Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Chicken
This Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Chicken is the perfect balance of tender, juicy chicken infused with bold, smoky spices. Slow-cooked in a perfectly seasoned tomato sauce, this recipe creates a flavorful, fall-apart chicken that's incredibly versatile. Whether you're using it for tacos, burritos, enchiladas, or simply enjoying it on its own, this dish is effortless to prepare and packed with classic Mexican flavors.
Set it and forget it! This easy slow cooker recipe is ideal for Cinco de Mayo, busy weeknights, meal prep, or serving at gatherings. The slow cooking process allows the flavors to develop beautifully, making every bite deliciously seasoned and satisfying. Just toss everything into the Crockpot and let it do the work for you!
In our house, we always pair this dish with our homemade Gluten Free Red Enchilada Sauce and Pickled Red Onions for extra flavor and the perfect finishing touch.
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Ingredients
Take a trip down the spice aisle at your local grocery store and you're practically ready to make this easy slow cooker chicken.
See the recipe card below for the exact quantities of each ingredient.
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts: A lean meat that is easy to shred once cooked, thighs work well too if preferred.
- Strained Tomatoes: Provides moisture and a light sauciness to this chicken.
- Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice: Aids in flavor balance and provides complexity.
- Sea Salt: Enhances all the flavors.
- Seasonings: Ground cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, ground paprika, onion powder, ground coriander and black pepper provide a warm and bold flavor profile for this shredded chicken.
For this great recipe, you'll want to have on hand a slow cooker and measuring cups and spoons.
Variations
- Chicken Thighs: Swap chicken breasts for boneless, skinless chicken thighs for even juicier results.
- Tomatoes: Use salsa or fire roasted tomatoes instead of strained tomatoes for extra spice and texture. Alternatively, you can use any type of tomato sauce, just be mindful of flavor changes.
- Spicier Option: Add a chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce for a smoky spice level
- Low-Sodium: Use no-salt-added tomatoes and adjust seasonings to taste.
- Citrus Variation: Swap lime juice for fresh orange juice for a slightly sweeter twist.
- Don't Shred the Chicken: If you want to eat a whole chicken breast as is, you can just serve it straight from the slow cooker!
How to Make Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Chicken
Check out how quick and easy it was to make this shredded chicken.
Place the chicken into the bottom of the slow cooker that is lightly greased with non-stick spray or olive oil.
Add the strained tomatoes, lime juice, cumin, sea salt, chili powder, garlic powder, ground paprika, onion powder, ground coriander and ground black pepper.
Give the sauce a little mix and cover.
Cook on low heat for 6 hours then shred with two forks or a hand mixer.
Serve warm on rice, or in tacos, burritos or enchiladas.
Hint: Keep an eye on the cooking time to ensure you do not overcook the chicken for optimal tenderness and moisture.
Recipe Tips
- Shred While Warm: It's easiest to shred the chicken right after cooking while it's still warm and tender.
- Enhance the Flavor: Stir in additional lime juice before serving for an extra brightness of flavor.
- Use the Juices: Keep some of the slow cooker juices to drizzle over your final dish for added moisture and flavor.
- Make It Crispy: For a crispy texture, spread the shredded chicken on a baking sheet and broil for 3-5 minutes.
A Mexican dinner would not be complete without a cocktail using our Margarita Mix.
More Slow Cooker Ideas
Storage Instructions
- Refrigerator: Once cooled, place in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- Freezer: Transfer your airtight container to the freezer or double up on freezer bags and it can last up to 3 months.
- Reheating: Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat on the stovetop or microwave; for added moisture add a little chicken stock or extra strained tomatoes if desired.
Serving Suggestions
- Mexican Inspired Recipes: Guacamole and Chips, Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas, Mexican Candy Shot or Instant Pot Carnitas.
- Cocktails: Classic Margarita, Pineapple Margarita, Frozen Strawberry Margarita or my personal favorite Watermelon Basil Margarita.
Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Chicken FAQs
Yes, but increase the cooking time by 1-2 hours to ensure that it cooks through safely.
Yes. Cook on high pressure for 12 minutes, then quick release and shred.
Absolutely! Just make sure that your slow cooker is large enough to accommodate the extra ingredients.
Reduce the amount of chili powder, or omit it entirely for a milder version.
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Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Chicken
Equipment
- Slow Cooker/Crockpot
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 cups strained tomatoes
- 2 limes juiced (about ¼ cup)
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- ½ tablespoon sea salt
- ½ tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon ground coriander
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Place the chicken into the bottom of the slow cooker that is lightly greased with non-stick spray or olive oil.
- Add the strained tomatoes, lime juice, cumin, sea salt, chili powder, garlic powder, ground paprika, onion powder, ground coriander and ground black pepper.
- Give the sauce a little mix and cover.
- Cook on low heat for 6 hours then shred with two forks or a hand mixer.
- Serve warm on rice, or in tacos, burritos or enchiladas.
Notes
- Keep an eye on the cooking time to ensure you do not overcook the chicken for optimal tenderness and moisture.
- It's easiest to shred the chicken right after cooking while it's still warm and tender.
- Stir in additional lime juice before serving for an extra brightness of flavor.
- Keep some of the slow cooker juices to drizzle over your final dish for added moisture and flavor.
- For a crispy texture, spread the shredded chicken on a baking sheet and broil for 3-5 minutes.
Nutrition
We would be so grateful for you to leave us a rating and review on any recipes you try. If you make any alterations, let us know how they turned out.
Saving this one for school and sport season! Looks perfect!
Thank you for the review. It is a simple recipe indeed. You should try our cheesy enchiladas with it as well.
I will try this recipe. It looks delicious.
I hope you love it!
Loving the flavors for this homemade Mexican chicken and the slow cooker prep! Saving this to try this week, thanks for the great recipe!
I hope you will all love it. We love hands off recipes!
Great recipe.
Glad you liked it! Thanks for the review.
It looks so tender and packed with flavor. Can't wait to try it in tacos!
Let us know how you like it when you try them!
We love a simple recipe that requires little attention. Lots of flavor here, and so much versatility in how to eat it.