TL/DR – Slow cooker Salsa Verde Chicken Tacos. This is a flavorful, healthy and easy method to make chicken tacos. Whether you choose a soft or a crunchy shell, this recipe goes with just about any topping and also works well as a burrito filling. –
This is one of those recipes that many busy, (and savvy,) home cooks have a version of in their repertoire. It’s a slow cooker recipe, but it doesn’t take all day, so it works really well for taco night on Saturday or Sunday night.
Start with chicken tenders. Season them with salt, pepper, garlic powder, oregano, cumin and coriander. Arrange them in a slow cooker and smother them with a jar of salsa verde. Salsa verde comes in mild and medium. For picky eaters, choose mild.
Cook the chicken on low for about 3 hours, depending on your slow cooker. It is generally frowned upon to open a slow cooker and check for doneness, but for this recipe it’s really important to catch them before they get overcooked and dry. Chicken tenders are less dense than chicken breasts and they cook faster. In my own slow cooker, these take about 2 and a half hours on low. Once they are cooked through, shred them with two forks and toss the taco meat with the remaining salsa verde from the slow cooker. That’s it!
Use this taco meat for crunchy or soft tacos, or combine it with beans and/or rice, cheese and other chosen accompaniments to make burritos. It is one of the most easy and versatile things for dinner. Also try this method with chunks of pork butt! For another taco night option, try Oven Braised Pulled Pork.
Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken Tacos
This easy slow cooker recipe uses chicken tenders, spices and salsa verde to make delicious tacos that even picky eaters will love.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken tenders
- 1 t kosher salt
- 1/2 t garlic powder
- 1/2 t dried oregano
- 1/2 t cumin
- 1/2 t coriander
- 1/4 t fresh ground black pepper
- 1 16 oz jar of salsa verde
Directions
- Step 1 Place the chicken tenders in the slow cooker in one layer.
- Step 2 Mix all of the seasonings together in a small bowl, sprinkle half on one side of the chicken, then flip it over and sprinkle on the remaining seasoning.
- Step 3 Dump the salsa verde all over the chicken and make sure that it is all covered.
- Step 4 Cook in a slow cooker on LOW for about 2 to 3 hours. Check for doneness around the 2 hour mark since chicken tenders cook faster than full chicken breasts. Depending on your slow cooker, you may need to rearrange the tenders when you check for doneness if they need to be cooked a bit longer so that they cook evenly.
- Step 5 Once cooked through, remove the chicken and shred it with two forks. Toss it with the remaining salsa verde and serve as tacos or burritos with your choice of toppings.
