Description
Cool ranch chicken tacos elevate weeknight dinner with zesty Mexican-inspired flavors. Tender shredded chicken infused with tangy seasonings makes meal preparation effortless and delicious for you.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs)
Seasonings:
- 1 packet (30 g / 1 ounce) ranch seasoning mix
- 1 packet (30 g / 1 ounce) taco seasoning mix
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
Liquid Ingredients:
- 1 cup (250 milliliters / 8 fluid ounces) chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
Taco Assembly Ingredients:
- 8–10 small flour or corn tortillas
- Shredded lettuce
- Diced tomatoes
- Shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or your favorite)
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt
- Sliced jalapenos (optional)
Instructions
- Nestle chicken breasts into the slow cooker basin, ensuring they are evenly positioned for consistent cooking.
- Create a flavor foundation by sprinkling ranch seasoning, taco seasoning, and garlic powder uniformly across the chicken surface.
- Enhance moisture and tenderness by drizzling chicken broth and freshly squeezed lime juice over the seasoned meat.
- Secure the slow cooker lid and allow the chicken to gently simmer on low temperature for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until meat becomes remarkably tender.
- Extract chicken from the aromatic liquid and meticulously shred using two forks, pulling meat apart into delicate strands.
- Reintroduce shredded chicken into the cooking liquid, stirring to absorb additional flavor complexity and maintain moisture.
- Warm tortillas briefly in a skillet or microwave to enhance pliability and release subtle corn or wheat aromatics.
- Construct tacos by layering shredded chicken as the primary protein base, then strategically garnish with crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, shredded cheese, creamy sour cream, and optional spicy jalapeños.
- Present tacos immediately with zesty lime wedges, allowing diners to customize their final flavor profile with a citrusy squeeze.
Notes
- Opt for skinless, boneless chicken breasts for the most tender and easily shreddable meat in this recipe.
- Customize the spice level by adjusting the amount of taco seasoning or adding a dash of hot sauce for extra kick.
- Make this dish gluten-free by using corn tortillas and checking that your seasoning mixes are certified gluten-free.
- Prepare a big batch and freeze the shredded chicken in portion-sized containers for quick future meals – it keeps well for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg