Chipotle Chicken Tacos are slow-cooked to tender perfection in a rich honey-chipotle sauce, promising an explosion of sweet, smoky, and spicy flavors in every bite. This recipe is designed for ease and maximum flavor, making it a perfect addition to your weekly meal plan.

Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken Tacos: Your New Favorite Easy Meal

Prepare to fall in love with these incredible Chipotle Chicken Tacos! Our signature honey-chipotle sauce, a proven favorite in dishes like Pork Taquitos and Pulled Pork Sandwiches, takes center stage, coating succulent chicken in a perfectly balanced sweet and smoky glaze. This recipe transforms ordinary chicken into an extraordinary taco experience with minimal effort, making it ideal for busy weeknights or casual gatherings.

Imagine soft, charred tortillas cradling sweet-and-spicy shredded chicken, complemented by the creamy richness of avocado, the earthy goodness of black beans, and the zesty crunch of pickled red onions. This combination isn’t just good; it’s a flavor symphony that will have everyone asking for seconds. The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity. Your slow cooker handles most of the work, allowing the chicken to become melt-in-your-mouth tender while absorbing all the delicious flavors of the sauce. The honey-chipotle sauce itself comes together in mere seconds in your blender, and the toppings are entirely customizable to your taste and what you have on hand, ensuring a personalized touch for every diner.

Why You’ll Love This Chipotle Chicken Tacos Recipe

This recipe for Chipotle Chicken Tacos is designed for both flavor enthusiasts and busy home cooks. Here’s why it deserves a permanent spot in your rotation:

• Effortless Slow Cooking: The slow cooker is your best friend here, transforming chicken thighs into incredibly tender, fall-apart perfection with virtually no hands-on time. Simply set it and let it work its magic, allowing you to focus on other tasks while dinner cooks itself.
• Flavorful Honey-Chipotle Sauce: Our unique sauce strikes the perfect balance between sweet honey and smoky, spicy chipotle peppers. It’s a versatile sauce that clings beautifully to the shredded chicken, creating an unforgettable taste sensation that is both comforting and exciting.
• Customizable Toppings: From creamy avocado to tangy pickled onions and crumbly Cotija cheese, you can personalize each taco to your liking. This makes it perfect for family meals where everyone has different preferences, ensuring a delightful experience for all.
• Perfect for Meal Prep: The chicken and sauce can be prepared in advance, making assembly quick and easy on busy weeknights. It’s also an excellent option for feeding a crowd, as the slow cooker does most of the heavy lifting.
• Irresistible Combination: The medley of sweet, spicy, savory, and tangy elements, combined with diverse textures from soft tortillas to crunchy toppings, creates a truly satisfying and well-rounded meal that’s bursting with flavor.
• Versatile Serving Options: These tacos are fantastic on their own, but the shredded chicken can also be used in burritos, salads, quesadillas, or over rice, offering endless meal possibilities.

Key Ingredients for Unforgettable Chipotle Chicken Tacos

Crafting the perfect Chipotle Chicken Tacos begins with quality ingredients. Each component plays a vital role in achieving that rich, balanced flavor profile we’re aiming for. Paying attention to these details will ensure your tacos are truly exceptional.

• Chicken Broth: This liquid gold forms the base for our slow-cooked chicken, keeping it moist and infusing it with subtle flavor. Always opt for low-sodium chicken broth to maintain control over the overall saltiness of your dish, especially when considering the seasoned chicken and rich sauce that will be added later.
• Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs: We highly recommend chicken thighs over breasts for their superior flavor and ability to remain incredibly tender and juicy during long slow-cooking sessions. They are less prone to drying out and shred beautifully, making them ideal for tacos. While some fat adds flavor and moisture, it’s a good idea to trim off any excessively large pieces of fat for a better, less greasy texture in your finished tacos.
• Light Brown Sugar: This ingredient adds a crucial touch of sweetness to our spice rub, balancing the smoky heat of the chipotle peppers in the sauce. When measuring, press it down firmly in the measuring cup to ensure you get the precise amount needed for that perfect sweet-spicy harmony.
• Flavorful Seasonings: Our special blend for the chicken includes chili powder, paprika, ground cumin, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. This aromatic mix builds the foundational flavor of the chicken. For the best flavor penetration, mix these seasonings thoroughly in a small bowl first, then rub them directly and evenly onto the chicken thighs. This ensures every piece is coated with aromatic spices before it even hits the slow cooker, creating layers of flavor.
• Our Signature Sweet Chipotle Sauce: This is where the magic truly happens! This homemade sauce combines a delightful blend of sweet, tangy, and smoky ingredients, including ketchup, brown sugar, honey, chipotle peppers in adobo, adobo sauce, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Blend it until it’s perfectly smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust the sweetness or spice level as needed; you can always add a little more honey for sweetness or a touch more chipotle for extra heat. Remember, the creamy toppings and tortillas will help mellow the heat, so don’t be afraid to experiment to find your ideal balance.

