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Skip the bun and have your BBQ in a tortilla! These simple bbq chicken tacos are slow cooked and topped with a creamy simple slaw. Only about 10 minutes of prep makes for juicy, delicious shredded barbecue chicken that will be a new family favorite!
We like BBQ Sauce in our house–a LOT. And we love trying all different flavors and brands all summer long. BBQ chicken is a weekly occurrence at dinner time and so why not have it in the form of tacos to make things a bit different, right?
You may be used to your BBQ on a bun, but trust me, wrap it up in a flour tortilla and top it with this creamy, simple slaw and you are gonna be CHANGED.
Juicy BBQ flavor is clearly the main reason I love these tacos, but it’s my slow cooker doing what it does best that makes me love them all the more.
Looking for other slow cooker recipe favorites? Try this Crock Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta, BBQ Slow Cooker Country Style Ribs, Crockpot Honey Mustard Chicken or my all time favorite Crock Pot Shredded Beef!
Why You Will Love These BBQ Chicken Tacos
- They are so simple to make. Toss all the ingredients into the slow cooker and essentially you can walk away until dinner. That’s my kind of crockpot recipe–every time.
- You can make them using a different BBQ sauce every time. That’s right, it will never be exactly the same twice–unless you want it that way!
- Feed a crowd–in shifts. I get it, it’s not always easy for everyone to sit down together, but the slow cooker can sit on warm for the evening and the crew can put together a few tacos when they need to. No need to nuke anything.
- It’s a freezer friendly meal! This shredded chicken freezer so well. We like to make this and freeze half so I have dinner ready to go another time down the road when I am feeling too tired to cook!
Ingredient Notes
- We use boneless skinless chicken breast for these bbq chicken tacos, but you could use boneless skinless chicken thighs if preferred. Chicken thighs are a bit more forgiving when it comes to overcooking.
- I keep the spices fairly simple to allow the barbecue sauce to bring out much of the flavor but you can certainly add a bit more cumin and chili powder if you would like!
- Sometimes I chop up a jalapeño as well as a bell pepper to bring up the heat.
- You don’t have to top these shredded chicken tacos with this slaw, but I think the tacos are just not the same without it.
Recipe Variations
- switch up the barbecue sauce
- add more spiciness by adding your favorite hot sauce
- add corn or black beans into the crockpot
- serve on flour tortillas, corn tortillas, over nachos, in crunchy tacos, as quesadillas and so much more
- a squeeze of lime juice in the chicken mixture can add another layer of flavor.
How to make this recipe
Step 1: Add the chicken to the slow cooker and season with the salt, pepper, garlic and other seasonings.
Step 2: Dice the pepper and onion and toss them in with the chicken. Pour BBQ sauce over chicken and vegetables and spread to cover.
Step 3: Cook on low 4-6 hours until chicken reaches internal temperature of 165°F.
Step 4: Use two forks to shred the chicken It should come apart very easily. You can remove the chicken from the crockpot and do this on a cutting board if preferred. Sometimes I toss in some extra BBQ sauce at this time to thicken it up. Set heat to warm until ready to serve.
Step 5: For the slaw–simply toss everything together in a bowl to start.
Step 6: Toss to combine. Adjust seasoning to taste. Chill for about15 minutes before serving.
Step 7: Serve! Top the chicken with chopped fresh cilantro just before serving. My husband will NOT eat tacos without cheese so I add some cheese on top of these BBQ chicken tacos and the slaw on top of that with extra extra cilantro when I put the tacos together..
Recipe Tips
- Cooking time can vary. I use a 6 quart crockpot and try to use chicken breasts of similar thickness. The size of your slow cooker and the chicken can cause the cook time to be more or less. I try to check in at about 2 1/2 or 3 hours and then go from there to play it extra safe!
- You certainly can still serve this shredded bbq chicken on buns if preferred! No rules here, promise, however, we usually make this slow cooked bbq chicken when serving it as sandwiches.
Storage
Store leftover shredded bbq chicken in an airtight container for about 3-4 days in the refrigerator. You can also freeze this chicken. Allow to cool completely and then transfer to a freezer safe container. Freeze up to 3 months.
More Slow Cooker Recipes
- Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowls
- Slow Cooker / Instant Pot Carnitas
- Tomato Tortellini Soup
- Crock Pot Sweet Potato Chili
- Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
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Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Tacos with Simple Slaw
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. chicken breasts
- 1¼ c BBQ sauce
- 1 green bell pepper, small diced
- ½ red onion, diced
- 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ tsp paprika, (smoked paprika is amazing too!)
- ½ tsp chili powder
- ¼ tsp cumin
- ½ tsp cracked pepper
- ½ tsp sea salt, more or less to taste
For the Simple Slaw:
- 4 c cole slaw mix
- ¼ c mayonnaise
- ¼ c sour cream, greek yogurt will also work
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1 garlic clove minced
- ½ tsp cumin
- ½ cracked pepper
- ¼ – ½ sea salt
- ½ tsp sugar (optional)
- ¼ c chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Place chicken into slow cooker and season with garlic, cumin, paprika, chili powder, sea salt and pepper.
- Add pepper and onion and then cover with BBQ sauce.
- Cook on low for 4-6 hours. (I like to check in at about 2.5/3 hours and then adjust as needed.)
- When chicken is cooked and has reached an internal temperature of 165F, use two forks, shred the chicken as it should pull apart easily. You can remove the chicken and do this on a cutting board. Add extra BBQ sauce to thicken up if desired.
- Stir to allow to soak up the extra sauce and set heat to warm until ready to serve. During this time, toss all ingredients together to make the slaw and chill for about 15 minutes.
- Serve with your other favorite taco toppings and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
What did everyone serve as a side with these ?
I don’t know if I love any food more than tacos! I absoutley love how easy this is to make in the slow cooker, perfect for busy moms like me!
Easy recipes make dinner so much more enjoyable!
This recipe is speaking my name. We were just talking about having a taco night and both love barbecue! Not to mention, this looks SO easy.
Easy recipe is my middle name Alisa! Makes sitting down to dinner sooo much more relaxing!
I’m always looking for good slow cooker recipes. I bet you could prep a big batch of these to have ready for a summer party! Such a yummy looking recipe.
Oh my gosh, great idea Jordan!
Simple and easy recipe and it includes BBQ! Yes! This time of year I crave the BBQ flavor so much. I will add this recipe to next week’s meal plan! Thank you.
Same! Hope you love it Alexa!
Tacos never looked so good! I love how simple yet packed with flavor these are! Delish!
Thanks Sonali! You’ll want taco Tuesday every day of the week!
Quick and easy I guess it isn’t too late for the slow cooker! I keep seeing slow cooker recipes and I never pulled mine out next fall. Might have to for summer party season!
I use mine much more in the fall but now I remember why it’s so useful all year long!
These BBQ Chicken tacos look so delicious! Love how easy this recipe is! Letting my slow cooker do all the work for Taco Tuesday sounds like a great idea to me!
The slow cooker is where it’s at especially in the summer. Thanks Taylor!