These spicy chicken tacos are an easy crockpot dish that only takes a few ingredients and makes a delicious Taco Tuesday dinner recipe or anytime a craving for chicken tacos happens. Tender, flavorful chicken breasts, slow-cooked with onions, diced jalapeños, diced green chilies, and more. So good and so easy!
If you love tacos, then you’re going to be excited about this recipe. Tacos, burritos, taquitos, and other Mexican foods are tied for first place with BBQ when it comes to the favorite foods of Texans. Down here, almost all of our food is influenced in some way by those tasty flavors that come from south of the border. I mean, we were doing Taco Tuesday (and Monday and Wednesday and Thursday, etc.) before it was cool!
These spicy chicken tacos are a great recipe to make for weeknights because you can get them going in the morning, and they’ll be ready by dinner time. They’re so full of flavor and make the day so much easier. I’ve been making tacos for as long as I’ve been cooking, and I can say that these are the easiest I’ve ever made. They’re also some of the most flavorful. With a combination like that, Taco Tuesdays, parties, and other events just got better!
Spicy Chicken Tacos
This taco recipe is the best of all possible worlds. It’s easy, it’s simple, and it’s delicious. Your favorite tortilla is filled with shredded chicken that’s been perfectly seasoned with a mix of delicious seasonings and cooked with tasty Tex-Mex flavors. Then we top it all with taco favorites like lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese. You’ll even find beans on these tacos! They make a great dinner for a busy weekday or a fantastic addition to any party.
Why You’ll Love This Spicy Chicken Taco Recipe
- The shredded chicken is so full of flavor and so tender.
- It’s a super easy recipe that takes almost no work.
- It only takes a few ingredients to make them.
- It’s a set it and forget it recipe that you can start in the morning and enjoy in the evening.
Spicy Chicken Taco Recipe Topping Ideas
These delicious tacos are perfect with all of your favorite taco toppings. Some great ideas include:
- Lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Cheese
- Beans
- Refried beans
- Guacamole
- Sour cream
- Taco sauce
- Salsa
- Picante sauce
Spicy Chicken Taco Recipe Tips and Variations
This recipe is so incredibly easy to make, I only have one tip to share, but it’s an important one. I have some great variations here that you can use to make these tacos your own, too!
Tips
- Shred your chicken using two forks or two shredding claws while it’s still hot. It shreds so much more easily that way.
Variations
- Omit the jalapeños and Cajun seasoning for milder tacos.
- Change the spice of the chicken to a chipotle inspired chicken recipe instead.
- You can make these tacos with beef or pork, as well.
- Use your favorite cheese with this recipe. Mexican and taco blends work very well.
- I like ranch style beans, but you can use any of your favorite bean varieties.
- Top tacos with lime juice to give it a zesty flavor.
Spicy Chicken Taco Recipe FAQ
If you have questions about this recipe, then read on. The following FAQ answers the most commonly asked questions about slow cooker chicken and tacos.
Can I put uncooked chicken in a slow cooker?
Absolutely. Slow cookers cook slowly. They’re designed to cook raw meats.
Is it better to cook chicken slow or fast?
When it comes to almost any protein, the overall rule of thumb is slower is better. This applies to slow cooking this chicken or pan-searing chicken. Even when pan-searing, you’ll reduce the heat and cook the chicken slowly after the initial sear.
Can you cook chicken on low for 8 hours?
You sure can. The longer you cook chicken in a slow cooker, the more tender it becomes.
Does cooking chicken slower make it more tender?
Yes, it does. Almost any meat will be more tender when it’s cooked slowly.
Can you make chicken tacos in advance?
Yes and no. You can make the shredded chicken in advance. I don’t recommend constructing the tacos in advance.
Who invented tacos?
We all know that tacos come from Mexico, but did you know that they’re absolutely ancient? Long before Spanish conquistadors arrived in South America, ancient Mexicans stuffed freshly made soft, flat corn tortillas with fillings like fish and cooked organs.
Why are tacos so popular?
You can thank Taco Bell for that. As far back as the 1800s and before tacos were enjoyed in what is now Texas and other areas nearby Mexico. However, it wasn’t until the 1950s when Glen Bell founded Taco Bell that their popularity skyrocketed in North America.
