Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas

Published October 14, 2019. Updated May 17, 2023

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Easy Chicken Fajitas made in the slow cooker! Still all the delicious flavors of traditional fajitas without all the extra hassle! Just dump everything into the crockpot and let it simmer to tender well seasoned perfection.

Great for busy days where you can come home to dinner ready to eat!

Crockpot Chicken Fajitas

Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas

For almost 5 years these Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas have been one of the most popular recipes on my blog. Because we all love an easy delicious recipe don’t we? This is real life and we are busy people.

With this simplified recipe you get to skip marinating, and you also get to skip sauteing veggies and chicken in batches (and therefor tending to it). Instead here, the crockpot does most of the work.

And not only that, cooking it in the slow cooker allows plenty of time to for the flavors to meld together and really soak into the chicken and veggies, plus it will leave you with perfectly tender chicken every time.

It’s a delicious family friendly recipe and it makes plenty so you may be lucky enough to have left overs for lunch the next day!

Then for the days you didn’t plan ahead for a slow cooker dinner try my Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas, everything cooks together on one sheet pan. So easy and so good!

Watch the Video!

Crockpot Chicken Fajita Ingredients

Crockpot Chicken Fajita Ingredients:

  • Boneless skinless chicken breasts – I like to stick with chicken breasts here because thighs will just shred apart.
  • Canned diced tomatoes with green chilies – if you can’t find them with green chilies you can use plain diced tomatoes and add a 4 oz. can of green chilies or just skip the green chilies.
  • Bell peppers – I like to use a trio of red, yellow and green but really any color will work.
  • Yellow onion and garlic – you can also use a red onion if that’s what you have on hand.
  • Chili powder, cumin, paprika, coriander, salt and pepper – these spices give the fajitas that classic Tex Mex flavor, if you don’t have coriander you can substitute Oregano (a much different flavor but also common in fajitas).
  • Lime – use fresh lime juice for best flavor.
  • Honey – this just balances the acidity of the lime and tomatoes but you can omit it if preferred.
  • Tortillas and toppings – toppings are optional but don’t forget the tortillas!

Steps to making chicken fajitas in the slow cooker

How To Make Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas

  • Add half of the tomatoes, peppers, onions and garlic to a 6 or 7 quart slow cooker.
  • Top with chicken breasts.
  • Mix together seasonings and sprinkle over both sides of chicken.
  • Top with remaining tomatoes.
  • And remaining bell peppers, onions and garlic.
  • Set the slow cooker and let cook through, then cut or shred the chicken.
  • Toss in honey and lime mixture. Serve warm over tortillas with toppings.

Two chicken fajitas on a wooden plate.

Tips And Variations:

  • If you like the bell peppers tender crisp and not soft, wait until about the last 30 minutes to add them.
  • Cook near lesser times if you’d like to slice chicken vs. shredding.
  • For an extra boost of flavor serve topped with sour cream, salsa, sliced avocados or guacamole, or Mexican hot sauce.
  • Use corn or flour tortillas for serving. Warm them first.
  • Or try serving fajita mixture over rice or quinoa and make a burrito bowl instead.
  • Add more or less chili powder according to preference. Be sure to use mild chili powder.
  • Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days.

More Delicious Tex Mex Recipes to Try:

16 Quick & Easy 30 Minute Recipes! (plus weekly recipe updates)

4.89 from 80 votes

Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas

All the delicious flavors of traditional fajitas without all the extra hassle! Just dump everything in the slow cooker and let it simmer to tender well seasoned perfection.
Servings: 6 servings
Prep15 minutes
Cook6 hours 10 minutes
Ready in: 6 hours 25 minutes

Ingredients

For serving:

  • 12 6-inch flour tortillas
  • Cilantro, sour cream, salsa, guacamole or sliced avocados, shredded Mexican cheese (optional)

Instructions

  • Pour half of the canned tomatoes into the bottom of a slow cooker and spread into an even layer. Top with half of the peppers** and half of the onions. Sprinkle garlic in. Top with chicken breasts.
  • In a bowl whisk together chili powder, cumin, paprika, coriander, salt and pepper. Evenly sprinkle half of the seasoning over chicken breasts then flip chicken and sprinkle in remainder. Top with remaining half of the tomatoes, then layer in remaining peppers and onions.
  • Cover and cook on HIGH heat about 2 - 3 hours or low heat 4 - 6 hours, until chicken has cooked through and veggies are tender.
  • Remove chicken, and cut into strips, or shred. Ladle out 1 cup of the broth in slow cooker (mostly tomato liquid) and discard.Β 
  • In a small bowl whisk together lime juice and honey and add to slow cooker along with chicken and season with additional salt to taste if desired (I sometimes like to add 1/4 cup chopped cilantro too here but this is optional). Gently toss. Serve warm in warmed tortillas optional toppings.

