My family has 2 meals almost every single week – some sort of taco and spaghetti. (I prefer my one pot spaghetti!) Our tacos vary between chicken and beef and sometimes we switch it up and have fajitas. But tacos are a must every week in our house. That’s why I love adding these slow cooker tacos to our menu! They are simple to make and everyone loves them.

You and your family will loves these ground beef tacos because:

• Prep takes a few minutes.
• Full of Mexican inspired flavors.
• Your slow cooker does most of the work!
• Come home to tacos on busy nights.

What are slow cooker ground beef tacos?

The name really gives it away – LOL! These tacos are made with ground beef and taco seasoning and slow cooked in your Crock Pot. They require very little prep and can be used in meal planning and prep. The best part of these tacos is that you can easily customize then to however your family likes! My family loves avocado in their tacos so we add extra when making them. Not an avocado fan? Feel free to omit them from your toppings!

Slow cooker ground beef taco ingredients

There are two parts to these ground beef tacos – the taco meat and the assembly. For the taco meat portion you will need:

• ground beef
• taco seasoning

Ground beef – You can use your favorite ground beef here. I do suggest using at least 80/20 fat content so that you have some juice while it’s cooking.

Taco seasoning – Feel free to use your favorite taco seasoning here. Stock bought or homemade will work. I love using my homemade taco seasoning for our tacos!

Taco topping suggestions:

• jalapenos
• avocado
• onions
• tomatoes
• lettuce
• cheese
• sour cream

How to make ground beef tacos in the slow cooker

The best thing about these tacos is how easy they are to make! No standing over the store and browning ground beef – not here! Simply add your ingredients (all 2 of them!) to your slow cooker.

Step 1: Add your ground beef. Add your ground beef to your Crock Pot and break it apart into pieces with a fork or spatula.

Step 2: Add spices. Add your taco seasoning to your ground beef. Stir to combine.

Step 3: Cook. Cook on high for 2 hours or low for 4+ hours.

Step 4: Serve. Scoop the taco meat into your favorite tortillas and add your toppings.

FAQs about ground beef tacos

Is it safe to put raw ground beef in a slow cooker? Yes, it is. Slow cookers gradually cook the beef and as long as the internal temperature is 160 degrees and no pink remains, it is safe to eat.

Do I need to brown the beef before adding it? No, you don’t have to brown it first. If you prefer to brown your ground beef, feel free.

What kind of tortillas do I need? Feel free to use your favorite tortillas for this recipe or even try your hand at homemade tortillas! We love corn tortillas but flour work too!

How many tacos will 3 pounds of ground beef make? This recipe makes a bunch of tacos! You can probably make 24 tacos if you fill each one with 1/4 cup of meat. The taco meat is great for meal prepping!

Do I need to add any liquid? No, no liquid is needed for these tacos. The ground beef will release some grease that can be drained later.

What toppings do I need? Whatever you like on your tacos! We love onions, avocados, tomatoes, cheese, jalapenos and sour cream! Feel free to add your favorite toppings.

Side dish recommendations

These tacos can be eaten alone or have a Tex-Mex inspired side dish added along with them! Some side dish suggestions are:

• Refried beans
• Guacamole
• Spanish rice

How to store leftovers

Place any leftover taco meat in an airtight container and keep in the fridge. The taco meat will keep for up to 5 days if stored properly. I do not suggest making the tacos and putting them in the fridge. The meat will make the tortillas soggy.

Can I freeze them? You can freeze the taco meat, but I do not recommend freezing pre-made tacos. To freeze the meat, place on a baking sheet and flash freeze for 1 hour. Transfer the frozen taco meat to a Ziplock bag and remove all the air. Place in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Other tacos to try

Who doesn’t love a good taco? Some of our other taco favorites are:

• Crock Pot chicken tacos
• Easy taco casserole
• Taco boats
• Baked chicken tacos
• Buffalo chicken street tacos

Slow Cooker Ground Beef Tacos

Yield: 24 tacos

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours 35 minutes

How to make delicious ground beef tacos in the slow cooker.

