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Set it and forget it! A quick and easy dinner that the whole family loves can be ready with just 5 minutes of prep! Make these Ranch Chicken Tacos in a Crock Pot for a healthy and easy twist on the classic weeknight dinner!

Buffalo ranch chicken tacos from a slow cooker on a plate

Do you ever crave buffalo sauce? I go through phases where I want to slather it on everything for weeks at a time…and then I’m over it for awhile.

My pregnancies were definitely a few of those extended periods where I couldn’t get enough of the tangy, spicy sauce!

Not surprisingly, my kiddos don’t really share my love for the hot stuff! Instead, they prefer their chicken tacos nice and mild.

But good news! I can prepare just one dinner and still keep everyone happy!

With these Ranch Chicken Tacos, the buffalo sauce is added as a garnish at the end, so it’s very easy to just leave it off of your kids’ tacos. Hooray!

How to make Chicken Tacos in a Crock Pot:

This meal could not be easier! You just need the following 4 ingredients:

Packet of Ranch seasoning mix

Place all of the ingredients in a slow cooker and toss to combine. Then just cover and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours, or until chicken is tender and cooked through.

Finally, shred the chicken with two forks in the Crock Pot and assemble your tacos!

What to serve with Crock Pot Chicken Tacos:

I like to prepare Buffalo Ranch Chicken Tacos for the grown-ups, so I typically add the following toppings:

  • a hefty drizzle of buffalo wing sauce
  • crumbled blue cheese
  • guacamole or diced avocado

My kids, on the other hand, prefer a more authentic chicken taco recipe. They top their tacos with grated cheddar cheese and salsa, and they’re happy campers.

Here are a few side dishes that go well with chicken tacos, too:

These Slow Cooker Buffalo Ranch Chicken Tacos are an easy dinner with 5 minutes of prep! Healthy Dinner Recipes | Chicken Breast Recipes | Slow Cooker Chicken Dinner #chicken #slowcooker #dinner

Cook’s Tips and Recipe Variations – The Best Shredded Chicken Tacos Recipe:

  • I like chicken thighs for this recipe because they tend to stay juicier in the slow cooker. If you prefer white meat, however, you can substitute with an equal amount of boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
  • All slow cookers run at slightly different temperatures, so you’ll just need to keep an eye on your chicken the first time that you make it. You’ll cook the chicken thighs for about 2-3 hours on HIGH, or 4-6 hours on LOW. In some cooler Crock Pots, however, you can cook chicken thighs for 8-10 hours without drying them out.
  • Set out a variety of toppings to please everyone at the table. Make the buffalo ranch chicken tacos that I love, or keep it more traditional with salsa, cheddar, and avocado!
  • Use crunchy taco shells, soft flour tortillas, or just serve the chicken over a big salad for a Chicken Taco Salad. Ranch dressing would be a great addition!
  • Have Leftovers? Wrapped tightly, the cooked, shredded chicken will keep in the freezer for at least 1 month.

These Slow Cooker Buffalo Ranch Chicken Tacos are an easy dinner with 5 minutes of prep! Healthy Dinner Recipes | Chicken Breast Recipes | Slow Cooker Chicken Dinner #chicken #slowcooker #dinner

More easy Crock Pot chicken recipes that you might enjoy:

Buffalo ranch chicken tacos from a slow cooker on a plate

Ranch Chicken Tacos in a Crock Pot

5 from 1 vote
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 4 hours
Total: 4 hours 5 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 250.5 kcal
Make these Ranch Chicken Tacos in a Crock Pot for a healthy and easy twist on the classic weeknight dinner!

Ingredients
  

  • 2.5 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or chicken breasts)
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1 (1 ounce) packet dry Ranch seasoning mix (just the dry mix)
  • For serving: buffalo sauce; crumbled blue cheese; fresh cilantro; flour tortillas (or taco shells}; and/or salad

Instructions

  • Place chicken, olive, oil, vinegar, and dry Ranch seasoning in a large slow cooker. Use your hands to toss everything together and make sure that the chicken is well coated with the seasonings. Cover and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours (or on HIGH for 2-3 hours).
  • Shred chicken and return meat to the slow cooker. Serve chicken in tacos (or on salad) and drizzle with buffalo sauce, blue cheese, and cilantro, if desired.

Notes

  • I like chicken thighs for this recipe because they tend to stay juicier in the slow cooker. If you prefer white meat, however, you can substitute with an equal amount of boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
  • All slow cookers run at slightly different temperatures, so you’ll just need to keep an eye on your chicken the first time that you make it. You'll cook the chicken thighs for about 2-3 hours on HIGH, or 4-6 hours on LOW. In some cooler Crock Pots, however, you can cook chicken thighs for 8-10 hours without drying them out.
  • Set out a variety of toppings to please everyone at the table. Make the buffalo ranch chicken tacos that I love, or keep it more traditional with salsa, cheddar, and avocado!
  • Use crunchy taco shells, soft flour tortillas, or just serve the chicken over a big salad for a Chicken Taco Salad. Ranch dressing would be a great addition!
  • Have Leftovers? Wrapped tightly, the cooked, shredded chicken will keep in the freezer for at least 1 month.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/8 of the chicken recipeCalories: 250.5kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 24.5gFat: 15.5gSaturated Fat: 0.8gCholesterol: 90mgSodium: 660mg
Keyword: chicken tacos, chicken tacos in a crock pot, slow cooker chicken tacos
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Author: The Seasoned Mom
blair

Hey, I’m Blair!

Welcome to my farmhouse kitchen in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Inspired by local traditions and seasonal fare, you’ll find plenty of easy, comforting recipes that bring your family together around the table. It’s down-home, country-style cooking!

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Comments

  1. Buffalo sauce is a favorite of mine, so these tacos are calling my name! Love that you made this in the slow cooker, Blair! Set it and forget it meals are definitely a winner in my house. Sounds perfect for a cozy meal!

    1. Buffalo sauce is so darn good, right?! And it’s always a bonus if you can just throw a meal in the Crock Pot! 🙂

  2. Yum! This is the 3rd recipe yours I’ve made and they have all been hits! So glad I found your site! I don’t care for dark meat, and have found other chicken taco recipies to be dry and bland using breasts. But with this recipie the chicken was moist and full of flavor and AGAIN, really easy to make!

  3. Thank you so much Blair. You are the bomb! I made this in the pressure cooker (3 lbs of chicken breasts for 55 minutes) and once complete, I added another 3 tablespoons of Ranch dressing mix for extra season. My youngest son, Benjamin, LOVES Frank’s Sauce so this was a huge hit. We put them on grilled yellow corn tortillas. I like sour cream on mine to complement the Frank’s Sauce.

  4. Hi Blair, I made this recipe and it was really good!!! Very quick and easy to put together. Will definitely be making this again soon! I Iike anything made with buffalo sauce. I also drizzled the tacos with ranch dressing on top of the buffalo sauce. Very tasty!