Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Tacos

Name: BBQ Chicken Tacos with Pineapple Salsa
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 240 min
Total time: 255 min
Ingredients: 1 pound chicken breasts; 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon paprika; 1 tablespoon brown sugar ((optional)); 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 1/2 cup barbecue sauce; 2 cups fresh or frozen pineapple (defrosted and cut into cubes); 1 jalapeño pepper (deseeded and diced); 2 avocados (diced); 1/2 lime (juiced); 1/4 cup cilantro (chopped); Corn tortillas; Lime wedges

Published: Nov 4, 2021 · Updated: Jan 29, 2024 by Sarah Hill · This post may contain affiliate links.

These Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Tacos with Avocado Pineapple Salsa are sweet and spicy and perfect for busy nights. This simple recipe is family-friendly and a great addition to taco night!

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Bbq chicken tacos topped with pineapple salsa on a white platter next to a blue napkin.

If you love a BBQ chicken recipe, you will love these shredded BBQ chicken tacos. They are made in a slow cooker and are topped with a simple pineapple salsa for a super easy and tasty meal.

There's no meal that's more on repeat in my house than tacos. We have tacos essentially every week. These crockpot BBQ chicken tacos are an easy dinner for your next Taco Tuesday.

Any chance I have to use a fruity salsa I am in, my crispy fish tacos with mango salsa are also a hit! The pineapple salsa on these tacos is the perfect balance of sweet and spicy.

🌟Why You'll Love this Recipe

Meal prep-friendly. This recipe requires minimal work and can be stored away for a meal prep-friendly recipe.
Easy weeknight meal. These tacos are great for the whole family and can easily be customized to everyone's liking.
Great for leftovers. The chicken can be used in so many creative ways as leftovers.

🥘Ingredients

Chicken. Boneless chicken breasts or chicken thighs will work for this recipe.
Sugar. You can use brown sugar, coconut sugar or omit sugar altogether if your barbecue sauce is already very sweet.
Barbecue sauce. Any brand of BBQ sauce will work, use your favorite!
Pineapple. I used frozen pineapple chunks for this recipe. I defrosted them by placing a strainer over a bowl, to catch the liquid, on the counter for a few hours. You can use freshly diced pineapple, however, I find frozen pineapple to be easier because it cuts down on the prep time.
Jalapeño pepper. Adds the perfect amount of spice to compliment the sweetness of the barbecue sauce.

See the recipe card below for the remaining ingredients and quantities.

📖Substitutions & Variations

Use hard taco shells. These bbq chicken tacos are delicious in a hard taco shell!
Switch out the toppings. If you're not a fan of pineapple salsa you can try my mango salsa recipe or try a corn salsa!
Adjust the heat. Feel free to omit the jalapeños in the pineapple salsa for less heat or add more for more heat!

🔪Instructions

Bbq chicken taco ingredients in the instant pot.

Step 1: Begin by adding the chicken, spices and barbecue sauce to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours.

Step 2: Make the avocado pineapple salsa. Add the pineapple to a bowl along with a seeded and chopped jalapeño (devein the jalapeño for less spice), peeled and diced avocado, the juice from ½ of a lime and chopped cilantro.

Step 3: When the chicken is done, shred it with two forks or a handheld mixer. Stir in additional barbecue sauce if needed.

Step 4: Assemble the tacos by placing the chicken on a tortilla, top it with the salsa and extra barbecue sauce.

How to Heat Tortillas

Heat corn and flour tortillas over an open flame (medium heat) for about 15 seconds per side until slightly charred.
Place tortillas in a lightly oiled skillet and heat for 30 seconds-1 minute per side.
Wrap tortillas in foil and heat them in the oven at 350 degrees F for 5-10 minutes.
Place tortillas on a plate, top them with a damp paper towel then cook in the microwave for 30 seconds-1 minute.

💭Recipe FAQs

What is the best way to use leftovers?

Aside from making more tacos, here are a few fun ideas!

Barbecue chicken sandwiches- top your favorite bread or roll with leftover chicken, more bbq sauce and your favorite coleslaw.
Quesadillas- make bbq chicken quesadillas with flour tortillas, bbq sauce, leftover chicken and some mozzarella cheese.

Can I make this BBQ chicken in the Instant Pot?

Yes! If you are using an Instant Pot, you will add chicken breasts, spices and barbecue sauce to the pot, then cover it, seal the vent and cook on high pressure for 15 minutes or low pressure for 45 minutes-1 hour. When done, release the pressure and shred the chicken with two forks or a handheld mixer.

How do I store leftover shredded chicken?

Leftover chicken can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days. It can also be stored in the freezer for about 1 month, if in a freezer-safe container. Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.

Bbq chicken tacos topped with pineapple salsa on a white platter.

👩🏻‍🍳Chef Tips

Re-use the pineapple salsa. This pineapple salsa can be used on fish, pulled pork or on its own as a spicy sweet appetizer.
Heat your tortillas! Heating up and charring the tortillas helps prevent the tortilla from breaking.
Use leftover chicken. Add the leftover chicken to salads, over rice or in sandwiches!

🥗Serving

Serve these BBQ Chicken Tacos on your next family taco night or to feed a crowd on game day!

Have extra pineapple? Pair the tacos with my 5-minute piña coladas.

🥣Storage & Reheating

For leftover chicken, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. You can store cooked chicken in a freezer bag in the freezer for 3-4 months.

Reheat the pulled chicken in the microwave for single servings for about 2 minutes. If reheating for a crowd, I recommend reheating on the stove in a Dutch oven or saucepan.