Print

Ingredients

• 3 pounds ground beef, thawed
• 3/4 cup taco seasoning

Instructions

1. Place the ground beef in the bottom of the slow cooker. Use a spatula to crumble it up.
2. Add the taco seasoning and stir to combine.
3. Cook on HIGH for 2.5 hours or LOW for 4 plus hours.
4. Use a slotted spoon to drain the grease.
5. Assemble the tacos and enjoy!

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I have four kids and I work from home.  So, when Im not chasing them around or busy working, I somehow have to worry about dinner.  I love to throw everything in a crock pot and go about my day.  Plus, it is hot yall!  Like I don’t want to turn my stove on hot.  I try to find ways during the summer to not use either to save on the electric bill and save my sanity.  [Momma doesn’t like to be hot.]  My solution is to use my slow cooker more and these easy chicken tacos are my favorite. 

Im all about quick and delicious meals, so these easy crockpot tacos are my go to meal.  I call them my ‘set them and forget them‘ tacos because I toss all my ingredients in and let them simmer all day.

This recipe is from 2013 so some of the pictures are from my phone – my old Blackberry phone. Yea. The recipe is solid – some of the pictures are old. I hope you enjoy!

What Are Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos?

Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos consist of a shredded chicken mixture cooked in a Crock Pot with canned beans and corn until fork tender and juicy. 

Once the cooked chicken breasts have cooked through, they are moved, shredded, and returned to the Crock Pot mixture to be scooped into tortillas to make assembled shredded chicken tacos.

Top these delicious shredded chicken tacos with a dollop of sour cream, guacamole, or salsa!

Shredded Chicken Tacos Ingredients

• 2 chicken breast
• 2 Cans of beans of choice
• 1 Can of corn
• 1 Taco Seasoning packet or homemade

Ingredient Notes

Chicken – I like to use boneless, skinless chicken breasts for my chicken tacos. Chicken thighs also work great. You can use bone-in chicken, you just need to remove the meat from the bone before adding them to your tortillas.

Beans – Feel free to use whatever beans you’d like for your tacos. We like black beans and navy or kidney beans. Any beans work for some added flavor and protein!

Taco seasoning – You can use a packet of pre-made spices, or whip up a batch of homemade taco seasoning to have on hand!

How to Make Chicken Tacos in the Slow Cooker

Step 1: Cook the Chicken

Add the chicken to the Crock Pot with the beans and corn and cook on high or low, stirring occasionally.

Step 2: Shred the Chicken

Remove the cooked chicken from the Crock Pot and shred it with two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the Crock Pot. 

Step 3: Assemble the Chicken Tacos

Scoop the shredded chicken with the corn and bean mixture into tortillas and serve alongside your favorite Mexican side dishes!

How to make in the Instant Pot

While I love making these tacos in the slow cooker, sometimes I need them done a bit quicker. Enter my pressure cooker! Follow the directions below to make these chicken tacos in your Instant Pot:

• Add the chicken to your inner pot.
• Add the taco seasoning and corn with liquid.
• Pressure cook on high for 7 minutes.
• Allow pressure to release naturally.
• Shred the chicken and add it along with the beans back to the pot.
• Stir to warm up the beans.
• Serve and enjoy.

Side Dish Recommendations

• Easy refried beans
• Homemade guacamole
• Pico de gallo

Recipe FAQs

What Cut of Chicken Works Best for This Recipe?

Chicken breast is the most popular cut of chicken when shredding for meals such as tacos, but you can use any cut of chicken. Skinless, boneless chicken thighs are a great alternative since they are lean, tender, and easy to shred. 

Can I Use Pork Instead?

Yes! In fact, shredded pork is a great substitute. It will give you a similar result to these Crock Pot Pork Carnitas. 

How Long Do You Need To Cook Chicken In The Crock Pot for Tacos?

You have the choice of cooking the chicken on HIGH for 4-6 hours in the Crock Pot or on LOW for 8 hours. 

Can I Add Frozen Chicken In The Crock Pot?

Yes. When adding frozen chicken to the crock pot, increase the cooking time to ensure the chicken is cooked through. I would suggest adding an additional 2 hours to your cooking time.

