Crockpot Chicken Tacos are flavored with salsa, taco seasoning, black beans, and corn, making for a delicious and effortless taco night since the slow cooker does all of the work!
I know y'all love crockpot recipes, and you've probably noticed that over the past few weeks, as winter headed towards spring, I've been slacking in the slow cooker department. The truth is, I do use my crockpot all year long, but the type of recipes that I make in it change. Instead of hearty, comforting soups and stews, the warmer weather sees me utilizing my slow cooker for sandwich toppings, taco fillings, and such. So that's what I have for you today....Crockpot Chicken Tacos!
Ingredients
Tender, juicy chicken -- cooked with black beans and corn, seasoned with taco seasoning and salsa, and then shredded -- makes the ultimate chicken taco filling!
Ways to Enjoy this Recipe
But if you're not in a Crockpot Chicken Tacos kind of mood, don't let that deter you from trying this recipe. I have determined that the chicken/black bean/corn mixture is also delicious in the following applications:
- Quesadillas
- Nachos
- Enchiladas
- Burritos
- Chalupas
- Burrito Bowls (over rice or quinoa)
Seriously, any Tex-Mex type recipe is adaptable to using this filling. And it would probably be good in even more ways than the ones I've listed.
Let me know if anyone is feeling up to trying it on a pizza... 😉
I actually hesitated to post this recipe because it's one of those that I feel is so easy and brainless that everybody must already know about it and make it regularly. But my rational side argued that there are probably many of you out there who haven't, in fact, thrown this particular combination of ingredients into the crock pot before. And if that's the case, you are truly missing out. So these easy-breezy Crockpot Chicken Tacos are for you!
Substitutions
This is one of my go-to recipes when I only have a few minutes in the morning, because it's something for which I almost always have the ingredients on hand. It's also adaptable, of course, if I happen to be out of something.
- I've made it with pinto beans instead of black.
- I've used tomato sauce with a few dashes of hot sauce in lieu of salsa.
- Canned corn works instead of frozen.
- Heck, (I haven't tried it, but) I bet you could even use pork instead of chicken for a change of pace!
Toppings
Whatever you do, be sure you have plenty of your favorite toppings on hand when you make this recipe. These Crockpot Chicken Tacos are good as-is, but they are downright spectacular when loaded up. Here are some of my favorites:
- Avocado slices.
- Sour cream.
- Salsa.
- Shredded cheese.
- Diced tomatoes.
- Fresh cilantro.
Mmm-mmmm-MMMMM!
Yield
The last thing I'd like to mention is that this recipe makes a lot. So it's great if you have a large family or if you enjoy the convenience of leftovers (which, incidentally, can be used in one of the other aforementioned options if you don't feel like tacos again). The leftovers also freeze well for a ready-to-go dinner down the road.
And this quick and easy recipe is even great for serving at a party or get-together! Set up a little taco bar with a slow cooker full of shredded chicken filling, a stack of warm flour tortillas, and bowls of every taco topping you can think of. Do I envision a March Madness-watching party in the near future???
So don't banish that slow cooker to the back of the cabinet just because spring has officially arrived...make Crockpot Chicken Tacos instead! After all, taco season is just beginning... 😉
And if you prefer to make this recipe in the Instant Pot instead of the slow cooker, you can find that version HERE >>> Instant Pot Chicken Black Bean Tacos.
To Accompany Your Tacos

Crockpot Chicken Tacos
Ingredients
- 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 3 tablespoons Homemade Taco Seasoning, OR 1 package store-bought taco seasoning
- 2 tablespoons mined fresh garlic, or the jarred, refrigerated kind
- 2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, rinsed & drained
- 2 cups frozen corn
- 2 cups salsa
OPTIONAL GARNISHES:
- sliced avocado, diced tomatoes, shredded cheese, fresh chopped cilantro, salsa, sour cream, pico de gallo, etc.
Instructions
- Place chicken breasts at the bottom of slow cooker. Sprinkle with taco seasoning and minced garlic. Place black beans and corn on top, and pour salsa evenly over everything. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 6 hours.
- About 15 minutes before serving, remove chicken breasts from the slow cooker to a cutting board. Slice into big chunks and shred with two forks. Return shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir all ingredients to combine. Taste and stir in a bit more taco seasoning, if desired. Cover and allow to reheat for a few minutes before serving. Serve on flour tortillas with plenty of your favorite toppings!
Renee
Could this be made on the stovetop? I've made this several times and it's delicious, but sometimes I don't have time for the crock pot.
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Hi Renee! I think you can definitely make this on the stovetop. 🙂 I'd probably poach/simmer the chicken in a big pot, drain the water and shred the chicken, then stir in the other ingredients and cook for a little while until heated through. Hope that helps...enjoy! 🙂
Nanci
Hi..looks yummy but would like to know how many people would this serve at say two tacos each? Also do you put the chicken breast in frozen or thawed?
