Crockpot Chicken with Enchilada Sauce is perfect when you're looking for an easy way to make slow cooker chicken enchilada filling or taco seasoned chicken for any Mexican dish. This is the easiest method by far!
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By making Slow Cooker Enchilada Chicken you can get tender and flavorful chicken with no effort. Who doesn't want an easy dinner?
This super easy slow-cooked chicken is so fast to prepare that you can have it cooking in under 5 minutes. After it finishes cooking, you can shred the crockpot chicken for enchiladas together in under 30 seconds with the help of an electric mixer!
This means that you get all of that extra time in your day to do what you want. It also means you can make a big batch and keep shredded Mexican chicken on hand for various meals throughout the week, like nachos, casseroles, and soups!
Try it with our Loaded Totchos (Tater Tot Nachos) or over some Air Fryer Tortilla Chips!
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💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Slow cooked and hands off. This slow cooker chicken with enchilada sauce is easy to set and forget, giving you time to focus on other things while dinner cooks.
- Great for any meal. Use the chicken in tacos, enchiladas, soups, or salads. We love serving it with Cheesy Bean and Rice Burritos and Easy Dorito Taco Salad.
- Flexible portions. Make a small batch or double or triple the recipe if your slow cooker has room, making it great for parties or meal prep.
🛒 Ingredients
Enchilada sauce. Use one can of your favorite enchilada sauce. We also use it in our Lazy Enchiladas With Taquitos and Walking Taco Casserole.
Taco seasoning. Seasons the chicken. Store bought or DIY Taco Seasoning both work.
Chicken breasts. Large chicken breasts form the base of the recipe and provide plenty of meat for multiple meals.
See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.
💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
Buy in bulk: Large family packs of chicken breasts are usually cheaper per pound. Freeze extras for later.
DIY seasoning: Homemade taco or fajita seasoning costs less than packets and uses pantry staples.
Store-brand sauce: Generic enchilada sauce works just as well and keeps costs down.
Multi-use meal: Make a double batch and repurpose leftovers into multiple meals.
🥄 Instructions for Crockpot Chicken with Enchilada Sauce
Step 1: Place your chicken breasts in a crockpot.
Step 2: Top with taco seasoning.
Step 3: Pour a can of enchilada sauce over the top of your chicken.
Step 4: Cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 5-6.
Step 4: Shred while it's in the slow cooker, or remove and then shred before adding it back.
Step 5: Use slow cooker shredded chicken for enchiladas, tacos, nachos, or whatever else you have in mind.
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- Time saving shredding. Use a handheld mixer to shred the cooked chicken in under 30 seconds using two beaters.
- Efficient technique. This method saves time and reduces dishes since there's no need to remove the chicken and shred it with forks.
- Handling extra liquid. Don't worry about excess liquid in the slow cooker. As the chicken is shredded, it absorbs the liquid quickly.
🐓 Shredded Chicken Uses
- Salad option. Toss with a zesty lime dressing and serve over fresh greens for a simple, flavorful salad.
- Taco potato bake. Spoon the seasoned chicken over a baked sweet potato with your favorite toppings.
- Soup add in. Add about 1 cup to taco soup for extra protein and to stretch the meat further.
- More ideas. Use it in oven baked potatoes, Dorito taco salad, or casseroles for easy meal upgrades.
❄️ Storage, Reheating & Make Ahead
Storage: Keep Crockpot Chicken with Enchilada Sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Freezing: Freeze in freezer-safe bags or containers for up to 3 months.
Reheating: Reheat gently on the stovetop or microwave with a splash of sauce to keep it moist.
Make Ahead: Cook, shred, and freeze in portioned amounts for quick weeknight meals.
🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
Serve Crockpot Chicken with Enchilada Sauce with rice, refried beans, or Mexican style corn. Top with sour cream, avocado, black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, or jalapeños. Leftovers are great in tortillas or wrapped into burritos for easy lunches, and it pairs well with lemonade, iced tea, or agua fresca.
- Leftover Turkey EnchiladasRecipe $6.86 / Serving $1.72
- Fajita Taco SaladRecipe $16.91 / Serving $2.82
- Chicken Fajita Freezer MealRecipe $10.02 / Serving $1.67
- Air Fryer Tortilla ChipsRecipe $0.90 / Serving $0.23
❓ Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! After your chicken has completely cooled, place it in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag and keep it stored until you're ready to use. Then simply let it thaw and reheat to use as desired.
Yes, you can! While the flavors of the two seasonings are both similar and different, you can use either one for this shredded chicken recipe. Just keep the flavors in mind when you go to use your chicken and look for ways to use it that will taste great (this shouldn't be a problem). 😉
Of course! Use your favorite enchilada sauce and you know that you'll love this chicken that much more! I recommend using about 1 cup or 1.5 cups of homemade sauce because that should be about the same amount as what you'd get in a can.
🍽️ More Recipes You'll Love
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- Jalapeno Cheddar Beer BreadRecipe $4.57
- Quick Horchata Recipe (With Leftover Rice)Recipe $0.28 / Serving $0.04
- Tomato Jalapeno SalsaRecipe $3.67 / Serving $0.61
🐝 If you tried this Crockpot Chicken with Enchilada Sauce, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your buzz in the 💬 comments below. I'd truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Crockpot Chicken with Enchilada Sauce
Ingredients
- 3 large boneless skinless chicken breasts - ($5.97)
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning - ($0.54)
- 10 ounces enchilada sauce - ($1.98)
Instructions
- Add Chicken: Place the chicken breasts in the slow cooker in a single layer.
- Season: Sprinkle the taco seasoning evenly over the chicken.
- Add Sauce: Pour the enchilada sauce over the top, making sure the chicken is well coated.
- Cook: Cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours or on high for 5 to 6 hours, until the chicken is tender and easily shreddable.
- Shred & Serve: Shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker using two forks or an electric mixer. Stir well to coat the meat in the sauce. Serve or use as desired.
Notes
- Shredding Methods: Chicken can be shredded using two forks or with an electric mixer for faster results.
- Flavor Tips: Stir the shredded chicken into the sauce to fully absorb the juices for maximum flavor.
- Seasoning Swap: Fajita seasoning may be used in place of taco seasoning.
- Sauce Options: Homemade enchilada sauce can be used for a more customized flavor.
- Storage & Freezing: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freeze in a freezer safe bag. Thaw and reheat as needed.
Nutritional Information
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