Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Nachos - What do you get when you combine two favorites into one? Only the most craveable munchy food in the entire world!
Salty tortilla chips piled high with slow-cooked seasoned chicken, melted cheese, tomatoes, black olives and whatever else your little heart loves on tacos be it shredded lettuce, diced avocado, red onion, black beans, pickled jalapenos – there is no right or wrong – just deliciousness at every turn.
Boneless chicken breasts are slow-cooked in a crock-pot with taco seasoning, onions, garlic and a little chicken broth to keep them moist and juicy. If you never cooked chicken in your crock-pot then you are in for a real treat – they turn out so tender you can cut them with a fork.
Once cooked the breasts are cut or shredded into bite-sized pieces and added back to the pot. If a lot of juice is left in the pot you can cook them further with the lid off to evaporate it off.
For assembly the tortilla chips are laid out on a baking sheet and topped with the chicken, cheese and olives then baked until hot.
The remaining toppings are sprinkled on – your choice of fresh tomatoes, onions, shredded lettuce, diced avocados, black beans, etc. . . along with sour cream, guacamole and/or salsa for dipping and dunking.
They make a great dinner, appetizer for a crowd or movie/game night munchy snack. Plus you can easily adapt the recipe to heat them on a grill for your next barbecue.
Why You’ll Love These Chicken Nachos :
- Easy prep — just set it and forget it in the slow cooker.
- Flavor-packed shredded taco chicken with minimal ingredients.
- Fun, customizable toppings for the whole family.
- Great for feeding a crowd or meal prepping for busy days.
- Nachos… do we really need more reasons? 😉
Favorite Topping Ideas :
- Shredded lettuce
- Pickled or fresh jalapeños
- Diced avocado or guacamole
- Black beans (sprinkle on before baking)
- Corn salsa or pico de gallo
- Crumbled queso fresco
FAQ :
Can I use rotisserie chicken instead?
Yep! Just skip the slow cooker step, toss shredded rotisserie chicken with taco seasoning and a little broth, and warm it up before assembling.
Do these nachos store well?
Nachos are best fresh, but leftover chicken keeps great. Store chicken separately and assemble fresh nachos when you’re ready to eat.
Is this recipe spicy?
Not as written, but you can easily add more heat with spicy taco seasoning or extra jalapeños.
Can I freeze the chicken?
Absolutely! The cooked shredded chicken freezes well for up to 2 months. Defrost and use for quick nachos, tacos, or burrito bowls anytime.
★ If you make this recipe, please leave a comment and give it a star rating. I would love to know how you liked it!
📖 Recipe
Delicious and Easy Slow-Cooker Chicken Taco Nachos
Ingredients
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 packet of taco seasoning or my homemade mix
- ½ cup diced onion
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- sea or kosher salt and fresh black pepper
- 1 pound boneless chicken breasts
- 14 - 16 ounces plain salted tortilla chips
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese white or yellow or a mix
- ½ cup sliced olives
- ½ cup diced tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon snipped scallions
Any other toppings you like:
- shredded lettuce
- diced onions
- pickled jalapenos
- diced fresh avocado
- black beans sprinkle these on before heating
For serving:
- sour cream
- guacamole
- salsa
Instructions
- In a 4 quart slow-cooker whisk the broth and taco seasoning together. Stir in the onion and garlic.
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper and nestle them into the slow-cooker.
- Cook 4 hours on high or 6 - 8 on low.
- Remove the chicken breasts to a cutting board and let them sit for 5 - 10 minutes.
- Cut or shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Add them back to the slow-cooker and toss with the juices.
- If the chicken is very juicy let it cook on high with the lid off to evaporate some of it off.
- On a large baking sheet or 2 medium sheets lay the tortilla chips out.
- Drop spoonfuls of the chicken over the chips. Sprinkle with cheese.
- Bake until the cheese is melted and the chips are hot 10 - 15 minutes.
- Top with the olives, tomatoes and scallions plus any other toppings you like.
- Serve with sour cream, guacamole and/or salsa.
Nutrition
These Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Nachos are my go-to when I want something fun, family-friendly, and stress-free. They’re cheesy, crispy, loaded with flavor, and everyone gets to make their perfect nacho plate. Honestly… the slow cooker makes it almost too easy.
If you try these, let me know — what are your must-have nacho toppings? I’m always looking for new ideas!
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