How Do I Prevent The Chicken From Drying Out?

To keep your chicken juicy, stop cooking the chicken once the internal temperature of the meat reaches 165F. The cook times in this recipe are a good guide for ensuring that you get succulent chicken that won’t overcook. 

How Should I Store Leftovers?

Add leftover shredded chicken to an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. The leftover shredded meat can be reheated in the microwave, on the stovetop, or in the oven, with a splash of liquid (water or broth) to prevent the chicken from drying out. 

Can I Freeze Leftover Shredded Chicken?

Absolutely! Once completely cool, store leftover shredded chicken in an airtight container or Ziploc bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. 

Thaw in the fridge and reheat before assembling into fresh tacos or using in other Mexican-inspired recipes that call for shredded chicken. 

Can I Make Gluten-Free Shredded Chicken Tacos?

Yes! When assembling these tacos, make sure that you use gluten-free tortillas instead of regular flour-based tortillas. Corn tortillas are another option when catering to gluten sensitivities. 

Other Taco Recipes To Try

Love tacos? We do too! Here are some of our other taco favorites:

• Baked chicken tacos
• Chicken taco rice casserole
• Mango shrimp tacos
• Buffalo chicken street tacos

Easy CrockPot Chicken Tacos

Print

Ingredients

• 2 Frozen chicken breast
• 2 Cans of beans of choice
• 1 Can of corn
• 1 Taco Seasoning packet or homemade

Instructions

Place the chicken breasts in the crock pot.

Sprinkle the taco seasoning over the chicken.

Pour in the beans and the corn.

Set on high for 4-6 hours or low for 8 hours.

Stir occasionally.

Remove the chicken and shred it with two forks. Return to crock pot.

Scoop into tortillas and enjoy!

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If you loved this recipe, we would love for you to leave a review to help others!

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In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a huge fan of Tex-Mex food! I love a good bowl of homemade guacamole, tacos, and enchiladas. Toss in an aqua fresca and I am one happy girl! Know what I love even more than Tex-Mex? Being able to make it all in my slow cooker for an easy meal and even easier clean up! Yes, please!

What Are Chicken Fajitas?

Chicken Fajitas are a popular Tex-Mex dish consisting of juicy and tender shredded or sliced chicken with bell peppers, onions, and classic Mexican spices. 

The chicken mixture is loaded into soft flour tortillas and can be served as is or topped with sour cream, guacamole, salsa, and cheese. 

While I’ve made chicken fajitas, you also do shrimp fajitas, beef fajitas, and other fajita recipes made with different types of meat. 

Slow Cooker Chicken Fajita Ingredients

• 3 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
• 1 Yellow Onion
• 1 Red Bell Pepper
• 1 Yellow Bell Pepper
• 1 Orange Bell Pepper
• 1 Poblano Pepper
• 1 tsp Chili Powder
• 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
• 1 tsp Cumin
• 1 tsp Granulated Garlic
• 1 tsp Salt
• 2 tbsp Olive Oil (optional)
• Flour Tortillas

Ingredient Notes

Chicken – Feel free to use whatever chicken you prefer here. We like breasts, but thighs work just as well. You can also use leftover chicken, too. (I would leave that out of the slow cooker until the last hour of cooking so it doesn’t get rubbery.)

Peppers – I love adding a poblano pepper to my fajitas. It adds so much flavor. Feel free to add one (they can be found next to the bell peppers) or omit it.

Spices – The spices used are a classic Tex-Mex blend. You can use the spices listed or taco seasoning or even fajitas seasoning packets.

Olive oil – This is optional, but helps coat the chicken and veggies with the spices.

Topping ideas – These fajitas are great with just the meat and veggies, but you can also add:

• sour cream
• guacamole
• salsa
• cilantro

How to Make Chicken Fajita in the Crock Pot

Step 1: Add Ingredients to the Crock Pot

Add the chicken, bell peppers, and onions to the Crock pot and cover with spices. Stir to combine.

