Easy Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken Tacos
A simple and flavorful slow cooker recipe for tender salsa verde chicken tacos, perfect for quick and easy weeknight dinners.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours 30 minutes
- Total Time: 6 hours 40 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 pounds (680 grams) chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 cup (240 ml) salsa verde
- 2–3 diced green chilies
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- A handful of fresh cilantro, chopped
- Juice of 1 lime
- Soft corn or flour tortillas
- Optional toppings: diced onion, sliced radishes, crumbled queso fresco, avocado slices, sour cream
Instructions
- Rinse and pat dry chicken breasts or thighs. Trim any excess fat if needed.
- In the slow cooker insert, add chicken, salsa verde, diced green chilies, minced garlic, ground cumin, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir gently to coat the chicken evenly.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until chicken is tender and shreds easily.
- Shred the chicken using two forks or a stand mixer paddle attachment directly in the slow cooker. Stir to mix chicken with the sauce.
- Stir in chopped fresh cilantro and lime juice.
- Warm corn or flour tortillas in a dry skillet for about 30 seconds per side.
- Assemble tacos by spooning shredded chicken onto tortillas and adding optional toppings.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Use chicken thighs for juicier meat. Avoid opening the slow cooker lid frequently to maintain temperature. If chicken seems dry after shredding, add a splash of chicken broth or reserved salsa verde. For a spicier version, add jalapeños or chipotle pepper in adobo sauce. Vegetarian version can use jackfruit or mushrooms with vegetable broth. Instant Pot can be used on poultry setting for 15 minutes as an alternative cooking method.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 2 tacos per se
- Calories: 320
- Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 30
Keywords: slow cooker, salsa verde, chicken tacos, easy dinner, weeknight meal, Mexican, shredded chicken, crockpot