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Crockpot Chipotle Chicken Tacos

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Crockpot Chipotle Chicken Tacos take the guesswork out of what’s for dinner. The spicy shredded chicken is tender and juicy and just waiting for a pile of toppings.C

This post has been upgraded from 4/25/16 to improve reader experience.

Three tacos filled with shredded chipotle chicken cabbage avocado & tomatoes

Crockpot Chipotle Chicken Tacos start with a simple paste that’s allowed to infuse into a delicious juicy shredded chicken for a delicious juicy shredded chicken taco with a kick!

I don’t use a crockpot nearly as much as I should. It’s a super easy way to plan dinner when you don’t have a lot of hands-on time. That isn’t the only reason, it’s a great way to infuse flavors.

Years ago the only tacos that I made were with ground beef seasoned with a spice packet called taco seasoning. It was a quick meal and we loved them until we had a taste of what a better taco tasted like.

We loved going out and trying other Mexican dishes that at the time I had no clue what was in them. So when I started making a lot of our own shredded chicken tacos at home, I wanted a flavorful spice combination that infused the meat and didn’t just get boiled into it. This chipotle recipe was the way to go!

I had a few questions regarding taco seasoning options:

What is Chipotle? Chipotle is a jalapeno pepper that has been smoked. The Aztecs found that the jalapeno doesn’t dry as well as other peppers because of it’s thicker walls so they smoked them as a way to preserve them.
Is Chipotle spicier than a jalapeno? Generally yes because Chipotle is made using a red, fully ripened jalapeno.
What is adobo? Adobo can have separate meanings. We’re referring to the spicy sauce that’s intensely red due to paprika. This chipotle marinated in this sauce is called Chipotle in Adobe sauce and is what’s used here.

This Chipotle Chicken recipe is spicy enough for my tastes. That isn’t the case with John. I swear he has a cast iron stomach. The heat in these tacos comes from Chipotle Chilies in Adobo. The heat (spice level) can be adjusted according to what you like.

How do you make the chipotle paste for this recipe?

Chipotle peppers are combined with additional spices, onion, and cilantro and then made into a paste using a blender or food processor.

The can of Chipotle in Adobe sauce has about a dozen chipotle peppers in it. This chipotle chicken recipe uses 3 chilis in the shredded chicken taco meat but I double the paste ingredients to use up the whole can of chipotle peppers. Then I’ll put some in the refrigerator so ole cast iron stomach can smear more on his taco and freeze the rest for the next time I want to make these tacos.

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Pro tip:

If you like using avocado in tacos or sandwiches, mash them into a spread. I find that it helps keep all of your goodies in the taco shell or sandwich. Sliced avocado tends to slide right out taking the remaining ingredients with it.

Garnishes for Chipotle Chicken Tacos:

  • Diced Tomato
  • Green onion (They’re mild compared to some other varieties)
  • Chopped cilantro
  • Shredded cheese
  • Sour cream
  • Shredded cabbage or lettuce

You may need:

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  • Mini Food Processor – I use this little powerhouse for chopping and blending smaller quantities so I don’t have to use my much bigger and heavier food processor.
  • Boxed Grater – I grate my own cabbage, lettuce, and cheese. The convenience packages of cheese have non-clumping ingredients and everything tastes so much fresher when you do it yourself. It doesn’t add that much time.
These spicy chipotle tacos are stuffed with shredded chicken, avocado, tomatoes and cabbage

If you like this recipe leave me a comment below and 5-✭✭✭✭✭ rating.

Three tacos filled with shredded chipotle chicken cabbage avocado & tomatoes
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4.93 from 14 votes

Crockpot Chipotle Chicken Tacos

Crockpot Chipotle Chicken Tacos are loaded with spicy juicy shredded chicken.  The crockpot makes them a hands-off recipe that everyone will devour.
Course Chicken, Main
Cuisine American, Mexican
Crockpot Chipotle Chicken Tacos
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 4 hrs
Total Time 4 hrs 15 mins
Servings 6
Author Julie Menghini

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs chicken breasts skinless and boneless
  • 1 cup chicken broth or water
  • 6 Taco shells