What to Serve with Spicy Chicken Tacos
Serve these tacos with any of your favorite Mexican dishes. They go with everything! Some great ideas include:
- Mexican beans
- Refried beans
- Mexican coleslaw
- Spanish rice
- Elote
- Mexican street corn pasta salad
- Nachos
- 7-layer dip
- Guacamole
- Taco salad
- Pico de Gallo
How to Store and Reheat Spicy Chicken Tacos
Store your taco ingredients in separate containers. The shredded chicken will be good in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The other ingredients will easily last that long.
To reheat the chicken, place it in a saucepan or skillet with a little water – not too much – and heat through over medium-low heat. Then, construct the tacos. You can also reheat chicken in the oven and bake for 10 minutes or until the chicken is fully heated through.
Spicy Chicken Taco Recipe Ingredients
It only takes a few simple ingredients to make these delicious tacos. You’ll find everything you need easily at your local grocery store.
- Chicken breasts
- Jalapeños
- Onion
- Salsa Verde
- Diced green chilies
- Garlic powder
- Black pepper
- Slap Ya Mama® Cajun seasoning
- Ranch style beans
- Colby jack cheese
- Shredded lettuce
- Diced tomatoes
- Corn tortillas
How to Make This Spicy Chicken Taco Recipe
In just a few simple steps, you’ll have delicious chicken tacos that the entire family will love.
Step 1: Make the Chicken
Line your slow cooker or spray it with nonstick cooking spray. In a small bowl, add all seasonings. Then, add diced onions, jalapeños, and chicken to the slow cooker. Sprinkle with seasonings, add the salsa Verde and diced green chilies, and stir. Cover with the lid and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 6 to 7 hours.
Step 2: Heat the Tortillas and Beans
When the chicken is done, heat the beans and cook the tortillas in a frying pan over medium-high heat until they’re soft.
Step 3: Shred the Chicken
Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred it using two forks or two shredding claws.
Step 4: Construct the Tacos
Add the shredded chicken mixture to the tortillas, then top with beans, cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes. Add your favorite toppings like sour cream, cilantro, green onions, taco sauce, and the like, and enjoy.
Try This Delicious Spicy Chicken Taco Recipe Today
This spicy chicken taco recipe is loaded with perfectly seasoned shredded chicken and all your favorite taco toppings. Made in the slow cooker, it’s a recipe that’s perfect for any time, even the busiest of weekdays. It doesn’t get much better than a super tasty, super easy recipe like this! Give it a try, and I know you’ll love these tacos as much as we do!
More Delicious Taco Recipes
Southwest Rotisserie Chicken Tacos – Delicious tacos that are loaded with shredded rotisserie chicken, black beans, the perfect blend of seasonings, and cheese.
Salsa Verde Pork Tacos – A hearty and delicious pork taco recipe that is loaded with salsa verde, avocados, cheese, tomatoes, and placed in a crispy corn tortilla.
Brisket Tacos – Leftover brisket is loaded up in flour tortillas, topped with BBQ sauce, cheese, and fried onions.
Pulled Pork Tacos – Flour tortillas filled with BBQ pulled pork, cheese, crispy fried onions, and coleslaw.
Spicy Chicken Tacos
Ingredients
- 3 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, cut into 1 ½ – 2 inch pieces
- 2 jalapeños, stem and seeds removed, diced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 7 ounce can salsa verde
- 4 ounce can diced green chilies
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon Slap Ya Mama® Cajun seasoning
- 15 ounce can ranch style beans, can use black beans or refried beans
- 1 ½ cup Colby jack cheese, shredded
- 2 cups shredded lettuce
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 12 corn tortillas
Instructions
- Line or spray the crock pot with a non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
- Add diced onions, jalapenos, and chicken into the crock pot.
- Sprinkle with seasonings, pour the salsa verde and diced green chilies into the slow cooker and stir.
- Turn it to high and cook for 4 hours or on low for 6-7 hours.
- When chicken is almost done, heat beans and cook tortillas in a frying pan over medium high heat, right before filling.
- Remove chicken and shred.
Assemble the Tacos
- Add chicken to the tortilla, followed by bean, cheese, lettuce and tomatoes.
- Optional: Top with sour cream, cilantro, green onions and/or hot sauce and enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
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