Slow Cooker Taco Chicken Bowls

$10.31 recipe / $1.72 serving
by Beth Moncel
4.88 from 193 votes
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This taco chicken bowls recipe is definitely โ€œslow-cooker 101โ€. Itโ€™s probably one of the first recipes that most people learn to make in their slow cooker. In fact, some version of Slow Cooker Taco Chicken Bowls is probably included in that little mini recipe book that comes with the slow cooker when you buy it. BUT, I had to post it because I know there are probably a lot of you who havenโ€™t made it yet and I canโ€™t bear the thought of you missing out.

Close up of a Slow Cooker Taco Chicken Bowl with melted cheese and sliced green onions

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Set it and forget itโ€ฆ

Taco Chicken Bowls are great for bachelors, students, or the chronically busy because itโ€™s a โ€œdump and heatโ€ recipe. All you do is dump all of the ingredients together in a pot, and let it cook.

How to Serve Taco Chicken Bowls

Of course, youโ€™ll need to make the rice separate but even if youโ€™re one of those people who can never get rice right, there is still hope. Just stuff the chicken mixture inside of a tortilla with a little cheese and roll it up for a quick burrito, or fold it over in a tortilla and crisp it up in a skillet like a quesadilla. Presto. Easy, delicious, cheap food.

Taco Chicken Bowls are Freezer Friendly

Oh, also, this taco chicken bowls recipe freezes well. Cheese and all. Then just nuke and stir for a couple minutes until hot. Instant freezer meal!

What Size Slow Cooker to Use

I use a 6 quart Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker and this recipe fills it about halfway. I would suggest using a 4-quart or larger slow cooker.

Okay, one more thing. If you for some strange reason need this taco chicken bowls recipe to be even easier or you donโ€™t have a well-stocked spice cabinet, just substitute a packet of taco seasoning for all of the spices and herbs that I used below.

More Slow Cooker Dinners: Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka MasalaSlow Cooker Italian Chicken and PeppersSlow Cooker White Chicken Chili, and Slow Cooker Beef Stew.

Side view of a Slow Cooker Taco Chicken Bowl being eaten

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Taco Chicken Bowls

4.88 from 193 votes
Slow Cooker Taco Chicken Bowls are the ultimate โ€œset it and forget itโ€ easy weeknight meal that the whole family will love.
Author: Beth Moncel
Taco chicken bowls with toppings above.
Servings (1 cup chicken mixture, 1 cup rice, plus toppings)
Prep 10 minutes
Cook 8 hours
Total 8 hours 10 minutes
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Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 lbs. chicken breasts ($2.60*)
  • 1 16oz. jar salsa ($2.15)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced ($0.16)
  • 1 15oz. can black beans ($0.69)
  • 1/2 lb. frozen corn ($0.73)
  • 1 Tbsp chili powder ($0.30)
  • 1/2 Tbsp ground cumin ($0.15)
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano ($0.05)
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper ($0.03)
  • Freshly cracked black pepper ($0.03)
  • 6 cups cooked rice ($0.60)
  • 8 oz. shredded cheddar ($2.59)
  • 3 green onions, sliced (or fresh cilantro) ($0.23)
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Instructions 

  • Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of a 5 quart or larger slow cooker. Drain the black beans and add them to the slow cooker along with the salsa and corn. Add 1/4 cup water, plus the minced garlic, chili powder, cumin, oregano, cayenne, some freshly cracked pepper (about 10-15 cranks of a pepper mill).
  • Give the ingredients a brief stir to distribute the spices. Secure the lid on your slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.
  • After 8 hours on low or 4 hours on high, carefully remove the lid of the slow cooker. Stir with a fork to shred the chicken (it should be very tender and will shred easily). Taste the chicken mixture and add salt if needed.
  • To build the bowls, place one cup of rice in the bottom of a bowl and top with 1 cup of the shredded chicken mixture. Top with a little cheddar cheese and a sprinkle of sliced green onions.

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Equipment

  • Slow Cooker
  • Measuring Cups Spoons

Notes

*I buy my chicken breasts on sale and freeze them until Iโ€™m ready to use them.

Nutrition

Serving: 1CupCalories: 651kcalCarbohydrates: 78gProtein: 46gFat: 17gSodium: 903mgFiber: 10g
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This is definitely one of my favorite meals to keep in the freezer for busy days!

Overhead shot of a Slow Cooker Taco Chicken Bowl

How to Make Slow Cooker Taco Chicken Bowls โ€“ Step by Step Photos

Chicken breasts in Slow Cooker

Place two large chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs.) in the bottom of a slow cooker. I always buy my chicken breasts in large packs on sale, then individually wrap and freeze them for later.