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Hi Nanci! At two tacos per person, I'd say that this would probably make 4 to 6 servings (depending on how full you stuff the tacos, of course!). As far as the chicken, using frozen chicken in the slow cooker in not recommended from a food safety standpoint, since an older slow cooker may not heat up quickly enough to bring everything to a safe temperature. Hope that helps...enjoy!
martha@ simple-nourished-living
These look absolutely delicious! I've included them in a roundup of Slow Cooker Taco fillings I recently posted. Thanks for such delicious inspiration!!
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Thanks so much for including me in your round-up, Martha! And I appreciate you stopping by to let me know. 🙂 Happy weekend!
Liz
Thank you for the nice recipe, Samantha.
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Of course, Liz! It's one of our favorites...hope you love it, too. 🙂
Kristen
Making these tomorrow for Cinco De Mayo! I am going to link to them on my blog too!
Samantha at Five Heart Home
I hope these tacos were a hit, Kristen, and that you had a fun Cinco de Mayo! 🙂
Leslie
Tip: I learned from another blogger (can't remember who or I would give credit!) a while back that you can take the cooked warm chicken and put it in your kitchen aid with the paddle and it sheeds in seconds! I've don't this before and it works beautifully!
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Yes, Leslie, that's a great tip! I've tried it before as well and it does work well! Thanks for reminding me and sharing here for everyone else to see. 🙂
Audra
This is my family's kind of meal! We are huge lovers of all these wonderful Mexican flavors. Some form of Chicken and Black Beans are a weekly meal in our house! Pinning <3
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Thanks so much, Audra! We are the same way...any recipe that falls into the Mexican/Tex-Mex category is sure to be a hit at our house. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and pinning, and I hope you have a great week!
Made From Pinterest
This looks yummy and good for me. I want to make this!
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Thanks so much! You should definitely give it a try sometime! 🙂
Kelly
This looks delicious - pinning now.
Thanks for sharing,
Kelly
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Thanks, Kelly...and I appreciate the pin! Hope you have a great week!
Jill
Beautiful photos! I have a hard time assembling tacos to photograph. Found you at Kitchen Fun's roundup. I always love slow cooker recipes, especially ones that look this good!
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Thank you, Jill! I totally agree...some foods are just harder to photograph than others! It took me awhile to figure out how to arrange the tacos so that they would lay closed but still show what was inside. 😉 I really appreciate your kind comment, and I hope you have a great weekend!
shobelyn
Hi, found you at Chef In Training blog. I want to invite you to my Cunning Ladies' Friday Party. The theme is My Popular Post. Please join us.
http://easytocookmeals.com/cunning-ladies-friday-party-3-my-popular-post/
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Thanks so much for the invitation, Shobelyn!
Joanne T Ferguson
G'day! Looks very healthy indeed!
Cheers! Joanne
Viewed as part of Play.Party.Pin
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Thanks, Joanne! Healthy, easy, and tasty...my favorite kind of recipe. 🙂
Emily
This looks AMAZING! Pinned and will be making on Friday! I'd love for you to link this up at Much Ado About Monday. 🙂
~Emily
http://www.huckleberrylove.com
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Thanks so much, Emily...I hope you enjoy it! And I appreciate the link party invitation...I'll try to check it out next week. 🙂
Jocelyn@Brucrewlife
Samantha, these pics are gorgeous! And I use my crock pot year round too. Such a time saver! Love this recipe!
Dee
I love using my slow cooker for tacos, burritos etc. --makes it so easy, especially since I have a large family and, like you said, this makes a lot! Your photos are fab--I'm drooling here. You wouldn't happen to have a recipe for tortillas would you? 🙂
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Thanks so much, Dee! You know, I've made homemade tortillas from scratch in the past but I have yet to find a recipe that I just love, so I haven't blogged one yet. But I definitely will once I get them perfected! 😉
Liv
Something like this is basically my go-to when I've failed to do adequate dinner prep. I'm at the point where anything I can eat with avocado is a definite win in my book.
Samantha at Five Heart Home
This is one of my fall-back recipes for lack of dinner planning, too, Liv...which is probably why we have it so often! 😉 And I'm with you on the avocado...I could eat it with just about anything. Have a great week!
Debbie Caraballo
Looks fantastic! Pinning this for future reference...thanks, Sam. Hope your weekend was great.
Deb
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Thank you, Deb! I appreciate the pin and I hope you end up loving this one. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by...have a wonderful week!
Ashley @ 3littlegreenwoods
Oh I love a quick and easy crockpot recipe! Especially one that I think my little people will eat. Awesome job on the photographs!
Pinning and making!
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Thank you so much, Ashley, for the kind comment and the pin! I am all about quick and easy crock pot recipes, too. 🙂 I hope you enjoy this one when you have a chance to try it!