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Three bbq chicken tacos on a plate with cilantro and ranch dressing.

BBQ Chicken Tacos Recipe

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  • Author: Erin Jensen
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 12 servings 1x
  • Category: Tacos
  • Method: Slow Cooker + Instant Pot + Stove Top
  • Cuisine: American

Description

BBQ Chicken Tacos – an easy weeknight taco recipe that can be made in the Slow Cooker, Stove Top or Instant Pot!


Ingredients

Scale

Stove Top:

  • 4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • water for saucepan
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce (more if desired)

Slow Cooker:

  • 1 1/2 cup BBQ Sauce
  • 4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Instant Pot:

  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 cup BBQ Sauce (more if desired)

Tacos:


Instructions

Stove Top:

  1. Take medium/large saucepan and fill 3/4 of the way with water.
  2. Bring to a boil.
  3. Add chicken to boiling water and reduce temp to bring water to a simmer.
  4. Let simmer 15-20 minutes.
  5. Carefully remove chicken and ensure center of thickest part of chicken has reached 165 degrees.
  6. Place chicken on a plate and shred with two forks. Place in a bowl with BBQ Sauce; stir to combine.

Slow Cooker:

  1. Place chicken breasts in crock pot.
  2. Pour 1 cup bbq sauce over top.
  3. Cover and cook on HIGH 3-4 hours or LOW 6-8 hours.
  4. Once chicken is done cooking, shred with two forks.  The sauce will be thinned out due to the heat, but as it cools and you mix the shredded chicken around it will thicken back up.
  5. Add the additional 1/2 cup bbq sauce (or more if you want); stir to combine.

Instant Pot:

  1. Add 1 cup of chicken broth (or water) to Instant Pot.
  2. Place chicken inside (no need for trivet).
  3. Set Instant Pot to “Seal” and cook on High Pressure for 8-10 minutes.
  4. Allow Instant Pot to naturally release.
  5. Remove chicken and place on a plated; pour out any remaining liquid in the Instant Pot. Shred the chicken with two forks and place back into the Instant Pot.
  6. Add BBQ Sauce and stir to combine.

Tacos:

  • Load your favorite tortilla up with bbq chicken, fresh cilantro and top with some ranch dressing!

Notes

  • BBQ Sauce: feel free to use whatever bbq sauce you prefer.
  • Tortillas: use your favorite tortillas or you can learn how make your own here.
  • Ranch: we love our homemade ranch, but use whatever works best for you.
  • Paleo: To make these paleo simply use a paleo bbq sauce and paleo tortillas!
  • Cook Time Listed: I used the stove-top method for the listed cook time – of course if you opt for the slow cooker or instant pot it will take longer than that.