best ever” recipes that can be used in so many other wonderful dishes. At this point, I’ve served it up three different ways and my list of ideas just keeps growing!
I first made this dish a couple of weeks ago. I’d gotten a call from my high school son asking if I minded if a few of his friends could come to dinner. Now, I do have to brag a bit because he did make his request in the morning which gave me plenty of time to whip something up. Of course, I said “sure, come on” and then started getting a game plan together. Luckily, I had all the ingredients on hand to make Shredded Mexican Chicken. I dumped the three ingredients into the slow cooker, set the cook timer then moved on. After a few hours, the chicken was done. I must say, I was tickled pink at how incredible it tasted since I’d used just three ingredients and was eager to serve it up to my dinner guests.
When it came time to eat, I set up a taco bar so the kids could load their tortillas with all their favorite toppings. I served it with my homemade Five Minute Salsa, Layered Mexican Dip with fresh Pico De Gallo and Fruit Salad. By far, the star of the meal was the chicken and everyone raved about how good it was. This is now, my new, most favorite, crock pot recipe especially since it’s received the seal of approval from 6 hungry teenagers!
A few recipe notes:
- Use in tacos, nachos, burrito bowls, taco salads and casseroles.
- The chicken can be made ahead and frozen for use at a later time.
- Use whatever heat level of salsa you like. Change things up with fire roast tomatoes or Chipolte flavored for extra spice.
- I shredded the chicken right in the slow cooker using two forks. No need to dirty an extra bowl or plate!
More Crock Pot Recipes You’ll Love…
- Crock Pot Chicken Parmesan
- Crock Pot Country Style Pork Ribs
- Crock Pot Chicken Thighs
- Busy Day Slow Cooker Pot Roast
- 5-Ingredient Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 cups jarred Salsa
- 1 package taco seasoning
Instructions
- Place chicken breasts in slow cooker. Pour salsa over chicken and sprinkle on taco seasoning. Cover with lid and set crock pot to low and cook for 5 hours. ***I recommend cooking on low so that the chicken does not get dried out.
- When chicken is done, remove some of the juices using a ladle and reserve. Shred chicken using two forks. Mix with remaining juice. Add in reserved juice if desired.
Nutrition
Want To Know More About Slow Cooking?
If you are new to cooking with a Crock Pot or just don’t know where to start, I’ve got something to help. I’ve put together a helpful guide with tips and recipes to get you using a slow cooker like a pro!
Making this recipe? Then make sure to follow us on Instagram @asouthernsoul and tag us with #asouthernsoul, so we can see what’s cooking in your kitchen!
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Can these be made with Tomatillo (Green) salsa?
Sure
i will make them today, will let you know how it goes
Hey there!
I am so happy to hear that you’re giving this recipe a try, this chicken is crazy delicious and super versatile, you can use it for so many different meals. If you like this dish, you should check out my Slow Cooked Shredded Beef, it’s just as easy to make and is a terrific addition to any Taco Tuesday. Thank you so much for your support, I hope you enjoyed the recipe!
~Donya
So delicious and easy to make!
Hey there Paige!
Thank you so much for your interest in this recipe, and for your phenomenal rating! I think this might be my favorite Crock Pot recipe EVER, I’m thrilled you enjoyed this recipe too. Thank you for your support, if you ever have any questions feel free to reach out!
~Donya
This looks delicious. Will definitely try this in the future.. just a couple of questions…Was just wondering if you could use boneless skinless chicken thighs instead of chicken breast in this recipe? Also if you use chicken breast could you use frozen ?
Thanks
Connie
Hey Connie.
Yep you can use thighs instead of breasts. The recipe will be great! I’ve not used frozen before so I don’t have a read on that.
Let me know how you like the recipe.
Have a great day!
~Donya
Good to know. I wanted to use Thighs!
Hey there!
Yes, the thighs should work perfectly! Let me know what you think if you end up trying the recipe. Thank you for your support!
~Donya