Step-by-Step Guide: How To Make Chipotle Chicken Tacos

Making these delicious slow cooker chipotle chicken tacos is incredibly straightforward and largely hands-off. Follow these detailed steps for tender, flavorful chicken that’s perfect for your next taco night:

1. Prepare the Chicken: Start by patting your boneless, skinless chicken thighs thoroughly dry with paper towels. This crucial step helps the seasoning adhere better and promotes a more flavorful crust during cooking. In a small bowl, combine your chosen dry seasonings: light brown sugar, chili powder, paprika, ground cumin, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir this mixture well to ensure even distribution. Then, rub this spice mixture generously and evenly over all sides of the chicken thighs. This initial seasoning is key for developing deep, complex flavors in the finished dish.
2. Slow Cook to Perfection: Lightly spray the inside of your 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Pour in the chicken broth, which will provide moisture and flavor during the long cook time. Carefully arrange the seasoned chicken thighs in a single, even layer in the slow cooker. Resist the urge to stir the ingredients at this point! Cover the slow cooker securely with its lid and cook on the LOW setting for 4 to 6 hours, or until the chicken is incredibly tender and easily shreds with a fork. The key to super tender, succulent chicken is to let it cook undisturbed, allowing the slow cooker to do its magic.
3. Shred and Sauce: Once the chicken is thoroughly cooked and fork-tender, carefully remove it from the slow cooker and place it in a large mixing bowl. Using two forks, pull the chicken apart to shred it into bite-sized pieces. For an even quicker and more efficient shredding process, especially for larger batches, a hand mixer can work wonders! Once shredded, pour about half of your prepared sweet chipotle sauce over the chicken and toss to coat evenly. Add more sauce gradually, only until the chicken is nicely coated and moistened, but not swimming in sauce. You can always add extra sauce to your tacos later.
4. Char Your Tortillas: For authentic taco flavor and texture, charring your tortillas is a must. It adds a subtle smoky note and makes them more pliable. Lightly spray both sides of each corn or flour tortilla with cooking spray. Using tongs, carefully place each tortilla directly over a medium-low gas flame on your stove for a few seconds per side. Flip until the tortillas are lightly charred in spots, softened, and pliable. Immediately fold each warm tortilla in half and set it aside; this helps them hold their taco shape perfectly for filling. If you don’t have a gas stove, you can achieve a similar effect by heating them in a dry, hot skillet or griddle until soft and slightly browned.
5. Assemble Your Tacos: Now for the most exciting part – assembly! Take your perfectly charred tortillas and fill them generously with the saucy chipotle chicken. Be mindful not to overfill, as it makes them harder to eat and can cause them to break. Pile on your favorite toppings (see our extensive suggestions below) and get ready to enjoy a truly sensational taco experience. Serve immediately while hot, perhaps with extra lime wedges on the side for an added burst of freshness.

The Best Toppings for Your Chipotle Chicken Tacos

What truly elevates a taco from good to unforgettable is its toppings! These thoughtful additions provide essential texture, vibrant freshness, and an extra burst of flavor that perfectly complements the sweet and smoky chipotle chicken. Don’t underestimate the power of a well-chosen topping to complete your taco masterpiece. Here are our top recommendations:

• Fresh Cilantro & Lime: A generous sprinkle of freshly chopped cilantro and a squeeze of fresh lime juice are non-negotiable. They add a vibrant, herbaceous freshness and a crucial acidic counterpoint that beautifully cuts through the richness and sweetness of the chipotle sauce, brightening every single bite.
• Quick Pickled Red Onions: These are a total game-changer! Their tangy, slightly sweet, and wonderfully crunchy bite provides a fantastic textural and flavor contrast to the tender chicken. Our simple, quick version takes less than 5 minutes to prepare with just four basic ingredients, making them an ideal last-minute addition that adds significant impact.
• Avocado or Creamy Guacamole: For a creamy texture that balances the heat and adds healthy fats, sliced avocado or a dollop of fresh, homemade guacamole is an absolute must. It adds a luxurious mouthfeel and helps to mellow any spice, making the tacos more satisfying and filling.
• Black Beans: Drained and rinsed black beans add a hearty, earthy element and a welcome boost of plant-based protein, making your tacos even more substantial. While black beans are our go-to for their classic flavor, pinto beans also work wonderfully in these chipotle chicken tacos, offering a slightly different texture and mild flavor profile.
• Cotija Cheese: A sprinkle of salty, crumbly Cotija cheese adds a distinctive Mexican flair and a delightful savory finish. Its unique texture and salty notes provide a fantastic balance to the sweet and spicy elements of the chicken. A little goes a long way in providing that perfect final touch.
• Other Fantastic Topping Ideas: Don’t limit yourself! The world of taco toppings is vast and delicious. Consider adding a dollop of cooling sour cream or Mexican crema, a vibrant corn salsa (perhaps with bell peppers and jalapeño), fresh pico de gallo, shredded crisp lettuce or cabbage for extra crunch, or a drizzle of your favorite hot sauce for an additional kick of heat.