Step 2: Cook

Cook the chicken fajita mixture on LOW for 4-6 hours. 

Step 3: Slice/Shred the Chicken

Once cooked, remove the chicken from the Crock Pot and slice or shred it. Add it back to the Crock Pot. 

Step 4: Assemble the Tortillas

Add the chicken fajita mixture to a tortilla and serve with your favorite side dishes. 

How to make in the Instant Pot

Want to make these fajitas even faster? Use your pressure cooker!

• Place the chicken and sliced vegetables in the inner pot.
• Add the spices to top and stir to combine.
• Add a cup of water or chicken broth to the pot.
• Pressure cook on high for 12 minutes.
• Naturally release the pressure.
• Remove the chicken and shred.
• Add the veggies and chicken to a bowl.
• Serve into tortillas.

Side Dish Recommendations

• Easy refried beans
• Homemade Guacamole
• Homemade Peach Salsa

Recipe FAQs

Can I Put Raw Chicken in the Crock Pot?

Absolutely! It’s completely safe to do so, even when adding other ingredients to the mixture. The Crock Pot will tenderize the meat and soften the vegetables in the natural juices of the chicken, mixed with the seasoning.

Should I Cut Chicken Fajita Before Cooking?

Cutting the chicken before cooking is recommended when using the stovetop or the oven to make chicken fajitas. You won’t need to cut the chicken when cooking this dish in the Crock Pot as the chicken is removed and sliced (or shredded) after cooking and then returned to the Crock Pot mixture for assembling the tortillas.  

Do I Need to Brown the Chicken Before Adding It?

No, you don’t. Browning is a process used to lock in the chicken’s juices, which gives a dish added flavor.

While this additional step has not been taken in this recipe, if you have extra time to first sear the chicken breasts before continuing with the cooking, even better! 

How Should I Store Crock Pot Chicken Fajitas?

Store any leftover chicken fajita mixture in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. I don’t recommend storing assembled tortillas in the fridge, as the chicken mixture will make the tortillas soggy. 

Can I Freeze Crock Pot Chicken Fajitas?

Yes! This chicken fajita mixture will store well for 2 months in the freezer in an airtight container or Ziploc bag. Thaw in the fridge overnight and use in freshly assembled tortillas or in other chicken fajita-inspired recipes. 

Crock Pot Chicken Fajitas

Yield: 4-6 tacos

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 6 hours

Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes

How to make tender chicken fajitas in your slow cooker.

Print

Ingredients

• 3 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
• 1 Yellow Onion
• 1 Red Bell Pepper
• 1 Yellow Bell Pepper
• 1 Orange Bell Pepper
• 1 Poblano Pepper
• 1 tsp Chili Powder
• 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
• 1 tsp Cumin
• 1 tsp Granulated Garlic
• 1 tsp Salt
• 2 tbsp Olive Oil (optional)
• Flour Tortillas

Instructions

1. Wash and cut the vegetables into strips. Place them in the bottom of the slow cooker.
2. Add the chicken on top of the vegetables.
3. Add olive oil and then the spices on top of the veggies and meat. Stir to combine.
4. Cook on low for 4-6 hours.
5. Remove the chicken and allow to rest for 10 minutes.
6. Slice, shred or cut the chicken into pieces.
7. Assemble the tacos with meat, veggies and toppings of your choice.
8. Enjoy!

Notes

Make in the Instant Pot -

• Place the chicken and sliced vegetables in the inner pot.
• Add the spices to top and stir to combine.
• Add a cup of water or chicken broth to the pot.
• Pressure cook on high for 12 minutes.
• Naturally release the pressure.
• Remove the chicken and shred.
• Add the veggies and chicken to a bowl.
• Serve into tortillas.

Did you make this recipe?

If you loved this recipe, we would love for you to leave a review to help others!

Other Chicken Recipes to Try

• Crockpot Mexican shredded chicken
• Creamy White Chicken Chili
• Chicken Carnitas Bowl
• Crock Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

Did you make this recipe? I’d love for you to leave a review in the recipe card above or the comments below. Want to make it later? Pin the image below to your favorite board.

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