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Make taco night easy night with these Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Bowls! Made naturally gluten-free with homemade low-sodium taco seasoning and layered with fresh vegetables, this low-calorie dinner is one everyone will love especially the cook!

A chicken taco bowl on the table with pico de gallo and sliced avocado on top and a fork to the side.
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This shredded chicken taco bowl is another one of those I-make-all-the-time recipes! It’s always a family favorite but I also love the ease of making the chicken. It’s perfect to cook on Sunday to pack away for meals throughout the week and sometimes I even make a double batch to make sure I have leftovers.

If you love cooking in your slow cooker then you will love my Crockpot Italian Chicken and Peppers, Healthy Crockpot Pulled Pork, and Best Vegan Chili recipes too!

Why I Love This Taco Bowl Recipe

  • Homemade Taco Seasoning. It’s super easy to make and gives you complete control over what’s in it! That means NO additives!
  • Budget-Friendly Dish. Using pantry staples and common ingredients means you can prepare an easy dinner for less!
  • Perfect for Meal Prep. I love meal prepping this on Sundays to make mealtime easier. It also makes a lot which is perfect on busy weeks so I don’t have to worry about cooking dinner.
  • Cooks While You Are Away. If you don’t have time for meal prep you can also add all the ingredients for this healthy taco bowl recipe to your slow cooker early in the morning before heading to work. Just toss everything in the crockpot, set to low. This is key to making the chicken extra tender.

Ingredients You Need

Here’s a look at the simple ingredients you need to make fresh and tasty taco bowls for dinner!

Ingredients to make slow cooker chicken taco bowls on the table before making.
  • Chicken: I’m using boneless and skinless chicken breasts to keep this dish high in protein but lower in fat. Chicken thighs will work also as well as crock pot shredded pork but the nutrition will change slightly for the recipe.
  • Broth: Use low-sodium chicken broth. It simply gives you much more control over the amount of sodium in the dish.
  • Black Beans: I prefer reduced sodium black beans. Be sure to drain and rinse them before adding them to the slow cooker.
  • Bell Peppers: Use a combination of red and green for more color. You can also use other colored bell peppers if you prefer.
  • Homemade Taco Seasoning: We’re swapping the store bought taco seasoning to make our own! It’s super easy! You will need onion powder, dried oregano, paprika, cumin, chili powder, salt, and black pepper. Of course, you can use store bought taco seasoning if you prefer.
  • Optional toppings: The sky is the limit! Use salsa, lettuce, cilantro, Greek yogurt or sour cream, avocado, rice, or lime. Add easy low calorie taco dip on the side for fun!

How to Make Taco Bowls in the Slow Cooker

Here’s a look at the simple steps for making these shredded chicken taco bowls.

Chicken and peppers topped with seasoning in a slow cooker.

Step 1: Place the chicken breasts on the bottom of the slow cooker in an even layer. Add the bell pepper, salt, pepper, and seasonings on top.

Broth added to the slow cooker.

Step 2: Cover the chicken with the broth making sure the chicken is completely covered in the liquid. Set the crockpot to low and cook for 6 hours.

Crockpot chicken taco bowl meat in the slow cooker after cooking.

Step 3: Use a wooden spoon to break up the chicken breasts in the crockpot to shred them into pieces.

Black beans are added to the chicken.

Step 4: Add the black beans to the crockpot and cook on low for another 30 minutes.

Step 5: Serve up your shredded chicken with all your favorite toppings to make these easy taco bowls.

Slow cooker chicken taco bowl meat in a slow cooker after cooking and garnished with cilantro.

How to Store

  • Storing: Allow the chicken to cool all the way down and then transfer it to airtight containers for storage. Store it in the refrigerator for up to four days or freeze it for up to three months. For smaller households, you can pack it up in smaller amounts and freeze it. This allows you to pull out exactly what you need to make for meals.
  • Reheat: Reheat the chicken in a skillet on the stove over medium heat until heated through. You may want to add a bit of broth or water to the skillet if it seems a bit dry.