Chipotle Chicken Tacos

By Chelsea Lords

These Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken Tacos are savory, tender, and incredibly simple to make, letting your Crock-Pot do all the heavy lifting for a truly delicious meal!

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 4 hours

Total Time: 4 hours 25 minutes

Servings: 6 servings

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Video Overview

Watch this quick video to see how easily these delicious Chipotle Chicken Tacos come together!

Equipment Needed

• 6-quart Crock-Pot
• Blender or food processor

Ingredients

For the Chicken

• 2 cups chicken broth (low-sodium recommended)
• 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed of large fat pieces
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 tablespoon chili powder
• 1/2 tablespoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 tablespoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

For the Sweet Chipotle Sauce

• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
• 2/3 cup + 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (from a can, minced)
• 2 tablespoons adobo sauce (from the can of chipotle peppers)
• 1-1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

For Serving & Toppings

• 12 corn tortillas or flour tortillas
• 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• Pickled red onion (see recipe notes below for quick recipe)
• 1-1/2 cups sliced avocado (from 2 medium avocados)
• Cotija cheese, crumbled
• Fresh cilantro, chopped
• Lime wedges, for serving
• Optional additions: sour cream, extra hot sauce, corn salsa, shredded cabbage

Instructions

1. Season Chicken: Spray a 6-quart Crock-Pot with cooking spray, then pour in the chicken broth. Trim any excessively fatty parts from the chicken thighs. In a small bowl, combine the light brown sugar, chili powder, paprika, ground cumin, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir well, then rub this seasoning mixture evenly over all surfaces of the chicken.
2. Slow Cook: Place the seasoned chicken in a single, even layer in the Crock-Pot. Do not stir. Cover the slow cooker and cook on the LOW setting for 4 to 6 hours, or until the chicken is incredibly tender and easily shreds with a fork.
3. Prepare Sauce: While the chicken is nearing the end of its cooking time, prepare the sweet chipotle sauce. In a blender or food processor, combine the ketchup, light brown sugar, honey, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, adobo sauce, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Blend until the sauce is completely smooth. Taste and adjust the seasoning to your preference – add more honey for sweetness or an extra chipotle pepper for more heat if desired.
4. Shred Chicken: Once cooked, remove the chicken from the Crock-Pot and place it in a large mixing bowl. Using two forks (or a hand mixer for efficiency), shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
5. Combine Chicken and Sauce: Pour about half of the prepared sweet chipotle sauce over the shredded chicken. Toss gently to combine, ensuring the chicken is nicely coated and warmed through. Add more sauce if desired, keeping in mind you can always add extra sauce directly to your assembled tacos.
6. Char Tortillas: Lightly spray both sides of your corn or flour tortillas with cooking spray. Using tongs, char the tortillas directly over a gas flame on your stove for a few seconds per side, until they are lightly browned and soft. Immediately fold each warm tortilla in half to help it retain its taco shape. (If you don’t have a gas stove, heat them in a dry skillet until soft and pliable.)
7. Assemble & Serve: Fill the charred tortillas with the saucy chipotle chicken. Top with your favorite additions like drained and rinsed black beans, thinly sliced ripe avocado, quick pickled red onions, a sprinkle of Cotija cheese, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice. For extra flavor, drizzle additional chipotle sauce directly into the tacos or serve it on the side for dipping. Enjoy your delicious Chipotle Chicken Tacos while they’re hot!

Recipe Notes

Note 1: Quick Pickled Red Onions Recipe

These tangy pickled red onions are a perfect complement to the rich chicken and add a beautiful pop of color. Here’s how to make them in under 5 minutes:

• 1 large red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

Instructions: In a medium-sized bowl, combine the thinly sliced red onion, red wine vinegar, salt, and sugar. Toss thoroughly to coat all the onion slices. Let the mixture sit at room temperature, tossing every 5 minutes or so, while you prepare the rest of your meal. The onions will soften slightly and take on a beautiful vibrant pink hue, becoming perfectly tangy.

Storage: To maintain optimal freshness, always store cooked chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months. The sweet chipotle sauce lasts for a week in the fridge in an airtight container. Always store fresh toppings (like avocado, cilantro, and pickled onions) separately in airtight containers in the fridge to maintain their freshness, texture, and prevent them from getting soggy.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 623kcal | Carbohydrates: 80g | Protein: 52g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 217mg | Sodium: 1937mg | Potassium: 1077mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 56g | Vitamin A: 648IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 94mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation. Actual values may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.

Enjoyed this delicious recipe for Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken Tacos? We’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment below and share your experience, favorite toppings, or any creative twists you added!