Salsa, Beans, and Corn in the slow cooker

Drain one 15oz. can of black beans and add them to the slow cooker along with a 16oz. jar of salsa and 1/2 pound of frozen corn (no need to thaw the corn firstโ€“the small kernels thaw quickly once the slow cooker is turned on. Do not, however, use frozen chicken breasts because they may take too long to come up to a safe temperature in the slow cooker.)

Roasted Salsa jar

I usually just use a generic salsa for this dish, but I like generic salsa just fine. The type of salsa you use will greatly impact the flavor the of the overall dish, so make sure you use one that you like. This time around I found a โ€œfire roastedโ€ generic salsa, so I got that for a little extra smokey flavor. :)

Add taco seasoning spices to slow cooker

Add 2 cloves minced garlic, 1 Tbsp chili powder (mild), 1/2 Tbsp cumin, 1/2 tsp dried oregano, 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, and some freshly cracked pepper (about 10-15 cranks of a pepper mill).

Quick Stir ingredients in slow cooker

Add about 1/4 cup of water to help the ingredients combine when you stir. Briefly stir to distribute the spices.

After 4 hours on High in slow cooker

Secure the lid on your slow cooker and cook on high for four hours or low for eight hours. This is after 4 hours on highโ€“doesnโ€™t look much different!

Shred Chicken

BUT by this time the chicken is SO tender that just stirring the mixture will make it fall apart. Stir the pot or use two forks to shred the chicken.

Shredded Chicken finished

When all the chicken is shredded itโ€™s time to eat! You can taste the mixture and add salt if needed (this will depend on the salt content of your beans and salsa. I didnโ€™t add any this time.)

Slow Cooker Taco Chicken Bowl being eaten

To build the taco chicken bowls, place one cup of cooked rice in the bottom of a bowl and top it with one cup of the chicken mixture. Sprinkle a little shredded cheddar cheese on top followed by a few sliced green onions. Done! How easy is that?

front view of a Slow Cooker Taco Chicken Bowl

Or you can eat the Taco Chicken Bowls not as a bowl, but as an actual taco. Just stuff the chicken mixture into a tortilla, top with cheese or sour cream, and youโ€™re good to go!

More Slow Cooker Recipes

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Slow Cooker Beef Stew

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  1. Beth, thank you for posting such a wonderful dish. My whole famiily, including our two-year old son, loved it and even wanted seconds!

  2. Anon โ€“ yes, you can cook it on high and it will probably only take half the time! As soon as it shreds easily with a fork, itโ€™s done. :)

  3. Shawnta โ€“ I bet it would work great in a pressure cooker although I have no idea how long because Iโ€™ve never used one :( If you can find a pressure cooker recipe for pulled pork or something like that, Iโ€™m sure the cooking time would be similar. Good luck!

  4. I have a pressure cooker with a slow cooker function but canโ€™t seem to find any information on that part of the cooker. Do you think the recipe would do well in a pressure cookerโ€ฆmaybe 30 minutes?

  5. Great recipe! We had this for dinner tonight and I love how tender the chicken comes out. We will definitely be making this again and again. This recipe fed my family of 5 (although tow of them are only 2) and there was plenty to put in the freezer for another meal.

  6. MJ โ€“ yes, actually, a crock pot is just like an electric dutch oven! They both have the same method: cooking in a closed container (to retain moisture) with heat coming from all sides. You could probably even do this in a regular pot on the stove. Just let it simmer over low heat for a couple of hours or until the chicken shreds easily. I simmered some chicken with beans on the stove the other day and it was tender after 3 hours of cooking on low. Youโ€™ll need to bring it up to a boil over medium/high heat just to get it hot before turning the heat down to low for the rest of the duration. I hope that helps! Beth

  7. I havenโ€™t invested in a crock pot yetโ€ฆ But I do have a large Dutch Oven. Any ideas how I could make that work? Iโ€™m very much a cooking newbie.

  8. My family loved this recipeโ€ฆmy 17 year old daughter went back for 2nds, and asked if she could also take some for her school lunch the next day! I actually forgot to serve the cheese on top, but nobody missed it. Although someone did say it would be good with sour cream, and I think it would!
    For anyone who has a fast/hot crock pot, like meโ€ฆI added 1 cup of extra water and it could have used even more as there was no liquid in my pot when I got home. Add more spices if you add more water. Very good recipe and Iโ€™m sure Iโ€™ll be making this often! Thank you :)

  9. Just made this for dinner in a burrito wrap with the chipotle knock-off cilantro lime rice (and a small scoop of guacamole). Two very excited thumbs up, this is awesome! Thanks for the recipe :)