Serving Suggestions

  • Over Rice. Keep it simple with white or brown rice. If you’re looking for other alternatives try Mexican Cauliflower Rice and Plain Cauliflower Rice which are both great low-carb options. You can also serve it up with other grains such as quinoa.
  • Traditional Healthy Toppings. Serve it up any combination including salsa, pico de gallo, sliced avocado, guacamole, sour cream or Greek yogurt, or shredded cheese.
  • Perfect for a Taco Bar. This shredded chicken is perfect to make for a large group or party. Serve it up with all your favorite taco and taco bowl toppings. Enjoy dishes like this Healthy Pinto Bean Dip, Greek Yogurt Taco Dip or Spicy Black Bean Hummus.
A white bowl on the table filled with shredded chicken, rice, avocados, salsa, and lettuce.

Expert Tips

  • Use Skinless Boneless Chicken Breasts. This is the best high protein option and making chicken in a pressure cooker saves you time as well!
  • Cook Low and Slow. This is the trick to tender chicken.
  • Repurpose Leftovers. If you hate to eat the same thing over and over use the chicken to make different dishes such as simple salsa verde tacos, add it to salads, or stuff it into lettuce wraps or a regular wrap.
  • Nutritional Information. Any changes to the ingredients will change the nutrition and also the calculations shown in the recipe card don’t include your toppings added to the taco bowl!

Recipe FAQs

Is this recipe spicy?

Not at all! If you like it spicy you can add red pepper flakes, some sliced jalapenos along with the sliced peppers, or cayenne pepper to the pot. Also, you can serve up a spicy salsa on the side instead to make a shredded chicken that’s family-friendly with a milder flavor. You absolutely can make it spicier. Just noted that it’s difficult to take it away once it’s added!

Can I double this recipe?

Yes, of course! I would suggest you use a larger crockpot rather than a smaller one. It’s important to not overfill the crockpot so it can cook efficiently. A large slow cooker will give you more room to spread out the chicken on the bottom.

Crockpot chicken taco bowl on the table with avocado, limes, salsa, rice and shredded chicken.

More Easy Chicken Recipes

If you tried this slow cooker chicken taco bowls recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below.

Slow cooker chicken taco bowls served up in a white bowl on the table.
5 from 3 votes
Servings: 4 servings

Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Bowls

Healthy Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Bowls are high in protein, low in calories and make an easy, delicious meal!
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 6 hours
Total: 6 hours 20 minutes
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Ingredients 

For the Chicken:

For the Homemade Taco Seasoning:

Optional toppings

  • Salsa, lettuce, cilantro, Greek yogurt or sour cream, avocado, rice, lime

Instructions 

  • Place chicken breasts on the bottom of the slow cooker in an even layer. Add bell pepper, salt, pepper, seasonings then cover chicken with chicken broth making sure the chicken is just covered in the liquid. Set crockpot to low and cook 6 hours.
  • With a wooden spoon, break up chicken breasts in the crockpot to shred it. Add black beans to the crockpot cook on low another 30 minutes.
  • Assemble bowls, add optional toppings and devour!

Video

Notes

  • You can use taco seasoning in place of the seasonings.
  • 1 serving equals 1 1/2 cups.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 362kcal, Carbohydrates: 41g, Protein: 40g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0.01g, Cholesterol: 73mg, Sodium: 991mg, Potassium: 1322mg, Fiber: 16g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 1296IU, Vitamin C: 69mg, Calcium: 106mg, Iron: 6mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Megan

Megan is a nutritionist who coaches women 35+ lose weight sustainably. She is the author of the Low Calorie Cookbook, fitness instructor, host of the Dish On Ditching Diets Podcast and creator of Skinny Fitalicious where you get lighter, higher protein recipes. Follow Megan on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube and Instagram for the latest updates.

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22 Comments

  1. Tanya says:

    Delicious recipe and very easy to make!

  2. Megan says:

    Such an easy recipe. Balanced, nutritious and delicious!