Cozy Crockpot Salsa Chicken Tacos: Easy 3-Ingredient Dinner
A simple, comforting crockpot salsa chicken recipe that requires just three main ingredients and five minutes of prep. Perfect for busy weeknights, this dish delivers tender, flavorful chicken that’s ideal for tacos, bowls, or salads.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 to 8 hours (low) or 3 to 4 hours (high)
- Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes to 8 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 to 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 to 2 pounds (680 to 900 grams) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 (16-ounce) jar salsa (about 450 grams), preferably restaurant-style or fire-roasted tomato
- 1 (1-ounce) packet taco seasoning (about 28 grams), or 2 to 3 tablespoons homemade taco seasoning
- For serving (optional): corn or flour tortillas, shredded lettuce or cabbage, diced tomatoes, shredded cheese, sour cream or Greek yogurt, fresh cilantro, lime wedges, diced avocado or guacamole, hot …
- For homemade taco seasoning (optional, makes about 3 tablespoons): 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder,…
Instructions
- Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of a 4 to 6 quart crockpot in a single layer if possible.
- Sprinkle the taco seasoning evenly over the chicken and rub it in to coat each piece.
- Pour the entire jar of salsa over the seasoned chicken and gently stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours, until the chicken is fork-tender and shreds easily.
- Turn off the crockpot or switch to warm. Use two forks to shred the chicken directly in the pot, mixing it with the salsa juices.
- Let the shredded chicken rest in the salsa juices for at least 10 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld.
- While the chicken rests, warm the tortillas in a dry skillet, on a gas burner, or in the microwave.
- Assemble tacos by spooning the chicken into warm tortillas and topping with desired fixings.
Notes
For best results, let the shredded chicken rest in the salsa juices for at least 10 minutes before serving. Do not lift the lid during cooking. If chicken seems dry after shredding, add a splash of chicken broth or extra salsa. This recipe can be assembled as a freezer meal and frozen for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 ounces cooked chic
- Calories: 200250
- Sugar: 35
- Sodium: 600800
- Fat: 48
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 812
- Fiber: 12
- Protein: 3035
Keywords: crockpot salsa chicken, easy chicken tacos, 3-ingredient dinner, slow cooker chicken, weeknight dinner, comfort food