Notes

  • *Oregano can be substituted for coriander. Much different flavor but another delicious option for fajitas.
  • **If you like the bell peppers tender crisp and not soft, wait until about the last 30 minutes to add them.
  • Extra toppings not included in nutritional estimate.
Nutrition Facts
Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas
Amount Per Serving
Calories 432 Calories from Fat 72
% Daily Value*
Fat 8g12%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Cholesterol 96mg32%
Sodium 1007mg44%
Potassium 1082mg31%
Carbohydrates 48g16%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 13g14%
Protein 34g68%
Vitamin A 3380IU68%
Vitamin C 125.2mg152%
Calcium 123mg12%
Iron 4.5mg25%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.
Recipe originally published January 2015, photos have been updated.

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497 Comments

  • Steve

    Very disappointing. While this is an easy recipe, these were very bland. I’m not a crock pot aficionado, but these were VERY watery, even after straining the filling for each taco.

    The water didn’t bother me as much as the lack of flavor. I feel like the liquid washed away any flavor that the onions and peppers would’ve brought, not to mention the various seasonings. Would not recommend, unless you have plenty of salsa or hot sauce to add once you get it to your plate.

    • Melanie

      I always make mine in a 3.5 qt and there is always enough room! A 3 qt should be fine
      Just cut down a bit of the cook time because i find the peppers always evaporate

  • Juliet

    Also..I was confused about putting the chicken back in the slow cooker after I shred it? It’s pretty shredded already from the hours of slow cooking …:) do I put back in broth/crockpot with the veggies and then use a slotted spoon to put into the tortillas?

    • Sharon

      Remove all the liquid and use it another time, maybe as a base for spanish rice or for black beans or whatever. You’ll be adding a bit of lime and honey and that will be plenty of liquid.

  • Juliet

    I’m in the process of making mine..it’s been almost 5 hours but my chicken was frozen *(pre-cooked breasts) and everything smells divine.. but there’s a Lot of liquid..a LOT. Any idea what I should do with all the broth? I’m thinking of scooping it out and using it as a broth for a black bean side to complement the fajitas? Has anyone else had this issue? Thx for the great recipe ! Pointers appreciated:)

    • Steve

      Black beans would go perfectly. I made a side of Mexican rice, and if I ever make these again, I would use the broth in place of the water to make the rice. When I made it, there was more flavor in the broth than in the chicken and peppers.

      I would also recommend making some refried beans and adding chihuahua cheese to everything. It makes everything better!

  • Doreen Cregp

    I think you sight is lovely, your recipes are great and super easy to follow! Loving the slow cooker chicken fajitas! Keep the recipes coming!!! A big fan!
    Doreen C

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      Thanks for the compliments Doreen! I hope you continue to enjoy my recipes!

  • Liz

    Just made this today and it was very tasty! I cooked it a bit longer than it really needed, so my chicken ended up shredded. My veggies were a little soft, but still very tasty. I added mushrooms. Next time, I’ll cook it on high for only 3 hours to cook the veggies less and the meat faster. If you’re looking for true, stove-top fajitas, don’t make these! But this is a really tasty version that cooks up while you’re doing other things. And a bonus is that the spice mix is GREAT.

  • Melanie

    I made these yesterday for dinner! I only ended up leaving it in the crockpot for a little over three hours and the chicken was perfect. My husband and I both loved it these fajitas. Last night, he was actually disappointed that we didn’t have more leftovers from it, so I know we’ll be making them again soon! Thanks for the great recipe. I’ll be checking out more of yours for sure!

  • Glynda

    I’ve had my slow cooker for over three years and must have tried 20+ recipes. This is the first one that I’m calling a success! Yay! And thank you…