Chipotle Paste

  • 3 Chipotle Chilies in Adobo
  • 3 tbsp olive oil vegetable or canola is fine too
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp diced onion
  • 1/4 cup Fresh cilantro I use the stems for the paste and the leaves for garnish
  • 1 tbsp chile powder
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 tsp Mexican oregano
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
  • Zest of one lime optional

Suggested Garnishes

  • Shredded cabbage or lettuce avocado, cheese, green onion, tomatoes, lime and cilantro

Instructions

  • Add chicken to the crockpot
  • Combine paste ingredients and process in a blender or food processor until a thick paste form.
  • Mix the paste with the chicken.
  • Pour chicken broth (or water) over the chicken
  • Cook on high for 4 hours or up to 8 hours on low. Shred chicken with two forks. Allow the shredded chicken to sit in the liquid until the liquid is absorbed.
  • Serve with taco garnishes of your choice.

Notes

I actually mash the avocado and add diced tomatoes, green onion, cilantro and a bit of salt. It helps keep all of the goodies in the taco.

Nutrition

Calories: 259kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 96mg | Sodium: 916mg | Potassium: 661mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 16.9% | Vitamin C: 3% | Calcium: 3.5% | Iron: 9.6%
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The only thing that these crockpot chicken tacos need is a great Margarita to go with them!

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Comments

  2. I really enjoyed this recipe. I made a couple of small changes to make it spicier, but otherwise I thought it was fab !

    Reply

  7. I always love a good crockpot chicken recipe, especially one with chipotle in it! I live for chipotle flavor! Definitely putting this on the menu for one of the nights my oldest has soccer. We do a lot of crockpot meals on those busy nights. 🙂

    Reply

  9. Ive got this all set up for my husband to put in the crockpot this week while Im away! It was easy to put in a bag and have it ready for him to set up….. It sounds so good and I cant wait to have some leftovers when I get back!

    Reply

  10. Ha! I would be with John – lighting my food on fire and piling on the jalapeños! I’m loving these easy tacos – what a delicious meal. Slow cooker meals are always a hit here!

    Reply

  13. My mouth is watering looking at these! I am crazy about tacos. I’m going to pin this. Thanks again for sharing at FF #117!

    Reply

  14. My husband is a huge taco fan, but I’m tired of the traditional ground beef tacos, so I love the idea of crockpot shredded chicken. Pinned for later!

    Reply

  17. I love tacos (I get Rick Bayless’ Taco Tuesday emails every Tues. if you’re interested) and I love to use my slow cookers all year long. Your recipe looks really good – I would have to do a taste test to see if I wanted more chiles.

    Reply

  18. Julie, these tacos rock and so simple that you made them in the crock pot. I need to get a crock pot just so that I can cook your recipe. Gorgeous photos pinning and sharing!

    Reply

    • Thank you so much Ivette! You are so sweet to nominate me. My fellow bloggers mean the world to me. Thank you so much for acknowledging me with this nomination. Hugs!

      Reply

  22. Wonderfully spicy and savory tacos Julie. I find anything you put in the crockpot becomes a great meal for shredding, even pork. Love the chipotle flavors, and I like the idea of mashing up the avocado. The great thing about a crock pot too in the summer time, is it does not heat up the kitchen. I tend to leave out the curries in the summertime as it is so hot, but I’ve since cooked it twice in a slow cooker, and it has been amazing! So looking forward to cooking it every so often in my crockpot. Do you use a special type of tortilla for your tacos?

    Reply

    • Thank you Loretta! We cook outside a lot in the summer. I don’t like heating up the kitchen either. I’ve found taco shells at my grocery store that aren’t cooked called tortilla land. We really like them a lot.

      Reply

  26. Ok, so I have had a MAD craving for tacos for WEEKS now and this officially just sent that craving over the top Julie, so…thanks. I think lol

    I love that these were made in a crockpot, I don’t use mine nearly as much either. Guess it’s time to change that huh? 😉

    Reply

  28. These look absolutely wonderful, Julie! I love everything about them. Chipotle peppers are one of my favorite things, and I love all the spices you incorporated into the meat. Yum! Pinning to make soon!

    Reply

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