By Becky Hardin
Updated Jun 9, 2025
Enjoy the savory flavors of this Crockpot Mexican Shredded Chicken. This slow cooker chicken tastes amazing in tortillas, flautas, enchiladas, or any of your favorite Mexican recipes.
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5-Star Review
“This was delicious and so easy. We put it on top of nachos and it was better than a restaurant.” -Kellene
Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Chicken
Want flavorful chicken with zero fuss? This Crockpot Mexican Chicken is a must! The slow cooker does all the work, giving you juicy, tender, fall-apart chicken that’s perfect for tacos, bowls, enchiladas, and more.
I love making this recipe with chicken breasts, but dark meat is a good substitute if you are craving juicier chicken. For spicier chicken, add cayenne pepper with the taco seasoning or stir in diced jalapeños or a can of diced green chiles. You can also add extra veggies like diced bell peppers or tomatoes if you wish.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts thighs also work
- ▢ 1 ounce taco seasoning store bought or homemade
- ▢ 15 ounces canned corn kernels drained (1 can), fresh or frozen also work
- ▢ 15 ounces canned black beans drained and rinsed (1 can)
- ▢ 1 cup salsa store-bought, homemade or try salsa verde
- ▢ ½ lime juiced
- ▢ 1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro for garnish
- ▢ 1 cup cooked rice optional, for serving
Video
Instructions
- Add the chicken breasts to the bottom of the crockpot. Season the tops of the chicken breasts with half of the seasoning. 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, 1 ounce taco seasoning
- Dump on the corn, beans, salsa, and remaining taco seasoning on top of the chicken. 15 ounces canned black beans, 15 ounces canned corn kernels, 1 cup salsa
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through and the internal temperature has reached 165°F.
- Remove the chicken to shred with a fork and return to the crockpot. Stir in the lime juice and garnish with fresh cilantro. ½ lime, 1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro, 1 cup cooked rice
- Serve immediately over a bed of rice or use for tacos. Enjoy!
Equipment
- Crockpot
Becky’s Tips
- For the best results, I recommend cooking this chicken on low. If you’re pressed for time, you can cook the chicken on high for 3-4 hours instead.
- Shred the chicken using two forks, use meat shredding claws, or toss the meat in the bowl of a stand mixer and let it do the work for you.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Crockpot Mexican Shredded Chicken Step by Step
Place the chicken and seasoning in the crockpot. Add 1 1/2 pounds of chicken breasts to the bottom of the crockpot. Season the tops of the chicken breasts with half of the taco seasoning.
Add the rest of the ingredients: Dump a 15-ounce can of corn, a 15-ounce can of black beans, 1 cup salsa, and remaining taco seasoning on top of the chicken.
Cook the chicken : Cook on low for 6-8 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through and the internal temperature has reached 165°F.
Shred the chicken : Remove the chicken to shred with a fork and return it to the crockpot.
Add lime juice, garnish, and enjoy : Stir in the juice from half a lime and garnish with fresh cilantro. Serve immediately over a bed of rice or use for tacos. Enjoy!
How to Store
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave in 30-second intervals until warmed through. Freeze in individual portions in separate airtight containers or Ziplock bags for up to 2 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
There are so many ways to eat this Crockpot Mexican chicken! Use it to spice up any of your favorite shredded chicken recipes. Serve it over a Mexican-style salad, some cilantro lime rice , or you can even add it to street corn pasta salad . Use it in air fryer chicken taquitos , to prepare chicken enchiladas , or chicken quesadillas .
more mexican chicken recipes to try!
Baked Chicken Tacos Recipe
Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup
Chicken Nachos Recipe
Crockpot Chicken Burritos
Crockpot Mexican Shredded Chicken Recipe
Equipment
- Crockpot
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts thighs also work
- 1 ounce taco seasoning store bought or homemade
- 15 ounces canned corn kernels drained (1 can), fresh or frozen also work
- 15 ounces canned black beans drained and rinsed (1 can)
- 1 cup salsa store-bought, homemade or try salsa verde
- ½ lime juiced
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro for garnish
- 1 cup cooked rice optional, for serving
Instructions
- Add the chicken breasts to the bottom of the crockpot. Season the tops of the chicken breasts with half of the seasoning. 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, 1 ounce taco seasoning
- Dump on the corn, beans, salsa, and remaining taco seasoning on top of the chicken. 15 ounces canned black beans, 15 ounces canned corn kernels, 1 cup salsa
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through and the internal temperature has reached 165°F.
- Remove the chicken to shred with a fork and return to the crockpot. Stir in the lime juice and garnish with fresh cilantro. ½ lime, 1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro, 1 cup cooked rice
- Serve immediately over a bed of rice or use for tacos. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- For the best results, I recommend cooking this chicken on low. If you’re pressed for time, you can cook the chicken on high for 3-4 hours instead.
- Shred the chicken using two forks, use meat shredding claws, or toss the meat in the bowl of a stand mixer and let it do the work for you.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
