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Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken Tacos is an easy crockpot chicken tacos recipe that will keep the heat out of your kitchen during the hot summer days! Chicken breasts slow cook in salsa verde, green peppers and diced chilies, creating a tender, flavorful taco filling. Salsa Verde Chicken also works great in quesadillas, over nachos or as an enchilada filling.
I hear a lot of people say that they don’t use their slow cooker in the summer and don’t get why you would. I think a lot of people associate a slow cooker with fall and winter and comfort food like cozy soups and stews. I was right there with those people until last summer. I am convinced that summer and a slow cooker can be friends too.
For example, my Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken Tacos recipe. Light, simple to make, versatile, and makes enough to freeze some for later. As a Mom of two boys under the age of 3, life was crazy last summer. Between finding the energy to keep up with my kids and spending our days outside {Midwesterners understand the desire to be outside all of the time in the summer} I needed quick and easy dinner ideas during the week. Slow cooker to the rescue. Yes, that little magical thing that does the work for you while you enjoy the pool, or lake, or a cold beverage in your backyard. If you like crockpot chicken recipes try this Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken or this Slow Cooker Chicken Curry.
Recipe Ingredients
This recipe uses simple ingredients. For exact ingredient amounts and instructions, see the full recipe card below.
- Chicken: this recipe uses boneless, skinless chicken breasts. You also could swap and use chicken tenderloins or chicken thighs.
- Salsa: salsa verde adds so much flavor to this shredded chicken. You can also use other sauce options like homemade salsa verde or this Avocado Tomatillo Salsa. You could go for a red sauce and use pico de gallo or a restaurant style salsa.
- Vegetables: the vegetables in this recipe are green pepper, diced green chiles and jalapeños. You also could add sweet onion or red onion and diced tomatoes.
How to Make these Crockpot Salsa Verde Chicken Recipe
Step 1: Add Ingredients to Crockpot: Pour half of the jar of salsa on the bottom of the slow cooker {approximately 1 cup} and spread evenly. Place the chicken breasts on top of the salsa. Cover the chicken with the remaining ingredients, spreading the salsa, green peppers, jalapeños and green chilies over the chicken breasts to make sure they are covered.
Step 2: Slow Cook: Cook on low for 5-6 hours or high for 3-4 hours. With 30 minutes left remove the chicken breasts from the slow cooker and shred with two forks. Return the chicken to the slow cooker and stir to make sure the chicken gets covered with the juices again. Finish cooking.
Step 3: Assemble Tacos: Serve on tacos with fresh cilantro, extra salsa, cheese and tomatoes. You can also use this chicken for salads, sandwiches, burrito bowls, quesadillas and more.
Ways to Use this Shredded Chicken
- Add this chicken to these Easy Chicken Enchiladas, Chicken Enchilada Sliders or in this One Pot Chicken Enchilada Pasta.
- Rice bowls are a great way to use up this shredded chicken. Pair with these lime wedges andPickled Red Onions.
- Salads are another great way to use shredded salsa verde chicken. Try adding it to this Kale Salad, a taco salad or this Lemon Arugula Salad.
- Serve over lettuce or in lettuce wraps with this Cowboy Caviar, cilantro lime rice and sour cream.
- Serve with chips or over nachos.
Storage Tips
- Store leftovers in an air tight container for up to 4 days. To reheat you can heat in a skillet on the stove or microwave it.
- You can also store this leftover chicken in the freezer for up to 3 months in an airtight container.
More Chicken Recipes
Chicken
Chicken Shawarma Recipe
Simple Dinner Recipes
Spicy Thai Basil Chicken Stir-Fry
Chicken
Mediterranean Chicken
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Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken Tacos
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breasts, boneless, skinless
- 1 – 16 ounces jar of salsa verde {about 2 cups}
- 1 green pepper, chopped
- 1 – 4 ounces can of diced chilies
- 1 jalapeño, seeds removed, chopped {optional for spice}
- Tortillas or hard shell tacos for the tacos
- Garnish ideas: fresh cilantro, cheese, tomatoes, extra salsa
Instructions
- Pour half of the jar of salsa on the bottom of the slow cooker {approximately 1 cup} and spread evenly. Place the chicken breasts on top of the salsa. Cover the chicken with the remaining ingredients, spreading the salsa, green peppers, jalapeños and green chilies over the chicken breasts to make sure they are covered.
- Cook on low for 5-6 hours or high for 3-4 hours. With 30 minutes left remove the chicken breasts from the slow cooker and shred with two forks. Return the chicken to the slow cooker and stir to make sure the chicken gets covered with the juices again. Finish cooking.
- Serve on tacos with fresh cilantro, extra salsa, cheese and tomatoes. You can also use this chicken for salads, sandwiches, burrito bowls, quesadillas and more.
Notes
- I like my chicken to have those extra juices to use as a salsa to top my tacos but if you prefer it to be a bit drier I suggest adding 3/4 of the jar of salsa instead of the whole jar.
- When I make this I freeze half in a ziplock bag laying flat. You can then use it later by defrosting it in the refrigerator overnight and then heating it up when ready to eat it.
- You can use this chicken mixture in quesadillas, nachos, burrito bowls, as an enchilada filling, salads, sandwiches.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I made the slow cooker salsa verde chicken tacos for our Christmas Eve lunch. Served them on hard shell tostadas with a little crumbled Mexican cheese on top. They were delicious, and super easy to put together.
I am so glad that you liked them. Thanks for sharing!
I love tacos, and salsa verde, but why haven’t I thought about salsa verde tacos? I will be making these very soon!! In fact, I probably have all the ingredients 🙂
Oh they are the best!! You have to try them. 🙂
These tacos look lovely Julia! And it’s nice to find new ways to make use of the slow cooker.
Thanks! I love finding ways to use the slow cooker too. It really is such a life saver sometimes.
Double YUM!! Give me all the tacos! Salsa verde is my fave, Can’t wait to break out the slow cooker for this!!
Yes! Tacos are the best.
Love salsa verde and always looking for a great excuse to break out the slow cooker! This looks terrific!
Thanks Debra! I am always looking for an excuse too. 🙂 I would say busy summers are a good one, right?!
These look full of flavor and totally delish! Love salsa verde 🙂
Thanks! I love it too- so much flavor.
Great idea. I even set my crock-pot outside on my covered porch to cook in the summer…no heat in the kitchen but some in my mouth? Perfect.
What a great idea!! I wish I had a covered porch. I bet you love it during the warmer months!