Slow cooker pulled chicken

Try this slow cooked smoky chicken as an easy alternative to pulled pork. It's best served in a bun or with rice, and makes a simple dish for a family meal

Prep:5 mins
Cook:6 hrs 15 mins

Easy

Nutrition per serving

kcal 398
fat 17g
saturates 4g
carbs 22g
sugars 19g
fibre 3g
protein 37g
salt 0.7g

Ingredients

2 tbsp vegetable or rapeseed oil
10-12 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
2 red onions, halved and sliced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tsp paprika
2 tbsp chipotle paste
250ml passata
100g barbecue sauce
1 tbsp light brown soft sugar
1 lime, juiced
burger buns, taco shells, jacket potatoes or rice; coriander leaves; deseeded and sliced chillies, and guacamole, to serve (optional)

Tip

Don't have a slow cooker?

Once you’ve browned the chicken and cooked the onions and garlic, put everything back in the pan with the other ingredients, cover with a lid and simmer gently for 1-1½ hrs until the chicken is really tender.

Method

Heat the slow cooker to low and heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan. Brown the chicken in batches, transferring it to the slow cooker as you go. Add the remaining oil to the pan and fry the onions for 5 mins, or until just softened, then stir in the garlic and paprika and cook for another minute. Tip into the slow cooker, then swirl 100ml water around the pan and pour this in as well.
Add the chipotle, passata, barbecue sauce, sugar and lime juice, then season and stir. Cover and cook for 6-8 hrs until the chicken is really tender. Using two forks, shred the chicken through the sauce. Serve in buns, taco shells, jacket potatoes or over rice, with coriander leaves, chillies and guacamole, if you like.